UPDATE @ 4:53 EST: My local NBC station just reported that CBS has fired him as well.
This is an email I've sent to hundreds of media people in my address book.
I've edited it slightly from my original as after I sent them out I found numerous typos & other mistakes (of course). That always happens. I'm the worst at editing my own pieces.
I also added links that weren't actually in the original.
I'm including two of the responses I got back. One from some jerk at ABC. I'm sure he'd love to hear from you all! ;-) The other was from someone at Fox Noise Channel on behalf of John Gibson.
More below the fold.
Dear MSM:
MSNBC removing Don Imus from the air today was a mediocre start. I say mediocre because he’s been saying hateful, racist, anti-Semitic things for years and HE has been apologizing for them, with each uproar that took hold, for just as many.
What about Rush Limbaugh? Glenn Beck? How about Melanie Morgan and Michael Weiner Savage? Then of course there’s Ann. Sweet Ann Coulter.
Under the guise of free speech, these people spew hate, some of them going as far as condoning violence against gays, liberals, Muslims and our ex-Presidents. I could literally link you to hundreds of racist, bigoted, homophobic, anti-Semitic, anti-Islamic/Muslim, chauvinistic and sexist comments, from this year alone, by the sociopaths I’ve listed. And they are sociopaths, make no mistake about it.
Somehow Rush Limbaugh fooled talk radio broadcasters into believing he represented a fresh, exciting and new way of saying the things that he claimed many of us were thinking (which we weren’t). It was downhill from there.
These people are on the public airwaves, just like Imus is/was. What’s the difference?
Once person I spoke with via email on the subject said "yeah, but Imus was mainstream. People don’t take Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh seriously."
Excuse me?
Same airwaves. Same hatful speech. Different sociopathic mouths.
Do you really believe Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity are sane? What about Michelle Malkin? Matt Drudge? Do you honestly believe they represent a legitimate portion of our society, as opposed to an angry (mob) fringe element that happens to be louder than most?
What about Pat Robertson, James Dobson, Jerry Falwell & Bill Donohue? Are they representative of your faith or your understanding of Jesus Christ? If there was a Rabbi who ran around spewing the things these bastards do, I’d be at the top of the list denouncing them. Who of these guys have you taken to task publicly?
These... people... are the bottom feeder of our society all dressed up in the legitimacy of our airwaves, networks and oval office prayer meetings.
These are our own terrorists. They just don’t use bombs. They use words. Hateful, vile words that are meant to inflame, provoke and hurt.
It’s time to put an end to their kind of speech, for it is not free for those of us on the receiving end of it. Not by a long shot.
Name & Address
Then I got this response from Philip Boyce at ABC Radio (phil.boyce@abc.com). I'm sure he'd LOVE to hear all of your thoughts on his definition of free speech:
Only one problem with your desire to silence those you disagree with. It is unconstitutional. Try reading the first amendment.
Ann Coulter does not have a radio or TV show she writes books. You can choose to buy it or not. Free Country! What a concept.
Phil Boyce
VP of News/Talk Programming
ABC Radio Stations
WABC Radio
The Sean Hannity Show
The Mark Levin Show
212-613-3805
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld (a Mitch Dolan Production)
To which I responded:
The first amendment doesn’t cover death threats. You’d know that if you’d read it. In fact, it is doesn’t cover most of the hateful "calls to action" that Ann and her pal Sean incite in their racist, anti-everything-they-don’t-agree-with rhetoric. Inciting violence is not covered. I’m not the one who needs to reads it.
Hiding behind the constitution won’t help people like you or your stars much longer. The tide is turning. 9 Papers have dropped dear, sweet, lovable Ann. The airwaves will no longer be held hostage either.
Now, don’t you have some poor bunny to boil?
I also got this from a John Gibson lackey, Richard Carbery (richard.carbery@FOXNEWS.COM), last night right after I sent the original email:
You should call up John Gibson on his radio show and have your say right now. 888 788 9910
Here was my response to that:
I have a better idea. How about you add John Gibson to the list of ignorant hatemonger's who don't deserve to be out in public let alone on our national airwaves.
I could almost see this guy frothing with delight at the prospect that I'd call in and be abused by the waiting John Easter Bunny Gibson.
UPDATE: I just got this email from a woman over at the L.A. Times, while writing this diary. I thought was a fair question and which I totally understood:
XXX
I have a question for you.
I know you write to me only because I'm a member of the dreaded MSM.
But I was thinking about Imus this morning and wondering why folks who care about these issues, such as yourself, don't berate the MSM for calling on Al Sharpton as some sort of paragon on these issues.
I'm not on a campaign or anything. I just think it would be a good thing to call us on. And wonder why no one has. (That I've seen).
Best
xxx
Here's my response:
,
I absolutely agree with your opinion of Al Sharpton. I cringe almost every time he’s on. Almost. That being said, I don’t think Al is dangerous. I don’t think Al is plotting in any nefarious way against the freedoms we have grown to love in this country and have taken for granted – something being exploited by those I’ve listed as hate-mongers & racists. There is a difference. I guess though if all was well with the world and there was nothing else on my priority list and he came on MSM the way he does, I’d be more upset.
However, his big mouth is fun during a presidential primary (forcing candidate to discuss things they might normally not) and when he rails against the most corrupt administration in our nation’s history. Sometimes, I think his big mouth says the things most Democrats were/still are too afraid to say about Republicans. It’s handy sometimes.
Thanks for responding. I don’t mean for my emails to dreaded MSM to imply I believe it’s everyone one you guys. I know better. It usually only bothers the ones I do mean it towards, which I find interesting.
You don’t seem to dreadful by any means. ;-)
XXX
Another response from the L.A. Times woman:
LOL...I enjoy your prods, keep them coming.
XXX
I have permission to use this picture. The artist gave everyone permission during the 2004 elections. I actually turned it into a 4' x 6' banner and flew it from a flag pole (at the Gay & Lesbian store I was working at at the time) for the Republican National Convention here in NY. The artist, who was marching up 8th avenue during the big protest saw it, loved it! He eventually gave me a signed print (lithograph I think)!