Following up her blog post on the subject, Ana Marie Cox writes a full article (read: proper punctuation) for Time about her decision to put up with Don Imus’ behavior in order to become a regular guest on his show … and enter the gentlemen’s club. Shocker: It had something to do with feeling important. But don’t say she’s vain!
As the invites kept coming, I found myself succumbing to the clubhouse mentality that Imus both inspires and cultivates. Sure, I cringed at his and his crew’s race baiting (the Ray Nagin impersonations, the Obama jokes) and at the casual locker-room misogyny (Hillary Clinton’s a “bitch,” CNN news anchor Paula Zahn is a “wrinkled old prune”), but I told myself that going on the show meant something beyond inflating my precious ego. I wasn’t alone. As Frank Rich noted a few years ago, “It’s the only show … that I’ve been on where you can actually talk in an informed way ??? not in sound bites.” Yeah, what he said!
I’m embarrassed to admit that it took Imus’ saying something so devastatingly crass to make me realize that there just was no reason beyond ego to play along. I did the show almost solely to earn my media-???lite merit badge. The sad truth is that unless you have a book to promote, there’s often no other reason any writer or columnist has to do the show. If Rich wants to “talk in an informed way,” I’m sure there’s an open mike at C-Span Radio, and if there’s really a hunger for such adult dialogue, does it really have to be accompanied by childish crudeness? Actually, don’t answer that. In any case, the media figures and politicians who clown around with Imus can pretend that the show is really about informed conversation or pop sociology or anything except junior-high-level teasing, but its true appeal for them lies in the seal of approval Imus bestows.
As Cox reminds you, she’s no longer doing the Imus show because of her personal beliefs. Oh, and there’s that slight technicality.
No. 1
MediaPerson says:
There’s only one possible response to Ana Marie’s no longer appearing on “Imus”: B.F.D.
Posted: Apr 12, 2007 at 2:43 pm
No. 2
mia says:
I’m glad Imus is gone, but I wonder what the real reason that MSNBC pulled the cable.
Here is a great read and it really makes you think
http://joeleonardi.wordpress.com/2007/04/12/the-meek-spineless-national-broadcasting-corporation-msnbc/
Posted: Apr 12, 2007 at 2:59 pm
No. 3
ImusFan says:
You’re nuts if you think you’ve seen the last of Imus. He’s one tough old bastard and I loves him. This year’s radiothon is going to raise the most money ever. Just wait and sit. As for Al and Jesse, STFU.
Posted: Apr 12, 2007 at 4:00 pm
No. 4
Jack Pearoson says:
Nice way to support someone who turned you into a known entity. You had fun on the show. I would hear you truly laughing & having a good time. Now that the guy is down you kick him & stab him in the back. It says very much for your character. What are you doing on a day to day basis for charity? I suspect not a darn thing. I expected more out of you. Oh well. I was wrong. My mistake for following you since your Imus appearances. Goodbye for good.
Posted: Apr 12, 2007 at 7:44 pm
No. 5
Your nuts says:
Your all a bunch of nut cases. It was a stupid joke and that was it . When your, done fellating sharpton and Jessie, Why don’t you pull your head out of your ass and place your efforts on important issues. Like how the two black extortionists are going to control what we get to see and hear on the radio and T.V..
Posted: Apr 13, 2007 at 10:47 am
No. 6
nwash says:
You are a disgusting human being. You had no problem going on his show before this happen. Imus helped make you who you are. The fact that you are saying these things now that imus is in trouble shows what kind of person you really are. I am cancelling my Time subscription and boycotting anything you are involved with. You truly are a horrible person.
Posted: Apr 13, 2007 at 12:53 pm
No. 7
disgusted at the conscious and reasoning of racsist america says:
Your nusts quote”Your all a bunch of nut cases. It was a stupid joke and that was it .”
Really, it was a joke? I don’t find it funny. YOUR NUTS IF YOU THINK THE BLACK C OMMUNITY AND MOST WOMEN ARE GOING TO SHUT THEIR EYES TO THIS. YOUR NUTS IF YOU TH INK IMUS WILL HAVE BIG COMEBACK. YOUR NUTS IF YOU THINK THAT MAKING RACIST AND GENDER UNEHTICAL AND UNPROFESSIONAL COMMENTS IS GOING TO BE A PLUS FOR IMUS.
DON IMUS HAD ALL THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE WORLD TO BE POSITIVE.
JUST BECAUSE HE DOES GOOD THIINGS FOR SOME CHARTIES DOES NOT GIVE HIM THE PROVERBIAL RIGHT TO USE THIS TYPE OF LANGUAGE AND ENCOURAGE! OTHER TO CONTINUE ON WITH THE STUPIDITY OF RACISM,HATRED AND GENDER BIAS.
DON IMUS HAS BEEN VERY LUCKY IN HIS LIFE, IT IS UNFORTUNATE HE DIDN’T TAKE HIS LUCK, HIS PRESTIGE, HIS LEADERSHIP AND BECOME A SYMBOL OF MORE THEN THE GOODWILL, BUT A SYMBOL OF RACIAL ACCEPTANCE, NOT TOLERANCE.
SHOULD HE BE FORGIVEN, YES HE SHOULD! HOWEVER, IT WILL BE HOW DON IMUS CONDUCTS HIMSELF THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME AND HEALING. DON IMUS MUST FORGIVE HIMSELF FIRST!
AS FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND WOMEN, SURE WE’LL GET OVER IT OVER TIME, BUT WE WON’T FORGET WHAT TOOK PLACE ON APRIL 4TH/07.
LET THIS INCIDENT SERVE TO WAKE UP AMERICA!
I am disgusted at racist America’s logic and reasoning
Posted: Apr 13, 2007 at 2:17 pm
No. 8
alice cramden says:
Say what you will about Marie Cox, she’s smart. When it was cool to be on the Imus show, she was there in a heartbeat, sucking up for all she was worth, doing whatever was best for Ana Marie’s ambition. Now that it’s not cool any more, she’s out there with the quickest mea culpa, again taking care of what’s best for li’l Marie’s public image.
The cheap shot at Franck Rich is smart, too. She cleverly lets us know how much more honest and sincere she is than the run of the mill New York Times columnist.
Do I believe anything she says? You’re kidding me, right?
Alice
Posted: Apr 13, 2007 at 6:11 pm
No. 9
bonnie says:
What Don Imus said was terrible and insensitive, but you are dispicable, and cowardly. I’m pretty sure you know the kind of person Don Imus is, yes he’s crude, but so are you, he a shock jock. But he also so has a heart of gold when it comes to chairities and helping others who can’t help themselves. I’m sorry that he said what he said, but those girls will be just fine, they have amazing futures ahead of them. You should be ashamed of the way you so quickly dissed Imus, as he was the one who put you in the spotlight and gave your career a boost.
Posted: Apr 15, 2007 at 10:01 am
No. 10
R.I.Hinkley says:
Do we have to get permission from people like, Sharpton and Jessie, to have free speech. What happened to free speach??????????????????? Ithink Mr. Cosby said it best, there is no need for black history. Black voices alone, black aids day, Newswire black voices blogs, young black and fabulous, WHAT HAPPENED TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH, ask Sharpton and Jessie ?????????? How about the history of the USA for one and all, with liberty and justice for one and all no matter what color or nationality. But i guess that people like Sharpton and Jessie will not let it go. are all the people stupid enough not to see who is keeping segregation hate alive, as far as i can figure out that would be people like Sharpton and Jessie. But then the black community jumped all over Mr. Imus and says, From Sharpton and Jessie and people like them, says they did not give him freedom of speech…? BUT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET, PEOPLE LIKE SHARPTON and JESSIE, DO NOT WANT THIS PROBLEM TO GO AWAY, they would go broke and have to find a white mans job. Sharpton and Jessis you might as well keep doing what ever it is you do, you probobly would not be happy with a honest to goodness job. question, is it honky that you call white people, i wasnt sure about that, but you know what you may call me honky all day long 24/7 honky is only a word, My mother raised me to believe that, sticks and stones can break your bones, words can only harm you if you let them. and if you are tooooo stupid to believe and understand what you read ,if you can read. Mr. Imus just had a thought maybe Sharpton or Jessie are after your job. WHAT HAPPENED TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Mr. Sharpton and Mr. Jessie since it looks like you have control of freedom of speech, do you two and all the others like you, do you think you could delete child pornography, or is that something that you would not like to see go away…… JUST CALL ME HONKY……………………. Well go twiddle your thumbs, im sure another individual will show up to interrupt your boredom……… Mr. Imus GOOD LUCK.
Posted: Apr 15, 2007 at 11:33 pm
No. 11
Mary says:
She is looking out for Number 1. He gave her an opportunity and well…..well now she regrets it. Please.
Posted: Apr 16, 2007 at 6:26 am
No. 12
Charles says:
Want to know the real reasons Cox turned her back on Imus? This article tries to clear some of that up and exposes her true colors…
http://www.checkyourfacts.org/newsdetail.php?id=32
Posted: Apr 30, 2007 at 1:22 pm
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