Once more with feeling. WFAN-AM and MSNBC have offered no more than token apologies for the blatantly racist comments made by Don Imus about the Rutgers Womens' Basketball team. Thus far all the two broadcasters have actually done is to "condemn" his comments. After four diaries on this subject, perhaps at least four more are needed before the networks get the message. Each time "condemnation" is accepted without action equals one more example for the right wing racists to observe that however despicable their comments may be -- nothing is really really going to happen to them. Now, Imus wants his "oopsy daisy" apology to exonerate him. More after the fold.
"Calling himself "a good person" who made a bad mistake, radio host Don Imus said Monday he would check his notorious acid tongue after being lambasted for making racially charged comments about the Rutgers University women's basketball team." New York Daily News New York Daily News Where, or better, how many times have we heard this one before? How many more times does he get to countenance calling PBS Anchor Gwen Ifill a "cleaning lady," or refer to William Rhoden of the New York Times as a "quota hire?" How many more times does Mr. Imus get to say, "...people should relax and not worry about some idiot saying something meant to be amusing." NBC4 NBC4
How many more times do columnists like Mark Starr have to remind us that "Imus is Us" and ",,,These dubious entertainments all share one currency: unabashed delight in cruelty and debasement. And we the audience laugh and laugh and laugh until somebody hits us over the head and we realize—or somebody tell us that we should realize—that this time it was way out of line and actually not all that funny." Newsweek Newsweek
The FCC provides an electronic complaint formcomplaint form on its website. The right wing has been only too happy to flood that agency with complaints about controversial shows, how often have we flooded their offices with our condemnations of racism?
I don't find myself in agreement at all times with either Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton, but this time, on this issue, I couldn't agree more.
The comments weren't funny, weren't "just a joke," and its high time the Coulters, Limbaughs, Malkins ... and Imus's of this world come to know that they aren't funny, they aren't comedians, and they aren't acceptable on public air waves.
Credit where it's due -- previous diaries:
"Imus and his Hoes" "Imus and his Hoes" wondered how Democratic candidates could appear on his show, and ask for readers to let MSNBC know how inapppropriate his comments were.
"Don Imus and Bernard McGurik" "Don Imus and Bernard McGurik Now what?
"Why does Imus Still Have a Job" "Why does Imus Still Have a Job"
"Don Imus: Scrawny..." "Don Imus: Scrawny..." links to FCC complaint page.