Greenfield: Hypocrisy and Cowardice For Long-Time Guests To Boycott Imus

Greenfield: Hypocrisy and Cowardice For Long-Time Guests To Boycott Imus

By Mark Finkelstein (Bio | Archive)
April 11, 2007 - 10:19 ET

Jeff Greenfield has called it "the ultimate act of hypocrisy and cowardice" for long-time guests of the Imus show [file photo] to stay away now. Greenfield, who is leaving CNN to return to CBS as Senior Political Correspondent, appeared on this morning's "Early Show" and was interviewed by co-host Julie Chen.

CHEN: Did you hesitate to go on the show yesterday?

GREENFIELD: No. If you have the benefit of being on his show for 15 years -- and there is a benefit -- there's visibility, if you have a book [you can promote it], and also, to be blunt, it's a great deal of fun -- the banter. To stay away from the show when he gets in serious and deserved trouble, seems to me the ultimate act of hypocrisy and cowardice. But I went on the show and told him, I think quite bluntly, where things stood and where they have to go. All of us, he and some of us as guests, have not really stepped up to the plate in looking at the way race has been used on that show as humor.

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CHEN: You don't think he should be fired, do you?

GREENFIELD: No. If you can't get redeemed once people call you out for a racially inflammatory remark, then there are an awful lot of people in the public eye who shouldn't be in the public eye, not the least of which by the way is Reverend Sharpton, who has a radio show many years after the infamous Tawana Brawley case. I think [Imus] gets a chance to show he understands just how hurtful and offensive this was, and more to the point, how some of the kind of humor he's been doing needs to really just be changed.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.

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The funniest thing for me w

April 11, 2007 - 11:01 ET by sarcasmo

The funniest thing for me was a proposal from Anus himself, that he needs to go out & get himself a black cohost. Anus didn't quite say, "and make it a female, and put her in her own glass booth," but in case it's not obvious to his fans here, Anus constantly apes Howard Stern. He's not creative or funny on his own, and his instincts -- even when he's in trouble like this -- lead him to the default "copy Howard" mode, once-again.
JMR

Talk about hypocrisy, I heard

April 11, 2007 - 11:03 ET by NoMoreClintons

Talk about hypocrisy, I heard Laura Ingraham say that NBC's record division is putting out some of those filthy rap CDs with the racist lyrics and calling women hoes.
Does anyone else know if this is true? If so . . . WHOA! (But you won't see that story on NBC News)

Universal Music

April 11, 2007 - 13:08 ET by nkviking75

NBC is part of the same company as Universal Music, whose best known label is MCA records. It's a complicated web of labels and artists, which you can research here, if you're inclined. Suffice it to say, there are plenty of foul mouthed rap artists under the NBC/Universal umbrella.

When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.

Jumping the Shark

April 11, 2007 - 11:06 ET by Cool Arrow

Al Sharpton:

Has been chasing cars for so long he never stopped to realize he might actually catch one
Knew only that he wanted to refocus attention on himself in time to be trotted out as a leader of African America and, thus a force in Democrat politics
Did not calculate Americans' ability to investigate his veracity and hypocrisy with a very few keystrokes.
Miscalculated the goodwill of two major news/entertainment outlets that regularly provide him forum. Additionally the other major networks view him askance henceforth as a dangerous individual.
Miscalculated the Liberals' eagerness to shed themselves of Don Imus.

So he has caught the car...what now.

He failed jumping the shark midleap. CHOMP

I guess it takes a buddy gett

April 11, 2007 - 11:09 ET by Chris Norman

I guess it takes a buddy getting in trouble to get the an MSMer like Greenfield to mention Sharpton's own hideous racism. By the way, in regards to Greenfield's suggestion that appearing on Imus was good exposure. From what I've seen here and other places regarding his ratings, it's actually pretty weak exposure. But then again, they pretend MSNBC is a major player...

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

Firing him seems a little rou

April 11, 2007 - 11:17 ET by uc

Firing him seems a little rough. How about we just get all his shows cancelled?

I haven't found a moment of his show (haven't but once been able to watch more than a few minutes anyway) not too outdated or biased yet. He seems a part of our past thinking best left to the past, unless labeled "stricktly for entertainment and not at all intended to be taken as news or real thought."

It should be alot easier for him because I usually change channels when you start to be able to notice all the points in favor of being against the left being consciously averted from at what must be alot of strain on him; I usually change as soon as he retakes the microphone.

Maybe Al, Bill and Hillary will join him.

I'm not not in favor of censo

April 11, 2007 - 11:43 ET by Chris Norman

I'm not not in favor of censorship-by-firing either. Although, it took MSNBC about, what, five minutes in deciding to fire that kook, Michael Savage. Is there more hypocricy here?

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

I'm confused

April 11, 2007 - 13:11 ET by nkviking75

uc says, "Firing him seems a little rough. How about we just get all his shows cancelled?"

With all due respect, what's the difference? You're not suggesting he do something else for the company, like run the audio board or clean the toilets, are you? That would never happen with his ego.

When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.

His (former) sponsors already did.

April 11, 2007 - 13:16 ET by sarcasmo

His (former) sponsors already did. Anus is gone, no money for ads = no more "Anus In The Morning" show. He'll "resign" & retire to the cancer-ranch he conned his few fans into buying for him, but you're seeing Anus gettin' fired in slow-mo here, folks.
JMR

Sarc,I am all for the market

April 11, 2007 - 13:34 ET by Roger the Shrubber

Sarc,

I am all for the market dictating whether an idiot like Imus gets canned, but how does what he said NOT be a first amendent rights issue? I realize you despise Imus (like the majority of the rest of us do) simply based on his track record with Stern and that he just isn't funny, but how can you approve of the treatment he has received at the hands of the moral elite?

Now, if you say that, since the market is deciding that Imus is unfit for airtime, and not the FCC, I am all with you.

There is no First Amendment

April 11, 2007 - 13:46 ET by Mark Finkelstein

There is no First Amendment issue here. That would only come into play if the government was trying to silence Imus. Others have every right to call for Imus's firing, and CBC/MSNBC have every right to fire him, in the exercise of their own rights.

Au contraire, Mark!

April 11, 2007 - 13:58 ET by sarcasmo

Au contraire, Mark! Al Sharpton's already been making some distinctly Bozell-like pleas for the FCC to control this horribly-racist behavior over the "public" airwaves, making it very much a first amendment issue, even if in this case (unlike Howard Stern's) it's not all that convenient for conservatives when I point out the obvious similarities. ("Tough-Love" Brent! Make a pledge to never go before the FCC to testify again, and I'll stop posting about it, but otherswise your behavior in the Stern case remains "in play!" ;^)
JMR

That makes sense. That I agre

April 11, 2007 - 13:59 ET by Roger the Shrubber

That makes sense. That I agree with 100%. Like I said before, I am all for letting the market decide, which it already seems to be doing. That it is happening to Imus has to be quite a tasty icing on the cake for Sarc!

I said I wasn't in favor of c

April 11, 2007 - 15:07 ET by Chris Norman

I said I wasn't in favor of censorship - by - firing. I'm not denying the networks have the absolute right to do so. It's just that I'm afraid once the ball gets rolling, the pressure will be on to fire the precious few Conservatives that are actually on regularly. Because, we all know that Conservatives, by definition, are racist, mean-spirited monsters...

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

No greater an authority than the Anus himself.

April 11, 2007 - 17:10 ET by CT

If you have access to a tape or transcript of the Monday morning Anus program you will hear him say "...I'm no rightwing racist...” Never thought he was rightwing myself.

CT..I heard that and was goin

April 11, 2007 - 17:23 ET by bigtimer

CT..

I heard that and was going to remember to post that somewhere myself as well..so I thank you!

It infuriated me when he said that...as if he was ever to the right on anything really..but he showed his true colors when he said that..

If he had said a looney left wing racist he would already be over-baked and a fork stuck in by the leftist media...which he isn't far from now anyway...

The fool.

CT, Nah, Imus is an opportuni

April 11, 2007 - 17:26 ET by Chris Norman

CT,

Nah, Imus is an opportunistic suck-up to whoever he thinks will do him some good. As long as a politician appears as a courtier on his show, he'll express support for them. If they blow him off, he'll go after them like a hound of hell...

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

My compliments, you're show

April 11, 2007 - 13:50 ET by sarcasmo

My compliments, you're showing a much better attitude than yesterday, Rog. Here's my response. The marketplace (which, while superior IMO, ISN'T perfect!!!) has treated Anus fairly in this instance (except maybe for the delay, but let's not get into that!). Currently, the market & media DO NOT treat various rap "stars" badly-enough for their own Anus-like racism, and that's an obvious double-standard because for-once Anus is now busted for what Stern fans have always known him to be, but the solution is to treat ALL racist assholes harshly because, rather than giving Anus a pass for being the asshole we've always known he is/was/will-be, that's the right thing to do.

As for the FCC, as-usual they have not done crap about Anus because unlike Howard Stern, Anus was never on big government's censorship agenda, despite Anus-like long-held views. 100% of the heavy lifting of getting rid of that asshole has been borne by the free marketplace, which as usual has rendered a faster & fairer verdict than big government ever-could. Situation normal.
JMR

All three

April 11, 2007 - 13:42 ET by Cool Arrow

Imus, Jackson, and Sharpton are all three gone.

Jackson is trying hard to distance himself from the fray, but he's got the same "Old Guard Racebaiter" as Sharpton all over him.

This trifecta isn't all that bad

I hope they do can IMUS forever, the reason being

April 11, 2007 - 14:27 ET by SportPolitics

I hope they do can IMUS forever, the reason being, it might wake them up to how kookball they are.

Rush got canned, and I haven't heard anyone in the current controversy mention that was too harsh, in fact they have assiduously avoided even bringing it up, haven't they ? I guess it's just amazing that this single time they haven't thought of FoxNews or Rush Limbaugh. I don't think that has ever happened before.

Let's have one of their oxes take the permanent dirt nap their insanities have demanded upon others. It really is the only way to straighten them out. Scratch that,it won't straighten them out, but they can feel the pain, and that's what I want them to do, so it gets burned into their memory who and what they are.

Then they can all cry, and wonder how their own belief system canned one of their favorite morning jabberers, over 3 words.

SP...I agree!

April 11, 2007 - 14:34 ET by bigtimer

SP...

I agree!

Bob Grant

April 11, 2007 - 11:29 ET by iveseenitall

I'm old enough to remember when Bob Grant was fired for using the term "savages" about those groups which were "wilding" around in New York and hurting people. Sharpton and Jackson were behind that fiasco too. These two charlatans never address the real problems. They support the divisions in this nation so they can get rich. Yet the MSM (Fox included) continue to give them air time. (I think Sharpton will be on OReilly again tonight.) It's truly sad when idiots like Al and Rosie are headliners on the "news". When are sensible people going to demand sensible news, not simply entertainment shows? Too late, I guess.

NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal

They weren't all vicious

April 11, 2007 - 12:23 ET by Cool Arrow

Remember Howard Cosell of Wash. Receiver Alvin Garrett"

"That little monkey can run"

Jimmy The Greek on the superiority of Black athletes?

"The Master would take his biggest slave and put him with a big woman"

Ok, so maybe Howard was a dyed in the wool racist and he just had his friend Ali fooled, but Jimmy the Greek (fired) really believed what he said. (ya think maybe he believed there was some truth in his statement.

Chris Rock making his adorable jokes about retarded people (Oh, Reverand Al, forgive me, I forgot. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, a thousand times I'm sorry.)

Ole Jesse and Al tried to Coop Anus's downfall.

April 11, 2007 - 14:19 ET by CT

The Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton attempted to coop Anus in the Morning's debacle but the story has moved right past them. The old purveyors of racial tension and victimhood are carrying too much baggage of their own to catch this train to oblivion Anus is on.

How fitting that Anus is being hoisted on his own petard, can you imagine how he would treat someone putting forward the self-deprecating defense he has?

Should the Anus return in a few weeks we can expect to see a PC format on eggshells that will be more patronizing than it is now, if that’s possible. I think the show is headed down the toilet unless his liberal sycophants suck it up.

Don't forget the bottom line

April 11, 2007 - 14:21 ET by BeanMan

Don't forget the bottom line for CBS radio and MSNBC...Imus brings in about $50 million in revenue per year.

Also, the listenership for his radio show is so small. As powerful as he is supposed to be, his show is listed as 25th in the ratings in the morning in Washington DC when most people are in their cars listening to the radio. That translates to a few thousand listeners a day in DC. He gets mostly doofus politicians and media people on his show and most of his listeners are those same politicians and media people. They love to be interviewed as celebrities on his show.

He is inconsequential to 99.999% of America. The people who are on the air professing their indignation and outrage (e.g. the good Revrends) are those who are perpetually outraged and get paid good money to be so.

I find it very amusing how Je

April 11, 2007 - 14:22 ET by ratso ferrari

I find it very amusing how Jeff Greenfield is so forgiving for his liberal buddy Imus.But that is the "Christian" way isn't it? If Rush made the same gaff, Greenfield would be attacking him like a starving wolf.

Well r ferrari

April 11, 2007 - 14:42 ET by SportPolitics

I thought it was very, very interesting when he said:

~ we really haven't paid attention to how race has been used in the jokes on that program.~

In other words, the same thing has been happening for a long time, and it was always overlooked, and not only overlooked, but enjoyed, responded to,laughed about,and embraced.

For some reason, this time, someone complained loudly enough, and everyone jumped on the bandwagon. Now they're all instant saints and want him to pay his dues.

LOL - Yeah it's a gas.

I notice that many are trying

April 11, 2007 - 19:34 ET by americaneagle

I notice that many are trying to elevate this to a First Amendment issue, when it is not. Mark said it right, until the government tries to silence him or stifle him, it is not a constitutional issue. The moment you go to work for someone else, you accept their rules and if you run afoul of them you get punished.

I also think that this issue has nothing to do with what is said on a rap record. While much of what is said on some records is vile, that is at its base an entertainment forum. The rappers are not sitting in a studio at CBS radio, being simulcast on MSNBC and calling anyone "nappy headed ho's" or "jigaboos". What they say is at least said in the context of their music.

As for Jackson and Sharpton being involved, their past records has no bearing on the salient fact that what Don Imus said was racist in the extreme. And if you would all take the focus off of the "nappy headed ho" comments, and look at the fact he called these women "jigaboo" you would see how racist this comment truly was. Complaining about what records Universal is putting out or what rappers are saying on a CD does not change the fact that Imus crossed the line. Maybe if it was your family or a member of your race being insulted you could understand just how much this hurts.

ae,I am so glad you joined th

April 11, 2007 - 19:44 ET by Blonde

ae,

I am so glad you joined this discussion.

I agree with you that it was hurtful. A disgusting thing to denigrate these women who have accomplished the very special feat of attending a final in college atheletics. They're goal oriented, personally driven young women. Personally, I would have been equally offended if he'd just made a comment about their appearances without using the disgusting comments about their race (and calling the Tennesse team "cute" was equally vile IMO).

But I find the whole reaction to be hypocritical in the extreme. From all sides.

I'm glad he got fired, but due to the pressure exerted on the sponsors of this show.

I find your comments on Jackson and Sharpton to be interesting, and would sincerely appreciate an expansion on your views. I've never walked in your shoes, and would like to know why you feel that way.

ae,I didn't know he said jiga

April 11, 2007 - 20:02 ET by bigtimer

ae,

I didn't know he said jigaboo...the media has left that out, sure haven't heard them just saying the 'j' word like they do for not saying an actual word...kind of like they do when they sy the "I" word for impeachment.

Thanks for the info...

Still all hypocritical in the black community as far as I am concerned.

BT,Imus didn't say that....hi

April 11, 2007 - 20:07 ET by Blonde

BT,

Imus didn't say that....his producer or whomever he was speaking with said it.

Even more vile, IMO.

It's not even remotely amusing.

There's an audio clip around somewhere.

jigaboo?

April 11, 2007 - 20:10 ET by gfrrman

ae, I don't really care for any of this PC crap. that's all this is. Offended? GTF over it. Life is offensive !! But let's get one thing clear about,

"look at the fact he called these women "jigaboo" . Are you telling me Imus said "jigaboo"?

"Eventually, Socialists run out of other peoples' money...." MARGARET THATCHER

gfrr...Read ae's profile.I'm

April 11, 2007 - 20:14 ET by Blonde

gfrr...

Read ae's profile.

I'm extremely interested in his POV.

As I said earlier, I can't walk in his shoes.

I have to get over stuff all the time. But I still only understand it from my POV.

B,I was specifically talking

April 11, 2007 - 20:30 ET by bigtimer

I was specifically talking about Imus, Bernard is another matter, I know who ae is, Haven't seen him for awhile, respect his views but I just wanted it clarified who said what.

This is not new for Imus's show...what is new is that all of the sudden this is major news...politics is a blood sport, and this man is bleeding, doesn't bother me one bit when it comes to Imus..what bothers me is the sudden outrage about all of this when their own race says it all the time..they have beauty shops called the Nappy-Doo and such...I could go on and on, the black kids sing it forever and say far worse....movies and BET shows and MTV have worse....on and on...

This outrage is unbelievable, and it is not going to make things better, this is just want the leftists want politically...period.

Hillary said it didn't break her heart one bit last night on CNN...I am paraphrasing...but their were people behind all of this ousting...with power, and the people with power depending on using the black people with voices to do the rest of the work for them....like Sharpton/Jackson ect...Johnson head of BET...NAACP...this was planned...they just waited until the right time for Imus/Kirk to open his mouth again...which isn't that hard to do.

Btw...Olbermann had been just giddy about this all....hmmmm....Imus had no love for him either....

BT,I was specifically respond

April 11, 2007 - 20:46 ET by Blonde

BT,

I was specifically responding to americaneagle, who is one of the few black conservatives (self-identified) who posts here.

And his profile says he's in his early thirties.

As such, I'd really like to know what he thinks, and why he thinks it.

I know what I think about the "nappy headed hos" comment. Particularly in the light of Idiot Imus' next statement was that the Tennesee girls were "cute".

Personally, I find both remarks to be stupid, in the extreme. But if you look at the Tennessee part of the statement, by implication, he finds them to be "cute hos". (blonde hos maybe?).

You know how it goes, I can tell blonde jokes....and frankly, I don't get offended when someone else disparages blondes. But that's a silly thing about which to become offended.

Having said that, I know how I feel when someone says something like "women are too stupid", or somesuch.

Not that I'd wish them fired over such a remark....but do you see where I'm going with this?

Everyone needs to lighten up a bit.

But....

Why try to offend people if you don't need to (or don't want to...more importantly)?

B,LOL ...I was specifically r

April 11, 2007 - 20:55 ET by bigtimer

LOL ...I was specifically responding to you , when I was specifically asking ae the question.... that you posted to me afterwards....

Too funny!

Notice how ae disappeared?

convenient omission?

April 11, 2007 - 20:21 ET by gfrrman

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RF9BjB7Bzr0

I think ae missed it.......

Btw, "Reverands" Jackson and Sharpton are nothing but race baiting extortionists. They both are a disgrace to the very people that they supposedly represent. Charlatans both!!!

"Eventually, Socialists run out of other peoples' money...." MARGARET THATCHER

MSM Cowardice

April 11, 2007 - 21:25 ET by pocomoco

The PC mafia is making a list and checking it twice to see which Networks are naughty and nice. And unless they show their white-guilt liberal credentials everyday, the gang-of-two, Jackson and Sharpton, will be paying them a visit to get them back in line.

With the headline “MSNBC drops Imus”, the MSM have also dropped free speech in favor of PC cowardice.

poco...Yep Sharpton is a thin

April 11, 2007 - 21:35 ET by bigtimer

poco...

Yep Sharpton is a thinking he's pretty big stuff again..they are going to march on CBS tomorrow!

Going to be interesting for Chapter Two now...

I don't think Imus's friend Somner Redstone is there anymore...he had better of already pulled his stock out of Viacom, I know he had a lot at one time not long ago...he announced it...lol!