USA: Radio talk show host gets furious backlash for racial comments

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

 

In line with the allround transit affliction seen in the SAMVA USA

chart, which is becoming more intense, the communal harmony in the

USA has been destabilised by comments uttered by a radio talk show

host as a joke, but which African Americans have reacted to with

fury. This story is headlining all the major US news services and is

in line with the predictions made based on the SAMVA USA chart.

 

Best wishes,

 

Thor

 

Imus critics: Apology, suspension not enough

POSTED: 10:22 a.m. EDT, April 10, 2007

Story Highlights• NEW: Rutgers players will hold Tuesday news

conference

• NEW: Radio host Don Imus should be fired, critics say

• MSNBC and CBS will suspend Imus for two weeks

• Imus apologized on the Rev. Al Sharpton's radio show

 

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Critics of radio host Don Imus aren't swayed by the

shock jock's apology or MSNBC and CBS Radio's decisions to suspend

him after he referred to a women's college basketball team as " nappy-

headed hos. "

 

They want Imus canned, plain and simple -- not only because the

remark was deemed racist, but also because it smacked of misogyny.

 

Imus tried to stem the backlash from his comments by appearing on the

Rev. Al. Sharpton's syndicated radio show Monday, where he said there

was no excuse for his remark and " I wish I hadn't said it. I'm sorry

I said it. " (Watch CNN's Jeanne Moos on the Apology Hall of Fame )

 

Imus made the offensive barb Wednesday, the day after the Rutgers

University women lost their national championship bid to the

University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers.

 

Sharpton was not placated by Imus' apology and told CNN's Paula Zahn

later Monday that the radio host's two-week suspension was merely " a

baby step in the right direction. "

 

" I think to say that his statements were racist, as they've said,

then that means they should not allow him to come back, " he said.

 

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference and National Association

of Black Journalists have joined the former Democratic presidential

hopeful in his call for Imus' ouster. The SCLC has asked the Federal

Communications Commission to enter the fray.

 

The Rev. Jesse Jackson said during a Monday demonstration outside

NBC's Chicago, Illinois, studio that Imus' comment should not be

written off as " a slip of the lip. "

 

The NAACP echoed Jackson and Sharpton's sentiment, saying, " Those

that are given access to the public through mainstream media must be

put on notice that they have everything to lose by spewing racist

ideas and rants. "

 

Added Julian Bond, chairman of the group's national board of

directors: " As long as an audience is attracted to his bigotry and

politicians and pundits tolerate his racism and chauvinism to promote

themselves, Don Imus will continue to be a serial apologist for

prejudice. It is past time his employers took him off the air. "

 

Women also came to the Scarlet Knights' defense Tuesday, insisting

that the flap over Imus' remarks was not solely about race.

 

" My listeners are irate; they're just so upset about this. It's just

something that continues to happen with this person, " said April Ryan

of American Urban Radio Networks. " I think right now it's about women

and minorities. It's not just about minority women; it's women and

minorities he's offended and humanity as a whole. "

 

Appearing on Sharpton's show, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, a

Michigan Democrat and chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus,

also raised the issue of chauvinism.

 

" I mean, who says 'hos' publicly? " she asked. " What is that? That is

probably one of the most derogatory things any woman -- black, brown,

yellow -- could even ever experience. "

 

The Rutgers hoops squad, which has eight black and two white players,

is scheduled to break its silence on Imus' remarks during an 11 a.m.

ET news conference Tuesday.

 

Suspensions to begin Monday

MSNBC and CBS Radio, which owns New York's sports-talk station WFAN,

announced they were suspending Imus for two weeks for his remarks,

effective Monday.

 

MSNBC's " future relationship " with Imus depends on " his ability to

live up to his word, " according to a statement from NBC News. The

cable channel simulcasts a television version of Imus' radio show.

 

" His dedication -- in his words -- to change the discourse on his

program moving forward has confirmed for us that this action is

appropriate, " the statement said. (Watch Imus on Sharpton's show )

 

Shortly afterward, CBS announced plans to suspend its broadcast of

Imus' radio program for the same two weeks.

 

On the Wednesday show that kicked off the controversy, Imus told

listeners, " That's some rough girls from Rutgers. "

 

" Man, they got tattoos, " he said. " That's some nappy-headed hos

there, I'm going to tell you that now. "

 

Imus apologized for the remark Friday and repeated the apology Monday.

 

" I'm a good person, but I said a bad thing, " he said. " But these

young women deserve to know that it was not said with malice. " (Watch

how some say " sorry " isn't enough )

 

On the Rutgers campus, Imus' words were met with outrage. University

President Richard McCormick called the remarks " disgraceful,

disgusting and racist. "

 

McCormick further said the women hoopsters " represented Rutgers in an

exemplary fashion of which we are extraordinarily proud, and then he

says that. Why, why, why, why, why? "

 

Should Imus be sacked?

However, not everyone believes Imus' remarks should earn him the

boot.

 

Syndicated columnist Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune said the

suspension was sufficient in his view.

 

" I personally think that's enough. That's more than he has ever

gotten before, " said Page. " He was called to the carpet by his public

on numerous occasions. I think this gives a sound warning because it

hits him in the pocketbook, although I am sure it will just help his

ratings. "

 

Republican presidential contender Sen. John McCain said Monday that

the shock jock's comments haven't dissuaded him from appearing on the

show.

 

" I'm a great believer in redemption, " the senator from Arizona told

reporters in Phoenix. " Whether he needs to do more in order to

satisfy the concerns of people like the members of that team, that's

something that's between him and them. "

 

Page said candidates may need to answer for their appearances on the

show, " just as if they belonged to a country club that discriminates. "

 

Howard Kurtz, media critic for The Washington Post and host of

CNN's " Reliable Sources, " said Imus is known for his comedy, but " his

comedy too often strays into the offensive. "

 

Kurtz, whom Imus once called a " boner-nosed, beanie-wearing Jew boy, "

said Imus may now understand that his remarks about the Rutgers team

crossed the line.

 

" Imus should be held accountable for some of these offensive things

that he says, but there is also a good side to Don Imus, and I don't

think that should be completely obliterated in all of this chest

thumping, " he said.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/10/imus.rutgers/index.html