Give Imus a break! Really!

[lazarus]

Laz, I agree that you were not calling for Imus' head. However, your comments regarding Limbaugh indicate that you tend to "pardon" those whom you agree with. I would bet that if Limbaugh was a liberal person (whatever that means) he would have received similar charity.

I said Limbaugh should not have resigned. I dont't agree with Imus in general. He's certainly not a liberal. He's supporting McCain for Prez, but he's funny.

Its obvious that Limbaugh is a racist! How could anyone question that assertion.

[lazarus]

Quote:

Rush Limbaugh is a racist and not funny.

The black people criticizing him are being quite hypocritical since black rap artists say much worse and get a pass.

Get a pass from who? Al Sharpton called for a Ban on Gangster rappers didn't he. You won't hear that on the far right media like FAUX!

[lazarus]

Quote:

Rush Limbaugh is a racist and not funny.

Making accusations is one thing. Backing it up is another.

I called Jesse Jackson a racist and backed up my belief with the proof.

I would ask the same of you.

Redwood, from past experience you see to have your own definition of words and concepts in this area so its rather pointless attempting present an argument.

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

Its obvious that Limbaugh is a racist! How could anyone question that assertion.

That's a knee-slapper. Keep 'em coming.

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

Al Sharpton called for a Ban on Gangster rappers didn't he. You won't hear that on the far right media like FAUX!

Actually O'Reilly is against gangster rap and has had Sharpton on as a guest several times so I highly suspect it has been reported on the fair and balanced FOXNews. I missed it. Obviously not enough are following his example.

[lazarus]

Here are some Limbaugh gems:

Why should Blacks be heard? They're 12% of the population. Who the hell cares?

The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies.

As I said yesterday, truce is an old Arabic word. Goes way, way back in Islamic-Arabic culture, and it means, "We will get you later."

Hugo, Cesar--whatever. A Chavez is a Chavez. We've always had problems with them.

But it's clear that Obama also is running for an equally important unelected office, in the province of the popular imagination — the 'Magic Negro.'

Imus is Just as racist but I say let them speak!

[olger]

"His face and voice shows the unforgiveness and bitterness that rules his mind." There might be some truth to this.

"As I said yesterday, truce is an old Arabic word. Goes way, way back in Islamic-Arabic culture, and it means, "We will get you later." LOT of truth in that. History, history, history...

Jesus said, "This is life eternal that they might know thee, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." All TRUTH in this.

this is OLGER signing off..

[Dr. Shane]

I serious doubt Limbaugh said that. I would be very careful about believing what idealogical sites put out there. If it is a transcript off from Limbaugh's site, then it would be believable, but I doubt it is. It could be something taken out of context where he was actually repeating or commenting on what someone else had said.

[lazarus]

Are you still slapping your knee?

"Take that bone out of your nose and call me back."

"Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?"

[Taylor]

I think racist comments of ALL types whether in jest, part of a news cast, or just plain bad taste should never be tolerated. We have freedom of speech but also we should also have the freedom to not have to hear this kind of name calling. I am not African American but Imus's comments were totally inappropriate in my book.

[Dr. Shane]

I have read anti-Limbaugh sites and each that I have read fail to place comments in context. To take them out of context is character assassination.

I am slapping my knee and scratching my head that some people will be so easily misled by someone taking them where they want to go.

Again, get me some credible links and let's take a look at the quotes in context. What was being discussed? What was said before and after the quote? Was he quoting or commenting on what someone else said. As I said, I disagree with Limbaugh a lot. Often times he is misinformed and not as bright as he thinks he is. But being wrong doesn't make one a racist. I have heard a lot of him over the past 15 years. I am part of a multi-racial marriage and quite sensitive to racial issues and I am sure I would have picked up on it if Rush was a racist.

It is wrong to accuse someone of being a racist based on what some idealogical sites have to say about them. I am not quite that gullible.

[Dr. Shane]

I will give an example of context. This is hypothetical.

During the November 2003 Cincinnati race riots a black man, Nathaniel Jones, died while attacking a police officer. It was determined that Jones died because he was overweight, had high blood pressure and was using multiple illegal drugs.

Later Kweisi Mfume of the NAACP blamed the riots on neglect, frustration and racial profiling.

Now in response to that remark, Limbaugh could have (I don't know the context) say, "The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies."

In that context it would not have been a racial remark but rather a political remark. Yet left-wing idealogical sites would scoop it up and use it to attack Limbaugh's character and those that are all too willing to believe them would repeat it to others.

[olger]

I worked in that very area in Cincinnati. It's called "over the Rhine." 1988.

One day, while installing a flat roof, my employee & I chased a black fellar (miscreant) down an alley because he had just stolen a case of cigarettes off the back of a semi. As we chased him, he kept hollering "what you want?" "I didn't do nuffin!"

And, he was carrying the stolen property on his shoulder as he ran. Eventually he got tired and dropped the stolen goods.

Two days later, a group of young black men called to us as we were rolling some drums of material to the job trailer. We walked over.. "You the dudes that chased my cousin a while back.."

"Yeah, what?"

"One of these days you'll run down that alley and won't come back." (There were about 5 of them and two of us).

"Really, that'd be OUR problem, wouldn't IT?" Hakim bristled. He was an Arab who worked for me. He took a step towards them.

"C'mon Hakim" I put a hand on his arm. "We've got work to do."

I could probably have handled two of them (if everything went right) and Hakim could have done his share but we were still outnumbered and right smack in their neighborhood.

a half hour later, as I thought about it, I felt indignant and said "I'm gonna go talk to those fellows about how it's wrong to steal and..." I started to walk towards them. Hakim grabbed me, Boss, we got work to do and they don't fight fair.." I guess we were good for each other. . We got the job done in a week and got out of there. Roughest neighborhood I've worked in.

This is OLGER signing off

[lazarus]

There is an element of truth in what you say in that Limbaugh jumps on the back of something said by someone else and "runs with it".

The magic negro comment is an example of that. The orginal writer was seeking to make a serious comment about Obama's candidacy. Rush takes it to another level but is offensive in the process.

[Tom Wetmore]

I see you continue to walk like an Egyptian - off in the land of d' Nile...

Tom

(Oh where oh where have all the rolling eyes emoticons gone when you really need them...)

[olger]

"The problem with liberals...well....there's just too many problems to elucidate.." (the `Baugh).

oG

[Stan]

hmmm is there media person that ANYONE that everyone can like??

[olger]

Doug Batchelor has an unusually wide appeal.

[Dr. Shane]

I think Tim Russert (NBC) and Jim Lehrer (PBS) are about the fairest that I have seen in the business.

[lazarus]

As a radio talk show host, Limbaugh once said he felt guilty about telling an African American caller to "take that bone out of your nose and call me back." He still uses the mock dialect "ax" instead of "ask" when discussing black leaders on his syndicated radio show and often plays the theme song "Movin' On Up" from "The Jeffersons" when referring to Carol Moseley Braun, the African American former senator from Illinois who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A28772-2003Oct1

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2549

Compared to some talk radio hosts, racism is not central to Rush Limbaugh's shtick. But there has been a pattern of commentary indicating his willingness to exploit prejudice against blacks to further his on-air arguments.

[lazarus]

Brian Lamb

[Dr. Shane]

Limbaugh uses the word "ax" instead of "asks" because of ebonics. At one time blacks somewhere were fighting to have ebonics taught in public school and so Limbaugh using the word "ax" in place of "asks" was his TIC way of solidarity with the ebonics movement. I think we would find a lot of simple explanations like that for the quotes that left-wing, idealogical sites want to take out of context.

The bone-in-the-nose remark seemed more like reference to the caller acting like a caveman than being black but I don't know the context. If Limbaugh did actually apologized for it there must have been a reason.

I heard a black woman on Rush's show today (the five minutes I was tuned in) say she didn't know if Imus was a racist or just an idiot. I saw Juan Williams (NPR) on FOXNews tonight say that while racism is a problem for black America, the reaction to Imus makes it seem like it is black America's biggest problem which it isn't. He mentioned the lack of fathers in the home and the high school drop-out rate as being bigger problems for the black community. (Juan Williams is a black Democrat)

[Kountzer]

I watch Imus occasionally, but not often. I learned of his latest mistake on the net while reading about something else. I typed Imus in google and found out what the ruckus was all about. Imus' show has a racist feel to it. It is very subtle. Same witrh rush limbaugh. I don't like a lot of their comments and I don't care for similar stuff from ganster rappers.

[Kountzer]

The Imus show that is simulcast has been cancelled, per breaking news on CNN. Also, the radio program on cbs is in serious trouble.

[Dr. Shane]

Al Sharpton is on the fair and balanced FOXNews this evening. Bill O'Reilly is giving him a platform to get his message out. He said he is going to go after anyone the uses "ho" or the b-word - including black rappers.