April 12, 2007
Hotline After Dark: Still The Talk Of The Tube
Don Imus may no longer be on cable, but he dominated the TV talk:
NBC News Pres. Steve Capus, on why MSNBC will no longer be broadcasting "Imus": "I've received hundreds, if not thousands of emails, both internal and external, with people with very strong views about what should happen. I've listened to those people with their comments. And many of them are people who have worked at NBC News for decades, people who put their lives on the line covering wars and things like that. These comments were deeply hurtful to many, many people. And we've had any number of employee conversations, discussions, emails, phone calls. And when you listen to the passion and the people who come to the conclusion that there should not be any room for this sort of conversation and dialogue on our air, it was the only decision we could reach."
Asked if he was caving in to advertisers demands: "I understand the people are going to view it that way, and I only say that is not why this decision was made. This decision was made after listening to the people who work for NBC News, who have placed a trust and respect the trust that America has given us" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 4/11).
Barack Obama made the TV rounds:
Obama: "I believe that NBC should not be having hosts like Don Imus who are making derogatory statements towards and women and minorities. I've got two young daughters who I hope will be athletes. And, you know, the notion that somehow they would be degraded and insulted, and that that would pass as humor, and that NBC would be running that over the public airwaves I think is atrocious" ("Situation Room," CNN, 4/11).
Asked if he would go on "Imus" again: "No, I would not. I was on there once, actually, after the Democratic national convention. I spoke about my book briefly. That's been my only experience on the show. And he was fine when I was on that show. But I don't want to be an enabler or be encouraging in any way of the kind of programming that results in the unbelievably offensive statements that were made just a few days ago" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 4/11).
Chris Dodd, asked if he will go on "Imus" again: "We know what the charges are. Don Imus has apologized for them. I take his apology to be a sincere one. ... His actions will show the depth of that sincerity. And I will make my decisions based on that in the coming days" ("Situation Room," CNN, 4/11).
Rev. Al Sharpton: "I think MSNBC has done the right thing. Now, I would hope CBS, who I'm going to meet with tomorrow, will do the same thing" ("Tucker," MSNBC, 4/11).
Rev. Jesse Jackson: "I'm glad MSNBC did step up. But we can't stop here. Because whether it is on NBC television, or whether it is and CBS Radio, or even music, we must raise a higher ethical standard for all the music, because we cannot allow these images of violence to continue, because if you can call a woman a ho and she will submit to it, that's the first step toward domestic violence. That must stop" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 4/11). [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted at 07:17 AM
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