Carville Defends Imus on CNN

by Matt Stoller, Mon Apr 09, 2007 at 12:43:04 PM EDT

Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition is having a rally tomorrow at noon outside of NBC at 4001 Nebraska Ave, NW Washington, DC 20016.

Here's how James Carville defended Imus on CNN just now, saying that they've been friends since 1992. After spouting off for about thirty seconds of saying how he really thinks that Imus is genuinely sorry, he gave his real reason for defending Imus.

"I'm a believer that when a friend is in trouble, that's when you run to their aid."

And then Carville talked about how Imus has raised lots of money for charity. The other guy, the Republican strategist, actually did some analysis about whether candidates should go on and how Imus relates to cultural conservatives.

It's striking how Carville's move to stardom in 1992 colors his whole world. James Carville is no longer a Democratic strategist or analyst, he's just an insider celebrity.

UPDATE: I should add that Carville joins Tom Oliphant and Howard Fineman as boomer sycophants of Imus. And John McCain said he believes in 'redemption', as well. Sharpton isn't happy, and points out that Janet Jackson was contrite about the Super Bowl, but that didn't stop the FCC from acting. If the FCC doesn't intervene here, then "what purpose does it serve?" If I were a Presidential campaign, I'd prepare talking points as it's possible you'll get asked about it.

UPDATE AGAIN: Wow, Imus is in full self-destruct mode. Via Crooks and Liars, here's Imus today on Sharpton's show:

IMUS: "Don't talk about me doing used car commercials. I'll bet you I've slept in a house with more black children who were not related to me than you have. Do not get into my face about thiswhy don't you show up here in person."

I love this comment from the Atrios comment boards:"What part of George Allen's meltdown did Imus not understand?"

And here's Michael Wilbon at the Post (via AdamB in the comments): "I thought we'd get to this: I don't care whether Don Imus apologizes, or whether he's fired. Freedom of speech allows him to say whatever he wants to say. But I've got freedom of speech, as well, and I prefer to have the right to rip his face off in print and on TV for saying, repeatedly, the racially offensive stuff he says over and over and over and over. He compares blacks and Hispanics to apes all the time. ALL THE TIME. It's not rare, it's not an exception. It's not a one-time deal. ALL THE TIME. He and the people in his studio act as if all Blacks are pimps and whores and all have gold teeth and are illiterate...I'm glad I'm guaranteed the right to come right back at a bigot of this level and say whatever I want to say...And I'm happy to go toe-to-toe. Happy to."

Tags: Hillary Clinton, Imus, James Carville (all tags)

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

Yeah, a few minutes after CNN aired McCain defending Imus, "I believe in redemption."

by Winston Smith 2007-04-09 12:46PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

Haha. Well, ever since the stroll through the streets of Baghdad debacle, redemption is all McCain has left.

by cilerder86 2007-04-09 12:49PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

Matt, McCain was specifically asked if he was going to keep a scheduled apparence on the Imus show, I think this week. The only quote I got specifically was the redemption thing. I think he is going to. I wasnt really paying attention because I was reading MyDD.

by Winston Smith 2007-04-09 12:59PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

Actually, the more I think about it, it's clear to me that this perfect opportunity for John McCain! He can stick it to those elitist libruls by appearing on the Imus show! It will play well with the Republican base that McCain has been trying so hard to court. Then the rabid base will know what team McCain is on.

by cilerder86 2007-04-09 02:47PM | 0 recs

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Charity? Great.

Kinda like when fraternities use that a defense when one of their members is arrested for rape or when a pledge winds up dead.

Meanwhile, my boy Michael Wilbon had something to say:

Reston, Va.: What is your take on the Don Imus flap?

Michael Wilbon: I thought we'd get to this: I don't care whether Don Imus apologizes, or whether he's fired. Freedom of speech allows him to say whatever he wants to say. But I've got freedom of speech, as well, and I prefer to have the right to rip his face off in print and on TV for saying, repeatedly, the racially offensive stuff he says over and over and over and over. He compares blacks and Hispanics to apes all the time. ALL THE TIME. It's not rare, it's not an exception. It's not a one-time deal. ALL THE TIME. He and the people in his studio act as if all Blacks are pimps and whores and all have gold teeth and are illiterate...I'm glad I'm guaranteed the right to come right back at a bigot of this level and say whatever I want to say...And I'm happy to go toe-to-toe. Happy to.

by Adam B 2007-04-09 01:04PM | 0 recs

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Re: Charity? Great.

I reject the free speech argument. It doesn't say in the Constitution that you have the right to earn millions of dollars with your racist radio show. Imus can say all he wants. But we should push to get him off the public airways. They did it to Bill Maher, and we can do it to Don Imus.

by cilerder86 2007-04-09 01:59PM | 0 recs

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Re: Charity? Great.

Oh, of course. I'm mostly supporting Wilbon's right to kick his ass.

by Adam B 2007-04-09 02:10PM | 0 recs

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Re: Charity? Great.

Exactly. The "free speech" bullshit has turned into a Republican rightwing propaganda talking point to get away with everything - from Don Imus's racist comments to freeper trolls spewing their bullshit on every site known to humankind.

Sometimes you gotta make a stand that goes contrary to what the white majority may think or do in this country. Of course MSNBC's viewership and their correspondents who act as guests on Don Imus's show would think that he doesn't need to be fired and that they should let the "viewers decide." Bullshit. Sometimes the majority viewpoint is wrong and if an entity, person, or organization has integrity, they would make a stand.

MSNBC should fire Imus. Now. Afterall, if they use the majority viewership's viewpoint as an excuse, then perhaps they'd think segregation was okay because there was a majority for it in all the southern states at the time.

by jgarcia 2007-04-09 03:52PM | 0 recs

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So Charity buys racist indulgences?

How much money can Imus donate to balance out putting on a white hood and burning a cross?

It's clear from his reference to charity that Imus sees his every action as some sort of buy/sell trade-off. He has no standards.

If he vanished down the memory hole, I wouldn't give him another thought.

And I have a suspicion that's true for Fineman, Carville, and Oliphant, too.

by joeltpatterson 2007-04-09 07:52PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

I watched that piece and had the same reaction. Carville sounded like an idiot defending Imus, while the Human Events guy sounded intelligent -- and even made a good point about the low level of discourse that guys like Imus have made the norm.

by bob5540 2007-04-09 01:19PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

I think this has gone far enough. Imus said he was sorry and explained where it was coming from. The danger with this is that Imus is a relatively liberal voice -- why should we help destroy him over this?

For the record, I don't especially like him or his show. But I just don't see the point in going after him too hard on this, especially when he's describing himself as "wrong" and "humiliated."

James Carville, on the other hand, I would like to see fired.

by Pogues Fan 2007-04-09 01:36PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

It's a pattern. He's been apologizing for being a racist for years, and nothing has changed. This is worse than what Michael Richards or Mel Gibson did. Imus never apologized for calling Jews "money-grubbers." That stereotype needs to die, but racists/bigots like Don Imus are keeping it alive.

by cilerder86 2007-04-09 02:01PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

Ok I know you tood back your comment (below) BUT I can't let the relatively liberal statement go by.
He is a registered Republican, repeats that often.
Strong supporter of: Leiberman, Santorum, Ford (conservative D), calls Clinton 'Satan', MaCain supportor.

He is not a raving Republican BUT leaning liberal is not true!

by del 2007-04-09 04:25PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

oops, tood=took

by del 2007-04-09 04:26PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

oh yes, likes Mary Matlin too

by del 2007-04-09 04:27PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

Okay, after reading Wilbon there, maybe I'm wrong. I don't watch his show enough to know how often he does this kind of thing.

I take back what I said.

by Pogues Fan 2007-04-09 01:37PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

Just goes to show that Howard Stern was right about what a POS Imus is... he has been saying it for 20 plus years.

by yitbos96bb 2007-04-09 01:44PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

Does this make Hillary Clinton Presidential? After all, how can a Presidential candidate allow a senior advisor to support a racist and sexist pig? More so, Carville chose his friendship with Imus and his marriage to the republican. Should we allow him back in the White House?

by messychef 2007-04-09 01:54PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

Aah, there it is, the Hillary Clinton tie-in. I knew there was a connection some how.

by Kingstongirl 2007-04-09 03:58PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

"I'm a believer that when a friend is in trouble, that's when you run to their aid."

What a vivid example of clubby, elite, cronyism. Maybe it is OK for Carville to say that because he isn't actually in the public domain. He just hob nobs and influences some of it. However, I actually had Levin tell me that Joe Lieberman was his good friend so he couldn't campaign against him and for Lamont. IMO, they have all lost touch with reality. They are a big club with ceremonies and coronations. They think they are the ruling elite; and right now, George W. just happens to be the King. They preside over the great unwashed (us)and let us eat cake.

by dkmich 2007-04-09 02:18PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

I am reminded of the words of They Might Be Giants:

Out from the kitchen to the bedroom to the hallway
Your friend apologizes, he could see it my way
He let the contents of the bottle do the thinking
Can't shake the devil's hand and say you're only kidding

This is where the party ends
I can't stand here listening to you
And your racist friend
I know politics bore you
But I feel like a hypocrite talking to you
And your racist friend

by Adam B 2007-04-09 02:22PM | 0 recs

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Ed Shultz

was doing exactly the same shit on Tucker's show. He couldn't bring himself to tell the truth. He kept harping on about the market place will take care of IMUS. Get a backbone ED.

by kekuta 2007-04-09 02:34PM | 0 recs

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MSNBC

suspending IMUS for 2 weeks. I am calling bullshit..

by kekuta 2007-04-09 03:23PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

This is very predictable on James Carville's part. The only Democrats who Imus likes are DLC neocon assholes like Harold Ford and Joe Lieberman. Carville is in with that crowd. Hence, his defense of his racist buddy, Don Imus.

by jgarcia 2007-04-09 03:55PM | 0 recs

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Re: Carville Defends Imus on CNN

Olbermann said tonight that he appeared on Imus in 1998, didn't like it, and hasn't been back.

by joyful alternative 2007-04-09 06:34PM | 0 recs