The comments made by radio icon Don Imus on Monday regarding Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones have caught the attention of Rev. Al Sharpton, who led the charge to take down Imus in the wake of his comments regarding the Rutgers women’s basketball team.
“It has been reported to me that statements were made by Mr. Imus this morning and National Action Network has monitored his show since his return,” Sharpton said in a statement. “I find the inference of his remark disturbing because it plays into stereotypes. Any use of stereotypes is always counterproductive. We will determine in the next day or so whether or not his remark warrants direct action on our part as we did in April of last year.”
We’re not sure why Sharpton’s group needs to take a day or so to decide what to do, unless the question of whether it’s right or wrong to take action is determined based on whether it’s right or wrong with respect to the broader interests and agenda of Sharpton’s group.
Imus is expected to address the issue on Tuesday morning during his show, which means that someone outside of New York City might actually be listening to the show on Tuesday morning.
Based on an e-mail he sent to the New York Times, Imus is expected to explain that his comments were intended to reflect that Jones’ race made him a target for police attention. “I meant he was being picked on because he’s black,’’ Imus wrote.
Imus also told the Times that he’ll raise the issue with comedian Dick Gregory, an African-American, during Tuesday’s show. Gregory was already scheduled to appear on the show to discuss the passing of George Carlin. “We’ll see what [Gregory] thinks,’’ Imus told the Times. “I mean . . . come on!’’
No, Don, you come on. You don’t get the benefit of the doubt on this one. If you had a history of pointing out that police unfairly target black men for handcuffs, fingerprints, and mug shots, then your words would be assessed from that context. Your history instead suggests that you’ve had yet another slip of the tongue, and that you meant not that Jones has been arrested because the police like to arrest black men, but that he has been in trouble because he is a black man.
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June 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 pm
drop sharpton off at the sandbox…
maybe a cat will bury him.
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June 23rd, 2008 at 10:57 pm
If they turn Pacman Jones into a civil rights hero, I’ll stop watching pro football.
Seriously, can we keep at least a sliver of common sense in this country anymore?
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June 23rd, 2008 at 11:13 pm
svnrdr
Whoops.
There’s not much of a difference though…
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June 23rd, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Who represents the white community?
When you find that answer, PFT Planet, please let me know. Until then please stop saying that Al Sharpton/Jesse Jackson/etc represent the black community.
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June 23rd, 2008 at 11:27 pm
‘False-Outrage Florio’ lives again.
Dont be such a douche Mike, your lawyer-side is showing again. Quit trying to be Drudge or Rome. Be an adult, not part of the useless, overhyping media. Dont be some pansy who is offended by a few words, regardless of the conotation.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Wow….Read the previous comments and now these on this subject.
WOW!!
Misery loves company. How true is that? When people are upset, they want everyone around them to feel the same, when they are happy they stay away from others and guard whatever makes them happy.
That,s why you see angry mobs and never happy ones.
To listen to some claim free speech for a man who s using the airwaves to continue stereotyping a Race. And seeing the product of some speech right here. Blacks should work to change the stereotype? Blacks commit the most crime?
All those claiming free speech for Americans against each other are againstArabs claiming they do not want Americans on their land and in their country. All those claiming Blacks commit so much crime, are decendants of a people who raped pillaged and stole to claim America.
No one mentions that…….God forbid any mention of that…..All should forget about that….but they continue to claim the minority is are the ones destroying the Country.
We all look at the Arabs who killed the few thousands in the WTC as enough reason to assail two Countries, but God forbid any mention of the millions killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki blast….
Many roasted Rev Wright for his words at a Church denouncing the failed Leadership that has caused the US to be viewed as tyrants by the rest of the World…..But we defend Imus’s freedom of Speech on the Public airwaves…….
What a thing…..
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Imus is a worthless piece of crap, past, present, and future…so is anyone who see’s what he says as harmless….nothing will stop his “slip of the tongue” but cutting it out of his filthy mouth…i’d welcome that job
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Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Same old PC BS, if you criticize a black then you’re a racist. Pacman is a TURD who should of been run out of the NFL a long time ago.
Go look at the Turd Watch blotter and see how many whites are in there. Facts are facts and the truth is the truth.
The only thing the Reveruns Sharpton and Jack’nnn’ care about is exhorting money out of people and corporations.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:49 pm
When they start the Caucasian College Fund or the National Association of the Advancement of Caucasian People let us know Rev. Al….hey, I’m sorry blacks were offended by the nappy headed ho remark….but his show was by far the best thing on early morning television…and he is sorely missed by many…Morning Joe?….the worst morning show in history…
Think this kind of story will go away as we head to November? Think again.
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June 24th, 2008 at 12:07 am
Racist or not, Imus has a right to voice his opinion. It’s protected by the same ammendment that allows Al Sharpton to go off on his rants against white people.
And for those who think Imus was stereotyping, I give you this: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/jailrair.htm
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June 24th, 2008 at 12:22 am
C’mon florio….with all the clicks you get from this you could send some coin to the Imus Ranch for Kids with Cancer…this is twice now you’ve hitched-up your wagon to his star….I’m gonna buy some more “green”cleaning products from them tomorrow…. all the rich NFL people that read this site impress the honeys by making it rain with Imus Ranch coffee beans and help out some kids too!…
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June 24th, 2008 at 12:40 am
One of the first stories Imus talked about yesterday was about one of the kids who cut his time on their mile or so walk around the ranch almost in half…..took him 20 mins or so the first time ….kid had it down to like 12 something …how come we don’t here more of that news…Also The Center for the Intrepid and the two new Fisher Houses will be operated by the Defense Department, but building them was purely a private endeavor. Radio-show host and contributor Don Imus helped raise the last 40 percent of the funds for the center by campaigning on his show for six weeks. Richard Santulli, chairman of the Fallen Heroes Fund, said, “That’s the American way, we don’t expect the government to address every need in our lives.
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June 24th, 2008 at 12:57 am
@DarthRingo If they give PacMan the Noble Peace Prize…
I will take PFT off my favorites list.
Sometimes common sense isnt very common in some countries.
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June 24th, 2008 at 1:16 am
The discussion on free speech is misdirected. Imus does have the right to say what he wants but his advertisers also have the right to remove their financial commitment to the show. The question is not whether Imus will be allowed to speak but whether someone will pay him for it.
I am not sure why this discussion has become a referendum on the legitimacy of Al Sharpton. Is he the most credible or representative voice? No. It is easy to dismiss the situation involving Imus’s comments by dismissing Sharpton as the spokesperson but that is not the issue. The issue is whether Don Imus made a racist comment.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 24th, 2008 at 1:18 am
To DC Guy RE: Al Sharptona and Jesse Jackson.
Nothing, except try there hardest to make masses of people believe that they can speak for 15 Million people. I cringe every time I see one of their names.
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June 24th, 2008 at 1:30 am
dc guy: you seem somewhat genuine so i’ll reply.
i did answer what sharpton does: he’s a race baitor trying to justify his own racist notions against white people through the media by “reaching out” to “innocent” people like the duke chick, tawana brawley, and jones. technically, i guess he’s a minister. jackson’s past history doesn’t nearly compare to al sharpton’s track record of controversial stances.
like i said before, the duke lacrosse scandal was about the last time anyone took sharpton seriously. on top of that, he did NOT “obviously” represent the black community, where do you keep getting that from? if anything, he probably represents a vocal minority, if anyone other than just himself and the girl in question. above all else, who was to say that it was specifically a race baitor’s support for the defendent that got those duke players suspended? gang rape’s a serious charge, pretty sure those players would have been suspended for the whole season regardless of what some clown like sharpton said.
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June 24th, 2008 at 1:33 am
Has anyone ever watched Def comedy Jam, George Lopez, or hell any minority comic? EVERY single one of them says whatever they want about whatever race they want without any consequences. I wish more white people with a microphone would be as bold as Imus and Howard Stern in saying what it is they feel without living with the fear of being called a racist.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 24th, 2008 at 3:57 am
I feel the same way whenever this kind of story erupts (like a pimple): Imus is a tool, but I think the concern about PC language clouds the presence and exposition of real racism. It’s as if we’d just be polite enough to one another when someone is listening, all inequality will evaporate.
“We’re not actually going to re-build the 9th ward,” “This apartment isn’t actually available” and “I can’t approve you for this loan” are examples of real racism and much more worthy of Sharptonesque counter-attacks than the words of a crusty white radio guy who hasn’t deciphered the code of 21st century tip-toe speak.
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June 24th, 2008 at 6:21 am
What a friggin crock. This is turning into such a double standard. As mentioned above, just listen to minority comics. Every other “joke” that comes out of their mouths is a white joke and the other half are jokes about other races. Please explain why this “he’s a racist” standard only applies to white people. I’d love for some of you to come to the DC area and listen to 93.9 for a few days. You’d be amazed at how many racist comments come out of that group. The double standard and the hypocracy is ridiculous. People need to spend more time worrying about their education and productivity and they may be surprised how much more successful they’d be. Then maybe they wouldn’t have to blame the white man for bringing them down. But don’t ask Bill Cosby for his opinion…after all, he’s a sell-out…right?
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 24th, 2008 at 7:01 am
Before yesterday, most of the people posting here had no clue Imus was still on the air… because he sucks. This topic has been an excuse for both sides of the race card to state their case. The arguments are the same as they have always been. Imus is a putz who has made a career of saying ignorant crap. This discussion is divisive and has pretty much nothing to do with football. It makes me long for an article about Chad practicing or the Cardinals hiring an obscure college scout.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 24th, 2008 at 8:11 am
The brain police are once again trying to tell you how to think and talk….what Imus said hurts no one in any way. Al Sharpton is an a$$ who finds a noose behind every tree. There are waaaayyyy more important things to be concerned with nowadays besides what Don Imus says.
Give it a break Al….
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June 24th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Hey Mike Florio,
I thought your comment on Sharpton was on point. Free Speech is a Right we all enjoy. Even “Hate Speech”. But “Hate Speech” against racial and gender and ethnic and sexual and religious groups is prohibited by law. You can’t use the public-owned air waves for that.
Imus is talking out of both sides of his mouth now. He wants to make the comment to be edgy and make a joke. But when pressed for what he was saying, he backs way off and tries to spin it in a way that we all know is untrue. Imus is articulate. He’s a professional. He knows how to communicate his point of view clearly. He needs to be held accountable.
On Sharpton, I have grown in respect for him. He’s a watchdog. Watchdogs and advocacy groups are needed in society. Citizens’ Advocacy has been the American Way since the Boston Tea Party. Sharpton doesn’t hide. He’s a regular on conservative TV like Fox. He’s a regular on The O’Reilly Factor. I have much more respect for Sharpton’s work today than for Jesse Jackson’s work today.
Imus can freely speak his mind. And if he’s wrong, Sharton can freely call him on it with his employer, with the FCC and with the courts. It’s America!
And the other important truth is this… It sure would be nice if “Pac Man” and all the other guys would put the squash on all the conduct problems the feed people’s negative stereotypes. You know?
F2B
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June 24th, 2008 at 8:48 am
PS Florio,
Treadmiller criticized you for monitoring behavior of athletes. He equates that with racial stereotyping.
They are not the same. He must be confused. Monitoring Behavior of ALL PLAYERS is fair. Go head wit you Bad Self!!! LOL
F2B
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June 24th, 2008 at 8:54 am
PS Everybody,
How did we get from Football to Dat?!?
I enjoy football ’cause it helps me not think about all that other stuff so much when I don’t wanna…
F2B
PS… Tawana Brawley used Al and everybody. It was not his fault. He was trying to help and it was a long time ago. Hahahaa…
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 24th, 2008 at 9:16 am
You guys want truth? I’ll give you truth……..
Why can’t Whites joke on other races? The same reason a wife beater can’t joke on DV. Same reason a Child abuser can’t joke about child porn. Same reason a rapist can’t joke about the good looking neighbor.
Another reason…….(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Rlqjxst6xU&feature=related).
But no one wants to talk about that. Everyone wants to talk about what Mexicans has brought on themselves. What Blacks have brought on themselves. What Africans have brought on themselves……Chinese Indians the whole chabang…….Just not Whites and definitely not White Americans.
You want to set up a fund for the advancement of White people? Why not setup a fund for the advancement of Nazis too. Or for the advancement of murderers? Or the advancement of rapist?
When someone has done ill will to someone or something at a time when they had the upper hand, they lose the power to mention it in jest…..forever.
Truth we’re speaking right? Or do you all have a problem with truth after all?
So for all you haters who hate everyone else because of what atrocities they have committed, why not take a closer look at the atrocities that have put these same people in the current position that they are fighting everyday to shake…..and who has the hand in all of it!!
Freedom of speech?? When America starts respecting the freedom of soveriegn Nations come talk to me about the right of haters to exercise freedom of speech in continuing to marginalise whole races.
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Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)