[RickJ]

Hannity is a complete idiot! He calls himself Catholic and Conservative like I call myself but in my opinion he is an embarrassment to both!

[Allheart]

Never heard of him... and I think I am very glad I have not, by the sounds of it.

Sometimes it is very scarey how much ugly there can be in this world.

[magprob]

Hannity gets his script faxed to him from the White House every morning. Same with Rush. I have a hard time believing any of them any more. Faux News.

[TheSavage]

Like I said, I don't like or listen to him. But if you fire Imus for that remark, then ya gotta fire Hannity for his hate mongering. The first amendment does have some presence here.

Agree -- If he is fired and they hold all radio commentators to the same standard -- they would all be off the air -- Which really might be a good thing -- just listen to the hate some of them broadcast and think of the fools that suck it up. -- Savage

[RubyPitbull]

Scott you bring up a very good point regarding the first amendment. And someone like Hannity.

Are racist remarks protected under the first amendment?

I wonder if an African American on air personality made racist remarks towards white people, in the same vein as Imus did toward AAs, if that person would be allowed to continue, or be suspended, or fired?

I guess in the end, it will all depend on whether influential people will cancel bookings on Imus's show or if they will book in the future. I think his guests are what keeps him on air. I can't imagine it is a direct result of his intelligence, or his wife's rockin' boobies, although the latter may be the reason he is still on.

[NowWhat]

I watched the press conference with the Rudgers team. All very well spoken women. They will be having a meeting with Imus so he can apologize. His producer actually said "ho" first and then Imus repeated adding the "nappy headed.... ". I agree with scottgem, if you fire him because you don't like what he said - who's next. We have freedom of speech, that doesn't mean free to say what we like as long as it doesn't make anyone mad.

I think everyone is racist. No matter what color your skin is.

[Allheart]

Ya know. I think these are the young ladies that creep was referring to. Now, I am really mad. Look at these beatufiul young girls. It's all well and good for us, with some years and wisdom under our belts, to be able to know that creeps do exsist. But tell that to these young girls hearts. Just awful!

They are beautiful girls and should be very proud of their accomplishments. They should not give that creep one second of their time.

How dare he!!

[NowWhat]

We get all upset that someone would say something like this. And yes, he is in the wrong. But, we are ready to having him thrown out in the streets and beat up (basically)
He made an off handed comment (Like I said - he was wrong)

But then you have people in this world that abuse - physically abuse - other people and they get slapped on the hand and not much is done about it. And no one in society seems to care.

[Skell]

What is wrong with that picture is that there 6 African American girls there who have been racially abused by a complete and utter moron and it has been confirmed to them what they already thought and that is that they are looked at differently in this world compared to the other 2 innocent team mates who sit there in the same photo. That's what is wrong with the photo.

[NowWhat]

When Imus made the comments they were about the team as a whole. Including the two white girls in the picture.

[Matt3046]

They are both huge losers, who will do anything to get a camera on them.
Does anyone else remember when Imus was a VJ on VH1. Anyway he needs to retire. As for sharpton look at any of these its where he originally came to the attention of the public.tawana brawley - Google Search


I personal would pay almost anything to see these two in a cage match to the death (both preferably)

[Matt3046]

And besides is this sexist or racist? Or maybe he is jealous of their hair
Or maybe doesn't like ladies basketball.

[ATYOURSERVICE]

Don't really listen to him or care, but there is one thing every one seems to have forgotten. WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH! It is his opinion, that's all.
I will not change the world and it will not change the basket ball team.

Instead focus on how you can help someone today.

Peace.

[Skell]

When Imus made the comments they were about the team as a whole. Including the two white girls in the picture.

You reckon?? Interesting observation. Don't know if I agree though!

[ATYOURSERVICE]

I believe previous comments are correct. If it was a black, in this case, person saying it would it have been such a big deal.

I do not understand the uproar. I am a minority (latin) and have never been offended by what any one says about my race. Even in this case, I should be offended then. There are many latinos with "nappy" hair. I can concur with some of the comments about my race, so what. When I get offended is only when someone says something negative about me as a person.

We are ALL racist and prejudice. Don't tell me no. I have black friends, yes they want to be called black not african americans, and they make "racial" jokes and comments about their own race (light skin vs. dark skin) and other races, mine included. To my face. We get a big kick out of it. I asked one of my friends what he though about this. He's response: " they probably are nappy hair ho's"... and laughed.

I am sure many of you will not like my opinion. And that is great. We can't all agree with everyone. Imagine if we did. We would all have the same thoughts, politically views, religion, sexual preferences, and the inability to think for ourselves.

Rac·ism > noun
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

Prej·u·dice > noun
Preconceived judgment or opinion (2) : an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge b : an instance of such judgment or opinion c : an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics

[excon]

Hello Ruby:

To those of you who are saying this is a Freedom of Speech issue, you're wrong. I don't own the corner soapbox. I don't own the newspaper. I don't own the TV station.

But I OWN the PUBLIC airways and license their use. They should NOT be used to spew venom.

excon

[NowWhat]

So because he is on the radio - he doesn't have 1st amendment rights? You may not like what he says - but he does have the right to say what he wants.
Just like we have the right to say what we want to on this forum. It is freedom of speech. When you start taking things like that away - where does it end. Every person being crucified for an unpopular opinion? I don't want to live in that world.
If the comments made by this radio personality offended you - then turn off your radio or don't watch as he is broadcast on MSNBC. That is your right. No one is forcing you to listen or watch.

[RubyPitbull]

When Imus made the comments they were about the team as a whole. Including the two white girls in the picture.

Sorry Now. I don't agree with this statement. He was not including the white girls in that comment. Those words were most definitely directed toward the black members of the team. I don't think there is any debate about that.

Matt, I agree with you. I think the thing that made me start this thread in the first place was Al Sharpton's "pitbull" attack against Imus. I don't like Imus. Never have. But, I don't like Sharpton either. Every time I see him I am reminded of the Tawana Brawley scandal. The man is shameless in his attempts for publicity and personal recognition.

I was thinking about this last night. Do you remember a few months back when Rosie O'Donnell did a very blatant stereotypical impression of an Asian person? I don't watch The View. I don't have any desire to see a bunch of women sitting around spewing their personal opinions about anything and everything. BORING to me. But, I saw those clips of O'Donnell doing her "impression." I was shocked at that. And, what was the result? Nothing. Nothing was done.

I think the only way to get rid of all these idiots is for the general populace to stop watching this garbage and giving them all these most undeserved ratings. As long as the producers of these shows are making money, they will continue.

Atyourservice, I don't know if I agree fully with what you are saying. I grew up in an era in which my friends preferred to be called black. But, when the moniker of African-American came along, some of my friends preferred to be called that. It makes it very difficult for me to find the proper balance. How far do we carry the politically correct concepts? If we keep picking at each other we will never move in a more positive direction. I am assuming that you are much younger than I. I keep hoping that with each generation, there will be more things that we can all find common ground on than the obvious differences people seem to get hung up on. I agree with you that we all harbor racist or prejudicial thoughts to some degree. But, we need to recognize that it just isn't a constructive way to live our lives. Generalizations don't benefit anyone.

I don't know if I believe this is a Freedom of Speech issue. When it comes to using public platforms to use words and slurs that are hurtful to a large group, it becomes muddied for me. The Ku Klux Klan are allowed to hold "conventions" under the Freedom of Speech the right to hold public gatherings acts. When the Ku Klux Klan marches in towns and hold those gatherings, I can choose not to attend. But, they will never, ever be given a nationally syndicated television show that will allow them to come into our homes every day spewing their hateful messages.

In the case of Don Imus, Al Sharpton, Rosie O'Donnell, Sean Hannity, and all the others out there, where do we draw the line? Why are they allowed to spew hateful messages? Granted, they don't do it as the basis of their shows platforms. But, it appears to me that the only way we are going to get anywhere as a society is to hold someone accountable at some point in time. Is Don Imus the person who should be held up as an example? I don't know. As I said, I don't like either Imus or Sharpton. But, maybe all this fuss will have a positive effect in that people will start to think about what they are saying before they open their mouths. It would be nice to think that would be the outcome. But, after all this fuss dies down, will we just backslide again? Probably.

[excon]

Hello Now:

He can say what he wants - just not on MY airways where I grant the license.

You don't see a distinction between the corner soapbox and the public airways?? Fortunately, the law does.

excon

[ScottGem]

So because he is on the radio - he doesn't have 1st ammendment rights? You may not like what he says - but he does have the right to say what he wants.
Just like we have the right to say what we want to on this forum. It is freedom of speech. When you start taking things like that away - where does it end. Every person being crucified for an unpopular opinion? I don't want to live in that world.
If the comments made by this radio personality offended you - then turn off your radio or don't watch as he is broadcast on MSNBC. That is your right. No one is forcing you to listen or watch.

This is a common misconception, but the First Amendment doesn't really apply to this situation or this site. The First Amendment states: Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press Rev Al is not Congress (thank god). If CBS or MSNBC decide to censure, suspend or terminate Imus's contract they have a right to do so because they are exercising editorial control of their broadcasts. This site has rules about what can't be said here and people and posts are banned if they violate those rules. Since the site is privately owned (as are the broadcast facilities Imus uses), they have the right to do this.

However, there is the concept of Freedom of Speech at play here. Americans hold dear the right to be able to voice their opinions. To say what they feel about various issues. What they say doesn't have to popular or even respectable. Imus's comment was reprehensible and he should be severely criticized for it. But he had the right to say it. Just have we have the right to criticize him for saying it and to not listen to him (or buy the products of his sponsors).

If Imus is terminated it should be because no one will sponsor his program because they don't like what he says. That would be the right of the sponsors to express their freedoms.