I got this in my email:
So, the big controversy is whether or not Rosenberg should have been allowed to return after his statements. I didn’t hear all of the comments he made, just the part sent to me by vote.com.
I’m not too certain if this is in the right forum, so please move it if it is. Thanks.
Heloise
Some might remember during the OJ Simpson trial when former Sen. Al D’Amato, (Pig)-NY and an old pal of Imus, went on the show and when asked about Judge Ito, busted out with this timeless “Aieee!” My-ah name is ah-Judge ah-Ito!" routine. (Not hard to guess from the tape that his eyes were scrunched up and his teeth sticking out etc.) It was a big controversy for a few days before blowing over; D’amato had to apologize to Japanese-Americans etc. but nobody bothered to mention that Imus and his entire zoo crew laughed their asses off at the impression.
Anyone who thinks Imus isn’t a racist and homophobic and misogynistic old prune without a scintilla of compassion for his fellow man hasn’t listened very closely to his show. Comments like Rosenberg’s are very much de rigeur on the Imus show. We might have a story like this every day - if his ratings weren’t so low in recent years. Guess the wrong person happened to tune in that day.
Any suspension or temporary firing on Imus’ part - as if he was somehow offended by such comments - is pure, P.C. ass-covering on his part. There should never have been any doubt that this Rosenberg would be swiftly reinstated after a token apology at most. Why? Because such views are perfectly in tune with those of Imus’ listeners. I am supremely confident that the “Williams sisters posing for National Geographic” routine went over like gangbusters with that crowd. Big laughs, all around.
I heard some of the repartee between SR and DI, although I didn’t hear SI make the offensive remarks. To my taste, SR was terrible. He simply was not a professonal broadcaster. He was desperately trying to do something to be retained. I would guess that he was slated to be fired, independent of his offensive comment.
Whoa there, cowboy. I have to take exception to the “without a scintilla of compassion for his fellow man” comment. Imus donates tens of thousands of dollars every year to charity. The Imus Ranch is a wonderful place. It’s a free dude ranch for kids with cancer. Don Imus, his wife and his brother spend many long hours and lots of money on this venture. Read about it here.
Just because you don’t like his humor is no reason to attack his character. Yes, I’m aware that that’s exactly the kind of thing he does. You don’t want to be a hypocrite, do you?
Haj
I don’t about the specifics of the RTA rant, but I agree that Imus is a contemptible person. By his own admission, his show exists for the purpose of “reveling in the agony of others”, and generally reflects this priority.
Imus goes on and on about the ranch, and never specifies how many kids come there and for how long. From the posted link it appears to be six kids for a week (though I think there may be two sessions - in that case make it two weeks). When you consider the millions of dollars that were spent on this ranch it boggles the mind. Truth is that Imus himself grew up in the Southwest, and he stays at the ranch for most or all of the summer. Seems to me like a glorified non-profit retirement home for Imus, more than a charity. The fact that corporations spent so much money on this is an indication (in case one was needed) of the motivations of corporate charity - it’s not good deeds, it’s tax deductible publicity.
(In general, the idea that siblings of kids who died of SIDS have any unique need for a ranch vacation always struck me as odd. The cancer kids I agree with).
Who gives a rat’s ass if a celebrity donates some cash to charity? Imus make 100s of thousands, if not millions, of dollars per year. He can afford to make some charitable contributions. I get sick when people say how great Princess Diana was because of her work with getting rid of landmines. SHE WAS RICH AND DIDN"T HAVE A JOB! Put me in that same position and I will try to help the world, as well.
Sorry about the hijack. Back to the topic, no matter how much cash someone gives away, it does not change the fact that they may be homophobic, racist, etc. Besides, the talentless Imus stole his entire act from Howard Stern.
I don’t see anything wrong about celebrities using their popularity for a good cause. If you think that all celebrities are just self-serving when it comes to charity, well, I have two words for you:
Audrey Hepburn.
What IzzyR and blainer say are exactly right; just because a person runs some alleged charity operation doesn’t automatically make that person a good person. It might just mean that they have, say, a savvy understanding of tax law, or maybe a shrewd and cynical publicist. Of COURSE he donates to charity! He’s loaded!
I visited the link which hajario provides. It would indeed appear true that the Imus ranch “provides kids with cancer or serious blood disorders, and children who have lost brothers and sisters to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, the experience of the great American cowboy.”
According to the website, a total of six (6) children have enjoyed this once-in-a-lifetime experience; all during one week in July 2000. Lots of photos of happy kids; zero evidence that Imus was actually in the same state when any of this is going on.
I must admit I have never heard of this so-called “Imus Ranch” … Do corporations really funnel millions of dollars into this dubious operation? (Just so six unfortunate urchins every year can go work on Imus’ plantation?) Krusty the Clown would be proud!
According to Guidestar about $13 million as of 1999 (another $6 million in 2000)
Guidestar’s got an interesting page there!
… Fiscal year ending 28 Feb. 1999, the Imus Ranch, Inc. received 12.5 mill in “contributions” and nearly half a mill in “investments”; combine that with only about $300,000 paid out for administration and something called “other” (and $0 for “program services”) and you have yourself a tidy little moneymaker with a 12.64 million profi- I mean, “net gain”. And all he has to do is trot out a few sickly looking kids every now and then, which could just as easily be the grandchildren of Ken Starr for all we know. Again, Krusty would be proud.
I’m quite amazed that he’s been able to get away with it. If I was a cancerous or otherwise downtrodden urchin staying at the Imus Ranch, knowing that the equivalent of at least a million dollars was being invested in my mere one week’s sojourn, I would be saying: “Horseshoes, again? I don’t want to make things out of these crappy old horseshoes. Where the hell are the performing elephants and the dancing girls and the all-you-can-eat ice cream?”