Would Imus be in less trouble if he made his comments about a politician?

Question

First off, I think his comments are obviously racist and disgusting. (I don't think that would come out of my mouth even if I were on air for hours a day, for years - I don't know where that came from!) But it seems to me that one reason it's especially hurtful is because of the target of the insults - young people who were not really "fair game" for public insults, but student athletes who were just trying to excel, and did.

If he had directed that comment at Maxine Waters or Condoleeza Rice, would the outcry have been less?

Politicians get flak, sometimes vicious and bigoted, all the time. Jack Cafferty just called Alberto Gonzales a "glorified waterboy" on the air, and most people don't even know about it. Maybe there's some double standard at work. But it just seems more cruel to direct it at a young person who is not really a public figure. (This may explain the "macaca" outrage too.)

Am I right? And if so, why do we accept more vicious slurs towards politicians?

Answer 1

He would have been in trouble regardless. While, what he said was offensive and should not have been said, I take issue to the uproar for this reason.
Until the black community stops its own from using the "n" word, calling women "Bit*hes and Ho's" and rappers don't glorify the words and also use the "nappy haired" description for themselves ( as the rapper Ice Cube did in a few of his songs as well as other rappers), they have no business castigating Don Imus for doing it. Therein lies the double standard
Don Imus is an equal opportunity insulter, no one, neither through ethinicity, political affiliation or religion, well known public figure or not, has escaped his acid tongue. If he had been chastized for those as well as this, that would be one thing but to make those okay for insult but not this, sorry they can't have it both ways.
I think you are right in terms of description however, the Jack Cafferty comment did not refer to Gonzales' ethnicity or did it stereotype him. It describes the perception of his behavior.
While it might not appear that way, the mere fact that a person becomes a member of a team that has its games broadcast nationwide, it can be construed that the person has now become a"public" figure. It might not be fair but that is just the way it is. Teams utilize television to grow a fan base, it publicizes its team members which helps to draw scouts to them to move them into professional leagues.
Personal vicious slurs towards politicians should not be acceptable BUT we know that in the heat of "battle" their detractors will not stay with the issues of job performance or lack thereof and go for the jugular and make it personal.

Answer 2

Why is it that when a white person says something jokingly with any kind of racist overtones the Black people like Al Sharpton and Jessee Jackson get all bent out of shape but when a Black person does it in Rap Music and say much worse stuff nobody is offended?

Al Sharpton and Jessee Jackson are two of the most racist individuals I've ever heard, they call Jews names like Himey and other such stuff and aren't held accountable for their remarks why aren't they fired and kept off the Airwaves?

I am Native American when are these people going to learn that we've been mistreated for years and where is the indignation, and uproar? The black community is always jumping on the white community for anything and everything they say, I think it's high time they all get over themselves and quit trying to dictate what I or anyone else can say.

Answer 3

He'd have been far more under siege if he had said it about Obama. Nobody wants to have their charming prince of Camelot asked to explain what he actually believes, so I think there would be a massive outcry if racist comments were made toward him.

However, I don't think the guy should be fired for this or forced to be verbally assaulted on Al Sharpton's radio show.

Would there be any outrage if a black reporter made racist comments against a white sports team? Considering the inadequate outrage over the Duke Lacrosse lynching, I don't think so.

I don't think that the comments he said were even particularly racist. This outrage over a few women being referred to as "hos" is probably as ridiculous as the outrage over John Edwards being called a "fag."

Answer 4

I think the outcry would have been the same.

But glorified waterboy for Gonzales is not a racist comment--it just means that Gonzales does what Bush tells him.

Answer 5

This whole situation with Imus is stupid. Nothing he said was racial what so ever. The only reason it was taken as racist is because he used words that are common in black conversations and not common in white conversations.

"Nappy Headed Hos". Don't see anything in this statement that references black people.

Stop being so sensitive and grow the hell up!

Answer 6

It was perhaps unfair, as you say, to direct this at young college women, but if stupid Howard Stern said this, his idiot on-air shill, Robin, would have giggled herself silly.
Or if some black comedian or "personality" said this it would have gone unnoticed.

Answer 7

if he was another race there wouldn't be this problem , comedians say all kind of racist stuff and people laugh , rap artist call women bitches and whores and people still buy their crap ,