Imus steps in it again?
posted at 2:05 pm on June 23, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Al Sharpton may get another chance to distract everyone from the massive IRS investigation into his personal and professional finances by seizing on another Don Imus eruption. This morning, Imus discussed the case of Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, the NFL player that sat out 2007 with disciplinary suspensions and has been arrested a half-dozen times since being drafted the previous year. While Imus’ news announcer talks about Jones’ desire to drop his nickname — it’s too “negative” now — Imus startled him with a question:
Imus: “What color is he?”
A: “He’s African American.”
Imus: “Well there you go… now we know.”
This may not be quite as overt as “nappy-headed ho’s”, but in listening to the clip, you can almost hear the smirk on Imus’ face as he replied to the answer. Put that together with the preceding “What do you expect at a nightclub?” sequence, and it looks like WABC may find out how it felt to be CBS Radio and MS-NBC in the prior controversy. Imus has not learned much since, it appears.
What difference would Jones’ color make in this case? Why would Imus even think to ask? I’m among those who think he got treated far too harshly the last time, but quite obviously Imus has …. issues.
Update: Michael Calderone picks up on this story at Politico as well. If the RedLasso clip isn’t working for you, Politico has the audio.
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Oh boy, here we go again…
flipflop on June 23, 2008 at 2:09 PM
Putz
Your Jewish Master on June 23, 2008 at 2:11 PM
He’s like the crazy old grandpa that talks about fuzzy-wuzzys
LimeyGeek on June 23, 2008 at 2:11 PM
First Amendment, baby.
Tough crap.
Imus insults me when he gets all anti-Bush and Democratic ass-kissy. I’m not leading a parade to get him off the air.
We don’t have hate-speech laws, and if we ever do, the push-back needs to be fierce and scary.
TexasJew on June 23, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Don Imus must truly enjoy stepping into a great big steaming pile of doo-doo. I wouldn’t be surprised that, at the time I am posting this, Al Sharpton is standing outside the radio station door, megaphone firmly placed to his big fat mouth, demanding Imus’ head on a pole…………..again!
pilamaye on June 23, 2008 at 2:12 PM
What an idiot.
BTW, does anybody else have caching problems with this website. It’s been happening pretty regularly for like a year now… I will log in and the page doesn’t show that I’ve logged in until I clear my cache and reload. Other times, the front page will show nothing new all day, but if I clear my cache and reload I may find that I have been missing several posts.
It’s quite annoying, and it only happens on Hot Air.
DaveS on June 23, 2008 at 2:13 PM
How about the sheer stupidity of thinking a cornerback might be white?
BuzzCrutcher on June 23, 2008 at 2:15 PM
I can no more disown
himImus than I can disown theblackelderly radio host community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother – a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.wise_man on June 23, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Um yeah. Nice knowing you Mr Imus.
Zetterson on June 23, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Being the product of caucasians this might (I hope not) come out badly and tar me for something or other….
I’M SICK AND TIRED OF BLACK
Limerick on June 23, 2008 at 2:20 PM
That is NOT what I typed I typed….
BLACK-BROWN-YELLOW-WHITE (call me Imus)
Limerick on June 23, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Anyone who even occasionally listens to Imus knows that he is extremely senstitive to racial issues — in a good way. There are two African-Americans on his show every day, and racial issues are fairly discussed often.
This comment is completely innocuous. Let it go. There is no story here.
BTW, that’s not Imus’ “news announcer”, it’s Warner Wolfe, sports announcer.
glockman on June 23, 2008 at 2:22 PM
Amen.
I’m sick and tired of the way black race-bating whores impute racism into the hearts & minds of all white people - as if they alone have some soothsayer power of divination.
I’m not not voting for Obama because he’s black, I’m not voting for him (in part) because of these poisonous wretches riding his coattails.
LimeyGeek on June 23, 2008 at 2:24 PM
WABC has been unlistenable in the morning since this guy replaced Curtis and Kuby. I switched over to John Gambling on WOR and never looked back. The only downside is that politically foolish Obama cheerleader Joan Hamburg comes on afterward before I leave in the morning.
Kensington on June 23, 2008 at 2:26 PM
WOW!! He sounds REALLY old now. Listen to him slur his words. Or is he back to being drunk and high all the time again?
I’ve never cared for this doddering old fool, Stern has always been my cup of tea. But the question you have to ask is, how did Howard get away with saying the same types of things on testicle radio, and Imus gets snagged every time? What is the old coot doing wrong?
RWLA on June 23, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Hey . . . you may or may not like it but if Obama can make race an issue then why not Imus? There is a constitutional right involved here that is color blind.
rplat on June 23, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Personality types like Imus avoid these situations like a dieting person avoids the refrigerator at night.
-
deesine on June 23, 2008 at 2:26 PM
I look for opportunities to squash racism, but the statistics say that he had every right to say what he said.
marklmail on June 23, 2008 at 2:27 PM
DUDE !!!!
jake-the-goose on June 23, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Hello, Imus be going.
I cannot stay,
I came to say
Imus be going.
I’m glad I came
but just the same
Imus be going.
For my sake you must stay,
for if you go away,
you’ll spoil this party
I am throwing.
I’ll stay a week or two,
I’ll stay the summer through,
but I am telling you,
Imus be going.
Shy Guy on June 23, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Whenever he screws up, he will be referred to as a “right wing shock jock” of course.
TBinSTL on June 23, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Cheesewiz, don’t you people understand that Imus is following Obama’s lead by bringing forth the race discussion that this country needs. Imus’s oratory style is meant to provoke and the true meaning is lost in a 30 second sound pie bite.
Imus is not talking about the football player, he’s talking about the fact that slave names (pac-man) lead to black men living up to there name. You see if he had been called ‘tight-end’ or ‘receiver’ he would be a homosexual bottom who wasn’t packin’.
I’m sure Sean Hannity and Fox News will play this sound bit endlessly, trying to destroy the second coming but having seen the light I am blind to the evil of Fox News.
Irregardless of the good that Imus’s comment will bring, he should be tarred and feathered - I mean whitewashed and feathered and be sent to Gitmo.
hotdax on June 23, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Yeah, except that it doesn’t mean Imus gets to keep his job. If his employers don’t like what he’s saying, they can fire him. It’s the same here. If Allah, Ed or Michelle don’t like what you post here, you can get banned.
You’re guaranteed the right to speak, but you aren’t guaranteed a forum.
Esthier on June 23, 2008 at 2:32 PM
What do you expect. We do live in the US of KKKA. A Country that treats some of it’s citizens as less than human. According to Rev Wright that is. I think Jones is a criminal, who has been given more chances than he deserves. Imus is an old fart, who has not learned to be politically correct, or is just a racist. Since they are good at what they do I see them being able to continue to make a living. Maybe Imus can invite Jones to a stip club as a peace offering apology. I am pretty sure Jones would accept the invitation. Jones loves strippers.
chief on June 23, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Who is saying he doesn’t have a right to say it? Private (i.e. non-governmental) racism, while archaic and ignorant, should be perfectly legal. Doesn’t mean that people have to look the other way.
Mark Jaquith on June 23, 2008 at 2:36 PM
So, why is this a story? People are just waiting around to be offended in this country. Its sickening. We have become a nation of complete (word to describe a gay person, also a cigarette). I just hope the end of this PC sissy country that the US has become, comes within my lifetime, so I can see a better nation emerge.
muyoso on June 23, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Sounded more like “The Greaseman in the Morning”. Waddle doodle. Bone Dry.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on June 23, 2008 at 2:37 PM
And it doesn’t mean people have to pay him a salary.
Esthier on June 23, 2008 at 2:38 PM
When Pac-Man came to Nashville to play for the Titans, he was asked what was the first thing he learned. His reply was “when you are as famous as me, you need to have a body guard when you go out in public.” The interviewer replied, give it a rest Pac-Man. This is Music City. A lot of better players and a helluva lot more important singers and entertainers live here. They don’t need body guards.” This guy is a thug. If Imus goes down again because of this BS, he deserves it.
volsense on June 23, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Goatta keep an eye on those evil, racist, conservitive bloggers like Imus.
infidel2 on June 23, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Last straw.
I hope Imus has a nice nest egg because he’ll be living on it until he dies.
Nessuno on June 23, 2008 at 2:42 PM
The term “African-American” makes me want to vomit. Using it is nothing less than kowtowing to those who seek not only thoughtcontrol, but, also, thoughtcrime.
Orwell knew it would happen.
OhEssYouCowboys on June 23, 2008 at 2:42 PM
later mus
trailortrash on June 23, 2008 at 2:44 PM
They need to fire that ass who brought him back in the first place!
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on June 23, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Bleh so what? He’s a crack pot. Who hasn’t known this? Were the three people listening were offended?
bj1126 on June 23, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Pretty incredible that he would go full circle on the race controversy… you think that Imus of all people would have learned his lesson by now.
PaulD on June 23, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Absolutely. But why is the NFL known as the National Felons League???? You gotta ask yourself one question: Between the black players and white players, which group is more often in trouble with the law??? The answer is a no-brainer. That’s what Imus was alluding to. And he’s right.
BTW, this points out an even more pathetic problem for the social engineers. Why would black athletes, who make mucho pesos in the NFL, still wanna commit crimes???
Andy in Agoura Hills on June 23, 2008 at 2:52 PM
For the moment, that’s strictly Canada’s shtick. ;)
Ed Driscoll on June 23, 2008 at 2:56 PM
There is no controversy. The black prison population is growing and it represents a greater percentage than blacks in the general population. Its not racist to point that out.
Andy in Agoura Hills on June 23, 2008 at 2:58 PM
First, the First Amendment has no applicability here. This is not the Canadian Human Rights Commission holding a show trial, or another governmental entity using the force of law to bar speech it doesn’t like.
Imus’s relationship with his radio network is governed by contract. The network is not constitutionally required to keep him on the air. And if he’s taking racial cheap shots and is endangering the brand of his radio network as a result, I can hardly blame them for taking action.
Outlander on June 23, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Yet the three racist remarks made by Olbermann still get looked over by everyone, including his bosses on the show, the NFL.
Rbastid on June 23, 2008 at 3:04 PM
I guess Imus liked the taste of Al and Jesse’s asses when he kissed them first time, so he’s coming up with another reason to kiss them again. What an idiot.
Torch on June 23, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Sorry, I just meant that statistics show Blacks are more likely to commit crimes. “right” was a poor choice of words. Justified was the word I was looking for.
marklmail on June 23, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Imus should get ordained like Al and Jesse, then he could say anything. Oh, wait. He’s not black. Never mind.
hepcat on June 23, 2008 at 3:10 PM
Imus was not trying to engage in social commentary about crime in the black community. He was taking a cheap shot and it was uncalled-for, especially in light of his past misconduct.
Outlander on June 23, 2008 at 3:15 PM
But it is racist to claim that the color of his skin “explains” the man’s criminal behavior. This Imus comment is so dumb it boggles the mind. The definition of racism is the belief that a person is either superior/inferior based on race alone. Imus is saying the man is a criminal as a result of his skin color alone. This is a racist comment in its purest form.
Zetterson on June 23, 2008 at 3:24 PM
Maybe Imus will follow Beckel’s lead and blame right wing cracker bloggers for making him do it.
forest on June 23, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Slave names? Huh, and here I thought that he was referring to Pac-Man, the old video game, with the little round creature that ate everything in it’s path.
Who knew that the game inventor named it after slaves?
Jaibones on June 23, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Stepped in it?…or on it? Ouch.
whitetop on June 23, 2008 at 3:33 PM
*queue sound of video game Pac-Man dying with Imus’s picture*
Dash on June 23, 2008 at 3:34 PM
That’s not the Imus I knew…..er….
bloggless on June 23, 2008 at 3:38 PM
I don’t know if I’d go that far - but I dislike the phrase “African American” for a very practical reason.
The reason: Not all black people in America are “African American”. Many are from other countries etc. such as European nations, the Dominican Republic… too many countries to name.
PaulD on June 23, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Just outta curiosity, do you the the book The Bell Curve was written by two racists?
Andy in Agoura Hills on June 23, 2008 at 3:40 PM
the=think
Andy in Agoura Hills on June 23, 2008 at 3:40 PM
Let’s hope 105.7 FM in the DC area overreacts and drops Imus. I used to listen to them on the drive in to work, but then they got Imus and I switched channels.
rbb on June 23, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Where the government is concern, sure, but Americans have a way of making certain opinions not worth the cost.
Free speech goes both ways. The Dixie Chicks understand that now.
Esthier on June 23, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!
SlimyBill on June 23, 2008 at 3:47 PM
Yeah! I’d fire him for just that reason alone!!!! LOL!!!
Andy in Agoura Hills on June 23, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Maybe he needs to explain himself. “Well there ya go” what? There ya go…what IMus? He needs to knock it off. I’m white, and in my neighborhood and local bars, whites are the problem.
Mr. Imus had better get race out of his programming line up totaly. There’s no place for it with him. Some people can do it, and some can’t. He can’t!
johnnyU on June 23, 2008 at 3:52 PM
I don’t recall The Bell Curve stating that people of a certain background are going to automatically do one thing or another.
This is really an easy one. What he said speaks of a mindset that views blacks automatically as criminals. He wasn’t asking the question because he didn’t know the answer. He knew and wanted to point that out so that he could paint blacks in a certain, unfavorable light.
Yes, statistically speaking blacks commit more crimes than whites; however, that doesn’t automatically mean black people are criminals.
I don’t know. Maybe you should ask Roger Clemens, Andy Petite, Mark McGuire…
Esthier on June 23, 2008 at 3:54 PM
.
Well, you can bet he’ll become one when the story runs in the MSM!
drunyan8315 on June 23, 2008 at 3:54 PM
Imus dontcha know when a black person does something wrong you’re not supposed to identify their race on the radio or TV.. sheesh..
Chakra Hammer on June 23, 2008 at 3:55 PM
you know, everyone’s got one of those ‘crazy uncles’ somewhere in their (church, family, circle of friends)…
Biffstir on June 23, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Are those football players? I think the first and last are white baseball players who have never committed a felony. Anymore non-examples?
Andy in Agoura Hills on June 23, 2008 at 3:59 PM
Is there something wrong with me that I don’t get what the fuss is about regarding the Imus quote? Maybe the audio is damning, but just reading what’s there seems irrelevant, but close to innocuous. Are we so sensitized to anything at all racial that we can’t even mention race?
Clark1 on June 23, 2008 at 4:01 PM
No it didn’t. But I wasn’t suggesting it did. What I was suggesting is that the Bell Curve explains a overall lack of general intelligence that leads to poor decisions. Oh, that, and affirmative action.
Andy in Agoura Hills on June 23, 2008 at 4:02 PM
What’s the problem here? Imus does what he’s paid to do. As far as the term African America, it is a term thrust upon our nation by elitist liberals, somewhat like those who organized on the south side of Chicago and the lefty press really liked it.
Negro(e) has been an acceptable term for hundreds of years until the radicalization of the streets and universities of our country. Court papers now identify defendants as A or B. Aryan or Black. Can you imagine? Colored is actually a correct term since there are a variety of colored people from many areas other than Africa. We always used the term colored people when I was growing up.
wepeople on June 23, 2008 at 4:03 PM
I like Imus’s introduction to the new Black Beatles Album.
Wade on June 23, 2008 at 4:09 PM
mymanpotsandpans on June 23, 2008 at 4:11 PM
Steroids are still illegal last I checked, and you’re right, they are all white.
You mentioned athletes, so I went with a few who happen to make loads of money but for some reason decided to blow their careers on something stupid.
Well, Imus did. That’s the whole point.
Esthier on June 23, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Andy, you are completely missing the point. I understand what you are saying. Higher percentage crime rate amoungst blacks than whites. Gotcha. You’re not exactly laying out the theory of relativity here. But what you are saying is a completely seperate thing from what Imus said. Still, you are attempting to link the two for some strange reason. Just because there is a higher percentage crime rate in the black community does not mean all black people are criminals, nor does it mean most criminals are black. Therefore it is not possible to have a conversation about a criminal and immediately conclude (based on no other information) that the person is black. Imus was informed the man was “African American”. Upon receiving this information he said “that explains it”. Saying this insinuates that skin color somehow determines behavior. That is, by definition, racist. Not to mention illogical.
For example, blacks make up about 40% of the US prison population. Therefore, it is also a fact that 60% of the prison population is NOT black. So if person X is convicted of a crime, what is more likely? Person X is black? Or person X is not black? I hope it is clear to you by now that it is more likely person X is NOT black. Hence Imus’ conclusion is rather stupid and indefenceable.
Zetterson on June 23, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Is that what it says? I thought it said blacks and whites were “differently-abled” wrt intelligence. Like left-brained vs. right-brained.
misterpeasea on June 23, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Time for Al to pull out the mega-phone and yell how racist we all are until Imus is fired………Again.
ThePrez on June 23, 2008 at 4:22 PM
I don’t know, crime statistics, maybe prison populations, or do you mean that race is such a hot button issue, especially for him, that he shouldn’t be pokin it with a stick?
I am not familiar with him, but I doubt that any crime he may have committed had anything thing to do with financial need. He probably committed crimes for the kicks, or to emulate the popular thug life of MTV.
DFCtomm on June 23, 2008 at 4:22 PM
That wasn’t me speaking. I was quoting Andy.
Esthier on June 23, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Maybe he can clean Johnny Miller’s pool.
mymanpotsandpans on June 23, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Old corpses never die, they just kind of foot in mouth it away.
MB4 on June 23, 2008 at 4:29 PM
I hate to be mean (well not really), but that man is hid-e-ous.
baldilocks on June 23, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Zetterson,
It’s true that blacks compose only 40% of the prison population, but that is not the only category that was mentioned. We also knew he was a professional football player. Blacks make up 40% of the prison population, but, what, 60% of the pro football players, so there is stronger statistical evidence that he was probably going to be black.
DFCtomm on June 23, 2008 at 4:31 PM
They can no more disavow Don Imus that they can disavow their own….oh never mind.
Alden Pyle on June 23, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Sorry about that, oh and about Mark McGuire. I think he took andro which is legal, and effective, but probably not cricket for a professional athlete.
DFCtomm on June 23, 2008 at 4:35 PM
OMG! If you aren’t going to admit the fact that blacks commit an enormously disproportionate number of crimes, then you’re being flat-out intellectually dishonest. That’s nearly as dishonest as the 98% of black Obama voters who “Vote for Obama beacause of his stance on the issues”. HA!
marklmail on June 23, 2008 at 4:37 PM
If you’re going to use terms to make your point, make sure you know what they mean. ‘Jones’ would be the knucklehead’s ’slave name,’ alluding to the fact that African slaves on pain of death were not allowed to speak their original languages or use their native names after arrival in this country.
Now. Carry on.
baldilocks on June 23, 2008 at 4:37 PM
Good point. But Imus must be quite the human calculator. Instantaneous statistical analysis based on careful attention to detail or racist slip? I think I’m going to stick with the latter.
Zetterson on June 23, 2008 at 4:39 PM
hey….im just as racist as the next guy…but when is this old lady gonna collapse and die?.
eplain on June 23, 2008 at 4:39 PM
That is true. Just not what we are talking about in this instance. Nor does it matter.
Zetterson on June 23, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Well done.
I don’t think anyone has denied either one of these assertions. I don’t and I’m black.
What do either have to do with the veracity or quality of Imus’s latest faux pas?
baldilocks on June 23, 2008 at 4:42 PM
The real question is why in the world, considering the trouble he just had, would he make another statement like this.
DFCtomm on June 23, 2008 at 4:42 PM
Yes, but that still doesn’t explain his comment. He likely deduce that as a pro football player the man is likely black, but him being black still doesn’t explain why he committed a crime.
You may be right. I won’t claim to be an expert here.
My general point was just that he risked (and ruined) his entire career over this even though he was already making a good deal of money.
Esthier on June 23, 2008 at 4:47 PM
The old woman has an enormous ego. I dont know who gave it to her, wasnt ME! the old bag is a joke. I wonder if her wife thought she would live this long?
eplain on June 23, 2008 at 4:47 PM
I don’t think anyone has denied either one of these assertions. I don’t and I’m black.
What do either have to do with the veracity or quality of Imus’s latest faux pas?
marklmail on June 23, 2008 at 4:53 PM
Actually a white man who used to work for me gave me that nickname. :-P
baldilocks on June 23, 2008 at 4:58 PM
I get a kick out of this. Black Hip-Hop stars have the right to say anything, but grouchy, old, White cowboys are pushing the envelope of the Constitution.
This is nothing like calling select Black female basketball players ho’s. This is pointing out that an athelete who can’t handle fame and fortune and can’t leave behind his gangsta’ ways is typically Black. I think the stats will back that statement up.
Hening on June 23, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Imus is in trouble because of his comment last year about the Rutgers women’s basketball team, and his caving in to Al Sharpton.
He may survive this one, because the Rutgers women never did anything to make themselves infamous when Imus dropped his “nappy-headed” remark, while Adam “Pacman” Jones was pretty much a walking crime wave during his first two NFL seasons, to the point that he spent Season 3 on suspension before being dealt to Dallas, and still could face charges in connection with the NBA All-Star weekend fracas in Las Vegas that left a strip club bouncer paralyzed from a gunshot wound (oh, and the woman Pacman was with was thrown off a building and killed in the Bronx last week).
If he gets canned by Citadel, it will be for recidivism. But if Citadel stands firm, it will be funny to watch the usual suspects try to paint Adam Jones as the victim here, in the same way Vivian Stringer and her basketball team were last April.
jon1979 on June 23, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Its amazingly stupid. I cannot even fathom what emptyness was bouncing around his skull when these clumsy words tripped out of his mouth. I suppose Ed said it well up top. The man clearly “has… issues“.
Zetterson on June 23, 2008 at 5:11 PM
imus sounds senile.
peacenprosperity on June 23, 2008 at 5:21 PM
Both are allowed to say whatever they want. That does not mean they should be immune to consequences for saying stupid, untrue things though. For example, if I had a radio show and announced over the airwaves that Hening is a rapist you might expect some sort of consequence for that unfair, untrue accusation. Correct?
Zetterson on June 23, 2008 at 5:22 PM
why…yes. IF!… you are white (possibly male and or “rich”), or a republican. Or George Bush. Other than that….I dont expect any “consequences”. I’m dead serious.
eplain on June 23, 2008 at 5:30 PM
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