Kerry Stands By His Man Imus
EmailABC News’ Matthew Zavala Reports: In an interview with NY1 News political anchor Dominic Carter, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said that he disagreed with the ousting of Don Imus over his racial remarks.
Kerry, a frequent visitor to Imus’ show said, "I think that the punishment has to fit the crime so to speak. I think a long suspension, or a strong suspension met with his appropriate level, given that the team forgave him."
The former presidential nominee also told NY1, "They made the judgment that they thought he was genuine and they felt they could forgive him. And I think it was appropriate to pay a price on the airwaves but I’m not sure that it was appropriate to say you’re off forever."
Though Imus has been taken off the airwaves by MSNBC and CBS, there is always the possibility that he could get another radio program. When Kerry was asked if he would appear on a potential future Imus show, Kerry said, "It would depend on what the context of the show was obviously. If he goes back to doing the same old same old I’d have trouble doing that, but if it’s a different show and he says it’s going to be different sure."
Kerry’s most recent appearances on Imus’ show occurred on February 12, 2007 via telephone and an in-studio appearance with his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, on March 23, 2007 to discuss their book.
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I will no longer watch msnbc or nbc news. Imus was about the only program I watched. Sure the humor was edgy but nobody said much in the past and the “team” did not know they were “victims” until someone told them two days later. The lyrics in Rap Crap and videos are much more offensive to me than what he said, Hopefully he will come back somewhere making more money so he can continue to help more people.
Posted by: tony jones | April 17, 2007, 7:41 pm 7:41 pm
The really important issues facing this country are constantly barraged by purposeful distraction. Yellow dog press if you will. Don Imus’s faux paux momentarily removed the glaring images of the Irag War Escalation, and the Justice Department’s fiasco. This administration has eclipsed the Taft, and Grant presidencies for incompetence and corruption. Don Imus became collateral damage. Sorry Don.
Posted by: sandra l | April 18, 2007, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
I say good riddance to that unreconstructed bigot Imus. Enough already with the bellyaching – Imus and many of his most offended supporters are caught in a time-warp. Its not 1927 you can no longer get away with rabidly racist and sexist use of the public airways shared by an increasingly diverse America. As minorities move into the inner sabctums of power – the impunity simply has to go.
You real what you saw Imus and may the same fate befall every closet bigot that enabled you.
Posted by: Nick Olask | April 18, 2007, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm
Imus was coming apart for a while and I watched for a number of reasons. His dear wife scolding him to shape up was classic and fell on deaf ears. Don “never went to college” Imus attacking beautiful college woman making their life and our world better and attacking blacks as well sorta dovetails nicely with the VA TECH ill begotten who just attacked college people as well.
Posted by: frodaddy | April 18, 2007, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
Imus apologized with sincerity. He must be given an opportunity to continue. His apology was also accepted by the people he insulted. So get him back on and let him prove his sincerity.
Posted by: Kottaras | April 19, 2007, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
Imus made 10 million a year, said he did not need the money, and could go the ranch and do whatever. So go, Donnie, and call Howard Stern as the satellite team might buckle you up for a gig…
Posted by: frodaddy | April 20, 2007, 10:22 am 10:22 am
Had Imus made offensive comments about homosexuals, using hateful slang, imagine how much heat would’ve come down on him. Had Imus been a minority air personality and made racist, sexist, and offensive comments about a group of intelligent Caucasion females from a well-to-do background, how much heat would’ve come down on him? Had Imus been your own manager and made a comment like that to you in the workplace, you would surely pay a visit to HR and DEMAND punishment (if not file a suit like much of sue-happy America). Yet, when Imus opens his mouth to degrade women in general and African- American women in particular, some people can’t seem to understand why he was removed from the airwaves. There seems to be a “Get Over It” sentiment. Had he made a direct, derogatory comment about your mother, your sister, or your daughter, how quickly would you “get over it (or tell her to do the same)?” How comfortable would you be with him remaining on the air? And now these poor ladies are getting hate mail from ignorant followers. Yet Imus is painted as the victim. It just amazes me how those who live privileged enough to never be subjected to racism, sexism, or any other -ism are so quick to tell victims that the -ism doesn’t exist and to just ‘get over it.’ Furthermore, you seek to blame “Rap Crap” as an out. Do I agree with the ‘parental advisory’ rap lyrics out there? No! But please do not give the impression that ‘parental advisory’ only dons rap albums. Does the fact that various rockers have foul mouths, degrading videos, and substance abuse issues excuse people to go around devaluing and degrading White women without recourse? There are several forms of ‘music’ that seemingly exist solely to make this world worse, so attack them ALL rather than picking at one. The bottom line is, no matter what his name or his status, he was wrong. There only arises an issue because of his name and his status.
Posted by: cb | April 20, 2007, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm