Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Anger At Don Imus Remains Misplaced When Legitimate Racist Broadcasters Skate By

Why the silly little failed joke by Don Imus has become such a major controversary when far worse broadcasters continue mean spirited and racist radio programs might be explained by the likes of someone like Al Sharpton, choosing a weak target to attack.

Sharpton's continued attacks on Imus, who is only the 12th most popular figure on radio, ignores other far more powerful right wing figures who often abuse the border security issue for broadbased attacks on all Hispanics or persons of color. Sharpton's attacks hardly ever touch the the far more powerful figures like Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly or others who sometimes make very outrageous and extreme attacks or racial minorities or the even poor people in general.

At least one popular right wing broadcaster who operates in the Pacific Northwest often uses the "N" word to refer to African Americans in his everyday speech, but not on the airwaves, avoiding FCC action. But there is no evidence whatsoever that the moderate Republican Don Imus shares such views. Imus is in fact very progressive and liberal on many issues. If the current campaign to remove him from the public airwaves replaces him with some hateful far right personality, than where has society gained anything.

Don Imus is a basicly a very decent man, who cares very much for problems with children children such as cancer, asthma or other issues. Imus also is an environmentalist as well, selling a line of detergents gentle on the environment. Why someone like this is being so unfairly targeted when far more powerful and negative figures exist on the public airwaves is because of their position of power as a broadcaster. Some like Rush Limbaugh survived a serious prescription drug addiction scandal and other things to continue to launch grossly unfair and outrageous attacks eack day. Bill O'Reilly nearly came to blows with fellow FOX personality, Geraldo Riveria over his racist thoughts regarding Hispanics.

Few bothered to hear the comments of Don Imus, which were merely a bungled effort to make comical use of popular lyrics currently used in 132 rap music music songs, and only attacked he badly bungled joke at some point later, jumping on an attack bandwagon. But Don Imus is a far better person that many on radio, and it's simply wrong to make a major issue of a botched-up joke. Worse personalities get a major pass each day, and many actually spew out hate on the airwaves or on blogs, not merely badly bungle a joke.