"And also, you know, if you look at our society, any time you have a person come out and say, 'rough, tough, nappy-headed hos,' this is what our society thinks of women, women as a whole. So it's really a dangerous type situation, how we can be handled when things happen. ... It's difficult, but we'll make it through, because we've got greater powers."
This is how Pittsburgh Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle explains a laundry list of criminal charges. The criminal complaint tells a different story.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
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Wednesday, April 11, 2007
28 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
No matter the race of the accused, when the Media try and convict upon an arrest, it's proves we are controlled by the Holy Trin-a-tee of Malevolence:
ReplyDelete1. Govt. Police/Military
2. Govt. Controlled Media (hidden connection, sort of)
3. Religion (another govt.dominated entity)
These Three Lice pick their enemies
as they decide. They continue their insane War on Drugs because it is profitable.
They continue their insane Iraqnam policy because it is profitable.
Books have been written on these topics. You people should read them. Start with "1984."
Who the hell died and made Al Sharpton & Jesse Jackson the racial conscience of this country? Personally, I find their antics completely divisive. Because of those two and their refusal to accept Don Imus's apology on behalf of the black community, I am forced to support Don Imus for the good things he has done rather than hate him for his "racial remarks."
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget that Reverend Jackson referred to New York City as "himey town" and Rev. Sharpton referred to certain landlords and businessmen in NYC as "white interlopers" and "diamond merchants," both of which have certain racial undertones.
I think someone needs to keep an eye on the racial situation in this country, but I don't think that someone needs to be Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson. They are both self-serving by nature and really not able to "cast the first stone."
Let me qualify this by stating I am a black woman -- I think women in all demographics should hold everyone accountable who spouts these kinds of words as "pronouns" for women. However, I believe that Imus never would have dreamt it was OK to use these terms had black rappers not paved the way into pop culture (again over radio waves) for such disrespect, by combining vulgarity against all women, with emotionally stirring rhythms and calling it music.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I wouldn't mind if Imus kept his job, since his misguided and ill-thought comment provides such a great avenue for this discussion.
Let me premise my comment with this. Imus is an idiot. But, censorship is censorship is censorship. The same people who got angry when they wanted to censor John Denver and Twisted Sister, or who are upset about the ongoing policy of the current administration to tag all nay sayers as unpatriotic should recognize that we are free in this country to say stupid things even if we say it on the radio. As George Carlin once said, that is why they put the DIAL there.
ReplyDeleteand, as we all know, Dial takes the worry out of being close.
ReplyDeleteTo anon 8:47,
ReplyDeleteI don't know where you're from and it's none of my business. But thanks for the comments. In the Lehigh Valley, we have every few female or minority bloggers. We miss out because of that. Most of us are old white guys like Imus.
I read someone yesterday say that Imus should be kept around because overt racism is so rare. Like you just said, it enables this kind of discussion.
Most racism is far more subtle. It's just as real, but people deny it.
I think you're right about the rapper influence. I see it young kids.
Imus bothers me. I'd can him. Not because of what he said, but because he and his sidekicks have done it too often. Serena and Venus Williams are "animals" who belong on the cover of national Geographic? PBS broadcaster Gwen Ifil should be a cleaning lady? A black NYT reporter is hired to "make the quota"? Everyone seems to have picked up on the phrase that Imus used. But his sidekick was much worse. He referred to the Rutgers team as "jigaboos." The Tennessee team, who had less tatoos, were "wannabes." Both of those terms disparage black women. Imuss never stopped this idiot but laughed aslong.
Of course Imus has a 1st amendement right to express himself. But this is not a 1st amendment issue. It's business. If statements like that are good for his ratings and sponsors, he'll continue to make them. But I'd like to think that, as a society, we've reached the point where those remarks are no longer entertaining.
Imus also has a 5th amendment right to keep his trap shut. It's time he exercise that right.
Thirty years ago Don Imus, CBS and NBC would suffer punitive damages through numerous liable suits brought forth by the "co-eds" and Rutgers University. The young ladies, as well as the University, are entitled to compensation, and Imus should be held accountable along with the networks. This alone would have been enough to halt any further abrogate behavior, without the thought of abridging everyone's right to freedom of speech.
ReplyDeleteA racist or demeaning remark is not libel under any legal definition. I don't think his remarks would be actionable now or in thirty years ago.
ReplyDeleteWill Reverend Al Sharpton and Reverend Jesse Jackson apologize to the Duke University lacrosse players for the disparaging comments they made about them? Of course not!
ReplyDeleteWhy? Because the Reverend Al and Reverend Jesse extortion team is busy preparing to sue NBC and CBS for the Imus comments. They will represent the Rutgers basketball team and say the women are so upset by the Imus comment they can't concentrate on their studies. NBC and CBS will settle out of court, of course, and the Reverends will again line their pockets with extorted corporate money. Praise Jesus!
The fact that Sharpton and/or Jackson may be anti-Semitic or racist is no defense to Imus' pattern of racism and anti-Semiticism.
ReplyDeleteBernie O'Hare said...
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Sharpton and/or Jackson may be anti-Semitic or racist is no defense to Imus' pattern of racism and anti-Semiticism.
5:28 PM
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Not in all of the Universe is there a person who repeats the 'r-word' at such a titanic level.
it is humbling.
Now playing "Psychotic Reaction" The Count 5
What is the difference between Imus and Ron Angle,who spews opinionated comments about everyone he that does not have the same opinion he shares. Scroll through Bernie and read your comments ,What is good for one is good for another. You said and I quot " Of course Imus has a 1st amendment right to express himself. But this is not a 1st amendment issue. It's business. If statements like that are good for his ratings and sponsers, he'll continue to make them.But I'd like to think that , as a society we've reached the point where those remarks are no longer entertaining
ReplyDeleteImus also has a 5th amendment right to keep his trap shut. it's time he exercise that right".
Change Imus to Ron Angle and you have the same thing, just on a smaller scale.His remarks about Joe Timmer and WGPA should be kept off the air waves.He should be fired and fined by the FCC.And don't tell me about libel or legal definition,If I was Timmer,Angle would be gone just like Imus.
Them vitamin people who sponsor Angle saved his butt.( for now)
To Politic,
ReplyDeleteAngle never called a Rutgers basketball team "jigaboos" or a Tenness basketball team "wannabes." He didn't say anything like the things Imus and his sidekicks have been saying for years. The one time that he did screw up, he was fired. And I happen to think that was the right decision. I told Ron so, and still think so. And I did say then that Angle should start exercising his fifth amendment rights and was quoted in the press saying so. If Ron said anything like Imus is saying now, I'd urge Timmer to fire him. If Timmer said anytrhing like Imus said, I'd complain to the FCC and would start calling Timmer's sponsors.
When I spoke about libel, it was in response to an earlier statement. I agree that Angle should not discuss Timmer on the air. And Timmer should not discuss Angle on the air either, and he does so very often. He uses his polka show to trash a lot of people, including me. At least Angle doesn't pretend to be "jolly" Ron.
The local prosecutor who charged three Duke Lacrosse players with raping a stripper apologized to the athletes Thursday and said the North Carolina attorney general's decision to drop the case was right.
ReplyDeleteWhy aren't Sharpton and Jackson being pressured, by the same media that attacked Imus, to apologize for the vicious remarks they made about the Duke players? There's a double standard in this country and it's not right.
Anon,
ReplyDeleteThe media has attacked Imus? Give me a break. The media have been his enablers. Just about every bigtime reporter, from Maureen Dowd to Tim Russert, was fawning at his feet. The outrcry over Imus is the result of a public that has had enough.
I'm very aware of Jackson's anti-Semitic rant about NYC. If memory serves, he went thru hell for that. If he had a radio show, it's safe to say he would have lost it. He damaged his credibility with me, you and a host of others. I don't think he has credentials as a black leader. He's a lightweight.
Sharpton, although he has tried to clean himself up, is a Democratic David Duke. He's in no position to judge anyone on the subject of racism.
I believe in Sharpton's case, he lost a defamation cvase, and was ordered to pay $340,000 in damages.
I don't care for either Jackson or Sharpton. And I think the mnedia did call on them to account for their behavior. If they didn't, you wouldn't know about it.
But their transgressions do not excuse Imus. And frankly, Imus was a media pet until very recently.
Bernie,
ReplyDeleteGood on you for noticing the "jigaboos" comment. Most didn't. Most also didn't notice that a little more than a month ago, after the speeches in Selma, Alabama, Hillary Clinton was called "that bitch" on the same program, with one of the I-men stating that, in her race with Obama, Clinton would soon "have gold teeth and cornrows and be giving 'Crips' signs." Shortly thereafter, Bernard McGuirk performed a "parody" of Maya Angelou, stating of slave traders "you took away our hope, our dignity and our spears." Yep. McGuirk went "spear-chucker." And nary a peep was heard.
I'm glad Imus was canned. I only wish it had been for all the reasons and not just one.
Ms. Carlisle, 48 and of East Hills, was a staffer to her predecessor, current county Recorder of Deeds Valerie McDonald-Roberts, before being chosen as councilwoman in a 2002 special election. She won a full term easily in 2003, but faces seven rivals in the May 15 Democratic primary.
ReplyDelete-------------------------
Sometimes, not often, one can learn from Limbaugh or one of Rush's 5,000 drone/clones.
One of them explained that these far-far, Left-wing race-maniacs (my term) do not consider a successful black person to be genuinely black.
That's why we have seen Ms. Carlisle being pilloried and labeled guilty. She's spent too much time on the establishment side for these race-maniacs to abide.
Malcom Gross, perhaps the greatest hypocrite in Lehigh County hx., used to excoriate whites for not integrating in the workplace or their neighborhoods. Mr. G failed to disclose that he lives in a rural, white area, safe from the ghettoo and its perils.
We are seeing the Northampton County equivalent in progress.
To R Fal-een:
ReplyDeleteI get your point. Many of those who criticize racism are themselves racist or have racist tendencies. So does that mean that we just go ahead and wink at racism?
Your Malcom Gross argument, as I understand it, is that he is in no position to argue integration because he lives in the white 'burbs. Assuming that what you are saying is true, does this mean that we should allow workplaces and neighborhoods to remain segregated? Does that make sense?
People are hypocrites. There's a shocker. But that's no excuse for racist behavior.
Now because I'm tagging Imus as what he is, you are somehow reaching the conclusion that I must be a hypocrite, too. I'm the Northamptom Cty equivalent of Malcom Gross? That's an insult to malcolm Gross. And it's not even logical, dude.
You know nothing about me or my family and I suspoect you know damn little about Malcolm Gross, too. What you are really trying to do is try to find some excuse, any excuse, for racism.
"People see what you do and hear what you say.
ReplyDeleteSeeing and hearing are believing."
Author unknown
The Imus in the morning show was comedy: bawdy humor mixed with some intelligent conversation. Anyone who listened to Don Imus over the years understood his odd character and fans accepted his cranky and vituperative rants.
ReplyDeleteThis 'outrage' at a throwaway bad taste joke is a joke and the shame is that we all have climbed aboard the 'racist' train and actually believe that something important has been accomplished by the canceling of this show. The only thing that has been accomplished is censorship plain and simple.
Self-promoting, self-anointed buffoons like Jackson and Sharpton are now the conscience of our nation? Give me a break. Can anyone recall Sharpton's disgraceful past with Tawana Brawley? How about Jesse's Heimeytown statement?
If people didn't like Imus' humor, they didn't need to tune in and listen to him. None of the students at Rutgers even knew who he was. And their live's are potentially 'ruined' because of his silly joke? Hogwash. If they are that fragile, then they haven't learned all that much in college and through competitive sports.
I am disgusted and dismayed at the over-reaction to this nonsense. We can all get on our rightgeous high-horses and say justice was done. I suggest that we spin a few CD's of Ludicrus or Snoop Doggy Dog and then tell me how tasteful that garbage is that apparently Jesse and Al find quite appropriate since they have never commented on it.
Shame on all of us for falling for this silliness.
Pat Buchanan wrote a column today putting all this in perspective: Imus was lynched and none of us are the better for it. I guess since he was a white guy, symbolic lynching is acceptable.
http://www.humanevents.com/
article.php?id=20243
Whatever happened to the First Amendment? Why can't we take a joke?
ReplyDeleteDon Imus should have been able to call those nappy-headed hoes anything he wanted, including the "N" word. It's not a crime to use racially derogatory names, and it shouldn't cost a man his livelihood.
Imus should retract his apology and call his critics the racists they are.
1) The first amendment is a two-way street. Just as it gives bigots and racists the right to speak, it gives others the right to condemn those comments. Like it or not, Sharpton & Jackson are exercising their first amendment rights. So are the Rutgets students. So am I. Imus is not the only one w/ first amendment rights.
ReplyDeletePeople who advocate bvoycotting products advertised on Imus' show are exercising their first amendment rights. A sponsor who stops advertising w/ Imus is exercising first amendment rights, too.
2) Pat Buchanan? Give me a break. I remember his disparaging words towards Mexican Americans.
3) Joke? That's bullshit. I have a good sense of humor and it went over me. It was racism. it's a pattern that has gone on for years. Someone finally said enough is enough. Last night, I listened to the ofbject of some of Imus' jokes - Gwen Ifill, a very good broadvcaster at PBS. She was not amused.
4) Yes, rappers are responsible for the disparaging words, too. Ho, bitch, etc., should be condemned. Cebnsorship? Never.I just would boycott their product.
5) That Sharpton and Jackson are phonies and bigots themselves is no excuse for the bigotry from Imus.
Jake,
ReplyDeleteOne other point. Barack Obama condemns black rappers who are "degrading their sisters. That doesn't inspire me."
I believe in the first amendment, far more than most. But words have consequences. If I wrote a malicious and false accusation that someone was a nefarious criminal, I could be sued for defamation. The first amendment would not be a defense.
I said it earlier this week. As a a society, we are too divided. The left and right hate each other so much they've stopped listening. Conversation deteriorates into sound bites and insults. Both sides are equally guilty. We've become too mean.
Once a year a group of young athletes celebrate their joy of life in a game - and for that they were called "jigaboos," "wannabes" and "nappy-headed hos." There's nothing funny there. That someone could think that's funny is evidence that we are dumbing down as a society.
"You know nothing about me or my family and I suspoect you know damn little about Malcolm Gross, too"
ReplyDelete--Bernie O'Hare
Based on that reasoning, you know nothing about McCain, et.al.
Mr. Moshi, I didn't attack McCain. Before I start calling people phonies, I have a reason for doing so. You started calling me a phonyt sinply because I have correctly called Imus wehat he is -a racist. You don't knowe me or anything about my family so you have no basis for that attack. And because you have no basis for attacking me, I strongly suspect your reasoning w/ respect to Malcolm Gross is equally flawed.
ReplyDeleteWe can all get on our high horses and talk about bigotry and what should and should not be said on the airwaves, but I am telling you honestly, this whole incident is dangerous.
ReplyDeleteIt is not simple.
Imus was considered an enemy by both the left and the right. Someone was out to get him and they got him. Russert's Meet the Press this morning had a good discussion on this topic and the conclusion I took from it was that if Imus can be taken out - someone who's stupid joke in no way reflected the character and quality of the person - then no one is safe. It just depends upon which way the mob is aroused.
Who is next?
Go look at the Lenny Bruce era and tell me we have not returned to it. At least Imus was not arrested mid-show.
And while you may not have any respect for Buchanan, you should at least have as much respect for his opinion as you do for Sharpton and Jackson's. Did you even look at what he wrote? Or did you just knee-jerk react to his name?
I stand by my first comment.
It appears from reading your blog here you have an open mind and I agree with much of what you say. And I think the more you learn about this incident, the more you are going to come around to my conclusion that this was censorship plain and and not simple at all. The fact that we all cannot see the seriousness of this all makes me agree with you that we are dumbing down as a society.
Mr. Moshi, I didn't attack McCain. Before I start calling people phonies, I have a reason for doing so. You started calling me a phonyt sinply because I have correctly called Imus wehat he is -a racist. You don't knowe me or anything about my family so you have no basis for that attack. And because you have no basis for attacking me, I strongly suspect your reasoning w/ respect to Malcolm Gross is equally flawed.
ReplyDelete11:46 PM
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Never said "phony." The opponent with the weak argument always resorts to disinformation.
Nobody "knows" each other in this world, except close relatives.
When the thesis is "you don't know me or my family," well, no kidding.
Shut down all discourse on this basis. ALL of it.
No more personal observation of Bush, Cheney, Sen. Harrumphary Clit-less, Dirty Draft-dodger Rush, Borat Hussayn Obelchki, Bobby 'Godless' Walsh, you name it. Or even Judge Stuff-shirt.
Because we will never "know" each other; this is a logical absurdity.
Jake,
ReplyDeleteJust so you know, I DID read the Buchanan link you supplied. That's wehy my reply to you included comments about rappers. Actually, his point is very valid.
But Buchanan is no expert on bigotry or sensitivity. Sharpton and Jackson were also discredited long ago. I didn't pay much attention to what any of them say. And I don't think Imus was fired because of them.
I'll definitely listen to Russert, too. I can pick up Meet the Press on C-Span radio every Sunday night. I want to see how Russert spins this. He was a frequent Imus guest, along with the likes of Maureen Dowd and other liberal media types. They were Imus enablers. I read a report that Imus dared repeat the same things they were already saying privately. I can't remember where I saw it, but believe it was somewhere in Media Matters.
I always thought of Imus as a bully. I remember the incident, some years back, involving a nanny at his "charity" ranch. He called her, among other things, a terrorist on his radio show. He fired her there and it took her four weeks to get home.
He thinks he's a superior being, as evidenced by that nanny incident. He even tried his superiority routine w/ Howard Stern.
I've never cared for the guy. I wouldn't say my reaction was knee-jerk, but I have to be honest and tell you I never liked him and never thought he was that funny or perceptive.
So I don't think his termination is bad for free speech or our country. Free speech is alive and well. But free speech includes much more than Imus' right to use a commercial radio broadcast to demean black women. It also includes the right to object to Imus. It includes the right to urge a boycott of his sponsors. That's free speech, too. And when the decision came to pull the plug on Imus, it did not come from Big Brother. It came from businessmen nervously looking at their bottom line. If they thought Imus would make them more money by trashing Gwen Ifil and Jews, he'd be on the air tomorrow.
I can understand that some airwaves should be regulated so that people don't say things that might upset children. And I'd even agree that no government should get involved in monitoring opinions or disparaging or racist remarks. The first amendement is meant to be offensive - that's what makes us think. But I'm delighted that, for business reasons, Imus is gone.