Tu quoque? Uncomfortable truth? I cut and paste, you decide. From an editorial in today’s Rocky Mountain News:
The flap also spotlights one other issue. As John McWhorter, a black scholar with the Manhattan Institute, wrote this week, “Where, after all, did Imus pick up the very terminology he used? Rap music and the language young black people use themselves on the street to refer to one another.” The Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who are leading the clamor for Imus’ head, might ask themselves how the depiction of women as “hos” penetrated far enough into the popular culture that a 66-year-old white male would use it as a casual reference.
[…] Michelle Malkin gives readers a taste of the sort of bilge that can be found right this minute in songs atop the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart. Surely that is a far bigger issue than Imus’ continued employment. Do Jackson and Sharpton plan to target these purveyors of vile misogyny and human debasement, too? If so, it would do more for the culture than merely forcing Imus off the air.
And as for the chastened Imus, he has said the goal of his show is to revel in the agony of others. He now has at least two weeks to revel in his own.
Oliver Willis—who, when he’s not distracted by a box of pudding pops can always find time to stoke a racial divide he claims to deplore—asks, “is Michelle Malkin the stupidest person in the entire world?”:
Like so many others in the press, Michelle Malkin is now trying to somehow extend Imus’ racial slur to the world of rap music. The irony of someone who supports the internment of people based on race getting outraged over derogatory slurs against women is as thick as pea soup.
[…]
What Malkin is doing here is Con Job 101, the conservative attempt to find some sort of equivalence that equates something that irritates them with the actual mainstream outrage at something else. Both Sean Hannity and Larry Elder tried it on Tuesday’s Hannity & Colmes, equating Imus’ slur with statements made against the GOP and conservatives by Howard Dean. In a way it’s as if Malkin is excusing Imus because their [sic] are bad rap albums out there.
So the answer to my question is: Probably.
Well, coming from the guy who just wrote “equivalence that equates” while identifying a nationality as a “race”, that’s quite a bold assessment.
A couple things. First, is there really a conflict between arguing for the rectitude of, say, racial or ethnic profiling as a means of criminal investigation and national self-defense, and arguing against the derogation of women?
And second, is what we are witnessing here “conservatives” engaging in a big cultural con—trying to take the spotlight off of insidious and largely hidden latent white racism? Or is the occasion of Imus’ boner sufficient to ask pointed cultural questions like those posed by McWhorter, Malkin, and the Rocky Mountain News editorial writers?
Or to put it another way: is it possible that Imus is less a racist than he is a product of the culture in which he lives? Has he been “inscribed” by some “cultural dialogic”?
Because generally, this is an argument many on the left might make under different circumstances—though they don’t seem particularly eager to do so here. Which is curious. Bill Bennett didn’t “intend” anything racist, you’ll recall—but he was racist anyway, because as a Republican, that’s just the way “he” had been inscribed.
Imus, on the otherhand, is clearly racist—and no, it isn’t valid to ask if his “racism” was “inscribed,” or whether it was even “racism,” rather than, say, a certain cultural laxity, or a certain celebrity arrogance, that inspired his insulting comments.
Which is interesting. So—could it be that maybe the real con here is that we are not supposed to notice the inconsistency? Or is more likely that maybe I’m the stupidest person in the entire world?
****
update: Tom Maguire has more.
nappy-headed friend of update: More at Hot Air.
Uh, yeah. Questions about the contents of rap music doesn’t fit the preferred narrative, so they must be deleted.
More important to focus on some scruffy-looking jerk who managed to get a radio microphone saying something stupid.
(And am I the only one amazed at the fact that a guy who said something rude and bigoted about a college sports team has become a major news story and the target of anger, while broadcasters and pundits who assumed the criminal guilt of another college sports team get off scot-free?)
Cripes, I hadn’t even thought of Willis in a year or so. Thanks a heap.
And this, our politically correct social climate, isn’t borderline fascism because…?
How long until “nabby-headed-hoes” is a rap lyric . . . about the same amount of time until this thread is hijacked . . . metal bats and hearing the ball.
I’ve got it! Imus is racist and misogynist because he is old and white, rap music isn’t because it has a beat and you can dance to it!
I have no quibble with Malkin’s point. If the language wasn’t in common usage he, racist or not, never would have said it.
While there does seem to be a lot of manufactured outrage over this I think one of the things that resonates with people is Imus’ choice of a target. Had he directed the same or similar epithets at someone who could take the heat or at least reasonably defend themselves – say another celebrity – he might have got a pass. Instead he picked on a group of college students who basially did nothing to earn anyones ire.
Suddenly people who never listened to Imus learned that he is not only insulting in the worst possible ways but also a major bully and the combination is just too much to defend, even for his potential supporters.
After seeing the videos on Michelle’s site, I only got one question: When did black folks stop making music and start making Cadillac commercials?
I agree with you, Thomas. I thought he was a boor for his choice of target. Don’t think he’s racist (though I can’t see into his heart)—and I think the Rutgers coach is overplaying the victim rhetoric—but I did feel for the team, and I do think Imus is an asshole.
It’s best not to make nappy-headed hos angry.
Remember what happened to those Duke lacross players.
Smirky is hanging on tight to that “World’s Dumbest Blogger” spot, isn’t he? Almost like it was a Ring Ding or something.
And Imus’ remark was straight out of Spike Lee’s School Daze, where it was OK to call a woman nappy headed. But only when the speaker was black. Which is definitely not racist.
Let’s be clear about what is going on with Imus right now: He has relentlessly lampooned Al Sharpton on his show for years, ridicule that was richly deserved and quite pointed. Sharpton had, really, no way to respond given that the satirization was quite apt.
Now Al (and his fellow race hustler, Jesse Jackson) have an “in” to put a tight tether on a previously-unmuzzled and high-profile critic of theirs. They could give a shit about the Rutgers women’s b-ball team.
Why, oh why, did have to equate Smirky and Ring Dings? One would think he’d better identify with those Hostess imitations. Because of the Drake’s Patriarchy!!
This whole situation is giving Sharpton and his fellow victims a chance at having93 their cake and eating it too.
So this woman is dumb as dirt and a dirty race traitor as well, Oliver? Finish chewing, let me know.
Not that I care much for Imus, but considering that an apology was sufficient after a prominent black man referred to Jews as hymies and NYC has hymietown back in ‘84, I think it’s all Imus owes in return.
Malkin isn’t the only one to notice the connection:
http://www.kansascity.com/182/story/66339.html
Imus is a redneck.
And if any black people say that, they’re racists. I, with my melanin at an only semi-enhanced level, can say it to make social commentary about my fellow whitishfolk.
Pablo,
He may be feeling threatened in that achievement by TBogg.
I second the link to the Jason Whitlock article in the Kansas City Star. (via Cox and Forkum).
Everybody sing with me :
My homie baby mama trying to fuck me
Would I be wrong if I let her suck me?
It ain’t me, it’s her, dogg, she’ll tell you the same
She don’t belong to you man, she belong to the game
A lil’ nasty scandalous individual
Hittin’ you for you chips and all your residuals
See, bitches do the same thing
to athelets and entertainers and hood niggaz
Cuz, we in the same game
I don’t know why it’s like that
When I was growing up I remember bitches wouldn’t fight back
Now these hos push the game and they wanna strike back
I treat a bitch like Tina, that mean I’m like Ike, I guess
Back-back-back to reality you funky hood rat
You good for nothing shit talking bucked mouth
Want some real shit I give a fuck about
How the bitch feel if she get killed?
I don’t give a fuck and I don’t think I ever will
But, it’s got a GREAT beat, and I can dance to it.
Because if he said Ho Ho’s, well, you just know what would’ve happened.
All I can say is that as a Honky Redneck, I’ve felt discriminated against ever since Hee Haw went off the air.
Great article by Jason Whitlock. He encapsulates the whole affair perfectly. Imus is a douchebag who said something that douchebags say and has apologized and been suspended. End of fucking story. The good rev’s getting fired up is much ado about nothing, per usual with those two morons. Vivian Stringer talking about equality over THIS incident is bogus, too. Give it up Vivian. It was a dumb remark by a dumb man. Nothing else. Your equality was never threatened.
BTW, I don’t think that Imus saying or thinking that makes him a douchebag, but saying it on the air most certainly does.
Imus, demonstrating the essence of douchbaggery, has for the past three days offered up his version of this:
“If someone as good as me said something like that, imagine what some right-wing racist is sayingâ€Â.
While the left is more than happy to crucify this jello-brained, anti-ammoniaist, he tries to paint everyone right of Joe Lieberman as a racist.
Bend over and smile while Al Sharpton has his way with you, Mr. Imus.
That Imus is a smooth-haired cracker……..
Jon, lay off the insults to the rednecks or you’ll have to answer to The Blue Collar Krewe…
There’s a huuuuuge difference between rappers and radio hosts. First, rappers don’t call out their record companies and sponsors all the time. Second, rappers never are role models. And third, …uh. Uhhhhh….
Never mind.
Imus: racist.
What he said: not, but see above.
ESPN: unwatchable since this happened, because they won’t talk about anything else.
The Apology Network seems to have forgotten its spectacular core: black guys throwing things.
That, we all can enjoy. This is played-out bullshit.
Let’s also note for the record—because Willis has had his Soviet airbrush working overtime since he started suckling at the teat of George Soros—that Willis has a history of making racially insensitive comments about Michelle Malkin (here, here, and here, to name a few), not to mention his calling Paul Wolfowitz “filthy.”
So I’m not sure Donut Boy is really the go-to guy for an opinion on racial sensitivity.
Well that explains the libs fear of Christmas, Santa Clause is a racist!
I don’t see any indication that the moral rot that produced Imus’ comment doesn’t go straight to the top. By not firing Imus immediately they de facto endorsed his comments as being less than beyond the pale. I don’t see why we should be satisfied with anything less than a THOROUGH housecleaning. For the children.
Well, yeah. Think about it—he keeps hiring elves despite everyone knowing dwarves are better at making things.
Oliver(you ignorant slut) Willis calling somebody stupid. In’t that the pot calling the kettle not-black-enough?
Of course, considering Oliver’s track record for “accuracy,” Michelle might actually consider that a compliment.
The source and all…
M
Not just to the top, but the bottom, too.
Fire ‘em all.
”As President, I swear to defend the First Amendment, even against speech that I find distasteful”.
Or not.
Wait. Obama’s black?
When it’s convenient yes.
someone commented where did he learn the words and made a reference to rap music, please what is he 9 years old. you people will always try to justify racism and stupidity. perhaps he and everyone else should heed the BIBLE’S advice to think before one opens their mouth.
…or clicks “Submit,” as the case may be.
Uh Rhonda–try to find a place where anyone on this blog characterized what Imus said as anything other than stupid.
Next, take your own advice about the Bible and try a little forgiveness, you hypocritical blowhard.
Wait. Obama’s black?
Are Obama’s daughters “nappy headed hos”?
No, they’re innocent little girls that shouldn’t even be in the conversation. But the Senator put them there.
Not Don Imus.
Malkin is off base. There is a distinction to be made between making music demeaning to women in the abstract and demeaning a specific set of women. Both may be offensive, but the latter is much worse. It’s not a double standard.
If you write a song about hos, you’re just crass. If you call someone’s real teenage daughter and her whole basketball team hos, that’s probably actionable and you should at least catch a beating for it.
</blockquote>There is a distinction to be made between making music demeaning to women in the abstract and demeaning a specific set of women. Both may be offensive, but the latter is much worse. It’s not a double standard.<blockquote>
Careful, david–you’ll blow a gasket that way. They’re not meant to be twisted into fractal shapes.
Imus said a stupid thing as a comedy bit. So your abstract argument goes out the window. Did he single out an individual for crassness? No. Has he apoligized? Yes. Will he apologize to the offended parties in person? Yes.
And according to your logic that is where is should stop because those are the only people who should be offended.
Wishbone,
No, the fact that Imus was–badly–making a joke doesn’t negate my point, which was that Malkin is wrong, not that Imus is irredeemable.
She’s wrong for equating music video fantasyland with a real slander of real people. Saying it was a joke doesn’t excuse it.
If you like misogynist rap, that’s a matter of taste. I would even believe, contra Malkin, that it doesn’t indicate much about how you treat real women.
But if you take specific women who come to our attention not for acting like sluts on video but for excelling in sports, and you shit on them like Imus did, you’ve crossed a new line; one that’s farther along. I don’t know why Malkin doesn’t see that. She’s been the victim of this sort of thing before.
Imus is contrite and he should and will get another chance. But he deserves what’s happening to him now.
Your last point is totally false. I can’t see how it would follow from anything I said.
Frankly, we are fast becoming the epitome of a Jerry Springer society. It seems to have become more important to have an audience and notoriety when confronting conflict than it is to attain resolve and mutual respect. That model seems to serve the needs of the exploited and those who seek to exploit; reinforcing all that relegates objectivity to the outhouse while making the frailty and imperfection of the human condition a spectacle that harkens back to the Coliseum.
This situation isn’t and shouldn’t be about whether liberals or conservatives, this race or that race, hip hop or honky-tonk, one group or another, are more offensive and therefore more responsible for all that is wrong with America. I am not capable of judging the whole of Don Imus nor am I capable of crafting a recipe to fix all of America…and neither are the countless pundits and partisans who have sought to frame it so.
I’m not a religious person…but I often find kinship with the imagery surrounding the portrayal of one called Jesus and his teachings of understanding and forgiveness. For all the banter I hear about the Bible and Christian values, it certainly seems to me that we are fast abandoning what many view as the sacred “tablets” in favor of the sacrosanct tabloids. If I’m right, all I can say is heaven help us.
Read more about the dynamics that lead a situation to become larger than the sum of its parts…here:
http://www.thoughttheater.com
#1 I consider myself an old fashioned conservative, which puts me at odds with neocons and much of what his posted in terms of foreign policy at sites such as this one.
#2 I liked Obama nevertheless because he seemed a breath of fresh air.
#3 However, now that he has joined the opportunistic chorus calling for Imus’ head, fuck him. I will do anything I can to oppose him. The last thing we need is president like that.
#4 I do not listen to Imus, although, as a baseball fan, I used to (his flagship in NYC is a baseball station). He’s always been this way. There is a difference—not between a black guy vs a white guy saying “nappy headed hos”—but between Lester Maddox and Don Imus. To wit, the former was a racist who used an axe handle to keep blacks out of his restaurant (and later governor), the latter is a professional gadfly who, to quote a black dude, doesn’t have a hate bone in his body.
We have to get on some kind of same page about what we are going to be outraged about, and not. What Mel Gibson, Michael Richards, Amanda Marcotte, Joe Biden, Ann Coulter, Don Imus, and half a dozen other people have said over just the past year are not all interchangeable, and should not be treated the same way, except in this one respect: Let us move the fuck on!
The Culture of Outrage and/or Schadenfreude we have created is sickening, phony, and sickening. I can’t think of any reason why anyone would want any piece of public discourse these days, since you are only going to be a stray comment away from social ostracism and public debasement and humiliation. Who benefits from this? Only those whose speech is parsed and phony. Only those who are utterly shameless. The rest turn away in disgust.
The pity of it is, I feel, that stereotypical hatreds of various other types of people are not diminished by this policing of “what people say”—on the contrary, I am afraid it will just go underground, and, having gone underground, become impervious to reasoned or rational appeals.
I think Imus’ greatest sin in all of this is that he left the Left with no way to blame GWB for this.
Has anybody here
Seen my old friend David Gregory?
Can you tell me
Where he’s gone?
Thought I saw him walking
over the hill
with Obama, Sharpton and Dodd…
I assume you mean Dick Gregory? The author of “Nigger”?
Otherwise, caught the lyric. LOL.