If Al Sharpton had used a vicious pornographic slur against Laura Bush

[beaconess]

would the media with a straight face have included in their reporting an ad nauseum discussion about the prevalence of anti-misogynistic lyrics in heavy metal music?

Of course not. Because it would be assumed - properly - that Al Sharpton is a grown-assed man who is responsible for his own words and deeds. Not to mention the fact that it is highly unlikely that Rev. Sharpton is being heavily influenced by or is taking his cues from a group of people of a different generation, a different race, and a different culture.

So, why is anyone trying to suggest that Don Imus said what he did about these young women because some hip hoppers use similar language in their songs? Do they believe that Don Imus, a 67-year-old white man, is modeling his public discourse on the rantings of some teenaged and/or 20-something black rappers?

Or is it just part of the lame attempt to defend their own at all costs, regardless how ridiculous the defense has become?

[MadMaddie]

1. You nailed it...they lie, they make excuses for their statements

because this is the environment that the US government has fostered.

Imus probably would have gotten away with this a year ago, but he picked the wrong topic at the wrong time and America is just sick of it.

They have not been held accountable for 6 years....and now that they are....they cry like the biggest babies ever......

[KingFlorez]

2. Great post

If this situation was different and a black man said something rude about a white woman, people would be singing a different tune, including some on DU. Bringing up rap is just a way to rationalize the situation.

[Cobalt-60]

3. I would love to hear one

[NormanYorkstein]

4. We should not sell sexist and racist rap music to anyone under 18

Hmm maybe a parental warning sticker, and no sales to anyone under 18? I wonder if that's okay with anybody?

[Erika]

5. What does 18 have to do with being sexist and racist?

You think then it's ok?

[NormanYorkstein]

6. I believe in the first amendment

I don't want to "ban" any kind of speech, including sexist and racist speech, obviously.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NormanYorkstein]

9. what?

wtf are you talking about?

[earthside]

8. Because Imus and Rappers are Entertainers

That ... is the commonality.

Imus doesn't make public policy -- he's just a radio talk show comedian. He shouldn't be taken anymore seriously than yakkers like Slimebaugh or Mr. Weiner or Howard Stern.

And rappers are just tools of Sony BMG, they make money exploiting young people with 'outrageous' music.

But, of course, they should all be condemned when they use hateful, racist, misogynist words in lyrics or on the radio.

The danger is that when Sharpton and Jackson and the usual professional 'victims' lobbies get involved, it validates the impression that all liberals are trying to be the "political correctness" police. It also leads to the impression that progressives can't be taken seriously -- we were debating funding or ending the war ... and now we're all in a tizzy about some old man radio personality's two second insult.

This whole thing strikes me as a Bushite, radical Republican, corporate distraction to keep us from pressing the case hard on ending the war and on Gonzo-gate -- at just the time those issues are reaching a critical mass point.

I say we let this fade away ... Imus is just not that important.

Forty-three U.S. troops killed in Iraq so far this month.

[beaconess]

10. Excuse me, but I resent the term "professional 'victims' lobbies"

Many, many people - including me - were offended by Imus' comments and the fact that we are exercising our First Amendment rights to object to it does not turn us into a "professional 'victims' lobby."

Sharpton and Jackson aren't the story, nor are they trying to be. If you watched television today, you would have seen an almost unanimous outcry from all manner of blacks and whites - many of whom had nothing in common politically. For example, MSNBC and CNN have interviewed, among others, conservatives Robert George, Amy Holmes, Joe Watson, CBC Chair Carolyn Kilpatrick, National Urban League President Marc Morial, and Whoopi Goldberg - none of whom are part of any kind of "victim's lobby."

Trying to diminish and degrade our feelings about and response to this outrage is much more serious a problem than the fact that we are speaking up. If anyone is playing the "victim," it is Imus - following in the footsteps of most bigots who get caught - and his defenders who seem to think that it is much worse for a 67-year-old man who calls a group of young college students "hoes" to be thought of as a racist than it is to be called a "ho" on network television.

And, by the way, Imus is not just an "entertainer." He is a newsmaker who is treated as a major political player. Tim Russert isn't running around with Nelly. McCain and Dodd aren't appearing on "Rap Nation" to announce their presidential candidacies. Snoop Dog does not emcee the White House Correspondents' Dinner.