# Imus is outta work. Why was his insult so much worse than his usual stuff? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 12, 2007, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864 "2007-04-12T21:58:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/41 "2007-04-13T11:58:54Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] the networks kowtowed to the financial impact rather than putting what is dear to us constitutionally first. [/QUOTE] I’d like to point out that “financial impact” is the only reason Imus was on the air in the first place. He was never, ever, put on the air because of his first amendment right to speak, every single moment, every single word he spoke into a microphone was broadcast because of his ability to earn money for the station. I hate when the first amendment gets brought up in these situations, because your right to speak doesn’t mean you get the right to use CBS’s broadcast equipment to deliver your words across the country. One other thing about the situation, and I haven’t heard this from commentators, is the effect on society at large. Making jokes and comments like this in such a public forum, validates the negative perception of the group being made fun of. Especially among people who already hold negative opinions of other groups, hearing a “respected” person make those comments just reinforces the opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/42 "2007-04-13T12:04:12Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] I still don’t think he should have been fired, though. When someone says something on the air that you don’t like, you have the freedom to change the channel. The interesting thing is that his sponsors, employers, listeners and guests weren’t particularly offended by his racist, misogynist idea of “funny.” It was the people who \*don’t \* watch him who decided that _everyone_ needs to change the channel. [/QUOTE] I don’t like the idea of anyone (Sharpton or otherwise) playing Public Censor, so we’re agreed about that much. I was kidding yesterday that soon, news stories will refer to ‘ho’ as “the h-word,” just as stories about othe racial slurs print “the n-word.” But this statement also implies Imus can offend anyone except his fans. That sounds like it’s a little too far in the other direction - non-listeners have good cause to protest if a radio host is trying inspire hate against them, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/43 "2007-04-13T12:10:27Z")
[QUOTE=Cheesesteak] I’d like to point out that “financial impact” is the only reason Imus was on the air in the first place. He was never, ever, put on the air because of his first amendment right to speak, every single moment, every single word he spoke into a microphone was broadcast because of his ability to earn money for the station. [/quote] First amendment is there whether that was the reason or not. Of course they put him on to make money. That’s my point. > [@](#): > > I hate when the first amendment gets brought up in these situations, because your right to speak doesn’t mean you get the right to use CBS’s broadcast equipment to deliver your words across the country. It does when CBS and MSNBC _give_ you the right to and you don’t violate FCC regulations. In fact, Imus regularly spouted that he was the sole “decider” of the content of his show, and if MSNBC didn’t like it, he would be more than happy to drop the simulcast. They _loved_ him. Every obnoxious, mean-spirited, racist word he uttered. Remember, his bosses didn’t tell him he crossed the line. They loved when he pushed the envelope (and frequently TORE the envelope). > [@](#): > > One other thing about the situation, and I haven’t heard this from commentators, is the effect on society at large. Making jokes and comments like this in such a public forum, validates the negative perception of the group being made fun of. Especially among people who already hold negative opinions of other groups, hearing a “respected” person make those comments just reinforces the opinion. I agree with this completely. That’s why I turned him off. I didn’t want him in my living room every morning because I think he’s a jerk-off with respect to his program. None of the people in power thought it was a big deal, though. That’s why they paid him millions of dollars to be the obnoxious old craggy-assed fucker that he is. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/44 "2007-04-13T12:41:57Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] It does when CBS and MSNBC _give_ you the right to and you don’t violate FCC regulations. [/QUOTE] No, Imus never has the right\* to use their equipment, he doesn’t own it, they do. They allow him to use the equipment as part of a contract, but ultimately, the use of the equipment is 100% in the hands of the owners. If Imus want’s the right to broadcast, he can buy his own radio station. Then he can say any damn fool thing he wants and remain on the air. - I’m using a strong definition of the word “right” here, as in a fundamental right, where one would say “you’re violating my rights” as opposed to a weak version that might say “this contract gives you the right to use the equipment” I don’t want to get caught up in arguing over nothing more than a definition, those are the most pathetic arguments going. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/45 "2007-04-13T12:54:11Z")
[QUOTE=Cheesesteak] No, Imus never has the right\* to use their equipment, he doesn’t own it, they do. They allow him to use the equipment as part of a contract, but ultimately, the use of the equipment is 100% in the hands of the owners. If Imus want’s the right to broadcast, he can buy his own radio station. Then he can say any damn fool thing he wants and remain on the air. - I’m using a strong definition of the word “right” here, as in a fundamental right, where one would say “you’re violating my rights” as opposed to a weak version that might say “this contract gives you the right to use the equipment” I don’t want to get caught up in arguing over nothing more than a definition, those are the most pathetic arguments going. [/QUOTE] I’m using the soft definition, with regard to the show and the hard definition regarding freedom of speech within the guidelines of the FCC. They go hand-in-hand with regard to broadcasting. The two networks effectively _asked_ him to be an abusive fuck, using their equipment, their FCC license, _and with their blessing_. They encouraged it by continually renewing his contract, giving him big fat raises, remaining silent nearly every time he used socially unacceptable language, and by allowing him to be the cockiest, most self-absorbed broadcaster in the business. If he had his own station, he’d still be bound by FCC regulations. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/46 "2007-04-13T13:00:53Z")
[QUOTE=Malodorous] > [@Kalhoun](#): > > Kalhoun > Check out the controversial comments link down article: [http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/...gers/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/...gers/index.html) Thanks for the link. All those examples were Imus insulting people in positions of relative power (mainly journalists or professional sports players) or in one case a general group of people (Palestinians). So I think my theory holds that his latest remark was unique in being about a very specific group of relatively powerless people. The current scandal is less about Imus being a racist or mysogynist and more about him being a bully. [/QUOTE] How about the fact that Imus admitted nearly a decade ago that his side-kick McGuirk’s job was to come up with “nigger jokes”? This came out on 60 Minutes, in a Mike Wallace article on Imus, as recounted in this article: [Paying the Price for Racism, Sexism](http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=85b1d3d5-a536-4d5d-bcc1-c13249b504e7) > [@](#): > > In a “60 Minutes” interview with Don Imus broadcast in July 1998, Mike Wallace said of the “Imus in the Morning” program, “It’s dirty and sometimes racist.” > > Imus then said: “Give me an example. Give me one example of one racist incident.” To which Wallace replied, “You told Tom Anderson, the producer, in your car, coming home, that Bernard McGuirk is there to do nigger jokes.” > > Imus said, “Well, I’ve nev — I never use that word.” > > Wallace then turned to Anderson, his producer. “Tom,” he said. > > “I’m right here,” said Anderson. > > Imus then said to Anderson, “Did I use that word?” > > Anderson said, “I recall you using that word.” > > “Oh, OK,” said Imus. “Well, then I used that word. But I mean — of course, that was an off-the-record conversation. But —— ” > > “The hell it was,” said Wallace. Three things to note: 1. Imus only quibbled with the attribution of the word to him, but not with the basic point: that his producer’s job was to come up with racial jokes. 2. He folded in his denial and could only say that it was “off the record.” 3. CBS ran this spot **9 years ago on their flagship muck-raking show and are only now shocked and appalled to learn that Mr. Imus uses racial jokes on their airwaves.**. Bloody hypocrites. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/47 "2007-04-13T13:15:30Z")
[QUOTE=Kneepants Erasmus, the Humanist] I think it also has to do with the fact that so much advertising was pulled (likely due to the fact that many of these companies are now being run by black people). It’s obviously all about money, not any sort of moral stance (I suppose that would be a “duh”). [/QUOTE] Oh, no! You mean that some “black people” actually dare to own companies? Why can’t they just stay in their place? You know, pushing brooms. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/48 "2007-04-13T13:23:59Z")
[QUOTE=Northern Piper] How about the fact that Imus admitted nearly a decade ago that his side-kick McGuirk’s job was to come up with “nigger jokes”? This came out on 60 Minutes, in a Mike Wallace article on Imus, as recounted in this article: [Paying the Price for Racism, Sexism](http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=85b1d3d5-a536-4d5d-bcc1-c13249b504e7) Three things to note: 1. Imus only quibbled with the attribution of the word to him, but not with the basic point: that his producer’s job was to come up with racial jokes. 2. He folded in his denial and could only say that it was “off the record.” 3. CBS ran this spot **9 years ago on their flagship muck-raking show and are only now shocked and appalled to learn that Mr. Imus uses racial jokes on their airwaves.**. Bloody hypocrites. [/QUOTE] Egg-_zactly._ He’s been who he is for his entire career. The networks weren’t outraged in the slightest. Fuck them. They were pissed because their stock was going to drop. I don’t know if these networks have any financial interest in hip-hop or rap music, but do you think for one second they’ll drop the artists who are making millions for them using the exact same language? Feh. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/49 "2007-04-13T13:37:14Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] I’m using the soft definition, with regard to the show and the hard definition regarding freedom of speech within the guidelines of the FCC. [/quote] The FCC hasn’t fined him or asked him to step down, and I think that’s the correct action. It does worry me a bit when you have Sharpton talking about what should be “permitted” on the airwaves. > [@](#): > > The two networks effectively _asked_ him to be an abusive fuck, using their equipment, their FCC license, _and with their blessing_. They encouraged it by continually renewing his contract, giving him big fat raises, remaining silent nearly every time he used socially unacceptable language, and by allowing him to be the cockiest, most self-absorbed broadcaster in the business. I have no problem calling them hypocrites for saying they were “repulsed” by his comments. He’s being dropped because he’s not making them money anymore, or they just want to preserve their image in the face of more public outcry than before. That goes for the sponsors too. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/50 "2007-04-13T13:40:26Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Egg-_zactly._ He’s been who he is for his entire career. The networks weren’t outraged in the slightest. Fuck them. They were pissed because their stock was going to drop. I don’t know if these networks have any financial interest in hip-hop or rap music, but do you think for one second they’ll drop the artists who are making millions for them using the exact same language? Feh. [/QUOTE] Viacom, which owns CBS, also owns MTV. Aside from the fact that MTV never actually plays videos anymore, you are quite right. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/51 "2007-04-13T13:47:42Z")
[QUOTE=Cheesesteak] The FCC hasn’t fined him or asked him to step down, and I think that’s the correct action. It does worry me a bit when you have Sharpton talking about what should be “permitted” on the airwaves. I have no problem calling them hypocrites for saying they were “repulsed” by his comments. He’s being dropped because he’s not making them money anymore, or they just want to preserve their image in the face of more public outcry than before. That goes for the sponsors too. [/QUOTE] Me either, but please…quit hiding behind the moral outrage and fucking admit it was strictly a financial decision. Another problem I have, and this is directly with Imus, is that his show became less comedy schtick and more prevalent in the news/political world after he hit the simulcast portion of his career. In my opinon, he lacked professional judgement by trying to be both a comedian and Everybody’s Best Friend in the political and pundit worlds. The people who watch MSNBC are not the same people who listen to shock jocks get their rocks off making stupid jokes in the name of creative expression. You can’t have it both ways, and his guests should have realized it as well. They all aligned with him when they had something to gain, completely ignoring the fact that they gave tacit approval to his brand of humor. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/52 "2007-04-13T13:49:28Z")
Stupid edit limit. Sorry, I forgot that CBS had been split off of Viacom and went to fix it, just to be told that I spent too long typing. National Amusements is the majority shareholder of both Viacom and CBS Corporation, and until the split a couple years ago Viacom was a much larger conglomerate with what is now CBS Corporation as part of Viacom. Viacom also owns MTV and BET. Aside from the fact that MTV never actually plays videos anymore, you are quite right to say “feh”. CBS Corporation does have CBS Records, but with all of three artists, they have no interest in rap or hip-hop yet. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/53 "2007-04-13T13:54:30Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] They might wait a little while until the heat dies down. But I’m convinced from what I’ve read about his show, I’m sure it’ll be worth the gamble for one of them. He has listeners, and his listeners have money. [/QUOTE] And I repeat: his ratings have been at the bottom for years. So what if 100,000 people that earn 6 figures listened to him. Those well-to-do people already have a satellite radio. He’s not going to bring subscribers in. He brings nothing to the table for satellite broadcasters except baggage. The guy should have called it a day years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/54 "2007-04-13T14:13:30Z")
[QUOTE=BwanaBob] And I repeat: his ratings have been at the bottom for years. So what if 100,000 people that earn 6 figures listened to him. Those well-to-do people already have a satellite radio. He’s not going to bring subscribers in. He brings nothing to the table for satellite broadcasters except baggage. The guy should have called it a day years ago. [/QUOTE] He had 2.25 million viewers; not sure what the listener numbers were. MSNBC boosted his popularity immensely. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/55 "2007-04-13T14:23:26Z")
[QUOTE=Czarcasm] You might try _reading_ a column next time you cite it-she comes down pretty damn hard on Imus and his crew in that piece. [/QUOTE] I didnt read where she came down hard on Imus at all, she seems way more put out by the lyrics of rap songs. > [@](#): > > Imus is a nobody to me. He wasn’t even in my realm of consciousness until all of this madness kicked off. But everyday I step outside of my house, it never fails that a car will drive by bumping the lyrics of some rapper calling women bitches and hos. The irony of the situation is that oftentimes the driver singing along with her kids in the backseat. > > Please. > > Going after the Imus’ of the world is an easy thing to do, but going after the 50 Cents, Snoop Doggs, and other rappers is the real challenge. And quite frankly, I don’t think Black America wants to take that battle on. We love them too much. We can’t even stop referring to each other as “nigga’s” so what is there to indicate that we’d be willing to stop supporting these rappers who demean women. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/56 "2007-04-13T14:52:13Z")
Thank you, to all those who brought something to this thread. Do you think there will be any wider effects of this dustup, beyond Don Imus himself? Some folks have grumbled for years about the violent, woman-hating lyrics recorded by many rap stars. They started adding warning labels, and some artists even issued cleaned up versions of their work, to be sold alongside the nasty version. Until now, nobody ever pulled the money plug. Fans continued to buy the CDs that disrespected women worse than Imus did. Are fans now going to dig in their heels and say they won’t pay for this stuff anymore? I never bought the stuff anyway, so my opinion has no weight. I can’t quit buying what I wasn’t buying. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/57 "2007-04-13T15:01:41Z")
[QUOTE=AskNott] Thank you, to all those who brought something to this thread. Do you think there will be any wider effects of this dustup, beyond Don Imus himself? Some folks have grumbled for years about the violent, woman-hating lyrics recorded by many rap stars. They started adding warning labels, and some artists even issued cleaned up versions of their work, to be sold alongside the nasty version. Until now, nobody ever pulled the money plug. Fans continued to buy the CDs that disrespected women worse than Imus did. Are fans now going to dig in their heels and say they won’t pay for this stuff anymore? I never bought the stuff anyway, so my opinion has no weight. I can’t quit buying what I wasn’t buying. [/QUOTE] I think the marketplace will allow it to continue, at least for the time being. It’s art (whether I like it or not) and people LIKE it. It’s protected speech and it makes millions of dollars for lots of people. The question is, will people _continue_ to like it or will they start considering it a waste of space? Will our tastes in entertainment eventually align with our social values? Or are these _really_ our values? How do we change that? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/58 "2007-04-13T15:51:21Z")
[QUOTE=monstro] The comments were directed at innocents, at “good” girls who’s only crime was losing a game. We’re used to laughing at celebrities and politicians and people who get into the news for being criminal, stupid, and outrageous. But not normal people who are just minding their own business. I think even the jerkiest of us can appreciate who’s fair game and who isn’t. I think a lot of people inserted their children or their wives for the Rutgers women’s basketball team. Personally, being black, female, and a Rutgers alum, I inserted _myself_. So for many people, it wasn’t that Imus was cracking on some nameless, faceless strangers. He was cracking on people that could easily be _us_ (especially since the Rutgers girls turned out to be lovely and intelligent, not the rough girls Imus had portrayed them as). I think using “nappy-headed” alone would have caused a bit of raucus, but nothing fire-worthy. Combining it with “hos” pushed the commentary flush with the edge. But if he had stopped there, I think the roar would be softer and possibly less justifiable. But throwing in “jigaboo” pushed things too far. It took away any doubt about the racist bent of the “joke”. Unfortunately, I think the sexism in the commentary would have been met with less sympathy if it hadn’t been paired up with the racism. American ears are more desensitized to sexist language, and we’re used to shock jocks degrading women (Howard Stern, I’m looking at you). Also there is no woman Al Sharpton to take up the charge when sexism rears up in the media. So while there’s a double-whammy of offensiveness here, I think the racism really makes his comments special. People are simply fed up with racism being excused and allowed. [/QUOTE] I’m quoting this in full because I agree with every word of it – though I’m seeing this through white suburban-raised New Englander eyes. (Pushes bangs out of eyes.) Apropos to the sexism aspect, [cnn.com](http://cnn.com) has [this commentary](http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/13/martin.imus/index.html) by Roland S. Martin making the point that, to him: > [@](#): > > Although the National Association of Black Journalists led the fight to oust Imus, there is no doubt that it was that moving news conference by the Rutgers University women’s basketball team that cemented the demise of Imus. Vivian Stringer was poised and strong in demanding that America look at the 10 women and see them as the real face of Imus’s slurs. > > And that is really the issue we must focus on. So many people tried to make this a race issue. But for me, that wasn’t the primary point. I never wavered from the attack as one of a sexist. It didn’t matter that he was trying to be funny. He insulted a group of women who are already accomplished. > > [snip] > > America, we have a problem with sexism. Don’t try to make this whole matter about the ridiculous rants made by rappers. I deplore what’s in a lot of their music and videos, but hip-hop is only 30 years old. So you mean to tell me that sexism in America only started in 1977? I’m inclined to see the racism as having an equal rather than lesser part to play in this debacle, but Martin makes a good argument. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/59 "2007-04-13T15:54:41Z")
[QUOTE=BwanaBob] And I repeat: his ratings have been at the bottom for years. So what if 100,000 people that earn 6 figures listened to him. Those well-to-do people already have a satellite radio. He’s not going to bring subscribers in. He brings nothing to the table for satellite broadcasters except baggage. The guy should have called it a day years ago. [/QUOTE] His ratings were about the same as David Lee Roth’s when he took over Howard Sterns show. Better than some but nothing to click your heels over. I can’t imagine why people would watch him on TV unless they get up really early. He looks like a shrunken head with a baseball cap. Everyone I know who listed to him were commuters. When I had a long commute I used to listen to some dreck too just for the bordom factor of the drive so I wouldn’t fall asleep. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864/60 "2007-04-13T16:00:31Z")
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy] I’m quoting this in full because I agree with every word of it – though I’m seeing this through white suburban-raised New Englander eyes. (Pushes bangs out of eyes.) Apropos to the sexism aspect, [cnn.com](http://cnn.com) has [this commentary](http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/13/martin.imus/index.html) by Roland S. Martin making the point that, to him: I’m inclined to see the racism as having an equal rather than lesser part to play in this debacle, but Martin makes a good argument. [/QUOTE] I mentioned the sexism angle in the beginning but it got shot down. NOW raised a stink about it immediately. I know people want Sharptons head on a pitchfork but it’s native to think he had anything to do with the firing. It was all about the advertisers pulling out and potential fines so they fired him faster than you can say Janet Jacksons nipple. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-is-outta-work-why-was-his-insult-so-much-worse-than-his-usual-stuff/399864.md?page=4)