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Here’s why MSNBC dropped Imus
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For a clue into why MSNBC decided to drop the “Imus in the Morning” simulcast, look no further than a list of advertisers who got cold feet over the radio shock jock’s racist outburst. TNS compiled a list of the top advertisers. Reuters reporters Paul Thomasch and Sue Zeidler rang up the members on the list to find out which among them were pulling out.
Five of the top 10 advertisers dropped out. Others either did not return calls or were evaluating. One disputed ever having advertised on the show.
Imus in the Morning (MSNBC)
| Advertiser | 2006 dollars (000) | 2006 Rank (dollars) | Status | ||
| General Motors Corp. | 691.7 | 1 | suspend | ||
| Sprint Nextel Corp. | 363.0 | 2 | suspend | ||
| Petmed Express Inc. | 324.1 | 3 | unknown | ||
| Verizon Communications Inc. | 317.8 | 4 | disputed ever being an advertiser | ||
| GlaxoSmithKline PLc | 277.9 | 5 | suspend | ||
| American Express Co. | 275.1 | 6 | suspend | ||
| General Electric Co. | 183.6 | 7 | unknown | ||
| TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. | 164.5 | 8 | evaluating | ||
| Joseph Aa. Banks Clothier | 158.8 | 9 | no response | ||
| Procter & Gamble | 139.6 | 10 | suspend |
Data from TNS Media Intelligence and Reuters reporting
Reporting period: 1/1/2006 – 12/31/2006
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I don’t agree with what Don Imus said but i hope Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson don’t get offended when people start argueing when black comics talk about white people. I for one am going to start raising hell everytime i hear a comic tell a joke about white people,mexicans,chinese any nationality i’m tired of the bs. Why is it ok for a black comic to insult any other race but god forbid a white comic can’t say anything about anyone of any other race. People need to take this for what is was a joke. There were more than just black players on the Rutgers team and there has been NO mention of these ladies. Oh yeah thats right they were white i forgot.
The unfortunate part of all of this is that it legitimizes the like of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. Why are we not boycotting their radio shows until they apologize for the false accusations they made against the white defendants in the Tawana Brawley case and the Duke lacrosse case. They are accountable to nobody, but they want to be the moral authority to whom everyone else is accountable. As John Stossel would say, “GIVE ME A BREAK!” As of today, my use of any product heard advertised on Al Sharpton’s radio show will cease.
The Imus firing is hypocritcal. We live in America because of our rights – one of which is free speech. Who dare try to take that away from us? Sharpton????? Where are the cbs executives outrage to the accusations of Sharpton and Jackson against the Duke Lacrosse players? Has anyone called them to task for their racist remarks and rush to judgement because the students were white and the accuser black? Have they even had the guts to apologize to them. Imus showed more courage and strength of character by admitting a mistake and apologizing.
I’m donating my Procter and Gamble stock to the Imus ranch. I’ll never buy another GM car. Les Moonves is the idiot who fired Dan Rather to hire Katie Couric.
Don Imus is a good man, a veteran who served his country and a philanthropist of the first order. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are media whores and hypocrites of the first order.
Be hearing you soon on Sirius, I-Man!
Apparently, the company has forgotten all of the revenue Mr. Imus brought in before making an off-color (no pun intended) remark. Back in the day, employers use to stand behind the work of long-term, valued employees. Now, sensitivity has gotten the best of the most powerful organizations and the First Ammendement.
Regardless of how inappropriate, his comments were not “hate speech.” As a result, he had a Constitutional right to make them. Sensitivity should not have caused his termination.
We must reflect back to when suffrage speech was unpopular and offensive. Had it not been publicised, no change would have occurred. By firing someone who made an unpopular comment, the company showed that it does not value the Constitution, nor does it understand the need for unpopular public discourse.
Can we trust a media source that does not allow unpopular commentary, or un-politically correct commentary? I don’t think so. Of course, had Mr. Imus not tried to apologize or admit that he had a bad day and put his foot in his mouth, it might be different. But, after so long, the company won’t listen because what he said was unpopular. Advertisers come and go…but talent is hard to find. If they had stuck by him and explained that they stand for free speech, while they don’t agree with his comments, which were not intended as “hate speech,” I am sure that freedom loving advertisers would have come back.
Now, the company is left with no credibility or back-bone, nor loyalty. Everyone has to be on pins and needles and disregard discourse for sensitivy’s sake. That is not what was intended by Mr. Adams or Mr. Jefferson, not to mention any other American who has earned a living by using their 1st Ammendment right.
Tonight, I listend as Anderson Cooper, Joe Scarborough and even Larry King tried to lay a portion of the blame for Don Imus making a racist remark at the feet of Hip-Hop.
After decades of highlighting the struggles of minorities in America, prominent media personalities are referencing Hip-hop and rap lyrics as a sort of justification, motivation, inspiration, for the Imus Incident.
Every time I hear a pundent ask about rap lyrics it reminds me of a past when if a white man was in trouble black folks needed to worry about the negative backlash. In this case it seems that Hip-hop needs to worry.
I support the women of Rutgers 100%, but I cannot sit-by and watch urban culture be connected to hate! Hip-hop is about confronting racism not condoning it.
Check out my blog at http://rappolitics.blogstream.com and give feedback too.
All of this is B.S. I have never heard of this guy until all this whinging about one lil comment that these ladies have probably called each other in a joking manner at one time or another. My suggestion is Sharpton and Jackson needs to focus on the inner city youth of their respective cities and every where else in this country. There are far worse things going on than some old guy trying to crack a joke!!!
Consider if a black comic / host had made the exact same comments starting with the rough girls, tatoo comments to nappy ….. We might have heard something about it (I doubt it) and then it would have blown over for what it was; a poor attempt at humor. The problem stems from the fact that it was a white person making the lousy joke. Imus didn’t think the Rutger’s womens b-ball team was what he said. I heard they got death threats? for what?
Last time I looked, we were in America! Where freedom of speach is guaranteed to us by the constitution. Maybe all the companies that dropped advertising should stop selling their prodcut to the people that use the word too, Imus is not the only one.
I’m astounded at remarks defending Imus. He’s had a long, long history of racist remarks and I think his latest remarks about young women athletes were just the last straw. I do not call what Imus does “entertainment” nor do I consider that type of show is in any way beneficial. My sincere hope is that Imus’ fall is the beginning of many more TV and talk radio hosts having their advertisers drop them. We badly need intelligent and mannerly discussions over the airways. I firmly believe that young men (mostly) have been greatly influenced in their behaviour from hearing the kind of talk Imus and Limbaugh spew out every day and influenced in a very negative way. Hate radio has created a climate where it’s “funny” to call women “hos”, it’s “funny” to tear down women of power like Clinton and Pelosi, it’s “funny” to denigrate gays. Time to clean house.
C’mon –
Who’s kidding who?
I will continue to use everyone listed above. They were not advertisng on some rinky-dink Westchester AM radio station. Imus is a provocateur not a traffic reporter. Howard Stern – same thing. I can’t stand either one but it doesn’t mean I will change my buying habits. Look at Kate Moss. Have a little blow – get busted – hit rehab – have career surge. This is America baby – the price you have to pay for free speech is to listen Imus spout about “nappy ho’s” – either turn it up or turn it off. Just like TV – change the channel.
Chris Rock makes millions, someone else loses their livelihood. What a country. BTW, my sister and I have nappy hair, and we’re white as sheets. Difference is, she and I have a sense of humor rather than a spiteful vendetta.
Direct quote from Don Imus, “I enjoy doing talk radio because I can talk to millions of people and they cannot respond.” Whose freedom are we talking about? Imus has had his voice for 40 years, while denigrating others. P&G has a highly diverse work force. What kind of company morale would there be if Imus was defended through P&G advertising endorsement? I find it truly sad that Imus does not see his behavior as inappropriate, but apologized only when taken to the wall by MSNBC management. Beth
Over the years I have only seen a few minutes of Imus’ show, so I don’t know much about him. What he said was incredibally stupid & insensitive. As for MSNBC & CBS firing him, they had every right to do so. I have heard of people being fired for a lot less. Freedom of speech is a right that we all enjoy, but most of us don’t get paid 7 figure incomes to speak our mind. As for other conservative talk show hosts, not all make racist comments. If we ban or “censure” everyone we do not agree with, this will cease to be a free country. I do not agree with a lot of things I see, hear, & read. However, I do not call for censureship.