My Evening With Hannity & Colmes: Stepping to the Dark Side of the Imus Debate

I need a shower.

Hours after finishing my first -- and likely only -- appearance on Fox News Channel's shoutfest Hannity & Colmes, I'm stuck wondering why I allowed myself to be part of the dog and pony show which has become the cable TV news prime time game.

The short answer is easy: The National Association of Black Journalists wanted to provide someone to talk about the apparently imminent return of Don Imus to a national radio perch. The group has already issued a statement opposing his rehiring -- I've explained in this space before what I think the radio host needs to do before a responsible radio programmer can give him a gig -- so as chair of the group's Media Monitoring Committee, I put myself in the line of fire.

I refer to it that way because the producers told me both conservative firebrand Sean Hannity and his supposed liberal co-host Alan Colmes were on the same side of this issue -- supporting the right of a guy who called respected PBS, NBC and New York Times journalist Gwen Ifill a cleaning lady to take back a high-paying radio jobs months after he was fired.

I knew it was going to be an argument, but I hadn't watched these knuckleheads in action for awhile. I  wound up talking over both of them to make my points while they called me a hypocrite and National Organization for Women representative Sonia Ossorio looked a little tongue tied. (I found it interesting that Hannity compares Imus, who has shown mostly contempt for black culture in his jokes, to Chris Rock, who clearly loves black culture and black people, simply because Rock curses more than Imus) We argued, I said my piece, no one changed their mind -- in the end, I contributed to the argument culture I hate so much on cable TV, hence the need for the shower.

But I wanted the experience of doing the show, so I knew for sure what it was all about. What disappointed me more, was seeing the displays on some of the other programs.

As a makeup artist was toning down the shine on my forehead, I heard Rick Sanchez on CNN asking "could your child be getting advice that could get them killed?" in one excited promo. Later, he spent long minutes laughing as he quizzed Democratic talking head Bill Press on a measure Democratic speaker Nancy Pelosi supports condemning the massacre of 1-million Armenians in Turkey during world War I.

I do think it's possible to talk about these issues in ways which are meaningful. I did that back when Imus was first ousted on Howard Kurtz's CNN show Reliable Sources. I don't think it's possible to have that kind of discussion on these kinds of shows.

It's unfortunate, because it's a discussion worth having. Imus never owned up to a decades-long legacy of cracking racist jokes on air. And if he doesn't acknowledge it before he starts his new job, I expect more of the same from him. And as flawed as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton may have been as messengers to challenge his history, just try getting the attention of these noise-addicted cable TV news outlets without their participation.

Most of all, I blame the executives at CBS Radio, MSNBC and any other media outlet who employs race-baiting personalities such as Imus, Michael Savage, Rush Limbaugh and Neil Boortz, to name a few. These executives know who they are putting on air -- MSNBC had to apologize publicly to Arab American groups and gay groups for other incidents just a few years before Imus was fired.

But they put people who want news and information shows free from prejudice in the position of having to publicly protest, target advertisers and stage revolts by their own employees of color before they will act against a man with a 30-year history of stereotypical jokes. As professional, mainstream broadcasters, they should act before it gets this far. But Imus and his ilk make too many people too much money.

In a job where I have spent years insisting the subtlest media images have an impact, I couldn't ignore this one. Whether Imus' next move divides us further mostly depends on Imus himself and the men who sign his paycheck.

 

Comments

[Ellen]

FWIW, I thought you did pretty well on the show, especially given that both hosts were against you. I thought you made a number of good points: that Imus has a very long history of horrible remarks; I liked your explanation of inside/outside jokes and the Jon Stewart comparison; and I liked the point (which I think came from Sonia) that it's not about what you think but about Imus and what the public thinks. Good move.

BTW, though I didn't post about your segment, I have written a lot about Hannity's bigotry which shocks and appals me. It's way worse than anything Imus has ever said, though less blatant and lacking the crudeness, but in my view more pernicious as a result. I don't understand why there hasn't been a larger outcry, especially in the wake of Imus.
http://tinyurl.com/yqf7gg

In any event, if you do go back on, you can expect the same type of question from Hannity. The only racial issue of importance to him is whether whites are being discriminated against or not getting the same "privileges" as blacks. Even the Jena 6 case was presented as an issue of reverse discrimination. I kid you not.
http://www.newshounds.us/2007/09/21/on_hannity_colmes_jena_6_demonstration_presented_as_issue_of_black_racism.php

Imus apologized, the "reverends" said unacceptable. This was supposed to open some sort of positive dialog and where are we now? "Ain't nothin' changed."
Eric, you knew what you were getting into when you went on "H&C" but it's more important for you to boast "I was on H&C" than worry about getting run on national TV. Hope that was worth it.
Call Imus racist all you want, but I recall a lot more good things he did over many years. He's far more guilty of bad taste and bad jokes than hate.
If it only takes one bad turn to brand somebody, then I guess Al Roker really has it in for epileptics. (Wonder why the NAEJ didn't step up there!)

[ChannelXRFR]

Real sexism and racism exist in America while NABJ and NOW walk right by it.

The NBA buries it head in the sand as the Knicks, Jim Dolan, Isiah Thomas and Stephon Marbury all go on their collective ways without suspensions, fines or other sanctions. NABJ and NOW? Deafening silence, no demands for sanctions or threats of demonstrations against the NBA or Knicks.

Imus comments on a 'offending scale" from Comedy Central to VH1 to MTV to BET hardly rates a blip, 2 out of 10!

Why is the public not responding to NABJ? Journalists advocating censorship and blacklisting, instant credibility gap!

[JoeM]

Who appointed you the arbiter of what I can and cannot see on my televison or hear on my radio. I am so sick of all these folks who never heard the Imus show or heard only snippets of the show yelling he shouldn't be allowed back.
Imus is not a racist and if the NABJ were better a finding facts than writing their opinions they would know that.

[djtr]

i will guess you have never listened to imus any length of time. why do the moments on his show when he would play the entire 20 minute ‘i have a dream’ speech EVERY martin luther king day never gets any mention, except by imus supporters? the only national program that would even bother to broadcast it. did you ever hear him talk with love and respect to reverend g.e. patterson.. and to the reverend’s widow just weeks before he was fired? how about his support for harold ford jr? did you catch the blind boys of alabama on his show.. dispite managements, complaints of having them on? all anyone who doesn’t like imus hears is racist. imus loves black culture more than many black people do. try listening longer than 10 minutes yourself. or are you afraid to be wrong?

[Eric Deggans]

If Imus loves black culture as much as you say, then it shouldn't be hard for him to own up to all the awful racist stuff he's done in the past, and promise to stop doing it in the future.

Or are you afraid to look at his prejudice?

[MSG]

Eric - you had no real argument and embarrassed yourself trying to make one up last night. To win a debate, you need a solid conviction rooted int truth. Imus is not a racist so your hands were tied by that truth. He did satire, comedy, ha ha, laugh, laugh. He is not out to hurt anyone.

Why don't you turn your attention to Isiah Thomas or better yet, get word out about Bill Cosby's new book - Come on, People. I'm attaching a link to amazon so that you can purchase it.

http://www.amazon.com/Come-People-Path-Victims-Victors/dp/1595550925/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-1467575-0904046?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192564567&sr=1-1

[Rich]

You're kidding me! What has Imus "done" that was racist?

NABJ just by name & exclusion is racist.

[MSG]

Eric, I started listening to Imus over a dozen years ago so I have a frame of reference. After thousands of hours, I can say unequivocally that the man is not a racist or a sexist (I'm a woman). A joke about a cleaning lady doesn't cut it (what's wrong with cleaning ladies anyway - perfectly respectable job). The Rutgers Team wished Imus well, time to move on.

[ChannelXRFR]

"Fact Check" regarding Imus and Gwen Ifill. This was a parody, the target of which was the Reagan White House. The point of the parody was the White House was ignoring Ms. Ifill because she is black. It was very embarrassing to the White House and excellent leverage for the Times and Ms Ifill.

Four years later a Newsday Columnist wrote a column critical of Ms Ifill referring to her as an "Uncle Tom" and using the parody as an example. At this point, years after the fact, the parody was labeled as offensive!

Having it both ways? The parody was not offensive during the Reagan/Bush Republican White House but became offensive during the Clinton Democrat White House!

BTW: Imus was the first white media person I heard say the Bush White House is ignoring the victims of Hurricane Katrina because they are black, Imus has raised huge amounts of money to battle sickle cell. Imus love for black culture? Ask the black musicians who have appeared on his program and talk to the black children who have been to the Imus Ranch and have lived under one roof with his family.

[Rich]

You need to work under a different pen name for a while. NABJ hung you out to dry last night. Don't see them putting out any releases on you behalf today.

Worth repeating "you had no real argument and embarrassed yourself trying to make one up last night. To win a debate, you need a solid conviction rooted int truth. Imus is not a racist so your hands were tied by that truth."

Thank you MSG

[Dee]

Eric, the Imus show is the most intelligent and entertaining program on TV, and I'm thrilled he'll be back. I don't think anyone who wasn't a watcher/listener of the show is qualified to judge the man. People who just listen to sound bites from Media Matters and the TV news parrots and then pass judgement don't count. And I certainly resent being told what I can and can't watch by self-proclaimed PC censors.

[Eric Deggans]

Not that this will convince you, because you seem intent on forgiving whatever Imus does, but here's a list of some of the things he's done. I've also documented plenty of imus transgressions in other posts:

From liberal media watch group FAIR: Imus himself has referred to African-American journalist Gwen Ifill as "a cleaning lady," to New York Times sports reporter Bill Rhoden as "quota hire" and to tennis player Amelie Mauresmo as "a big old lesbo." Imus called Washington Post reporter Howard Kurtz a "boner-nosed... beanie-wearing Jewboy," referred to a disabled colleague as "the cripple," and to an Indian men's tennis duo as "Gunga Din and Sambo." In Imus' words, the New York Knicks are "chest-thumping pimps."

Imus' on again/off again sidekick Sid Rosenberg was temporarily fired in 2001 for calling tennis player Venus Williams an "animal" and remarking that the Williams sisters—Venus and her tennis player sister Serena—would more likely be featured in National Geographic than in Playboy. Rosenberg insisted to New York's Daily News (6/7/01) that his comments weren't racist, "just zoological." In 2004, MSNBC had to apologize when the rehired Rosenberg referred to Palestinians as "stinking animals."

In May 2005, MSNBC let Contessa Brewer out of her short stint as a news reader on Imus' morning show after Imus had made a daily game of crude personal attacks against her, calling her a pig, a s---, dumber than dirt and other similar felicities, all on air. MSNBC claimed they "expressed their displeasure" to the host (New York Post, 5/1/05), while noting that his "humor" was "often brilliant and provocative."

Even his support of the Blind Boys from Alabama was couched in anti-Jewish rhetoric: "As the Forward newspaper reported in a December 8 online article, Don Imus referred to the "Jewish management" of CBS Radio as "money-grubbing bastards" on the November 30 broadcast of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning. Imus was discussing a past conflict with his bosses about hosting the musical group the Blind Boys of Alabama. Executive producer Bernard McGuirk asked, "Even if you wear a beanie, how can you not love the Blind Boys?" Imus continued, "I said, 'They're handicapped, they're black, and they're blind. How do we lose here?' And then a light bulb just went off over [the managers'] scummy little heads." CBS Radio owns WFAN, the New York station that is the flagship for Imus' radio show."

Several African-American women, such as Oprah Winfrey, Aretha Franklin, and Serena and Venus Williams, have been denigrated as ho's for their body dimensions. A Mexican tennis player was called a ''little dishwasher,'' the friendship between entertainer Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson was declared a case of ''jungle retardation,'' and black people from the Knicks to diseased Africans are joked about as gorillas and monkey eaters.

comparing "the gorilla special effects in Instinct" to "the starting line-up of the Knicks." Nor would he permit his tennis correspondent to call Amelie Mauresmo a "a big old lesbo"* or the Williams sisters "two booma-chucka, big-butted women" or an Indian men's doubles team "Gunga Din and Sambo."

In 1998 on CBS's ''60 Minutes,'' Mike Wallace asked Imus if the specific purpose of sidekick Bernard McGuirk was to do ''n----r jokes.'' When Imus denied using the word, his own producer, Tom Addison, said, ''I recall you using that word.''

Imus said, ''Oh, OK. Well, then I used that word.... I don't apologize for - for offending people, you know? And I know it's not politically, not politically correct, and I don't care.''

After this list of awful slurs my only question is, what more proof do you need?

[Harley]

Where is the OUTRAGE about Isiah Thomas? We ACTUALLY heard what HE said in his deposition! How many of you ACTUALLY listened to Don Imus’ show? Once isn’t enough! I’m an African-American female who listened to Imus in the Morning since the 2004 election! He supported John Kerry. How can he be racist when he supported Harold Ford’s run for the US Senate? DON IMUS GOT DEATH THREATS AND WAS CALLED A N*GGER LOVER FOR DOING SO!!!!! Last time I checked, Harold Ford was a BLACK man! How can he be a racist when he was one of the FIRST people who said the folks in New Orleans were treated badly because of their race? How can he be racist when he was friends with Rev. G.E. Patterson, played his sermons ON AIR, and interviewed his wife AFTER he passed away? How can he be a racist when he helped to raise MILLIONS of dollars for sick children and wounded soldiers of ALL COLORS?! Some of these children had BLOOD DISORDERS, which include SICKLE CELL ANEMIA! WHAT RACE HAS THE MAJORITY OF CASES OF SICKLE CELL? If he was a RACIST would he even care? What about the time he interrupted his return to New York and flew a sick African-American boy and his mother where they needed to go in HIS private jet? What about the time he attended the funeral of an African-American teenager who had once stayed on his ranch? You could hear the sadness in Imus’ voice as he told us how he wanted the child to win the cattle roping event because he knew that the child had a terminal disease and his time was running out! I THINK OUR COMMUNITY HAS TOO MANY PROBLEMS TO WORRY ABOUT INSTEAD OF GOING AFTER DON IMUS! PEACE!

[Harley]

Then you had the NERVE to give Chris Rock a pass because he's "inside the group"! So I guess Isiah Thomas gets a pass because he is "inside the group" as well! I'm so embarrassed by this WHOLE issue! Until we as African-Americans STOP all of the name-calling and disrespect within our OWN community, how can we expect others to do the same? Why do the comedians and rappers get a free pass? Don't they know that their FILTH gets passed down to our kids? I'm a teacher, I have kids who know the lyrics to the SUPERMAN song, but can't say let's read! (And the song is NOT about the superhero! Look it up in the Urban Dictionary!) I have 3rd graders who bring Nasty Sex Poems to school. A youngster in my room was suspended for two days because of this! We have young men at our school who don't wear belts; we have to make them wear them! BUT, EVERYBODY WANTS TO MAKE A BIG STINK ABOUT DON IMUS! YEAH, ONCE HE'S GONE ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS ARE TAKEN CARE OF! I'M WITH BILL COSBY! IT'S UP TO US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY; WE CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT ON OTHERS! PEACE!

[Bobbie Reinecker]

You obviously have not done your homework when you call Don Imus a racist. If that were true, we need more just like him. I have grown weary of trying to convince critics of the show (who don't watch it anyway) so just accept the fact that we millions of fans want him back JUST THE WAY HE WAS! I'm sorry you disapprove of him (and his humor) but I watched/listend every morning. When he returns, I will continue to do the same. And yes, I want his ENTIRE team back. I can take anything they dish out. Too bad some of you can't. No apologies.

[Eric Deggans]

i don't know why you would assume that groups like the NABJ couldn't be active on several issuesat once.

NABJ has also condemned use of the n-word and is active in encouraging diversity in media through scholarships, helping connect media outlets with job seekers and more.

NABJ isn't speaking out against Isaiah Thomas because he's more a sports figure than a journalist or media figure.

And i'm not sure why you're lumping Chris Rock in with Imus. Take a look at the examples i've provided above -- they are about denigrating black people and black culture. Chris Rock's work hardly does that.

Finally, Chris Rock is an entertainer. Imus's work was broadcast on a cable newschannel, offering a mix of news and opinion which regularly crosses into the realm of journalism, news and information.

Eric,

The "liberal media watch group FAIR" and other groups have prepared laundry lists of remarks which Imus performing as a satirist over the past thirty years. FAIR and others have taken these performances out of context and packaged these remarks together in such a way to paint Imus a racist. This smear tactic worked in April but since then the tactic has been recognized, discredited as a political attack and has been countered on numerous occasions since.

Point is Imus is not a racist, Imus is a satirist.

NABJ Satire: Journalists advocating censorship and blacklisting...Oh, that's not a joke its real!

[Harley]

One more thing and then I'm out. Apparently you never watched and/or listened to his show. It seems that you have found various Imus' quotes and taken them OUT OF CONTEXT and posted them here. I listened to his show. EVERYONE was fair game. Was it okay for him to make the comment about the Rutgers Girls? No. Did he MAN UP and do what he was supposed to do? (APOLOGIZE!) YES. If you watched his show you would know how compassionate he was about his causes. (KIDS AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS) You saw that he was a grumpy old man with a heart. The jokes were a small part of his show. But you don't see that. Gwen Ifil went on Meet the Press and said one of Imus' producers had called and apologized to her BACK THEN OVER 20 YEARS AGO for the cleaning lady joke. Why did she act like it was fresh in April if his producer called her OVER 20 years ago to apologize? Howard Kurtz was a frequent Imus guest; he laughed when Imus made fun of him. Why blame Imus for something Sid said about Venus and Serena? You seemed to leave out what Contessa said about Mr. Imus which caused him to retaliate against her. If he was a RACIST, why would he let the Blind Boys of Alabama on his show in THE FIRST PLACE? THINK! The jokes about the Jews were all a part of the act. Do you think that the station owners would ACTUALLY discriminate against the Blind Boys? PEACE!

[Rich]

Eric, I gotta hand it to you. You are the first writer with the balls to respond to posters.

But with all "DO" respect, you keep complaining about something that didn't happen: Imus never DID anything rascist. We can all agree that what he SAID was stupid, insensitive, racially-charged slang...but I'm sure you are thinking some things right now about white people that you wish someone else had the balls to say.

My point is you are ill-prepared to make an argument against anyone who SAYS something about someone else in the context of a joke. Not your business...Especially when the innocents at Rutgers already said...don't fire him...we forgive him...and let him work again.

If you say it is your business because you're black, well no one really wants to go there do they?

[channelXRFR]

Cablevision, the parent company of MSG, is a media/entertainment company which produces news programing! If the NABJ and NOW refuse to hold media/entertainment corps accountable for sexual harassment against african american women executives, who will?

Isiah Thomas was not acting in the capacity as a "Sports Figure" in this situation. Thomas is an executive, with a current title of President, Knickbockers Basketball Operations and Head Coach. However, this is much broader issue then Isiah Thomas. A number of individuals are involved in this from Jim Dolan Chairman, Madison Square Garden, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cablevision Systems Corporation on down the MSG organization.

Also, Chris Rock and the work of dozens of other comedians taken out of context in a "FAIR" like fashion would no doubt be viewed as "denigrating black people and black culture".

[Eric Deggans]

Rationalize it all you want. Calling the use of racial slurs and stereotypes satire does not magically remove their hurtful content.

And perhaps one or two comments might be taken out of context. But I easily listed eight or nine instances, pretty much off the top of my head.

As I said, if you're not bothered by the racism of Imus' "satire," then we will never agree.

But Imus is not satirizing bigots in his comments, he is reinforcing stereotypes. Some of you posting on this board may not be willing to admit that, but people of good concience from across the country have -- which is why Imus lost his job in the first place.

And as long as advertisers have the good sense to keep their products and their products' brand away from this kind of nonsense, Imus will have a tought time.

Finally, i have no idea why Isaiah Thomas' awful action have any bearing on the imus issue. These posts are about imus and his racism, which will not be alleviated or changed by Thomas' misogyny....

[JoeM]

As I understand what you are saying is that sports guys and entertainers (both African American) get a pass but the white guy doesn't. Hmmmmmm, seems to me that discrimination based upon race is okay when it serves your purposes but if not look out.

The reason behind your position is because Imus is news and opinion then jokes are off limits. Further, you appear to imply Imus is not an entertainer. You miss the fact morning radio shows often do jokes. It is part of the fabric of American media. If we were to take your reasoning to the Daily Show, they cannot do jokes because there is news, opinion and serious guests offered.

The problems in the African American community are not the result of Don Imus and his jokes. (Albeit sometimes ill conceived and bad jokes). The problems for African Americans as Bill Cosby pointed out the other day on Meet the Press and in his new book surround a community that is willing to take victim hood to new levels and not take responsibility for their own actions.

[Eric Deggans]

you seem to be implying that because I won't change the subject to the horrible things Isaiah Thomas said, I'm giving him a pass. i'm not.

But this is about Don Imus. I don't defend isaiah Thomas, I do defend Chris rock. But neither of those positions changes what Imus has done.

I just wish folks like Hannity would stop trying to change the subject and face what Imus has done...

[channelxrfr]

This is a body of work that stretches over 30 years and includes biting satire. It is an incredible volume of work assigning a limit of "one or two out of context" doesn't seem right.

Earlier you attributed the list to FAIR, now its the "top of your head"?

To truly understand each of the instances would require a listening to the performance audio, review of the complete transcript and understanding of the period of time it was said.

Eric said "But Imus is not satirizing bigots in his comments, he is reinforcing stereotypes." Satire is a really effective tool for having uncomfortable discussions. POV, much of what Imus does is to provide "teaching moments" forcing people into confronting stereotypes.

Paraphrasing Martin Garbus - Words aren't guilty people are guilty-. Imus is not a racist, he is not spewing hate, his art is satire. Okay he is grumpy, doesn't make him hateful.

Imus lost his job because neither CBS nor NBC understood how to counteract Media Matters. Time Warner, FOX and Clear Channel have all stood their ground since the "Imus Debacle" and have not caved to those who are always outraged.

Imus will be employed again, his audience will return and advertisers will be there to sell their goods. It is an efficient market model.

Isiah Thomas has a bearing on this because the MSM linked the Imus situation with Thomas. Thinking through the Thomas situation you realize just how serious and evil this situation is, given the complicity of Cablevision's President and Chief Executive Officer. An African American Women has worked her way up to an executive position at a major media/entertainment company only to have her professionalism and reputation ripped away by the actions of the President she was reporting to and complicit actions of CEO of the corporation. Its a very sad story, sadder still is that advocacy groups have not stepped up and demanded justice.

Your a good man Eric Deegans,

Thank you for listening,

ChanX

[me]

You defend Chris Rock because he is an entertainer but Imus is and always was an entertainer too. His show consisted of skits by impressionists to make people laugh, humorous dialog about current events with some serious news and interviews thrown in on top.

[Anne B.]

Okay. Let's keep it real What exactly did Imus do? What evil deed has he done against blacks or anyone else?

Words are protected in America, even hateful speech, and no person has the right not to be offended. If you listen to the video where he spoke those now famous words, you will be able to tell there was no malice in the remarks.

I have done some research since my right to watch a tv show was taken. I did not know anything about hip-hop music or culture. It is not pretty, sir. It would seem you have a lot of work to do before you get too worried about an old white man talking. And don't say hip-hop has nothing to do with Imus, because it has everything to do with Imus. He spoke some words which if he were black, nobody would have thought a blip about it. An old man trying to talk hop-hop (a mild form or hip-hop).

So I end by asking you: What law did he break?
What regulation did he violate?
Why are you so intent of piling on him?
And in persecuting him, you persecute me. I guess nobody has given any thought to his millions of fans who want to watch the show.
It's beginning to look foolish to me, the more time that passes.

Now, Imus to me seems to be a very mild-mannered man and he has said he was sorry he hurt anyone's feelings. What do you want, his life's blood? I'm beginning to think so. You and your fellows are persecuting him way beyond anything he has done or said.

[Anne B.]

Now, you would think the words in this song would be offensive to you. It seems sickening to me. But in light of this, how did nappy-headed hos break the world off its axis?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YejWqS0ufUQ

Someone mentioned Chris Rock. In my research I find this clip. Notice how the audience is laughing to the floor over his jokes. Wouldn't one think then that nappy-headed hos would not even cause a blip on the radar screen of anyone who listens to this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utnK4o-jvzk

I don't mean to be insensitive, but this is what is really bothering me about this thing.

Another thing that is really bothering me is that I'm retired and finally able to do what I want to do, and my favorite show was literally jerked off the air. I don't think it's right. I know it's not fair. I'm in my house doing no one any harm, and the long arm of censorship comes in and unplugs my tv set. And this is after I have been drilled repeatedly to turn the channel if I don't like something. I'm quite angry about it.

[The Carl]

Wow! I've never seen anybody take an asswhuppin of public opinion like this and keep coming back for more. Deggans do the Times bosses know you spend this much time responding to these posts, even when you're wrong? Can't wait til next time you go on TV. I'll set my DVR and put it on YouTube.

[Eric Deggans]

It's easy to confuse the dedication of Imus fans with the will of the larger public. I don't take stands because they are popular. I take them because I think they're the right thing to do.

And as somebody who's been in the minority my whole life, standing up to people trying to defend a racist isn't that hard to do...In fact, the coolest thing about this, is that it's my job.

[Harley]

All I know is that Imus had MANY African-American fans. The day after he was fired, a couple of irate Black women called into MSNBC's studios. I wish I could have gotten through, too. I've met and talked to many of Black fans on the net. One even called in to the Sharpton show to defend Imus. One African-American guy said that he wasn't going to purchase ANYTHING from GE. Another lady said that she LOVED his show and she considered herself an "I-HO"! These are only a few I have come in contact with. Not all Black folks think the same. You cannot put us all in the SAME group. Some of us want to move on, while some of us continue to play the race and victim card DAILY! They want to blame the WHITE MAN for everything bad that happens to them! Dredge up 400 years of history. When are WE going to take responsibility for OUR own actions? You say that we are rationalizing the Imus situation, but aren't you doing the SAME thing with Chris Rock and Isiah Thomas situations? I listened to Chris Rock's rant about how he hates N______. I found THAT offensive because there were people of ALL races laughing at that stuff? How do we know he didn't create stereotypes with that routine? What were the White people who went to that show thinking as they walked to their cars? Isiah Thomas saying that it’s NOT SO BAD when a Black man calls a Black woman a B_____! I'm sorry I cannot accept that and neither should NOW and/or the NABJ! They are getting passes while Imus continues to get dissed. Unless you were a regular viewer of his show, you would NEVER understand his brand of comedy and/or satire.

[Harley]

FOR THE LAST TIME, DON IMUS IS NOT A RACIST! When are you going to put the talking points down? I'm a minority, too. However, I will defend anyone that I feel that is being piled on and/or wronged! I don't care if they are purple! Don Imus has paid for his mistake; it is time to MOVE ON!

[PTBartman]

I don't think the Rev GE Patterson, or his wife would agree with you at all.

and they actually listened to the show.

http://imustruth.typepad.com/index/march-22-2007-louise-patt.html

[Jeannie]

Eric you write:

It's easy to confuse the dedication of Imus fans with the will of the larger public."

Read every sight on the internet right now and the 'larger public' is clearly not on your side. Even EurWeb is over this story. You can't make something true that is not - Don Imus said something stupid but that does not make him a racist or bad person. Have you never said something you could take back? The man apologized, the Team accepted it and said they wished him well. Imus is coming back whether you or any silly group likes it or not.

[David Why]

If you can defend Chris Rock, and still find Imus unforgiveable, there are 4 possibilities:

1. You've never really listened to Chris Rock.

2. You've never really listened to Don Imus.

3. You have some sort of terrible tangle inside. Meditation and/or therapy would be in order, it can't be good to walk around too long in that state.

4. Talk shows and publications need contrarians so they can show two sides to every controversy, even when there is only one obvious, tenable side. You've volunteered.

It is stylish to respond in the way you have here. If reason 3 applies to you, I'll bet you would respond well and quickly to therapy.

[RH]

It really all comes down to one thing:

IT'S COMEDY.

But I guess only certain people can get away with it.

Funny that DL Hughley spent much of his monologue talking about nappy hair and ho's and supporting Imus' right to FREE SPEECH and the largely black audience ate it up.

I think the only people upset about it are those who want to be on TV.

[Leon Lewison]

I'm disappointed in your statements regarding Don Imus. By no means am I a supporter of his, but your position is a bit hypocritical. Your very organization, while calling others racist, is racist too. It's exclusively for black people. No whites, hispanics or indians. How intellectually challenged is your organization? I am "outraged" at your organization's ignorance and lack of tolerance, while you expect and threaten it from others. The door swings both ways!Let the healing begin and let's move on. The Rutgers team has!

[Eric Deggans]

The National Association of Black journalists has members of all ethnicities. The name refers to our mission -- helping diversify media by helping black journalists get training and job opportunities -- not our membership.

Eric: You are stubborn & a good company man (no offense). I look forward to the day you open your eyes to the holes in your argument enough to be prepared to discuss on the new IMUS program (starting Dec 3rd WABC).

At least understand the perspective of the people your org pretends to defend.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,302075,00.html

[Rich]

Eric: You are stubborn & a good company man (no offense). I look forward to the day you open your eyes to the holes in your argument enough to be prepared to discuss on the new IMUS program (starting Dec 3rd WABC).

At least understand the perspective of the people your org pretends to defend.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,302075,00.html

[bellalu0]

Every poll I've seen shows upwards of 90% of the American people think Imus should return.

I think the time has come we had equality so the National Association of Black Journalists should think about changing the name to a more race neutral title. And I also believe they should stop blacklisting.

Are you going to answer my earlier questions I posed yesterday?

[Anne B]

But when I asked player Essence Carson, who speaks for the team, if she minded Imus’ return, the tall beauty responded with aplomb.

"We never asked for his resignation in the first place," she said. "He can do whatever he wants to."

Just a little quote from the article mentioned above.

[JO]

I'm missing something - why do journalists think they get to control what THE PEOPLE choose to watch, listen to or read. Sharpton and NABJ are barking up the wrong tree and Citidel doesn't owe you or anyone anything.

Sorry you were humiliated the other night but you just didn't have a leg to stand on. Simple as that really.

journalism n. Collection, writing, editing and dissemination of news through the media.

[Oscar]

Here is what I don't understand, I listened to Imus for years, and I would regularly turn him off when they went into there anti-catholic bit. I knew it was a bit, I didn't like it so I stopped listening for a while. But I took the good with the bad. I knew what I was doing.

Imus has paid a huge price for this. Perhaps a pound of flesh would appease some people, but even that will not make others happy. Let the market decide.

Oh, and it cracks me up how people like H&C and Chris Mathews would rather debate the symbols of things, (Imus, Barak Obamas pin, Al Gores Nobel prize) than actually discuss the issues as a whole. I abmire you Eric for going on and trying to state your points, but you are playing against the house with a stacked deck.

[Anne B]

I wonder if you ever saw All in the Family? It couldn't be aired in today's climate which is a shame. And did anyone think Carroll O'Connor was a racist for "playing one on tv"?

Mr. Imus had an entertainment/comedy show. If you listened closely, his comments were all over the place, it was difficult to figure out what the "real" Imus thought. Nor is it our business.

[mike]

"In a job where I have spent years insisting the subtlest media messages have a great impact, I couldn't ignore this one." But you can, and will, ignore the BET awards. I guess inviting kids accused of a brutal racially motivated attack to present an award isn't subtle enough. Maybe the standing ovation made the message so clear that you don't even have to mention it. Or maybe you only like to talk about race issues when you think the issue will grant you the holy victim status.

[Eric Deggans]

If you'll do the smallest bit of research, you'll see that NABJ also criticized BET by handing it our Thumbs Down or worst practices award at our convention in Las Vegas this year.

I think the lack of actual infomation which backs your pointed perspectives is frightening, Mike...