11
Apr
Buy Bigelow, Fight Bigotry
No, product placement hasn’t gotten to me at last. And if the truth be told, I’m a coffee man… several large cups of java just to get me going every morning. Tea just doesn’t do it…
Nevertheless, I’m going out tonight to buy a big batch of Bigelow Tea. While I’m at it, I’m going to pick up some staples from Staples as well. It’s the best way I know to fight hate speech on the Don Imus show, that longstanding bastion of sexism, homophobia and racism distributed by CBS and NBC.
MSNBC and CBS Radio took the wimpy way out after the aptly-named “I-Man” cracked wise again about jiggaboos and ho’s, merely suspending the bigoted broadcaster’s for two weeks while waiting to see if the controversy over his repugnant remarks blows over — and the cash keeps coming in. Meanwhile, however, an office-supply chain and a tea company stepped up and decided just to do the right thing and end their relationship with Imus.
Supporting sponsors who refuse to support Imus and his idiocy is the best way we can put an end to society’s acceptance of such stupidity masquerading as fun and frivolity. So three cheers, then, for Cindi Bigelow, the tea company’s co-president, who said in a statement, “the company does not condone or support in any way the unacceptable comments made by Imus with regard to the Rutgers University women’s basketball team.” As Bigelow noted, her company “is a family company that prides itself on honoring and respecting all individuals.”
While we’re at it, kudos as well to Staples, and Miralus Healthcare, whose executives pulled their ads from the MSNBC simulcast of Imus’ syndicated radio program. A tip of the hat as well to Procter & Gamble for pulling all its advertising from MSNBC’s daytime schedule. P&G, one of the nation’s largest broadcast sponsors, spends more than a half million dollars annually on the Imus simulcast alone.
“We have to think first about our consumers,” a spokeswoman for the manufacturing giant told the New York Times, while explaining the basic elements of the marketplace thus: “Anyplace where our advertising appears that is offensive to our customers is not acceptable to us.”
Putting moral and financial pressure on Imus’ advertisers is working – so let’s not stop now. Consumer complaints to the corporations who continue to advertise on both cable and radio in support of Imus might well yield a similar response.
Sure, public relations personnel for Big Media players like CBS and NBC tell us they are “disappointed” in Imus’ actions and characterize his comments as “completely inappropriate” and “deplorable.” But let’s face the facts instead of the flacks: the leaders of our leading media don’t see the Imus flap as black and white — they only see green. Threatening their profits is the only sure way to force them back into the fold of civility. Letting corporations who advertise with corporate media know that you as a consumer as well as a citizen are offended by Imus – and by their continuing support of his program – is one of the most effective tactics around.
Sadly, it’s all about the Benjamins for just about everyone concerned, including the many Imus-enablers who gladly kiss the racist’s ring in exchange for his airtime and audience. They legitimate him, and he in turn promotes them, their outlets, their books and their campaigns for higher office. In exchange, they ignore his depredations, accept his apologies, and prop him up each time he “crosses the line.”
Imus won’t quit – and neither should we. His pals at the corrupt nexus of Big Politics and Big Media won’t stop supporting him unless and until we make them – so let’s force the issue further, and put them to the test. (Hello, Frank Rich, are you out there? John Kerry, why aren’t you blogging Imus on the Huffington Post?)
Nor will the I-Man’s corporate overlords at CBS and NBC fire him — unless they have to for financial reasons. So let’s bring it on –- support the sponsors who have pulled out, and lean on the ones who haven’t… yet.
The issue is bigger than one pathetic, drug-and-alcohol-addled shock-jock. If you’re as sick as I am over the seemingly unending vitriol on our public airwaves, owing to greedy, antisocial media corporations, join the battle to topple Imus and send a message not only to him but also to the rest of his ilk. It’s a fight worth engaging in – and one we can win.
Excuse me — I have to go drink some tea now!
And how are you going to treat companies who back Mr Hymietown, Jesse Jackson, or who back Reverend Al and his infamous Brawley case?
What we need is consistency, not political correctness.
April 11th, 2007 at 1:08 pmI, Bill Murray agree! Fight bigotry whereever it is and that includes all aspects of it. We have far too much garbage broadcast on our airways now so the Imus show is a good place to start a houscleaning.
April 11th, 2007 at 1:57 pmIMUS is only human. We all have said things we wish we could take back. What is the problem with the asshole that wrote this article? Fuck him-let him go to Staples for overpriced junk and buy tea that he won’t drink. Keep on buying SHIT, it helps the economy! P.S. TO Bill Murray: You should about all the GARBAGE on the airways—YOU put most of it there!!! That is If you are the real Bill Murray?
April 11th, 2007 at 2:20 pmExcellent. Positive reinforcement should be encouraged at all times.
April 11th, 2007 at 2:36 pmThere are all sorts of cretans out here who will unload the same kind of juvenile thoughts as Imus (i.e. two of the above replies). For the rest of us it would be wonderful if you would give us the names, mailing addresses, and even telephone numbers of the appropriate corporations on both sides of this issue so we can show what this country is made of! Ignore the idiots!
April 11th, 2007 at 3:03 pmSincerely, Ron Eastwood, Stockton, CA.
To be “only human” is no defense at all because everyone and anyone can claim it. It may be true, as Jon says, that all of us have uttered stupid and hurtful words. But few of us have Imus’s megaphone - a morning drive slot on a New York radio station and a simulcast on MSNBC. It would be intolerable for anyone to have that kind of power without responsibility, by which I mean the decent respect for both the primary and the penumbral audience that in former times kept program hosts from sounding like Julius Streicher. All I can say in defense of this undisciplined loudmouth is that the job of being a responsible broadcaster is made more difficult when the host is surrounded by panderers, enablers, and sycophants like the studio crew who, as nearly as I can tell, did not contemporaneously make a murmur about his vile remark.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:24 pmCan we hurry up & get back to some real news FINALLY?!?! I guess maybe next week when Congress gets back. (I’m surprised “The News Dissector” has not used this lapse in information in the news to keep the info flowing on IMPORTANT matters).
April 11th, 2007 at 3:32 pmPLEASE PLEASE STOP ALL THIS NONSENSE. THOSE OF US WHO EVER WORKED IN THE CITY HAVE HEARD ALL THOSE (B A D) WORDS FROM THE YOUNG BLACKS THAT DON’T CARE WHO IS AROUND THEM WHEN THEY SAY THEM. THAT RUTGERS TEAM DIDN’T EVEN KNOW THAT HE SAID THAT UNTIL SOMEONE TOLD THEM ABOUT IT AND HOW MUCH THEY SHOULD BE UPSET. WHEN THE RAP (ARTISTS)?.. ARE DONE WITH THEIR RHETORIC AND WORDS OF COP KILLING AND MF THIS AND MF THAT, THEN EVERYONE WILL BE EQUALLY TREATED. UNTIL THEN WE ALL AGREE IMUS SHOULD NOT HAVE SAID WHAT HE SAID, BUT LETS GET BACK TO THE COUNTRY’S PROBLEMS NOT JESSE (HYMETOWN)JACKSON’S AND AL (TAWANA) SHARPTONS POLITICAL AGENDS..BY THE BY THAT WAS 1.5 SECONDS OF AN ON AIR REMARK, NOT A DIATRIBE..IF IMUS GOES THEN RUSH LIMBAUGH SHOULD FOLLOW, EVEN ANN COULTER AND THE REST OF THEIR ILK.
April 11th, 2007 at 5:41 pmas a buyer. for many years of Bigelow Teas, I am pleased to note that Bigelow objects, through their pocket, to the egregious and obscene behavior of Don Imus. Another good reason to support them and buy more Bigelow Teas!!!
April 11th, 2007 at 8:23 pmWell, I hope all of you anti-Imus assholes are happy. The man that gave MILLIONS to poor and sick kids has lost his job. It is because of whining, crying sissies like you. He was a funny man and had a funny show. He didn’t need the job-he just kept working to make more money for the kids. Rutgers team COULD NEVER pay for all of the free publicity they have gotten if not for some IDIOTS making such a big deal over some FUNNY JOKE-AND YES, it was a joke. I was watching were you? I just hope that the people that put him off the air will someday pay for their mistake. PISS ON BIGELOW, STAPLES, P&G, GM.
April 12th, 2007 at 1:03 amAs a middle-aged soccer mom, I have to say that I always tuned into Imus whether it was on radio or MSNBC especially since 9-11. The thing I admired about him is that he made a point of gathering the well-informed media to have a live, on-air discussion of current events and Imus didn’t tell you how to feel or how to think. He just made it his mission to get the smartest people to show up and tell us what the hell was going on in the world and then gave us the opportunity to form an opinion based on ALL the information. That very rare these days with most media outlets being biased and sucking up to corporate sponsorship.
That being said, the part of the show I could always do without was the sophomoric locker room rants (with special guest moron, Bo Dietl) that to me, just detracted from the good that the program provided. I was always able to ignore those portions thanks to TIVO and a busy morning schedule. But I will say, there is nothing else like the information that he provided directly from THE newsmakers and there may never be again…It’s a shame. I am interested to hear how his long time guests and supporters handle this. They are very powerful people. A voice was silenced, but at what cost? We’ll see…
p.s. Walter Reed was an Imus pet project…are these connected?
April 12th, 2007 at 6:16 pmBOYCOTT RAP music.
HipHop included.
Also Imus too. He’s bad.
But RAP and hiphop is worse.
It’s Time for nicer things in life.
You can’t talk all about imus then go and play little DMX, Ludacris, 50cent, Tupac, Dr. Dre, or eminem & his band D-12 songs on your speakers which say things like this:
“I drown nigg*** in 100 degree saunas” -EMINEM D-12.
Rap & hiphop talks about murdering blacks, girls being whores, calls people Nig**** etc.
You can’t boycot only imus and go buy some orbit gum or whatever that gum is that has SNOOP DOGG in it, he calls girls whores and uses the nig*** word for our fellow black brothers. That commercial thinks it’s funny: Ooh, got a dirty mouth? clean it up with orbit gum (Snoop Dogg standing there) — It’s unfunny. He insults our culture. Demeans our black heritage. All we’re known for now is not scientific achievements, or statesmanship, or jazz, or anything, blacks thanks to him are now known for horrible insulting rap crap talking about b*@($ and whores and pimps and crack and now they’ve made it seem like its ok for everyone to call eachother nig***. What happened to calling eachother brother or brotha. Now it’s YO NIGG***! Thanks to RAP and HipHop. horrible and pathetic music. do not support it. Vote with your money and don’t buy that hate music.
April 12th, 2007 at 11:17 pmHERE, this is APRIL 12th NEWS.
TODAY!
“Snoop Dogg Avoids Lockdown
Posted April 12, 2007 – West Coast rapper Snoop Dogg, 35, pleaded no contest to gun and drug charges in exchange for a three-year suspended sentence that allows him to avoid jail time, according to Reuters. A Los Angeles judge also gave the hip-hop veteran five years probation and a requirement to perform 800 hours of community service. He was set to be arraigned on charges of sale or transportation of marijuana and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, offenses that could have sent him to jail for four years if he’d been convicted in a trial.”
SNOOP DOGG is in Chrysler Commercial with its CEO! BOYCOTT GM CHRYSLER!
“Snoop Dogg, the hip-hop artist who stars with Lee Iacocca in recent Chrysler TV commercials, has charged that a Philadelphia-area auto dealer”
SNOOP DOGG gets paid for ORBIT CHEWING GUM thing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjk02DLGIoA
and you get mad about imus (who is bad) but this is worse and you let this go and think its sooo funny. even praise him.
It’s not funny. Snoop Dogg is kicked out of england for drugs, just today he is in court, Snoop Dogg did tv ads for that Girls Gone Wild guy who yesterday went to jail for humiliating videos of underage minor girls and snoop dogg is hosting his videos, which are demeaning to women much more than the imus thing.
So yes imus is bad, but don’t be all on your high horse about GM being so admirable when they support hip hop and rappers that spew vomit, even PAY them and star them with their CEO!
It’s hip hop that made imus and everyone else think it’s “ok” now to call people these things. :(
April 12th, 2007 at 11:30 pmI don’t listen to talk radio - never have - its humor has always been too low & crude for me - but from a far distance I seeing an aging shock jock who was trying to be hip & using hip hop phrases - & it bit him on the derrière. It’s the rot of hip hop & its misogyny we should be deriding - Tell that to Sharpton & co. & anyone else who is listening
April 13th, 2007 at 5:59 pmYou can think what you want about Imus but we all must respect that he has been on the air for forty years and not fired.Now with 1.5 seconds of dialogue his career is over.Maybe theres somethin to that,huh?
April 13th, 2007 at 6:42 pmWell, it appears that a small segment of society has had it’s way. There are those of us who are very upset with what happened. The freedoms that I fought for all these years have disappeared in an instant. It appears that revenge is the keyword and the Blacks feel that it is time for them to have theirs. Well, they must remember that everything is a two way street. Those ministers that seem only intent on revenge and do not care about decency and honor may find that somewhere down the road, the situation may be reversed. The progress we have made in race relations thus far has certainly taken a large step backward. It is sad that those who will pay may have good intentions but find that they have bet on the wrong horse in this race.
April 14th, 2007 at 9:05 amYou are as far out to lunch as you can be. Mr. Imus’ remarks althought in for take were not racial. Mr. Imus does, at times, over the top humor about everyone. Penalty yes firering no! I wonder what Reverand Hymie town Jackson and Crown Hieghts riot Sharton do if there was racial harmony? how would they live? your readers cxould thing about it. As for me, I will stock up on bigalow tea, not buy a gm car, shop at staples or use a Singular phone
April 15th, 2007 at 11:37 amI am a big Imus fan. I live in the south and resented the fact that all southern white women are “trailer trash”, white men “red-necks”, and all of us “uneducated”.
April 16th, 2007 at 10:01 amI take all this with a grain of salt. He doesn’t know me and has no reason to.
It’s all just talk.
Everyone should stop being so thin-skinned and ignore name calling. There are more worth-while things to think about.
If you believe the firing of Don Imus was about race ask yourself the following:
1. - Why Don Imus? There are many shock jocks, rappers, etc far more offensive than Don Imus so why single out Imus?
2. - Why Now? You can’t say because he crossed the line, Don Imus has been crossing the line for more than 30 years and often to a greater degress than this.
3. - Why Kill the Cash Cow? - Controversy does not turn off the type of people that listen to this type of material. Just like Hollywood, there is no such thing as bad publicity.
4. - Corporate America developed a Social Conscience? - Only possible if you believe in the “Enlightenment Fairy?”
MOST IMPORTANT
5. - Why did the ntetwork people invite Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to wiegh in on this issue? That makes as much sence as a bank robber going home after a heist and call 911 to ask their opinion on whether it was an armed robbery because he held a gun on the teller.
Anyone who has followed the Imus show knows that Deidre Imus has become a more frequent and outspoken guest on Don’s show. Do you think it is a co-incidence that Don Imus’ firing came within two weeks of Diedre’s appearance on the Today Show promoting her new book on cleaning product that you make out of ordinary household products that are not only inexpensive but free of toxins that are dangerous to your health. Deidre’s rebuttal to the industry’s statement that these products have been proven safe was unequivical, just not true she said. I had two thoughts at the time: 1. This woman has cast-iron gonads! - 2. There is going to be fallout! Take a look at a list of the sponcors and tell me this is all coincidence.
April 19th, 2007 at 7:05 amThe cleaning industry’s statements that the ingredients in their products are safe is the 21st century equivalency to the tobacco industry touting there is no scientific evidence that smoking is injurous to your health.
I am not alone in this stance, needless to say, however, it’s pretty difficult to get any time on the airwaves. Instead of “…now a word from our sponcors.” it’s “..NOT A WORD” say the sponcors.
And here I was boycotting Bigelow teas because I thought it was still stickng with Imus…
“Sponsors that pulled out of Imus’ show included American Express Co., Sprint Nextel Corp., Staples Inc., Procter & Gamble Co. and General Motors Corp. Imus made a point Thursday to thank one sponsor, Bigelow Tea, for sticking by him.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18072804/
So…did they or did they not pull out? I’d just like to know how to regulate my consumer patterns.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:40 pm