Imus: “I meant that he was being picked on because he’s black”
posted at 9:40 pm on June 23, 2008 by Allahpundit
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
How predictable was this spin? Predictable enough for one of Ace’s commenters to have called it four hours before it hit the wires.
During an on-air conversation Monday about the arrests of suspended Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones, Imus asked, “What color is he?”
Told by sports announcer Warner Wolf that Jones, who used to be nicknamed Pacman, is “African-American,” Imus responded: “There you go. Now we know.”
In the face of criticism that ensued, Imus said Monday that he had been misunderstood.
“I meant that he was being picked on because he’s black,” Imus said in a statement released by his spokesman.
His boss says he’ll clarify on the air tomorrow morning but Reverend Al, wielding his Absolute Moral Authority like a mighty hammer, said earlier that he’ll be looking into whether “direct action” was required. Just cut him a check already, Imus. Exit question: Anyone believe this is what he meant by “Now we know,” especially in the context of the nightclub exchange that preceded it? Why, after everything that’s happened, is this tool even broaching the subject of race again?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages:
Mmm-hmm.
malan89 on June 23, 2008 at 9:41 PM
There you go. Now we know…oops.
d1carter on June 23, 2008 at 9:44 PM
Uh huh.
People who let their tongues run for a living have to watch out. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34)
inviolet on June 23, 2008 at 9:47 PM
Lol. Two pics of Imus above two pics of Palin. Talk about beauty and the beast.
VolMagic on June 23, 2008 at 9:47 PM
uh, cuz he’s a tool….
Tim Zank on June 23, 2008 at 9:48 PM
I didn’t mention it in the earlier thread, but this is exactly what I thought could be the only possible excuse when I read about it. Oddly, if this was the first offense, I’d say “this is just spin”, but because he’s been in this kind of trouble before, I’d like to think he’s smart enough to not say something he’d know would come off as racist. I’m not saying I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt, but there is an ounce of doubt, because he can’t really be that stupid a second time… can he?
RightWinged on June 23, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Why does anyone listen to this buffoon. Can that silly ass hat get any bigger?
Hummer53 on June 23, 2008 at 9:50 PM
Sharpton will buy that. He’s a mensch.
hepcat on June 23, 2008 at 9:50 PM
Because he talks about race almost every single day. He’s made it one of the focal points of the program since he came back in December.
SnarkVader on June 23, 2008 at 9:51 PM
Ho-hum.
petefrt on June 23, 2008 at 9:54 PM
Or let him have your wife’s Amex for a couple of days.
Couldn’t do worse damage.
SteveMG on June 23, 2008 at 9:54 PM
A couple weeks with the brothers in Pelican Bay might just do the trick……….
Seven Percent Solution on June 23, 2008 at 9:54 PM
Are you trying to make us barf with the dueling Imuses, AP?
baldilocks on June 23, 2008 at 9:56 PM
Either he cuts his hair or plucks his eyebrows…he can’t have both.
BL@KBIRD on June 23, 2008 at 10:05 PM
We went to the same high school.. years apart..
Prescott High in Prescott Arizona.. I think he dropped out..
DaveC on June 23, 2008 at 10:09 PM
This is what we will face over and over if Barry is elected. Any question of his plans or actions will result in full use of the race card.
TroubledMonkey on June 23, 2008 at 10:13 PM
I’m with you. I have to believe that he learned a lesson from his firing but he can’t completely avoid talking about race either. Maybe I’m cutting him too much slack but I thought he was saying that Pacman gets arrested because he is black because The Wolf was talking about his arrest record before he said it. I don’t think he was saying that Pacman is just an unruly guy because he is black.
Greenhorn on June 23, 2008 at 10:13 PM
It always works for the Dems & liberals.
I believe him.
shooter on June 23, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Don, Don, Don…Big cowboy hat, with a pea sized brain!
byteshredder on June 23, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Don Imus.
Always looking out for the good of his fellow man, regardless of race, color, or creed.
And if you believe that, Howard Stern will be converting to a strict Puritan lifestyle starting tomorrow.
pilamaye on June 23, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Well, it’s important because now Obama can comment on him again. Too bad it’s too late for a photo-op for Hill.
Spirit of 1776 on June 23, 2008 at 10:23 PM
If Imus was flaming loyal Liberal,the reaction
would be,
As the mist lifts off the lake,and its calm,a Loon
glides across so silently,then the eerie calm is
shattered by the calling Loon,followed by crickets!
Imus’s radio engineer,should be saying,”Ah,Imus are
you absolutely sure you want to say this,live on the
air”
canopfor on June 23, 2008 at 10:26 PM
High gas prices, food prices, economy in serious trouble, war with Iran likely……..I just don`t care about Imus anymore.
ThePrez on June 23, 2008 at 10:28 PM
I thought they put him on a delay. Wonder why a producer didn’t dump him out of it–they likely would have if someone on the show had cursed.
dedalus on June 23, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Damn, beat me to it. Talk about extremes.
Vigilante on June 23, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Who cares? Maybe a headline mention, but 2!! threads? Spare me!
SouthernGent on June 23, 2008 at 10:32 PM
I thought Pacman was being picked on because he was a thug.
lorien1973 on June 23, 2008 at 10:34 PM
Still a putz.
Your Jewish Master on June 23, 2008 at 10:37 PM
This spin sounds a little like plagiarism from Elizabeth Alexander’s recent rehash of Toni Morrison’s famous words in the New Yorker, years ago, referring to Bill Clinton as the “first black President.”
Salon carried Alexander’s story about the Morrison “designation” earlier in the political season, following Bill Clinton’s belittling brush-off of the Obama victory in South Carolina, as being equivalent to Jesse Jackson’s victories there in 1984 and 1988.
Morrison herself endorsed Barack Obama back in January.
In the Salon article, Alexander quoted Morrison’s words from that New Yorker piece:
In other words, Elizabeth Alexander avered that Toni Morrison did not use the phrase as a compliment in reference to Clinton, or that he was somehow an honorary black because of his advocacy of black issues. Morrison was simply noting that, as revealed in the Lewinsky scandal, she believed Clinton was being treated as a black man might be treated under the circumstances — the “always and already guilty perp.“
Trochilus on June 23, 2008 at 11:16 PM
I have a feeling he’s going to be such an Obama-girl from now on that he’ll make Olbermann and Chrissie look like McCain advisors.
Marcus on June 24, 2008 at 12:22 AM
So its better to call every cop a racist than to actually be a racist. This is clearly covered under The Politically Correct Leftist Rules and Bylaws created by the United Guilt Ridden Leftist Media of America.
Dollayo on June 24, 2008 at 12:45 AM
Since Imus is clearly insane, does it matter what he says? When a schizophrenic approaches you on the street and calls your wife a nasty name, do you act as if a human being in control of his faculties is addressing you?
No, you just move to the other side of the street.
JDPerren on June 24, 2008 at 1:08 AM
What the “F” are we going to do with grandpa?
Claypigeon on June 24, 2008 at 2:01 AM
cowboy-up you wuss.
ORrighty on June 24, 2008 at 2:54 AM
Oh please. This non-starter of Imus-radio-blah-blah is in no way controvertial…and…I believe this is why – to state the obvious – lots of these folks were once (still?) called “shock jocks”….
Lockstein13 on June 24, 2008 at 7:03 AM
Imus has been having a discussion on race since he returned he has had on many to discuss the issue. Jesse Jackson appeared on the anniversary of MLK’S assassination I don’t remember the Media reporting that? Debra Dickerson,Carl Jeffers, Dick Gregory who is on this morning. Imus wanted something good to come out of his firing in April 2007 and he kept his word he discusses racial issues on his radio program. WHY SHOULDN’T HE? If your a white person you can’t comment on a person of color in this Country? This is supposed to be a Free Country with Free Speech and Freedom of Expression. There are people who are targeting Imus he knew it when he came back on the Air. NABJ and MMFA this is a stretch trying to get him with this comment he made that observation this morning. It shows that there is something wrong even without the “Fairness Doctrine” Do you suppose if a Dem is elected this November, that they don’t plan on passing the “Fairness Doctrine” The Left hates Imus he supports people like Joe Lieberman he gave Lieberman all kinds of air time when he was running for his Senate seat many on the far left wanted Lieberman to lose. Imus is a registered Republican he describes himself as a Liberal.
http://imustimes.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/radio-suits-line-up-with-imus/
Dr Evil on June 24, 2008 at 7:29 AM
Imus is on this morning they are replaying a George Carlin interview then Dick Gregory is going to be on to discuss what Imus said about Pacman Jones. Maybe someone will try and twist Dick Gregory’s words to mean something else? Imus is on 6:00 10:00 eastern time 77WABC Radio Phil Boyce is not Les Moonves of CBS Imus isn’t going to be left twisting in the wind over a soundbyte taken out of context again. Isn’t anyone learning a lesson from this practice? David Shuster of MSNBC almost got fired over his soundbyte because he used the word pimping in the sentence Tim Russert saved his job…but Senator Hillary Clinton was calling for him to be fired. People should be very concerned about what is going on with Radio and TV there are people who think they should have the Power to have anyone fired they disagree with not the freemarket. Imus is making Citadel Money like he always does, Imus is sold out in the morning.
http://www.wabcradio.com/
Dr Evil on June 24, 2008 at 7:35 AM
On the same subject many people who watch and listen to Imus were waiting for him to be targeted again. WHY do People or Groups think they should decide who gets to broadcast on the America Air Waves? Imus is doing very well on Citadel which is much bigger and better then CBS. The Far Left really HATES Imus he is more of a Moderate and will support Moderate Democrats and Republicans.
Imus was pointing out that he believes that Black people get signaled out profiled more then other ethnicities. He isn’t the first there is a list of on air folks who have made the same observation so why is Imus a racist for making the same observation? He isn’t a racist but there are people who really don’t want him Broadcasting the same people who want the Fairness Doctrine brought back.
The difference this time Phil Boyce of 77WABC talkradio knows how to protect their talent not like Les Moonves of CBS or Phil Griffen of MSNBC who insisted on Imus going on Al Sharpton and started the Apology tour back in April 2007. For whoever it is targeting Imus this is not the same situation Talk Radio knows how to protect itself ask Rush Limbaugh who went through censure letter from some in the U.S. Senate and auctioned off the letter with their signatures.
http://thecanessacorner.blogspot.com/2008/06/keeping-it-in-context-its-disgrace-what.html
Dr Evil on June 24, 2008 at 8:00 AM
Who cares?
People talk about other people’s races.
It’s called human nature, idiotic or not. It is not illegal and if it’s offensive to you, you’re an idiot as well.
bridgetown on June 24, 2008 at 8:36 AM
Imus is probably hoping to get fired again, and paid out his contract in full. It sure beats working for a living.
awake on June 24, 2008 at 8:45 AM
I agree with you bridgetown but here’s the deal…
He already got slapped down once for stupid comments, whether it was right or not, he did. Now he’s making more stupid comments, of course he’s going to get beat down for the new stupid comment he just made concerning the same race. I personally could give a rat’s behind what comes out of this ignorant soul’s mouth but some people do, and more power to em’ if they’re that ridiculous.
Free speech also means you have the right not to listen to him either.
lgodfrey88 on June 24, 2008 at 8:54 AM
Tool or not, Imus should be able to say whatever he wants. People can then respond however they want. Free speech all around.
echosyst on June 24, 2008 at 9:18 AM
Grandpa? How about great grandpa? How old is he, anyway? About 90? Looks like he’s going after George Burns’ record.
Rod on June 24, 2008 at 9:20 AM
I’ve heard far worse comments about black people from black people. Heck, I’ve heard far worse comments about white people from black people. The double standard becomes apparent when the white person doing the talking has money; suddenly, racism becomes a serious issue.
fourstringfuror on June 24, 2008 at 9:57 AM
Another attempt by Evil Al to try to distract people from the fact that the feds are closing in on him.
PatriotPete on June 24, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Exactly Dollayo. According to Imus Pacman Jones hasn’t been arrested 6 times because he’s a criminal scumbag, its just that all the cops are racist. Nice choice of people to defend in an attempt to more firmly secure your lips to Sharptons ass Don. Well done buddy. Very noble of you.
Zetterson on June 24, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Poor innocent Pacman. It was always so obvious that his underterrable, unwavering pattern of crime was in no way related to his undeterrable, unwavering pattern of criminal behavior. Nahhh. Couldn’t be that. He must be a victim of racism. What a dumbass Don Imus is.
Zetterson on June 24, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Yeah. At least two of us in the comment thread in the original post. Sounds like par for the course among the Northeast liberal set; hell, if that’s what Sharpton thinks, who are they to argue?
Jaibones on June 24, 2008 at 11:44 AM
I absolutely despise Imus. Nevertheless the fact remains that Imus was back-handedly sticking up for Pac Man Jones, an athlete with a laundry list of troubles.Imus was implying that Jones was being picked on because he was black, which, in my opinion, is arguable.
The bottom line is that blacks are free to dispense whatever bile they want while whites’ free speech is drastically abridged by political correctness and, in this case, the alleged bias was misinterpreted.
MaiDee on June 24, 2008 at 1:55 PM
Comment pages: