[Rhodes22-list] Don Imus

[DCLewis1 at aol.com]

Todd,
 
With all due respect, I think the people that have made this a  
Sharpton/Jackson issue are being a little devious.  The issue is Imus,  MSNBC and CBS, not 
Sharpton/Jackson, black women, rap, or  certainly-any-other-issue-than-Imus.  
The argumentation technique is called  change the subject, put the burden on 
someone other than Imus.  The issue  is Imus and his behavior.  I think we 
could stop spending a lot  of time focusing on Sharpton-did-this/Jackson-did-that 
and keep narrowly focused  on Imus and the effect he’s had on these young 
ladies, and whether they deserved  it.  
 
As to your statement “ there is no positive outcome from the trouble Al  
Sharpton started...unless you consider getting Don Imus fired a plus.”  I  think 
you’re wrong.  The present dispute can resolve a long festering need  to curb 
abusive behavior by all shock-jocks and the networks that support  them.  Today 
networks understand that if they can get a suitably offensive  shock-jock on 
board they can make $XM. The shock-jock can make even more.   If tomorrow they 
understand that they can make $XM, but they have a legal  liability risk of 
$YB (or $y100M) they will reasonably reconsider their efforts  and perhaps 
temper their enthusiasm.  One tangible positive result from  this present flail 
would be to clearly establish that there are substantial  risks and costs, not 
just profit, associated with shock-jock behavior.
 
As to your thinking Whitelock makes a lot of sense: you are not the issue,  
the issue is the black community.  What do they think?  Who has more  support 
in the black community, Whitelock or Sharpton?  I don't know the  answer to 
that, and you don't either, but I'd bet Whitelock has precious little  support.
 
JMO.
 
Dave



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.