Don Imus fired
– but the reactionary media remain

Apr 16, 2007

CBS and MSNBC fired Don Imus for his racist and sexist remarks about the Rutgers women’s basketball team. The CEO of CBS, Leslie Moonves, oozing hypocrisy, then declared, “In our meetings with concerned groups, there has been much discussion of the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society.”

What blatant _____!

Yes, networks may have backed off on Imus for a minute – because so many people reacted – but they have no intention of keeping views like his off the air. All those other reactionary “shock jocks” continue on as though nothing happened.

The biggest radio and TV networks run this kind of garbage all the time. Imus himself had a long history of making similar statements.

They pretend that “shock jocks” like Imus are “cutting edge,” when they really express the most backward, infantile, oppressive attitudes. People like Imus couldn’t be on the air for years if their views didn’t please the wishes of the big bosses they serve.

The capitalist media are conscious purveyors of reactionary political attitudes aimed at attacking black people, women, workers when they demand a decent wage, immigrants and unions – especially any union that tries to lead a fight to defend the interests of working people.