Stupid is as stupid says
By Michael J.W. Stickings
I've always liked Howard Kurtz, but come on, what the fuck: "Over the years, Imus made fun of blacks, Jews, gays, politicians. He called them lying weasels. This was part of his charm."
His charm? (I realize Kurtz was likely only applying the label "lying weasels" to politicians, not to blacks, Jews, and gays, but you'd think such a seasoned media analyst would know how to get his point across a bit more tactfully than this.)
Media Matters has more.
I've always liked Howard Kurtz, but come on, what the fuck: "Over the years, Imus made fun of blacks, Jews, gays, politicians. He called them lying weasels. This was part of his charm."
His charm? (I realize Kurtz was likely only applying the label "lying weasels" to politicians, not to blacks, Jews, and gays, but you'd think such a seasoned media analyst would know how to get his point across a bit more tactfully than this.)
Media Matters has more.
Labels: bigotry, media, talk radio
posted by Michael J.W. Stickings at
12:04 AM
1 Comments:
First off, I think what Imus said is in shockingly bad taste, and pretty indefensible. However, I do think that there is some hypocrisy on the part of the public at large in the way that Imus was treated.
Let's take a look at the culture of commuter radio-- Howard Stern was so offensive that after being repeatedly slapped around by the FCC, he was able to leave the public airwaves altogether for a $100 million satellite radio contract. He is popular because he is offensive.
Rush Limbaugh is a hypocritical drugged out serial adulterer whose continued existence as a radio personality is an affront to the cultivated mind. He is also popular because he is offensive.
With Imus, he has been offensive for years. The more offensive he is, the harder his listeners laugh, and the more his ratings soar. Until, one day, he goes too far, and becomes a public whipping boy.
Yeah, I think he's ignorant, but too many people let him pass for far too long for it to be fair that this sudden collective expression moral indignation be brought down upon his head alone.
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Anonymous, at 10:43 AM
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