I just now heard for the first time the latest Imus thing .......

[Stinky The Clown]

MSNBC played a clip. They were talking about some arrested athlete. Imus asked what color he was. The other guy said "African American". Imus said "Well, there ya go."

In his statement later, he said he was simply pointing out that black people are more likely to be busted than whites and that even famous athletes are not immune.

I'm willing to give him all benefit the doubt on this one. While I don't listen to his show (it isn't even on the air here, I don't think) I have to think that he's quite chastened by his recent controversy with the lady basketball players. I think he intended what he says he intended and that his critics are hypersensitive.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Imus' true transgression is lack of comedic timing or a follow-up statement

to "There ya go".

[LordJFT]

2. oh please do not try and defend that comment

however you twist it asking the person's color and then saying "well there ya go" is definitely racist and his justification doesn't make it sound any less racist

[Stinky The Clown]

6. I'm not defending him.

I'm simply stating my opinion on one specific matter based on one lip heard one time on one teevee station.

Is it okay with you that I did that? :shrug:

[LordJFT]

16. nevertheless you are defending his comment and criticizing his critics

I find Imus's implication that the athletes skin color explains his wrongdoings to be offensive and deserving of criticism. But I guess in your words I am "hypersensitive."

[Stinky The Clown]

17. In my view .......

.... in this case ...... yes.

[Frank Lemadeer]

3. I agree

He has acted quite chastened and penitent.

I don't think he's senile yet--he's not going to make a blunder of that magnitude. In context of all the walking on eggs and reaching out he's been doing his explanation sounds plausible.

After this, though, he's probably more aware than ever that has to be careful to explain his meaning fully anytime he says anything the subject of race.

[sui generis]

4. either way, super duper free advertising and ratings

Freedom of speech - if he really was just being his usual callous self or not, Darwin will eventually step in, with a little help from his fleeing advertisers, or the few remaining who can no longer afford the ad space.

Those skid marks will eventually come out in the wash, either way. After one or two or three washes. And a lot of bleach. Unless chili was involved.

[SoFlaJet]

5. my wife and I were talking about this

and ouir conclusion was this; you should never even ask the question "what color was he?" at least not on the air or in polite company

[Stinky The Clown]

7. You're probably right ......

.... and I agree with you and your wife. That said, I still think he meant no harm with this one.

[Super Soaker Sniper]

12. Unless you are trying to make a point,

which he was.

[Saturday]

8. I totally agree. nt

[NashVegas]

9. PacMan Jones Was Run Out of Nashville

For constantly getting into trouble and continually engaging in behavior that embarrassed us.

Two years ago, Steve McNair got a DUI and the fit hit the shans. Even more recently, a white NHL player (David Legwand, I think) got DUI and was treated very, very differently.

[SoCalDem]

10. If he had meant something different, he would have said it.

Imus is no dummy..and especially since he was so recently "caught", he would have definitely said something differetn if his brain had been engaged with his mouth.. He let it "slip" again...

He could have said.. "No wonder the media/cops/courts are picking on the guy"..but he didn't say that.. he said "well, there ya go".. ..implication.. "black athletes are all lawbreaker scumbags..so what's new"..

Imus probably tries to control himself, but the days where he could get away with saying outrageous things..are over.. Rush can still do it because the organization HE works for LOVES it when he does it, but Imus is somehow still considered "mainstream", and he cannot get away with it..

[zagging]

23. Bet

If a black guy would have said it, it would have been "understood".

[Fuzz]

11. He's gotta know he's under a microscope so

why would he even wander into these waters? I know he wants to be in the dialog of race, but he's gotta know that people will jump on him for any thing they might perceive as even remotely insensitive.

I don't listen to him, he's not funny and his show is one big fucking commercial for one thing or another. I have no problem with frank discussion, I actually enjoy it. I have no problem with people speaking their mind, I get to know who the assholes are. But once a target is acquired, like Imus, he's got to either come out strong and just speak frankly and openly, (which by some accounts I've read he has) or shut up and not even touch the subject.

[stanwyck]

22. He's a flamethrower like Coulter. He wanted attention.

And he got it. When else does anyone even remember this guy is still alive? His agent must have told him it was time to say something inane again so his name would get out there and remind everyone he's still kicking.

[pt22]

13. It sounds perfectly innocuous to me...a most reasonable observation.

I could easily imagine Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton saying the very words Imus did.

[stanwyck]

14. Oh, puh-leez. If his statement didn't fit the definition

of a flatout racist, then what does? Why do people continue to defend this guy? I couldn't believe the Morning Joe folks were so amenable to Imus' blatant racism. What more do you want? A sheet over his head? His "well, there you go" should have been your clue. I guess no white athletes EVER get into trouble. EVER. "What color is he?" Well...there you go.
What exactly do you Imus defenders want? To catch him actually burning a cross on Barack Obama's yard?
So, go ahead. Give him "all benefit of (the) doubt". Why not?
And then you can do the same next time. You won't have to wait long. The man just can't help himself.
(Wow. He always gets you with his "quite chastened" act, doesn't he? Just like the guy who continually beats up his wife. He's just so, so sorry!)

[Stinky The Clown]

15. I am SOOOOOOOOO sorry .........

........ I didn't see it the way you say I should.

Your language is just a tad strong in reply to my having stated my PERSONAL opinion of what I heard on one sound clip on one teevee station.

Can you ever forgive me?

[stanwyck]

18. Sigh. I'll try

but you're going to have to rethink your blind devotion to the "nappy headed ho" guy.

[Stinky The Clown]

20. "Blind devotion"?

Where the fuck did you get THAT notion? <---not a rhetorical question - answer it or shut the fuck up.

[stanwyck]

21. Look at yourself. You're defending a man

who described college women as :"nappy headed hos". This is the person you choose to defend? And now his latest "people are forgetting who I am. I better say something heinous" outrage. You're taking the time and trouble to stand up for a guy who is a repeat offender when it comes to denigrating women and minorities. And you expect a pass?

[Stinky The Clown]

25. "And you expect a pass?"

A pass? From who? You?

Kiss my pass.

I didn't defend him. I said I think this particular incident was overblown. I said why. That's not defending him. That's stating my opinion.

YOU, on the other hand, think its okay to attack me cuz you disagree.

Like I said, Kiss My Pass.

[lynne]

19. Agree. I've listened to it and it sounds as if he has been taken out of context.

Imus does enough crappy stuff on a good day that I really don't see a need for twisting his words and his intent in this particular case.

[zagging]

24. He has been.

It's obvious.