Should Imus' "nappy head ho's" comment lead to his firing?

[hugh]

Background

Last Wednesday, the day after the Rutgers University women lost their national championship bid to the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers, Don Imus described the womens basketball team in this fashion "That's some nappy-headed hos there, I'm going to tell you that now."

Imus later tried to stem the backlash by saying ""I'm a good person, but I said a bad thing," he said. "But these young women deserve to know that it was not said with malice."

My two cents:

I wonder, can any public figure call a group of women "nappy-headed hos" without malice? In my opinion, this comment is both rascist and misogynistic and CBS / MSNBC should fire him.

Question?

So should Imus be fired, suspender or left alone for his remarks?

[bete_noir]

You missed on option for your poll, i.e.:

"Who cares? I'm Canadian and he's just another American wind-bag"

By the way, who is Don Imus...????

[hugh]

John Donald Imus, Jr. (born July 23, 1940) is an American radio talk show host, best known for his sarcasm and harsh language. His popular radio show, Imus in the Morning, airs daily.

Imus was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1989. In 2002, Talkers magazine ranked Imus as one of the greatest radio talk show hosts of all time.

Source: WIkipedia

[england]

Well another radio host drops a bomb What is the name of that nincompoop guy that does a talk show on radio and his house keeper told the tale about his drug use? Didn't he make a a rascist comment about Donovan Mcnab?

I don't get why these people always have to touch on the colour thing when a visible minority does something, why can't it just be another person doing something right or wrong?

I wonder if this Imus whatshisface would have made a similar comment if they had all been white? I think the dipstick should be fired and never allowed to work in radio again. There should be no room for this sort of behaviour, you can't say things like that, and then say "Am not a rascist", you flippin' are mate

It's a shame people like these, pass this onto their kids and they continue the cycle. Look at Mel Gibson and his Jewish comment, he is pretty much done now in the movie business

[Cap]

lets see, I liked his comments on AL sharpten show "you people".

Weather Imus is a racist or not who really cares...Funny how AL can go after this guy..when hes done the things hes done..Especially that guy he lied about back in the eighties.about kidnapping and raping a young black girl. It was all fabrication.That guy then sued Al for 345,ooo USD ..That AL won't apologize for ruining someones life...

Yet he wants krammer and Imus to apologize for some comments..

How about Jesse Jackson and his hymietown comment a few years ago. Racism is a two way street..Yet these 2 men think it's only a one way street...

Mind you they have both lost respect in most peoples eyes.

[england]

If am not mistaken.....so you are saying 2 wrongs make a right? The 2 people you mentioned, probably don't speak for most African Americans, and couldn't give a toss about them really.

Next you will be saying because rappers call each other that nasty word, it's ok for other races to use it? Even Eminem with all his street cred won't go there, and rightful so.

Bottom line here is, if someone does something wrong or screw up, look beyond their skin colour to pass judgement. Kramer is a big fool for saying what he did, and I never really liked the guy or the show anyway, and can't understand why most people make references to episodes of the show

[mark]

I voted "nothing".

This has been blown way out of proportion for a comment that was made on a comedy show.

[dmccorm140]

Listening to the various opinions it appears that Don Imus radio host for CBS Radio and TV Morning Host for MSNBC has been identified as being enemy #1 in war on Sexism/racism in the media after his mistaken comments last week.

Proctor & Gamble and Staples have pulled all advertising from MSNBC and CBS Radio until Imus is totally fired.

I guess his career is over.

What are your thoughts?

[Cap]

NO 2 wrongs don't make a right...what i said was who really cares...the bottom line is if Imas or AL are bigots, it does not change my opinion or the way i lead my life...racism is in the heart, not in words...

[hugh]

IMo, Apathy against bigotry and racism is wrong. I think it's great that people are outraged and want him fired. Sure he's a blowhard, but a blowhard who can shape public opinion hence why he needs to be dumped!

[james99]

Rosie O defended him. No surprise since her comments are more shocking than his.

He should do the popular thing and go into rehab for 2 weeks and suddenly be cured.

[hugh]

Don Imus a reflection of our culture

This really is an excellent article on how I feel.

I like this comment

The "old-fashioned" word graciousness seems to have gotten lost. Too many ex-changes between individuals lack respect and discipline.

[HT gearhead]

Gasp! He said a bad thing, let's have him drawn and quartered and fed to the dogs. "Mommy, he called me a poopyface". OMG, poor little Eggbert will never be the same again. Has society has become so thin skinned and fearful of words? It was said without malice. It's part of his show personality. Whatever happened to sticks and stones? I think it's funny that people get all bent out of shape over schoolyard antics like this. How long before Hitler comparisons enter into the conversation? Already racism and Jews are popping up in this topic which have nothing to do with what some media jerk said. I'm not defending what he said, just think the whole thing is being overdramatized

[hugh]

It was said without malice.

How can you know that? I fail to see how you can say what he said without being malicious. If it was a schoolyard child saying it then I would agree but it was not.

I'm not afraid of words but I am afraid of rascists and misogynists who forment hatred.

[nicker22]

I think he should be suspended, even know they guy is a waste of time. Does anyone actually listen to this clown anymore. Heck you can't even understand the guy, sounds like he is talking with Marbles in his mouth all the time. How ever he made a mistake, a very stupid mistake. Suspend him and let time take care of the rest. As some have noted, some companies will not advertise with CBS anymore. His ratings will drop even more now, how they can drop any lower and him still have a job is beyond me but hey. I agree there is no room for racisim. He dug his own grave and time will surly put him in it, it is just going to be allot sooner now.

As for his interview the Al Shithead that is another storey, there is a racist right there. If Don Anus did any homework before that interview he would have been able to blast him back. If Don Imus should be fired for his comments then Al Sharpton should be off the air aswell. Al Sharpton is just as bad, he has said allot of racist comments in his time and if you do some looking you will see that for your self.

Just my 2 cents