Ted Rall on Imus

Ted Rall, in his column "USE THE FIRST AMENDMENT--BUT NOT IN PUBLIC" this morning defends Imus' loyal audience's right to listen to him. Normally I pretty much agree with his point of view, but this time I think he's barking up the wrong tree.

The Blacklist epitomized the McCarthy era of the late 1940s and 1950s. Actors, directors, screenwriters, and other Hollywood professionals were refused employment by the major studios due to their alleged left-wing sympathies, real or imagined. There was government pressure, but never government censorship. It was purely economic.


Sorry, Mr Rall, this time it doesn't hold up. McCarthy went after people with little or no evidence, and with the weight of the United States Government behind him.

Imus said what he did on We The People's airwaves, and what he said was inarguably misogynistic and racist. With the rising tide of rape worldwide, respect for women should be one of the foremost memes to be fostered. Our media is long overdue for an injection of respect and civility. Imus was the first, and I hope he's not the last. It's time to tell the racist, misogynist bigots on the airwaves to cease and desist.

You can read the whole column here