IMUS SUSPENDED FOR TWO WEEKS

[youngdem]

We're almost there.

Let's make it permanent.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Hmm.

Now are they trying to make a publicity stunt out of it, and cash in on racism?

[TahitiNut]

31. It seems clear that there's more than a little intention to "cash in on racism."

The careful 'questions' about whether Imus can adopt this as a 'cause' in doing penance is, I believe, more than a little exploitative.

I see no reason to regard his firing as any kind of 'capital punishment' and the notion that a 2-week suspension of (only!) the simulcast of his radio show is obscenely hypocritical. Let's REMEMBER that the ONLY action being taken is a hiatus in MSNBC's simulcast and that his radio show is not (yet) at risk.

It's appalling to me that the 'elite' regard a suspension (what blue collar workers call time off) or (god forbid) a loss of a job as some kind of extreme punishment ... when MILLIONS of honest, hard-working people have lost their jobs due to the exploitations of the wealthy in the last several years.

This is, imho, also symptomatic of the nearly total right-wing ownership of the media. Where's MSNBC's black anchor person? Other than Allison Stewart, MSNBC (and CNN and Fox) show very, very little diversity in their career development. I wasn't the biggest Bernie Sanders fan in the world, but I sure thought he was head and shoulders superior to Blitzer.

So, if Imus gets fired I won't shed an iota of moisture. The prospect that he'll milk it to "cash in" seems far too possible and nauseates me.

[donco6]

2. Link?

Just want to know some details. Suspended with pay I suppose?

[orleans]

12. breaking news on msnbc: simulcast of imus show will be

suspended for two weeks

it's on the screen now

[donco6]

23. I'm still at work.

Will have to check later.

[orleans]

28. i don't know the details (with or without pay) but the screen had

the BREAKING NEWS band on it with this tidbit in it! (just about the same time jonathan alter said he would continue to do the imus show!)

[orleans]

29. i don't know the details (with or without pay) but the screen had

the BREAKING NEWS band on it with this tidbit in it! (just about the same time jonathan alter said he would continue to do the imus show!)

[donco6]

30. Another thread posted the statement.

We'll have to see how it all plays out I guess. I am beginning to think this backlash has finally gotten someone's attention, at least.

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. What?! He hasn't been fired???!!

:grr:

[orleans]

14. maybe this is the first step to getting fired? n/t

[AnnInLa]

17. Unfortunately, no

His "freedom of speech" is protected. His high-paying job is not. He can say anything he likes, I guess, but has to pay the consequences. I am so tired of their female-bashing. They aren't funny.

from

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/4/9/13235/33433

The progressive left is pushing as well. Media Matters put out a press release listing Imus's outrages spoken by either Imus or his producer: Obama has a "Jew-hating name", Obama is a "young colored fellah", will have cornrows and gold teeth before this fight with Obama is over," "Bitch is gonna be wearing cornrows", will be "giving Crips signs during speeches", CBS's "Jewish management" are "money-grubbing bastards".

Think Progress points out that Imus's producer said Jill Carroll wears "terrorist headgear", "carrying Zarqawi's baby", and is known as "Taliban Jill." And then as Atrios pointed earlier today, Imus just isn't actually sorry for what he said, he's only sorry that it's not acceptable to be publicly racist anymore.

The NAJB immediately called for an apology. Jack and Jill Politics discusses Imus in the context of attitudes towards race, and Tennessee Guerilla Woman point to the National Organization for Women petition asking for Imus to go. The blogosphere is aflame.

Meanwhile, MSNBC is pretending that Imus doesn't work for them. I don't link to the National Review very often, but they are spot-on here.

That's ridiculous. Not only does MSNBC give Imus his own page on MSNBC.com, but the Imus show is a regular destination for NBC's top correspondents. If MSNBC is really so offended, maybe they should forbid NBC employees from appearing on the show as some sort of punishment.

and this from

http://www.alternet.org/story/50319/

Phil Sheridan, a Philadelphia Inquirer sports writer, noted that Imus and his protectors are likely to trot out the notion of political correctness, "whose knees jerk in that direction when hate speech is called hate speech. The First Amendment protects every Americans right to freedom of speech. It doesn't protect racists high paying media jobs. ... It is one thing for Spike Lee to explore issues of racial identity in an edgy satire, it is another for two out-of -touch white imbeciles to express their Neanderthal reaction to a women's basketball team." Columnist Filip Bondy of the working class tabloid Daily News, in a column headlined "Imus spews hate, should be fired," wrote that shock jock "should be axed for one of the most despicable comments ever uttered on the air."

David Carr writing in the New York Times, wryly noted, that the "nappy headed ho's" comment was "even for Imus, a radio host who knows his way around an insult, a shocking remark, one that seemed to impugn both the physical and moral characteristics of a team composed mostly of black players. ... What followed was a familiar dance for Imus and the media companies who profit from his ability to shock his way to big audiences: outrage, indignation, and the expression of deep regret."

he reason Imus is still on the air has to do with the fact that he is very profitable and that dozens of powerful elected officials, journalists and TV personalities come on his show, promoting themselves to his large audience, and earning some kind of spurs for going mano y mano with Imus. Imus makes big bucks for WFAN, his local NY station and the parent owner, CBS Radio. And more recently, he has brought 40% growth for MSNBC, the cable "also ran" which desperate for audience, added 100,000 viewers in the past year (for an average total of 358,000) after it started "simulcasting" the Imus show.

The Imus show also enjoys the patina of intellectual and political cover given to him by any number of well known guests, who time and again are unwilling to confront Imus for his hateful behavior. In the end, these guests must be considered enablers of Imus's racism and bile. The day after Imus's racist remarks, Tim Russert was interviewed on the show and said nothing about the incident. Joe Lieberman John McCain, and media figures Frank Rich and Chris Mathews and numerous others appear. Today, April 9, a top Newsweek editor Evan Thomas will be on the show.

Why Do Top Media Figures Go On?

Why do they go on? Well for one, it is a big audience -- you can sell books on the show and have a rambling, sometimes provocative discussion. But more importantly, apparently Imus can get you access to the white male macho audience he appeals to and with whom he has much influence. Office seekers and media types, and they are almost all white males, seem to want to bask in Imus's super masculine glow in the hope it rubs off on them, in case they have seemed to be inadequate to Imus's white male audience in some way.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

4. To rehab at Camp Coulter?

[pscot]

By his balls

we hope?

[DemBones DemBones]

11. . . .

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[AnnInLa]

5. Announced by Brian Williams on NBC Nightly News

Doing a whole segment about it....good coverage. West Coast can catch it.

[NormanYorkstein]

6. Yes - call his sponsors and especially the guests

As someone pointed out it's the fact that Imus gets famous guests that make his show. Cal Ripkin the Great One has already canceled. Just a few more and Imus is toast.

[senseandsensibility]

24. It's pathetic that Cal Ripkin

will cancel on Imus and corporate news creeps like Howard Fineman and even Carville won't. Disgusting.

[NormanYorkstein]

33. Cal Ripken Jr. is a great American hero

Fineman and Carville are diseased mouthjob whores.

[Demeter]

7. What Is This? Hockey?

What a strange way to handle business!

[DrDan]

9. I agree with you

this is insane . . . this is absolutely no way to run a business

[DrDan]

8. suspended???? what the hell does that mean????

they gave Imus a time-out????????

what is this, junior high?

[NightWatcher]

10. He's off of MSNBC for 2 weeks

He still has his radio show for right now.

[RamboLiberal]

20. Excuse me - he's still doing the radio show

Then that is no real punishment.

I think the suspension would be ok from both but for a longer period - at least a month. And with the caveat that this high school boys racist/sexist humor would no longer be tolerated from him or his bully boy sidekicks. One more strike and you're fired Imus no matter who on your staff utters the offending words.

And I only say this because the suits allowed him to get away with this crap till now.

The other bully boys in radio and TV should be put on notice as well and I don't care how big a name they are!

[NightWatcher]

21. plus, the suspension doesnt go into affect until the 16th

[KharmaTrain]

26. And He Gets To Wait Until Monday

This is like suspending the player for getting in a fight but making him sit out the games against the poor team...picking their own terms and suspension. And, as you note, this is only MSNBC...it's not the 70 radio stations. Wanna bet MSNBC "substitutes" this with a "Best Of Anus"...gotta keep those dollars rolling in. And now they've got a ratings builder for when Anus "returns" from his suspension. In the meantime, he gets a paid vacation.

[Beausoir]

13. Outrageous. He must be fired.

Anyone who appears on his show legitimizes this brand of sexist, racist hate speech.

[jakefrep]

25. Why? He hasn't done anything to deserve to be fired

[dweller]

15. the show has been suspended for 2 weeks, on NBC

not I'm-ass. He's actually a CBS employee? that's who his station in NY is owned by.

dp

[TahitiNut]

32. The MSNBC simulcast was suspended, NOT(!!) the show itself.

Sheer posturing of no subtantive import whatsoever. I'd sure like to know how IMUS' contract is written. Given his roots as a "shock jock" I doubt such remarks are actionable under his contract.

[DemBones DemBones]

16. So we have two weeks to convince the networks that carry him

and perhaps his sponsors that he has to go. Is it CBS radio that airs his show? I've seen it a few times on MSNBC, thought he was a creep.

We need a list of sponsors, I think. Quick, I'm about to lose my internet connection for a week or two!

[orleans]

18. i watched jonathan alter on tucker--and alter will CONTINUE to go on IMUS

(disappointed in him--is it about a paycheck? name recognition? low principles? why jonathan, why?)

--maybe alter won't bother for at least two weeks since his face won't been seen...

[ronnykmarshall]

19. Good.

But why is Coulter still on the air?

[Rex]

22. So did he get stuck in 'Time Out'?

Wow. The M$M really just seems to be for entertainment now. I can't imagine calling this news. Well his suspension is! :rofl:

Put the racist dunce hat on Imus! At least your not a traitor! Right Bob?

[Missy Vixen]

27. Oh, wow

Hand slap.

Not enough. Not when he's been making these comments repeatedly for years.

Julie