I think these right Wing nut jobs have too much time on their hands. Leave the old Fart alone!
Your thoughts?
http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/20857414.html

Before I heard anyone's take on it ( with the exeception that there could be a negative take on it ) I heard the audio. My first impression was that it is exactly what Imus claimed.

I haven't had my mind changed since I heard others' point of view - but at least now I can understand HOW it could be bad. Imus says it wasn't - and in this case, I believe him.

>>right Wing nut jobs

good grief..it's the leftys that are all hot and bothered about this again...can you say Al Sharpton.

DON IMUS IS A RACIST PLAIN AND SIMPLE, and ANYONE WHO IS DEFENDING IMUS IS A RACIST TOO!!

Don Imus is lucky that he hasn't had an african american beat the shit out of him for continuing to make racist remarks about black people.

Well that is certainly one way to look at it.

Not an Imus fan but if anything Imus was trying to make a point about how being black gets you arrested.

Chris Rock says it all the time and no big deal but one old ass white man says it and suddenly its a crime.

How many times have I turned on BET to see some black comedian making fun of white people but nothing is said about that.

Jeez what an ignorant person you are beano. I pray you don't have a radio show.
Imus was indeed saying just what you have described mc. He was clear as can be if you especially look at the video.
He ain't stupid.
He sure isn't being attacked by Conservatives, who in the world would think that? Al Sharpton and his lackeys are conservatives now?
By the way, what happened to free speech anyway?
George Carlin means nothing? Lenny Bruce? Richard Pryor?
If the I-Man wants to say "nappy headed ho's" then America gives him the right.
Turn the dial if you don't like it. If you think he or anyone else should not have that right, you are an arrogant, racist Un-American bigot!

It's not a shield.

Sadly, we have the freedom to say what we like, while others are completely free to bitch about it, if they like.

Being in the public eye, on the air, means dealing with that.

We have way too many people bitching instead of actually talking.

Damn, Dodger! You hit it again! Right on the money.

Imus is offensive - that's what he does. Leave him alone.

Andrew

I still think he's racist.

And you're still an idiot.

I don't know Imus and have never really listened to his show, I do however, think the "Nappy headed ho" comment is one best left out of anyones vocab. I also think in light of that comment, this new one looks like a bad pattern. Had Imus IMMEDIATELY explained himself after saying "Well there you go" he would have my faith that he meant what he says he meant. The fact that you could hear his staff fumbling to fill silence after he said it, and that he waited a complete DAY to address it shows me one of three things:

#1) Imus is an idiot for even addressing race after losing his job less than a month ago due to racial issues and clearly does not have any common sense in racial matters. Some would call that racism.

#2) Imus is an genius for even addressing race after losing his job less than a month ago due to racial issues and clearly does not have any common sense in racial matters.look at all the pub he's been getting from this. Hell, he got a bulk of his salary IMMEDIATELY following his termination at CBS and got a new gig soon after. Seems like being a racist pays in America. Assuming of course that he IS one.

#3) Imus is falling victim to being out of touch with the newer generations. I almost think ALL of this is the result of him trying to sound hip and in tune with a younger generation. I could see my grandpa saying "Nappy Headed ho's" because he heard the group Nappy Roots on my radio station and the word "ho" 30 times in EVERY song on my station. He wouldn't even get that he was offending people, he would think he was trying to "get on my level". Maybe Imus was too, I doubt it, but maybe.

Then in this recent mistake or slip of the tongue, maybe he WAS trying to make a PRO-BLACK point due to his past. But because of that EXACT past, nobody expected it from him so the worst intentions were assumed. Again I doubt Imus, mainly becuase of the audio and the silence.

>>George Carlin means nothing? Lenny Bruce? Richard Pryor

Guess if your a comedian you can say virtually anything and get a pass...but run a morning radio show with a touch of conservative slants...you have to parse your words so much you can't say a color...PC A-muck.

Based on his prior response to the team he offended, I'll take number three.

Dodger said "By the way, what happened to free speech anyway? George Carlin means nothing? Lenny Bruce? Richard Pryor? If the I-Man wants to say "nappy headed ho's" then America gives him the right."

There seems to be modestly widespread confusion between freedom of speech and the non-existant rights to either employment or freedom from criticism.

Imus has the "right" to say what he wants, and his employer has the "right" to terminate their relationship under any terms permitted in their contract agreement.

Further, Imus has the "right" to say what he wants, and those who don't like what he says have an equal "right" to complain, protest, advocate boycott, harang advertisers, etc. within the limits of the law.

Imus is no Carlin, Bruce, or Pryor. They were arrested or harrassed by the government for what they said. Their battles were not about public or employer disagreements over their statements. Their battles were about GOVERNMENT interference in their rights to free speech.

[Disclosure: I knew and occasionally socialized with Don when I lived in NYC. When he was at WNNNBC, I was a daily listener. I personally think he has devolved into a cranky bore. But I respect his right to free speech, Sharpton's right to criticize that speech, and his employers' right to suspend or terminate his employment if his free speech negatively impacts their free cash flow.]

Don Imus is an ego-centered talent who dreads to think that he is slipping away from the focus of "Pop Culture". Imus is near the end of a career that has paid him handsomely and is having a difficult time coming to terms with his age. he has a younger wife and son to remind him that he is really still in his 40's. Its just an illusion.

I am betting that he had a difficult time with his mother and father. Most alcoholics have a history of emotional disconnection from their parents. It may be the result of alcohol dependence by either his mother or father. They likely were self absorbed and young Don was left alone. Don Imus doesn't trust very easily. Authority figures set him off. He wants get back at the abuse of authority frequently demonstrated by his parents. His brother Fred is from the same environment and has similar personality traits.

Don Imus has been blessed with talent. He abuses it like he was abused by his parents. Imus fears that he is alone. To combat that, he makes statements on the air to attract attention; even though his statements are controversial. Attention, good or bad, is all Don Imus wants. He gets it via a convoluted psychopathology he learned at home with mom and dad.

Tdanner
respect/agree much of what you said but just a few comments...

>>Carlin, Bruce, or Pryor. They were arrested or harrassed by the government for what they said.

that said that was then and the issue is Imus today. I think these gentlemen/others sadly "blazed" a profane permissivness in todays society

>>Their battles were not about public

if the internet was around 40 years ago...think the public would have been more outraged.

>>Their battles were about GOVERNMENT interference in their rights to free speech.

so it all comes down to money when the sydicator gets pressured (again) by the Al Sharptons in life...the real pressure is $$$

Personally, I consider Carlin, Bruce and Pryor ground-breaking genius in the fields of semantics, social commentary, and humor. They used their words as carefully constucted and well thought out tools/weapons to attack an amazing array of societal failings. They, in my opinion, have little to do with the "profane permissiveness" in today's society. That came from those who only heard their WORDS, and never looked at the MEANINGS in those words.

There is a world of difference between the ideas (and words) of George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, et al, and the flippant stupidity of calling a championship college sports team "nappy headed ho's" or suggesting that a behaviorally challenged has-been-football player is targeted simply because of his race.

Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, and George Carlin were trying to change our perceptions of our world and our language. Don Imus is trying to keep his career alive and make money.

>>trying to keep his career alive and make money

no offense but his new contract/deal is more than his last one.

I guess profanities/vulgarities have never been my cup of tea...just have communicated in life/around different people without it...not to say people can...just these people are known by them and I think they could have been just as funny with less crudeness.

Not Carlin.

Where are those 7 words when you need them?

At your fingertips!

There ya go know we know!

I still think he's racist.

No matter anyones opinion right to left or left to right. It's all about public perception and if any press is really good press. I honestly think since this is an election year that this time for Imus' own sake this will blow over with his apology and news will move to Obama/Mccain, the current fuel situation, and the war. The coverage hasn't been as strong as it was the first time.

As a reference work for those of you too young to be really familiar with the groundbreaking work of Lenny Bruce, please check out the multi-Oscar nominated 1974 film "Lenny", starring Dustin Hoffman, directed by Bob Fosse.

Genius is a word too often bandied about. Bruce was an unsavory, but undeniable, genius.

"Thank You, Masked Man!"

LMAO!

"I ought to get a 'Thank You Masked Man' every goddamned day!"

"I've got a dog at home -- at least I think he's home."

"That Joe Louis was a helluva fighter."

Don Imus is a bigot. It is part of his schtick. If he were not a bigot, he would not make money.

Go Rutgers!