Imus: CBS Blinks

OUR LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE IS OVER!
Don Imus is off the air.

NBC and CBS didn't just give Imus the axe; they put him through the wood chipper.

It didn't take long for both networks to fold under pressure from their liberal brethren.
(Before I continue, I have to qualify my comments.

I think Imus' remark about the women of the Rutgers basketball team was racist, offensive, inappropriate, ugly, wrong, etc. I'm not excusing his behavior in any way. I'm not in Imus' corner.)

Imus was fired for what he said. That's the prerogative of his employers. I have no problem with that.

However, I am uncomfortable with the circus of his dismissal.

This has really been a bizarre episode, a made-for-TV, 24 hour news cycle, runaway train.

From The New York Times:

CBS brought a weeklong confrontation over a racial and sexual insult by the radio host Don Imus to an end yesterday when it canceled the “Imus in the Morning” program, effective immediately.

The move came a day after the cable television network MSNBC, a General Electric unit that has simulcast Mr. Imus’s radio program for the last 10 years, removed the show from its morning lineup. The two moves, taken together, mean that Mr. Imus, who has been broadcasting the program for more than 30 years, no longer has a home on either national radio or television.

It is possible, though, that he could re-emerge on satellite radio.

Mr. Imus received the news at home in a telephone call. Many of his listeners learned of it during the afternoon radio show “Mike and the Mad Dog,” which announced it on WFAN, the CBS-owned New York station that also carried Mr. Imus’s program.

How dramatic!

Imus was at home when the dreaded phone call came.

The Times can do better than that. We need more details.

What was Imus wearing when he heard the news?

The CBS chief executive, Leslie Moonves, met yesterday afternoon with the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, leaders in what became a national movement to remove Mr. Imus from the air in the wake of his comments disparaging members of the Rutgers women’s basketball team. On April 4, Mr. Imus referred on the air to the Rutgers athletes as “nappy-headed hos.”

Both CBS and MSNBC had been under pressure from black leaders and women’s groups, then advertisers began abandoning the Imus program and its networks this week, pulling out the financial underpinnings from the show.

In a statement, Mr. Moonves said: “Those who have spoken with us the last few days represent people of good will from all segments of our society — all races, economic groups, men and women alike. In our meetings with concerned groups, there has been much discussion of the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society.”

He went on to say, “That consideration has weighed most heavily on our minds as we made our decision, as have the many e-mails, phone calls and personal discussions we have had with our colleagues across the CBS Corporation and our many other constituencies.”

What the best-dressed disgruntled radio personalities are wearing

Les Moonves really is a joke.

His statement is such a load!

Since when did CBS start caring about "the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society"?

It's been a relatively recent development, like within the last 48 hours.

I don't like the way these network executives are betraying Imus.

They promoted him. They profited from him. They used him to push their on-air personalities.

Same goes for all the elected officials that suddenly have decided that Imus is unfit to be in their presence.

Moonves' comments on the effect of racist language on young people are so hypocritical.

Suddenly, he's developed a social conscience?

I don't think so.

The CBS decision came hours before Mr. Imus and the Rutgers basketball team met at the New Jersey governor’s mansion in Princeton. The Rutgers group at the meeting included some parents, university adminstrators, and the Rev. DeForest Soaries of the First Baptist Church in Somerset, N.J., where the Rutgers head coach, C. Vivian Stringer, is a parishioner.

At 10:50 p.m., after three hours, Mr. Imus left without commenting. The Rutgers group stayed about an hour longer. Ms. Stringer spoke for the group before leaving.

“It was a very productive meeting,” she said. “Players, coaches, parents, administrators, the pastor, and Mr. Imus were able to really dialogue. I’m extremely proud of our 10 young basketball players.”

Asked if Mr. Imus apologized, Ms. Stringer declined to answer. “We’ve said as much as we can say tonight.”

Good grief.

What is this? The Camp David Accords?

Was Jimmy Carter at the meeting? Does anyone know?

Again, Imus said something extremely offensive. He certainly should apologize and be held accountable. If his employers think firing him is a proper response, fine. Whatever.

I just think this incident has ballooned into an absolute farce.

I think it's frightening that NBC and CBS are willing to kowtow to the likes of anti-Semitic Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

When did they become the arbiters of decency?

I'm not too comfortable with Sharpton and Jackson being able to snap their fingers and get networks and their sponsors to buckle.

I'm reminded of all the libs who demonized John Ashcroft as the worst threat to our civil liberties since George III.

Are Sharpton and Jackson guardians of our civil liberties?

I don't see them in that role.

Let me say again, I'm totally against the degrading discourse of Imus.

But, I'm also against punishment meted out unfairly.

Clean up the airwaves. That's fine with me.

Step one would be targeting the radio stations and cable stations that give air time to "artists" that use racist and sexist lyrics in their songs and imagery in their videos.

I know that's been said frequently the past couple of days, but it's a valid point.

If we're taking out the trash, let's take out ALL the trash.

Something else that bothers me about the Imus incident is what some with the Rutgers team are saying.

Thursday, Oprah Winfrey had the team as her guests.

I didn't see the show. That's right. I don't watch Oprah. And I didn't watch or listen to Imus.

I did read this quote from basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer in a report mentioning the team's Oprah appearance:

"Not only did he steal our dreams, he hurt our character of Rutgers University, our state, and all who have been associated," Stringer said on the show.

Really?

Imus stole their dreams?

How can that be?

I honestly don't get it.

I understand how painful his words would have been. They were cruel and degrading and hateful.

I do not accept the premise that Imus did irreparable damage to the players, Rutgers University, the state of New Jersey, and everyone associated.

More than anything else, Imus' racist remark was SELF-destructive.

Time to get a grip.