Video: John Edwards forgives Imus, Obama wants him fired; Update: MSNBC drops Imus, says TV Newser; Update: Confirmed
posted at 5:56 pm on April 11, 2007 by Ian
John Edwards told CBS 2 in New York that he forgives the fluffy-headed host, but he is unsure if he’ll appear on the shock jock’s show in the future:
However, Sen. Barry Obama told David Gregory that MSNBC “shouldn’t be carrying” the kind of “hateful” remarks Imus uttered the other day. Obama says he will not be an “enabler” and thus won’t appear on the show in the future. According to ABC News Obama has called for Imus’ firing.
I think this feeding frenzy has jumped the shark.
Update (AP): This thing’s actually starting to claim other people’s jobs, if not Imus’s (yet). His career’s not long for this world, though, for reasons articulated in this morning’s Pelosi post. Obama’s the de facto leader of black America now and, unlike Sharpton and Jackson, he’s got clean hands. So if he thinks Imus should go, a-goin’ Imus shall be. I’ll be surprised if there’s no formal announcement by this time tomorrow.
If nothing else, this fiasco has provided some awkward entertainment.
Update (AP): Obama’s competing with the Clintons for black votes so his call for the axe isn’t exactly unexpected.
Update (AP): That was fast. How soon before WFAN and his radio syndicators follow suit?
Update (Ian): MSNBC just confirmed …
Update (AP): Here’s the article at MSNBC; former NAACP president Bruce Gordon says he feels “violated” by Imus. My head aches at the thought of what the media’s going to do with this and the Duke dismissal dropping on the same day. Prepare for a raft of hopelessly insipid navel-gazing “what does this say about race in America?” craptaculars.
Blowback
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Pwn3d!
Bad Candy on April 11, 2007 at 6:17 PM
The messiah’s wish is our command. Blesseth be his name.
lorien1973 on April 11, 2007 at 6:18 PM
Second exit question: How soon before Imus is described as a “conservative radio talk show host” by the drive-by media?
billy on April 11, 2007 at 6:25 PM
He did support Bush over Kerry in ’04
- The Cat
MirCat on April 11, 2007 at 6:32 PM
Well, that’s the end of that. Now we can concentrate on more important issues, like Anna Nicole Smith.
Savage on April 11, 2007 at 6:33 PM
Except that he hasn’t lived the “black experience”, and lies about Bloody Sunday leading to his birth, even though he was 4 at the time.
But more importantly, why isn’t he calling for black people to abandon the shakedown brothers as “black leaders”, considering their entire lives and careers have been about racial divisiveness.
RightWinged on April 11, 2007 at 6:34 PM
Do you really think Imus will go as soon as tomorrow? And if so, what will happen to the cherished ranch? The much loved cowboy hat and other western regalia Imus wears like he’s some sort of King of the Old West?
Howard Stern must be laughing his a** off right now.
I’m really trying to figure out the subtext to this whole incident because it’s really heading out into uncharted waters at this point. Someone, somewhere, has decided that there hasn’t been enough lip service paid to the old “America is racist” theme as of late. How else to explain it? Remember what Imus has said in the past about folks like Gwen Ifill. No stink then, at least not of this magnitude. Why now? What happened, or was going to happen, that required this cooked up scandal? I don’t think “a slow news day” adequately explains what’s going on now.
Perhaps the media got wind of the Duke dismissals and decided to find something to “counter” that before the sh** hit the fan. Maybe it’s a way to help Obama. Whatever the case, the media are the guiding force behind it.
jaleach on April 11, 2007 at 6:35 PM
Wow, you guys are fast. In the time it took me to write my last post (and briefly talk to my girlfriend on the phone), you’ve already confirmed that Imus is gone from MSNBC!
Once again, MSNBC needs to do the right thing and put Alex Witt on in Imus’s slot. She doesn’t really have to do much–just look in the camera and read the letters that I’ll start writing to her.
jaleach on April 11, 2007 at 6:39 PM
Imus checks into rehab in 3, 2…
Savage on April 11, 2007 at 6:39 PM
Imus is gone – now if we can just get Sandjaya off of American Idol – american life will finally be BACK in balance.
Dr. Gecko on April 11, 2007 at 6:39 PM
Its interesting that Imus can joke about hanging Cheney and Rummy
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/01/04/video-imus-barnicle-joke-about-hanging-cheney-and-rumsfeld/
and not a word of condemnation from the media.
But this is unexcusable! This is all about the Teaching Moment.
Bad Candy on April 11, 2007 at 6:43 PM
MSNBC decision about the Imus show:
“Drop it like it’s hot,
Drop[ it like it’s hot,
Drop it like it’s hot.”
Khyber Pass on April 11, 2007 at 6:44 PM
And yes, he should be fired for the comments, but he shoulda been fired for his comments to Cheney and Rummy ages ago. I still think this is another example of the liberal Teachable Moment.
Bad Candy on April 11, 2007 at 6:46 PM
I don’t think he should be fired for his comments. He should be fired because his show is unlistenable. What a piece of repetitive crap. Or he was 5 years ago when I last tried to listen.
joed18 on April 11, 2007 at 6:48 PM
I’m waiting for the report that the entire team drives the 900 miles wearing wigs and diapers to taser the old fool.
Alden Pyle on April 11, 2007 at 6:55 PM
Time for Barbara Walters to get a pair and tell Rosie to hit the road also.
roninacreage on April 11, 2007 at 6:55 PM
Oblowhard the king of hate needs to go also.
roninacreage on April 11, 2007 at 6:57 PM
Oblowhard will lead off his show with a shot at Fox news being obsessed with Imus.
roninacreage on April 11, 2007 at 6:59 PM
One thing’s for certain: no more Hot Air threads that have a picture of Imus lookin’ like an idiot. I fondly remember one where it looked like he was bobbling his cowboy hat! LOL! I’ll miss them. Along with Jack Cafferty (Piss be upon him), the Imus threads usually inspired me to practice my insult skills.
I think someone (Allah, Bryan, Ian) should run a retrospective of Imus threads. I’d also recommend setting them to music, but I don’t how that’ll work in a technical sense.
jaleach on April 11, 2007 at 6:59 PM
Ah pity da foo who must cover the coming craptaculars.
Sand in the shorts.
Stephen M on April 11, 2007 at 6:59 PM
See also Nappyisms: Affirmations for Nappy-Headed People and Wannabes!
Terp Mole on April 11, 2007 at 7:01 PM
Now that MSNBC is adding broadcast standards, how much longer will Olbie last?
JayHaw Phrenzie on April 11, 2007 at 7:08 PM
If MSNBC replaces Imus with a 3 hr Doc Bloc, then this was just an excuse to break their contract and cut costs.
rw on April 11, 2007 at 7:09 PM
But the real question is, what does this say about race in America?
Enrique on April 11, 2007 at 7:10 PM
MSNBC endorses Obama
Well they did can Imus so isn’t that the same thing?
LakeRuins on April 11, 2007 at 7:23 PM
At the risk of a Mod Slap, let me point out that Ann’s column today was dead on about this issue. (as expected)
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=20224
JayHaw Phrenzie on April 11, 2007 at 7:31 PM
I’m thinking….What a perfect opportunity for a “Mabel in the Morning” show! Rosie gets fired from the view, goes to MSNBC, and starts her own deal…
Stay tuned, folks…
JetBoy on April 11, 2007 at 7:48 PM
Remind again what all of this is about? We are improving race relations?
Altura Ct. on April 11, 2007 at 7:58 PM
Has Oldblowhard deemed Imus “The Worst Person in the World” yet? Will he ever?
roninacreage on April 11, 2007 at 8:09 PM
Time for Elizabeth Hasslebeck to get her own sow in the time slot. I’m predicting a liberal slob will get it.
roninacreage on April 11, 2007 at 8:13 PM
In an ongoing effort to maintain programming standards and keep production costs to the absolute minimum, I’m guessing MSNBC will replace Imus with simulcasting of Al Jazeera.
Imus’s laundry list of leftwing political hacks could continue to call in to the show and have the hosts agree with their every word. Problem solved.
fogw on April 11, 2007 at 8:24 PM
Okay, I’m not black and maybe don’t get it. But do most blacks ever get tired of the fact that they apparently have to have “leaders” representing their race? Is there any other race in America where that is the case? Just pondering.
Oh, and MSNBC has set quite the interesting precedent here. I’m just glad that race problems will now be eliminated because a 67 year old disc jockey was fired. I’m sleeping sounder tonight.
Sugar Land on April 11, 2007 at 8:39 PM
I’m not sure if you were joking or not, but Imus voted for Kerry in ’04. And to make it even more sweet, he probably would have voted for his holyness Obama in ’08. But as lorien1973 said-
forged rite on April 11, 2007 at 8:48 PM
I hope Imus stays on the air long enough to twist the knife into his liberal “friends” who abandoned him.
Harold Ford, Brian Williams, among others and the list grows by the day.
There is always satellite radio.
Valiant on April 11, 2007 at 8:49 PM
Maybe I should pray to Barry for a new car…
infidel4life on April 11, 2007 at 9:09 PM
Someone remind me again, what exactly has Obama ever accomplished in his life except winning a senate seat in a blue state that did not have a serious contender?
Anything?
Anything at all?
Why do we care about his opinion? What qualifies him to be President?
Please explain to me!!!
JayHaw Phrenzie on April 11, 2007 at 9:15 PM
Valiant,
He’s toast; there will be no “staying on the air”.
Jaibones on April 11, 2007 at 9:16 PM
Can’t. There are GOP guys who like to talk about their buddy Barry and what a great guy he is. I think he’s a putz and a coward, especially based on this Imus cowardice. He totally caved to the ignorant part of his constituency, which is used to having transgressors beheaded…
Jaibones on April 11, 2007 at 9:19 PM
If Imus does go to satellite, the black mafia and the white-guilt liberals have gained nothing, because if he wishes, his rhetoric could become even more strident, ala Howard Stern, and there would be absolutely nothing the two branches of the Politically Correct Police could do about it.
Another prime example of: The Law Of Unintended Consequences – in action.
pocomoco on April 11, 2007 at 9:22 PM
Most acurate thing said today. By anyone. About anything.
major john on April 11, 2007 at 9:42 PM
This seems like a lot of work to inform Imus’s five listeners of his fate.
frankj on April 11, 2007 at 9:44 PM
i’m not surprised about edwards’ stance. guess what the the nutroots air america position is?
jummy on April 11, 2007 at 9:59 PM
But do most blacks ever get tired of the fact that they apparently have to have “leaders” representing their race
Yes, but it’s mostly not “blacks” putting an MSM microphone under the likes of Sharpton and Jackson.
baldilocks on April 11, 2007 at 10:49 PM
OK, now let’t get after “RAP” music, “bitches and whores”, right?
PinkyBigglesworth on April 12, 2007 at 1:48 AM
It’s interesting that of all the things Imus has said over many years that this is what rocked his world? He presented a platform for Liberal journalists and political hacks to spew their propaganda and now is being hung out to dry by all of them.
Hening on April 12, 2007 at 7:42 AM
Seriously though, what does this say about race in America?
Wait, is that lint in my bellybutton?
So, am I the first? I’ve always wanted to start a craptacular.
Honestly, the only thing that killed Imus was a slow news week and too much bloat on the insincere apology tour ’07.
I greatly dislike the guy, no question. However, insensitive or not, he was trying (failing) to be funny. He should have asked Michael Richards what can happen to a career when you go overboard on a racial joke. It’s not a free speech issue. Nobody will jail him. It’s more of a commercial issue… Now, why won’t Rosie’s sponsors jump ship? That vessle is sinking, on fire, and won’t ever make it to Port Ching Chong in time.
Can the PC sword ever be wielded with an even hand?
JunkCoast on April 12, 2007 at 11:14 AM
OMG. Laura Ingraham just played a tape of Olberdouche claiming credit for the firing of Imus, and wondering who might be next … Rush?
It will come as a great shock to America’s biggest douchebag, but the list of “who’s next?” has only two names: The Douche and Fat Rosie.
Dump.Them.Both.
Jaibones on April 12, 2007 at 12:12 PM