Talk Radio, Don Imus Return, Rev Al Sharpton Op-Ed

PRESIDENT SHARPTON

Anticipating The Return Of Imus, Al Makes His Demands







Remember the Reverend Al Sharpton's futile attempt at securing the Democratic nomination in 2004? As it turns out, he actually won not only the primary contest, but took the general election as well!

Who knows how he did it (perhaps by ringing his friends in an alternate universe?), all that matters is that he's now calling the shots. With talk radio running America and Sharpton in charge of programming the medium, he may as well take up residence in the White House.

And with Imus set to return to the airwaves, Sharpton has issued his list of five rules by which the I-Man must abide:

Indeed, if Imus wants to get back in front of the microphone, there are five steps that he should take to prove that he has learned from the experience — and not simply waited for the furor to die down.

First, he should squarely deal with the Rutgers fiasco, not just through a cosmetic meeting as before, but by coming to terms with the women he denigrated in a concrete way. One of the Rutgers women has filed a lawsuit, and rather than play legal games with her, he should settle that suit — and any other claims that the team members may make due to the psychological and public damage he did to them personally.

Second, he should publicly make clear that he sees himself as an example of how we as a society have increasingly allowed the hunger for humor and the drive for ratings to make the American public immune to the casual expression of racism and sexism.

Specifically, Imus should state (if true) that he now understands what led to his termination: Americans of all races and economic levels believe we can no longer move forward as a society by taking cheap shots at women and blacks or any other group.

He was not a pariah; his removal did not undermine his free speech rights.

Third, he should pledge to refrain from attacks on innocent people who cannot defend themselves and who may not have the coping mechanisms to deal with being ridiculed on the airwaves.

It's one thing to ridicule Al Sharpton; it's another to attack young women who did nothing more than seek to achieve excellence in college athletics.

To that end, Imus and his new prospective employer, if and when one emerges, should publicly release a contract clause making clear that he will not be permitted to engage in any racist, sexist or homophobic comments (unlike a contrary clause in his last contract).

Fourth, to show that he is truly committed to turning the page in whatever new show he launches, Imus should set aside some regular weekly broadcast time to sit with an ombudsman — preferably a member of the National Association of Black Journalists or someone else of color — who will mix it up with him and critique issues of the day. No, I'm not volunteering for the job.

Fifth, Mr. Imus should encourage all corporations, including the record industry, to stop subsidizing and promoting people who engage in racist and misogynist language, even in the name of entertainment. The rules must not be different for black rappers than they are for white broadcasters.

How could the Op-Ed honchos at the Daily News print this work of art with a straight face? Are they really unfamiliar with Sharpton's past transgressions? Why did the mainstream media put him in charge of content?


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