READERS RESPOND TO OUR IMUS OP-AD
A Sampling of the 200+ Letters We've Received
The TomPaine.com Staff
Editor's Note: Letters are published "as is." We reserve the right to shorten long letters.
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Having lived in the Deep South for all of my 55 years, I know a bigot when I see one. Since I am white, I witness a lot of hyprocisy, such as people presenting one face to the public and another in private. If it walks like a bigot, talks like a bigot, and reeks like a bigot, it's a bigot. As for the people who continue to appear on this idiot's program in order to sell books, etc., they should look in the dictionary to find the meaning of the word "prostitute".
Patricia Cronier
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Either you don't listen and or watch Imus, or you are trying to create controversy to advance your own agenda. Imus is entertaining, satirical and sometimes goes a bit too far, but he is no racist. Come on, get real.
Angeology@aol.com
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Finally, someone with some visability has said what I have been thinking for years. I am amazed at what they get away with on the show. I have also wondered why no one has confronted some of his regular guests (Tom Brokaw, Tim Russert, Dan Rather, Cokie Roberts, Howard Fineman, Jeff Greenfield, McCain, Guiliani, Congressmen , etc.) and asked them if they agree with the racism that goes on. They give the show "cover". Keep up the good work. Don't back down from those bullies.
Mike Campos
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As a regular listener of the Imus program I do get a little uncomfortable about some of the "skits" particularly when foul language is "bleeped out" but clearly evident as to what words were intended.
But I remind myself that this is "entertainment" - just like movies, rap music, pro wrestling and baseball (see John Rocker). All of these forms of entertainment, unfortunately, contain raciest, violent and foul language including slurs against white people ( "White Men Can't Jump"), Black People, Asians, Women, Gays, etc. You have to seperate what is entertainment and what is real! And I think there in lies a major distinction as to why I disagree with the content of your message.
I wished we lived in a time where we were making movies like "It's a Wonderful Life", and beautiful "50s" types of songs about love. And radio shows were Abbott & Costello and Jack Benny. This is the way our society is today and we have to accept it and be consistent in our approach to it.
Finally, Don Imus appears to have done tremdous goodwill and raised millions of dollars for children with cancer. As my father always taught me: "Actions speak louder than words".
Gerald Ghinelli
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Have you ever heard of satire? Your articles sound like something a "first time listener" would call in and say.
Licia Melvin
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Your comments on Imus are way way out of line, keep your stupid comments to yourself.
MartMan717@aol.com
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The content of the IMUS show is the real thing. Its what people think and find humor in. I don't believe there is anything malicious in any of it. All done in the spirit of satire and humor. Too much political correctness around and its not going to sell or bring him down.
Jim E.
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It's a pity that your ad had one missing element. The truth. The fact of the matter is that Imus makes fun of everyone. It doesn't matter what color your skin, what you like to sleep with, or your religion, everyone is fair game. Why didn't you mention Italians? They get a roughing up by Imus when he calls them mobsters etc. Are you so anti-Italian that those slurs don't bother you? What about the Irish? Don't you care what he has to say about them? I, and millions of others find Imus refreshing because his show highlights how ludicrous all of the "protected species" nonsense has become. I have two suggestions for you: 1. If you don't like Imus, don't listen!!!!! 2. Don't pick a fight with Imus because you will lose!
Anthony Montano
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Get a sense of humor.
Michael Peasley
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You obviously have no sense of humor. GET A LIFE.
Roniva Brown
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Your criticism of Imus appears to be retribution for his refusal to live read your advetorial regarding Senator Mitch McConnell. I am troubled that you failed to disclose your attempt to advertise on his show. Moreover, your willingness to advertise on his show undercuts the credibility of your attack on his "A list" guests.
Need4tix@aol.com
Editor's Note: We do disclose this fact in the very first article in the right-hand column.
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Why have you decided to devote such an incredible amount of effort to covering the perceived racism on his show? Is this the most meaningful battle you can find? Is there no disadvantaged victim in the world who deserves the voice of an organization like TomPaine.com?
Daniel Thomsen
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I don't need watchdogs like you to tell me whether or not I'm a good person. I'm not worried that my views, ideas, and what I think is funny, lack the imprimatur of Those Who Know Best (read: the Left). I laugh at what I like, listen to what's valuable, and understand that making fun of our bizarre culture is all right. In fact, making fun of our animus-ridden culture -- to give a slight twist to your take on Imus--should probably be required.
Ted Gilley
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As a gay person, I just don't understand. Why is it ok for Richard Pryor, Chris Rock and other black comedians to ridicule the whites and make racist remarks without criticism, but when Imus turns the table, it IS worthy of criticism. Why is "Will and Grace", which ridicules homosexuality, an OK show? Why is it acceptable for women comics to ridicule the testastrone set? Why is it alright for the president of a N.Y. university to make very serious racist remarks without any criticism?
sidk@flash.net
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Imus is not a racist bigot. I am a liberal, jewish, and I'd like to think thoughtful design professional who is a major Imus fan. I think Imus' show is successful on many levels: including in my preferred order, (1.) the best and most candid interviews of newsmakers and news people in any media. Incredibly well written and well produced satires including Imus in Washington, Nixon, Patton, etc. not to mention (2.) brilliant musical satires starring characters such as a "dead on" Rush Limbaugh singing about liking people with "white faces", that chase the "jews away". Although one of the most original and funniest members of the cast Mike Breen is gone, even the (3.) sports can cause convulsions of laughter as I ride into work. The (4) banter between cast members, particularly Imus and Charles trying to deliver a serious news cast, can be hilarious. The (5.) bumpers are usually well selected and well timed.
Gary Graham
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As an avid fan of the "Imus in the Morning" program and a working, chruch-going, Christian female (it really does not matter what color I am!), I have never heard nor has anyone on the show ever hinted at sexist or racist comments. Nor are they homophobic!
Your ad is a silly ploy to garner web site recognition. You obviously know that if you attack Don Imus personally, you will get a public response and a lot of free publicity all morning. I hope he follows through on his lawsuit as he is a "petty man who loves to pay lawyers."
The parodies are just that - humor! People with no sense of humor, such as yourselves, need to turn off the radio and not try to censor anyone else. Some us enjoy laughing all morning to and at work.
Imus, Chuck and Bernie should do a book entitled A Field Guide to Black People. I guarantee you it would be hilarious and maybe then they could be slammed as racist -maybe!
Get a life and take out ads against Howard Stern who is the rudest, crudest, sexist ass I have ever heard on the radio/TV. He is also blatantly racist as well not to mention an idiot.
Now I need to erase your website from my computer...
Margo Mossburg, Portland OR
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You really don't get it. I have enjoyed reading your op-ed pieces in the Times and usually agree with them. Having read the Imus piece it makes me question your past pieces. After tinking about it the world must be in good shape if all there is to write about is Imus.....
mictinjoey@aol.com
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I could not believe the ad that appeared in this mornings NY Times. You obviously have too much money available for ridiculous and uncalled for advertising. Have you ever listened to the show? Is it beyound your comprehension because of low IQ? I suggest you find some other targets to spew your venom at (yes, I know, never end a sentence in a preposition). You want bigots? You want hatred? You want homophobia? HELLLLLLO!!!! Ever hear of Pat Robertson? Jerry Falwell? Tom DeLay? The idiot Republicans on the House Judiciary committee? Get off your high horse and try to recognize what is sleaze and if you do, I think AnImus would appear tame, amusing and worthwhile even for the most sensitive of ears, as long as they have even the slightest association with reasonable intelligence.
Polecat622@aol.com
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People like you just don't get it. How embarassing, having to buy your way on to the editoral page of the Times with your propaganda. I don't know exactly what you are, but Thomas Paine had a sense of humor!
Brian Dreyer
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A shame you have no sense of humor. Imus has made fun of everyone on an equal basis for many years. Not one race or religion has been omitted from the show's sharp edged humor. You are exactly what is wrong with America today. Humorless, politically correct stiffs that find fault with everything except liberal causes.
Jim Stinson
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I guess you people never saw the Dean Martin roasts -- everyone gets a shot. they never left anyone out -- black/white, christian/jew, gay/straight, political/mob -- there was no line drawn then so why now? What is the difference? Humor is just that...humor. It amazes me that it is all well and good until it hits someone that it might implicate. If you don't like it...don't listen!!!
Gene E.
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Imus's show would really play well at a KKK jamboree or a Militia Festival somewhere in the wilds of Idaho. He has one agenda: rejoicing in the misfortune of our Government and particularly the Clinton Administration. The "comedy" is about as amusing as a public beheading in Tehran - which is where his "mindset" and his colleagues belong!
ChasPV@aol.com
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It is apparent that Mr. Nobile has no sense of humor, and is a sore loser. On the one hand he challenges Mr. Greenfield to raise some points, about which Mr. Greenfield obviously disagrees. On the other hand, Mr. Nobile complains that the deck was stacked against him. Could it be that Mr. Nobile is upset that other people just do not agree with him?
Yes, there are remarks on the Imus show that deliberately go over the line. But what Mr. Nobile does not appear to have the intelligence to understand is that when General Patton is doing a parody, it is as much as parody of General Patton as it is of the subject matter. Yes, Imus portrays General Patton as homophobic. But this does not make IMUS homophobic -- it makes the General homophobic. Bernard McGurk gets paid a lot of money to make statements that Imus can say are over the line. Some of them are not only in horrible taste and offensive, they are also funny. Some of them offend me. Most don't. I keep listening.
Mr. Nobile appears to be offended by Mr. Imus. He appears, however, to be even more offended that people don't agree with him. There are millions of people who listen to Imus everyday, myself included. We all hear the same stuff that Mr. Nobile has catalogued, and yet we keep listening. I think that this is what upsets Mr. Nobile most of all --that the rest of us "get it" and he does not.
David Block
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Get a life, Mr. Paine. You and Mr. Nobile need something more important to keep you busy instead of this junk. Why don't you get a cause that matters? You either love Imus or you hate him......I for one have loved him for years. And I find all this nonsense laughable. Watch out....he may just go after you!
Jamey Ross
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Not only have you slandered a well-known, highly respected media personality, you have truly fallen to the level of the original Thomas Paine, who was nothing more than a propagandist and professional liar. It is my hope that "Imus in the Morning" sues you into oblivion and ends the reign of terror you have begun for the simple purpose of gaining attention and self-promotion. Comparing Imus to John Rocker only reveals your ignorance, self-righteous bigotry and intolerance to diversity of thought and ideas.
Patrick Speelman
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McCarthyism at its best. Why is it that you never focus on what someone like Reggie White, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton etc. have said in the past. Need I guess - you phoney. Imus dupms on everyone - regardless of race, sexual orientation, etc. He is truly an equal opertunity dumper -Mr. McCarthy.
Bob Elgin
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Imus and his cronies always fall back on "it's just humor" and the people who appear onhis show are just as bad. His recent tirade in Scranton shows that all the money in the world cannot give you class. I have been writing our local station to replace him with a local talent. When he appeared here in Detroit a few years ago, the tickets to the show were sold and the money went to charity, I assume the same thing was done in Scranton and the station was left holding the bag and cost of flying him and his entourage to Scranton. I turned my dial to our local station too early and was treated to his tirade about Scranton. I thought at one time that Charles was different, but alas, that is not true. I heard him this morning and he did give this website, so I could read what you are reporting and it is true he says things and just says it is humor, but let anyone say anything about him and he goes ballistic. Keep up the good work.
jjkconlon@aol.com
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You don't have the faintest idea of what you are talking about in that Times ad ! You folks should plan to listen in or watch sometime. I know I wouldn't mind being on the Iman's "A" List. Apply your resources to something real.
Joe O'Brien
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Go get him. Imus has always used cutting, racially and ethnically charged language to attack others. It may occasionally be funny, but it has the more enduring effect of inuring us all to the damage words can inflict on others. If he can dish it out, he should be person enough to take it.
The media relationship with Imus is also troubling. Pandering to him in order to get their faces or voices in front of the public. You're certainly not going to get any critical analysis from those boot-licking weasels.
mirjack@aol.com
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Your continued attacks on Don Imus are getting tiresome. In the beginning I found them almost as amusing as the Imus show itself. Now I just find them annoying. You know, kind of like that little gnat you can't seem to shake at the company picnic. I suggest you all get a grip, take a deep breath and lighten up.
Lawrence Young
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As a white female working in a male technology environment you might assume that I agree with your ad concerning Don Imus. You would have assumed incorrectly. I find Imus extremely witty and amusing. I believe thats the point of his show. He isn't bigoted against any particular race or ethnicity, rather he hates everyone! He has even insulted the President in front of his peers at the White House Correspondants Dinner...and the Prez is a white male. Perhaps if we stopped desperately searching for racism and offensive remarks in every aspect of life, especially those that intend to provide comic relief to an otherwise dull existence, then our nation as a whole will stop being so hypersensitive to each other. It seems to me that your organization likes to play the victim...
Julie Wall
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If Imus has been a racist for so long the why in the heck did you folks advertise with him? The excuse that you just now figured it out will not work either as your articles point out that this has been going on for a long time. You folks sure look silly right now.
Dick Williams
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Your "op-ad" in today's NY Times completely distorts the content of the Imus show. Moreover you tried to play fast and loose with the truth: the "original" ad that the Times rejected on May 8 does not include published ad's final sentence, "As for Father Hartman...he was back on the show on Monday. Maybe the 'God Squad' is there to stay." The belated addition of this sentence, which undermines your lead "Whould the 'God Squad" abandon power talker Don Imus?", indicates that the Times required you to be more honest about Msgr. Hartman's intentions.
F.R. Maxwell
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Philip Nobile's unimpressive lambasting of the "Imus In The Morning" show displays as much ignorance as it does arrogance on the part of Mr. Nobile.
Don Imus's show regularly and consistently makes fun of racially based, gender based, nationality based , and economically based stereotypes. He and his staff do this with absolutely no discrimination at all. They are truly equal opportunity 'bigots'. Why does Mr.Nobile convieniently forget an entire morning recently, featuring two African American authors reading samples from their parody A Field Guide to White People? If he doesn't like the show - don't listen. Better that than spreading his biased and uninformed opinion about a show that stimulates a lot of discussion on many topics. The PC ideology promoted by Mr. Nobile is to me, far more offensive than a group of radio personalities 'pushing the envelope' too far on occasion.
TomPaine.com may be a journal of opinions - but they should be carefull to express opinions based based on facts.
Tim Gavin
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I would like to take strong exception to your article on Don Imus. While there are numerous times when some of the material may exceed the bounds of "political correctness", I have never found any of the remarks to contain the critical element of bigotry - a hatred for the group or individual to whom it is directed. The show spends a lot of time deflating the self-important images of individuals, irrespective of race, gender, religion, etc.
For instance, the NY Knicks have spent a lot of time and effort (chest thumping, glaring at the camera, individual gestures such as the Larry Johnson "L", etc.) establishing a tough "gangsta" image. There is no better target in sports to ridicule for their self-imposed image.
From what I have read, there are few individuals who have given as much of their time and money to worthwhile causes as Don Imus. He will be around a lot longer than the stuff you are publishing.
Tom Carroll
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I'm not sure if you realize this, but Don Imus is not a politician or a baseball player, he's a comedian. Have you ever heard of parody, irony, sarcasm? All of his insensitve comments seem to be in the spirit of humor, not in the spirit of hate. Sure it may be stupid, insensitive humor meant for a professional wrestling-watching kind of audience, but it's humor.
There are many comedians out there guilty of far greater insensitivities. Yes, his jokes are in bad taste, but where is the logic behind your accusations leading you. I assume you want his corporate sponsors to cancel his show. While you're at it, will you have South Park taken off the air, because it's comments are far more "insensitive" than anything you've reported Imus has said. Off the top of my head, I can name a dozen shows guilty of greater crimes of insensitivity than Imus, should they go to. How about the simpsons, and the way they mock Indians with that grocer guy? Speaking of that, "Seinfeld" never should have been permitted to air either and "The Sopranos" should definitely be cut.
Should every show that doesn't rise to the level of sensitivity and moral decency be cancelled. While where at it, should we force the networks to cancel all the shows that deal with gay lifestyles, being they upset the sensitivities of homophobes. If progressives have a right not to be offended, don't reactionaries?
While I generally like what you journal is doing, this Imus campaign reminds me of the idiocy of the moral majority and how they forced the tv show "Soap" off the air years ago.
Please, give it a rest. there is more important work to be done.
Sam Stewart
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How "noble" of you to have taken on the tedious albeit deadly dull job of cataloguing what you interpret as "racist" remarks made on the Imus in the morning program.
As a frequent listener, I find that the Imus program is quite possibly among the last few places on earth where no one succumbs to the PC pressures that are slowly turning the US into a nation of tight-lipped, cowering hypocrites.
Hypocrites without the guts, the integrity, or the fearlessness to speak their minds, and to risk being human beings without watering down their opinions so as not to risk offending anyone within earshot of a lawyer.
Well Philip, get over it. The tail has wagged the dog long enough and maybe the world actually needs MORE Imus in the morning programs. Maybe he speaks for the millions of men AND women who know that a joke is just a joke! Maybe more people than you care to acknowledge are sick to DEATH of being blamed for every racist act of the last five hundred years! Maybe some minority groups are actually WRONG to assume that they can change how things work in this country just because they can railroad windsock politicians and interest groups and pressure people into feeling guilty about laughing when something is funny! Look up the following phrase in your writer's book of etiquette Philip -"self deprecation" - no one in public life does it more often or does it better than Don Imus! Have you also catalogued how many times per week he refers to his "hideous radio program?" Yes, Bernard McGuirk comes off like a racist blue-collar boob from time to time - but he comes by it honestly. I'm not sure we can say the same about your horrendously slanted assessment of the Imus show. Of all the people and institutions you could use your donor-provided funds to "expose", you seem to be spending an inordinate amount of time on a painfully innocuous subject.
Organizations such as yours have done their level best to enable the "legal" and "protected" rights of minority groups, and to bemoan the repression of the "civil rights" of anyone and everyone BUT white, male, middle aged wage and salary earners...one would THINK your energy might be better spent. With all of the genuine and dangerous hate groups you could be shining a light on, you instead choose to attack a slapstick morning radio shock-jock's program whose content standards you find unacceptable.
Bravo, Mr. Noble. You have scored yet another goal for the throngs of useless, hot-air blowing do-nothings that spend thousands of dollars annually in order to satisfy their pointless self-important crusades in order to feel good for a few minutes, without actually accomplishing ANYTHING.
How many hospitals have been named after you? How much money has your organization contributed to research on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome? How many ranches have you built for children and families of children with terminal illnesses? I am certain that the answer to all three of the above is an unequivocal no.
Wake up, grow up, and until you can SUBSTANTIVELY "enrich the national debate on 'CONTROVERSIAL' public issues"...SHUT UP!
mojo14e@aol.com
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I found TomPaine.com via one of your op-ed ads in the NY Times. I've seen others in the past, but the one on 5/10/00 got me interested enough to come to the Web site.
I am VERY pleased with the focus you've given to the bigotry and bile of Don Imus. I thought it was just me who hated him. How else to explain MSNBC adding another hour to his show?
In any case, I've bookmarked your site and will be coming here regularly. This is the most refreshing place I've found on the WWW.
Sandee Cohen
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Talk about thin skinned! Whatever happened to tolerance, humor..the ability to laugh at ourselves. Sometimes we look for slights, where none were intended. I'm disappointed with your approach. You have a potentialy strong vehicle here, use it, develop it...properly. Don't make your bones on the back of others!
J. Fredericks
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What did you guys cry about before Imus? Why not focus your discust on what is happening in Sudan and why the left, particular the black left isn't screaming about it? I suppose it's not as good fodder material as Imus!
mickbrad@earthlink.net
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here's the thing.. I guess if Imus was promoting YOUR website and YOUR agenda, you would be sniffing at his crotch like all the rest. Sites like yours, and blatant opinion-wagering that it promotes in the name of journalism is the reason I quit studying journalism in the first place.
Quietcat@yahoo.com
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Congratulations on your Imus coverage. By some quirk, Imus is allowed to savage African Americans and homosexuals and grow rich, while others have lost their livelihoods for much less. I can't imagine that his material is funny to anyone other than white Americans of a certain mindset. I would love to meet an African American that enjoys being stereotyped as drug addicted, unintelligent, inarticulate, sex addicted, lazy, welfare addicted and uneducated. Whew! As if that's not bad enough, this morning he spent quite a bit of airtime mounting a very weak offense against Tom Paine.com and Phil Nobile. Naturally most of his charges were ad hominem attacks on Nobile. But he did something that was particularly treacherous. He used a book written by Stephan Dweck and Monteria Ivey to justify his bigotry. His "logic" went something like this: here were two blacks who wrote a racist book and no one was making a big deal of it. I guess he was pulling out the old overused "double standard" that favors blacks. It's a classic misdirection play.
Mr. Imus, I haven't read Dweck and Ivey's book, but even if it is indeed racist, how does that justify what you do on your program? When did you start looking to young black men for your standards? You have been given the benefit of some quadruple standard, because you have been allowed the freedom to say things on the air that most others, black or white, would pay for with their jobs. And great job stabbing Dweck and Ivey, two young men who have been guests on your show, in the back. Keep up the good work TP.com. Keep this bigot's feet to the fire. And keep the names of his media guests center stage. They are culpable.
C. Medford
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....Philip Nobile needs to "get over it." The reason we have television channels from one to a bazillion, and radio frequencies from 88-108 FM and 500-1700 AM, is that if you don't like what you are hearing or seeing, you can spin the dial and hear or see something you do like. Apparently, Mr. Nobile can't tear himself away from "Imus In The Morning." He should go and write and sell his books, if he can. Incidentally, am I the only one who notices that Mr. Nobile has nothing to say about some of the "schtick" that Imus did years ago? Imus became a national celebrity more than anything else for his satiric portrayals of a white radio preacher, the Right Reverend Doctor Billy Sol Hargis. I guess Mr. Nobile thinks THAT stuff was simply funny....and if so he is in plenty of good company.
Donald Dickson, Austin, Texas
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You got my attention, so the ad worked. The article by Mr. Nobile however was really quite dumb. The show he is so incensed about is often very entertaining. Imus mocks just about everyone and is very good at it. He is trying to be outrageous and is often successful. The man himself may be a complete jerk, but he is funny to those of us possessing a sense of humor. Mr. Nobile could find better ways to pass his time. If his writing is an example of what your site offers it doesn't interest me.
DennisD205@aol.com
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You people are quite typical of the arrogance of the liberal press. Your ad attacks Imus "as a purveyor of racist and homophobic parodies and commentaries;" yet you admit that when you purchased it, you were unfamiliar with his record. Thus your ad must have been based on an "exercise of power' that so many in the press are fond of doing. Furthermore, despite your unfamiliarity, you still presumed to describe his record as "egregious." Had you done any research into Imus's "record", you would have discovered:
1. The Imus parodies are all in fun.
2. Their is not a racist or homophobic bone in Imus or any of his staff.
3. Imus has done more for this country through his support of charities (tens of millions of dollars) than tompaine.com or the Florence Fund will ever do.
Finally, it is a travesty that the Tomorrow's Children's Fund and The Imus Ranch for Kids with Cancer, both 501(c)3 entities, must compete for tax deductible dollars with the likes of tompaine.com.
Joe Luquire, Annandale VA
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Lighten up guys or lose the double standard. Either laugh at all of Imus' stuff or give the two African American guys who wrote that guide to white folks a hard time too. My guess is that Thomas Paine wouldn't have appreciated having his name used by a bunch of hypocrites.
Jim Dornan
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1) Get a life. 2) Get a sense of humor. One or the other, take your pick; but you are very wrong on this one. The man is a raving liberal, or didn't you know.
Joseph Marinan
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Get a grip on reality..... you have shown your weak spot..... loser!
cuda@pagearizona.com
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This is the first time to your site and I am somewhat amazed. You use one of the real American heroes as the name for your site and then address incredibly inane, petty issues. God, you people need to get in the real world.
Your attack on Don Imus is stupid and obviously motivated by a hidden agenda. You have to be either Gays, Jews, or Blacks in order to make up this stuff. A simple-minded do-gooder would not go to this effort otherwise. Why don't you simple state your agenda like real men, go to an assertiveness class and then get on with your petty little lives.
I don't like the Imus show, and I absolutely hate it when someone talks about the "rights" one has to do "this", "that", and the "other". Let's talk about what is "right". Having fun by poking fun at each other is done all over the world, and most of the time it is a healthy thing. It is not in itself "wrong". The reason I dislike the Imus show is that he is pumping scatological (sp) humor into American homes and you assholes don't address that, only that he is racial and bigoted. That has to be the most stupid thing I have ever heard. I hope he sues your asses off. If he does, I will cheer him on.
Joe East
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This is okay, I guess, but I'm left wondering why you exclude the NY Times contingent -- Frank Rich, Anna Quinlen, Maureen Dowd, even Howell Raines - from your listing of Imus mediasuckups?
You also fail to note (at least in this article) that the people you list, plus many other media heavyweights, have contributed at least $5,000 to the Don Imus Health Spa (er, excuse me, Cattle Ranch) in New Mexico. They are Ranchhands, Cattle This and Cattle-That honchos on his ranch. This ranch, as you surely know, is supposed to be for children with cancer. By herding cattle, they will be cured, presumably. It is a tax exempt operation, apparently, even though Imus has a TV/Radio studio there from which he can continue to broadcast his (for-profit) morning show. The fact that so many major-major media people are partnered in business with him, yuck it up with him every morning, remain uncritical,even laudatory, somehow strikes me as a questionable relationship.Except for you, he remains insulated from criticism.
My feeling is that to be more effective, focus on the Imus Cattle Ranch operation because that's where you will strike pay dirt. Thanks for listening. And good luck.
Fred Danzig
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I'm laughing.
Nhojdrawde@aol.com
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Read your ad today's Times...and for the first time went to your website...I'll be a frequent visitor.
but it was support of my lng held conviction that this particular show..despite occasional lapses into decency..has a particular toxicity. I find Charles mcCort much more dangerous and offensive than the Bernard guy. McCort represents himself..and is represented as..a news man. And he delivers news with regularity. However, when dealing with various issues, to McCort all too often "news" is whatever faxes he received recently from the R N C. Of course, it's cleverly disguised so as to appear as a straight "news" delivery. But the content is ideological at best. And always per born-again McCort's ideology.
Disgraceful that such a blatant disguise can be permitted without accompanying caviats so that the listening public knows that McCort's "news" is McCort's version of "rushism" ..without the clear identification that Rush is more than happy to provide.
If this sounds like I listen or watch either, you're quite wrong. But isn't it interesting that in a way, comparatively, Rush gets credit from this lib for integrity??
Ron Hart
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Welcome! It's about time someone took on our national Crank......The Imus gang like to protest that they are not racists and bigots....but when practically all their "humor" is based on racist, bigoted, vulgar, name-calling, and deprecation....one is inclined not to believe the protests. Among the most egregious remarks are those concerning physical appearance, especially being over weight..... Such boorish antics should be condemned.
Dorothy Fitzpatrick, Daytona Beach FL
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Thanks for having such small minds. It is refreshing to see the likes of you out in the Light... usually such dreadful slander is only whispered between mouth breathing Cretins... but you have the Nerve to tell the World just how small and pitiful you are. Congratulations again! You have wasted as lot of Money to let us know all about you... Thank God you did not use those resources to do good, perhaps helping Kids with Cancer.... No .... you are smaller than that you are VERMIN!
Charles Morrell
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bigotry, as you define it, is as you chose to fit your own agenda.. your allegations are stupid. any white wasp in this country is supposed to be, at all times, silent regarding what they believe to be major faults with other cultures. i like blacks. black athletes are , in my opinion, generally stupid. i don't like their culture. that is my business, not yours or anyone elses. the jewish view that they are the "chosen" is about as bigoted as it gets. grow up. find a better way to get some publicity.
Elton and Claudia Matheson
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I have always believed imus to be a racist bigot. He pretends to try to put a lid on bernard but if he really want bernards racist tirades to stop he could do it in an instance. and the one that claims to be a Born-again Christian on the show is a disgrace to Christ.
I think Imus has a problem with independent women. He is always calling Oprah names. I think he is a jealous stupid man. Gwen Ifili is an intelligent beautiful black women and does not deserve to be maligned by imus. Ignorant minds find it easier to think in stereo-types. imus is what the young people call a "Player Hater".
Demographics: I am a 44-year (Professional)old black woman, single parent of twin boys, who are honor roll students headed for College this fall. Income over 100K. Yes, Black people use the internet. MSNBC is wasting air time with this guy.
Diana Rowe
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Come on get real. If it wasn't for white people oh i am sorry anglo americans, african american comedians wouldn't have any material to use. I guess it okay for blacks to dog whites out every chance they get or gays to do the same. it is done on the talk shows and news cast. and beside he is just telling the truth. get a life. if the show is so bad why did you want to get air time --fool.
goosemans@webtv.net
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What about the time he makes fun of yuppie scum, and promotes the book A Field Guide to White People. I am offended by that. Why don't you print that.
Peters002@aol.com
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I agree wholeheartedly with your "ad" in the Times today about Imus One think I wanted to point out. Over the years, as eh became the confidant of people who should know better such as Senator Lieberman, he has developed a trick, a shallow and transparent trick. He lets his cronies say the racist, sexist, homophobic stuff. Then over the laughing by his claque, Imus says something to indicate that the comment should not have been said. He says things like that wasn't necessary or his favorite, "shut-up." It is if he doesn't approve or doesn't want such things said. Yet, of course, they continue and of course if he really didn't want them said, they would stop.
Bertram Garskof, Ph.D.
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The Imus show is nothing but trash. Do you really think that what you do is entertaining. It might be, but only to the uneducated and airheads in general. If you had to do a "real" show you'd starve to death. Scum like you is what's wrong with this country today.
K. Kosova
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Thanks for the Imus update. I can't always catch it. You help me keep up with the best parts!! You should learn to relax.
Bob Stahlb
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a breath of fresh air on radio and tv for four hours every morning - that's don imus and his crew. bernard has the fastest response time i've ever seen. mccord is the consummate newsman. engineer lou adds to the fun, along with warner, patrick mcenroe and i-man's two resident comics, larry kenny and rob bartlett. bottom line - i'm not offended by anything i hear or see because: this is a program for grown-ups who can laugh at themselves. if you don't get it, don't be a part of it.
bear@cub.kcnet.org
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I genuinely appreciate this for this report since I once watched Imus and was at first touched by his love for his son and the building of the ranch-at least that's what I told myself. However, his dreadful, tasteless behavior, screaming and swearing at people, telling callers to shut up, the spinelss sycophant Charles and his terrible staff are nothing less than repugnant. In fact, I was appalled at the lack of conviction demonstrated by the God Squad and wondered when they would behave as men of conviction in the face of what Imus truly represents.
By accident, I tuned in Imus as I was getting dressed this morning out of reach of a remote control. Imus was talking to Father Tom about the funeral of Cardinal O'Connor. This exchange was followed by a discussion with the hollow, vacant-eyed Deidre explaining why she puts stones next to toilets-apparently the latest concern of the idle rich and their toying with feng shui, whatever that is.
I don't know the answer because I turned it off. Imus truly is an awful person who one can only object to by turning him off. Incidentally, I doubt that the God Squad will stop visiting as they certain should. What I can assure you is that I've turned
pattdor@aol.com
Published: May 10 2000
