Imus shows again why sometimes PC is saner than not-PC

[BurtWorm]

http://mediamatters.org/items/rss/200612080006

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.

From the November 30 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning:

IMUS: A great hour coming up. The Blind Boys of Alabama are gonna sing a bunch of tunes for us. I mean, they, you know, are just an American treasure.

CHARLES McCORD (co-host): That is not an overstatement.

IMUS: I remember when I first had 'em on a few years ago how the Jewish management at --

McCORD: Mmm-hmm.

IMUS: -- at whatever, whoever we work for, CBS, or whatever it is, were bitching at me about it. You know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Careful there, Mel.

IMUS: And, uh -- well, not Mel. Mel's always

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I meant Mel Gibson.

IMUS: Oh. Well, no, no, that's not from where I'm coming, obviously.

McCORD: You meant Mel Allen, then.

IMUS: But, uh, you know.

McGUIRK: They were dissing the handicapped African-Americans --

IMUS: Remember that?

McGUIRK: -- who love the baby Jesus.

McCORD: Yes.

IMUS: Remember that?

McGUIRK: Absolutely.

IMUS: We had a meeting in my office.

McCORD: I recall.

McGUIRK: The Blind Boys? No, no!

IMUS: They were furious. But, of course, I don't care what they say and never have.

McCORD: Yeah.

IMUS: And thank God. What, Bernie?

McGUIRK: Even if you wear a beanie, how can you not love the Blind Boys?

McCORD: These guys.

IMUS: Well, as I -- I tried to put it in terms that these money-grubbing bastards could understand.

IMUS: I said -- and they're always worried about my image and all that sort of thing, you know. And 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 their scummy little heads. And, plus, they're great!

McCORD: And they are great. Where is the downside? Explain that to me.

[AnnInLa]

1. How in hell does he stay on broadcast TV and Radio?

He's not even funny....not even relevant.

[Richard Steele]

4. I think someone decided that "banal and puerile" is the new "funny" a few years ago.

That's all I can figure.

[goclark]

2. He acts so much like GW in many ways

His conversation is usually about HIM and what HE believes in.

[MADem]

3. Ah, the Jews...a new target, for a change. His favorite bullseye used to be

Blacks, particularly those in leadership positions. He and his cohorts just couldn't help doing some heavy duty mocking. When he endorsed Harold Ford Jr, though, I noticed that shit was substantially reduced.

It makes the irony of this whole conversation even more noticeable.

Imus is an old man. It's starting to show (listen on the radio or the net, you can hear the wheezing and hacking that MSNBC does a good job of editing out). His influence wanes with every passing day. I'm thinking he's ramping up to jump the shark in a few years.

Just as well.