The current flak over a stupid comment by a stupid radio guy is just too much to be believed. I wouldn’t have thought that an idiotic sound-byte like calling members of a women’s basketball team “nappy-headed ho’s” would be worth the time it even takes to type it.

But then, it really doesn’t have much to do with Don Imus, who has a radio show and a TV show with almost no audience, and it certainly doesn’t have much to do with a comment that was really too dumb to be racist. But it has become something that is going to either cement or erode the power of a couple clowns to shape the national dialogue. And that power struggle is attracting newcomers who just plain want to censor.

Once Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton stepped up to the mike, we all could have filled in the rest. I can’t think of anyone that has missed what bombastic grandstanders these two guys are. They picked a particularly silly thing to make into a battle this time, though, and to be honest, it’s likely that the only reason they picked on this poor schlub is because his lack of significant ratings made him an easy target. On both the right and the left, people have been quick to name others who have said more offensive things. The problem is, those guys are too popular to be taken out by poseurs playing the tired old race card.

And even at that, they’ve been having to flex every muscle and invoke every hot-button word to get the required outcome. First, Imus apologized — nope, not good enough. Then he went on Sharpton’s radio show (which has even less audience than his own) so he could apologize again — nope, still not good enough. Now, MSNBC has cancelled his program, and the director of CBS hopes they fire him. So is that enough punishment for a lame two-word insult with an objectionable adjective?

Nope. Sharpton is just getting warmed up.

It is our feeling that this is only the beginning. We must have a broad discussion on what is permitted and not permitted in terms the airwaves.

That has a sinister ring to it. But before Sharpton even got this far, the feeding frenzy had broken out:

• Obama wants Imus fired. Very presidential.
• Hillary noticed that no one was looking at her and let us all know that she has never wanted to be on his show. Thanks for playing.
• Rosie O’Donnell took the opportunity to slap on her shiniest tinfoil hat and say that the thought police are coming. Not that she’d have any worries.
• Tom Delay decided to see if anyone was listening to him by saying that if “the left take Imus, we’ll take Rosie.” Now honestly. Why in the world would anyone bother to take out Rosie when she’s her own worst enemy? Besides, if Delay is trying to turn Don Imus into some kind of darling of conservatives, he would do better to get someone who (a) is conservative, and (b) looks a little bit less like a heroin addict.

I couldn’t resist going over to the premier Left-screed blog Daily Kos to see how they were trying to make all this George Bush’s fault. They weren’t quite up to that challenge, but some of the commenters did start making some plans about the New World opening up. This commenter wants all the haters up against the wall:

And While We’re At It… (3+ / 0-)

Ban the Gangster Rappers, Ms. Colter, Rush Limbo, and anyone, conservative, black, liberal, white, red, or yellow, who is disparaging to other races, gays, or women. We so easily stigmatize Child-Molesters - why can’t we stigmatize all offenders of the airways. If we’re going to screw Don - we need to screw them all - those forked-tongued devils.

Whereas these two commenters only have one modest demand — CNN’s only conservative analyst, Glenn Beck:

Beck. Please let’s go after Beck. (20+ / 0-)

Come on, he doesn’t rate, CNN is easily spooked, and he says some hideous [stuff].

All we’d need to do is say ‘go’ and set the attack hounds on him and his advertisers and he’d be gone in a week.

I agree (3+ / 0-)
I think that CNN would be easily spooked if they were in the sights next by massive emails to corporations that advertise on CNN. There are plenty of reasons to go after him. If we can get rid of him, after Imus, we might just see companies like Clear Channel re-evaluating their support of the likes of Limbaugh, ad nauseum.

So there you go. If there’s anyone you don’t want to hear from, be sure to get in your suggestion. Apparently, we’re having a contest.

Follow-up

Just heard that Don Imus got fired by CBS. Well, I don’t know who gets to feel like the big winner in this. I suppose Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton think that they look big and bad, but I think all they’ve done is strip-mine a little more support from those they claim to represent.

Don Imus can team up with Bill Maher and the Dixie Chicks to do a “what the h*** happened to my career?” tour.