Let's start with the obvious, said the San Francisco Chronicle in an editorial. Don Imus really 'œshouldn't be talking about anyone else's hair.' But last week, the famously disheveled, nationally syndicated radio host did that and more, laughingly describing the Rutgers University women's basketball team, which is predominantly black, as 'œnappy headed ho's.' When outrage erupted, Imus issued the usual statements of contrition and, in the footsteps of comedian Michael Richards, tried to apologize in person to the Rev. Al Sharpton. Which only made things worse, said Joan Walsh in Salon.com. Appearing on Sharpton's radio show, the 66-year-old Imus at one point seemed to address all blacks as 'œyou people,' and dismissed Sharpton's criticism of him as 'œjive.' CBS Radio and MSNBC (which televises his show) promptly slapped Imus with a two-week suspension, but they should consider making it permanent. Being 'œclueless about race' may not be a crime, but it's surely a good reason not to have a nationally syndicated radio show.
If Imus were anyone else, he'd be unemployed right now, said David Carr in The New York Times. This is hardly the first time he's 'œtrolled these waters.' He's called black sports columnist William Rhoden 'œa quota hire' and black journalist Gwen Ifill a 'œcleaning lady.' Yet Imus always gets away with it, thanks to his special relationship with 'œthe journalistic and political elites who would be expected to demand his head on a pike.' Politicians such as John McCain and Joe Lieberman are regular guests on Imus in the Morning, as are media figures such as NBC's Tim Russert and Newsweek's Howard Fineman. They all relish the chance to talk 'œseriously and at length about public issues,' sell books, and expose an audience of millions to their studiedly informal 'œhuman side.' The obligation to laugh hysterically at 'œthe I-man's' mumbled witticisms and to overlook incidents like last week's is a small price to pay for such exposure. His friends in high places won't abandon him now.
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