The Ugly Face Of CBS: David Letterman And Don Imus

Elective Decisions ^ | 06/13/09 | Chris Davis

[writer33]

Thanks for the update oh8eleven.

[chiefqc]

Letterman;

Comic - No

Man - No

Pervert - Yes

An Example for Young - No

Pig - Yes

Loser - Yes

Mind in the Gutter - Yes

Arrogant - Yes

Phony - Yes

Creepy - Yes

I’m sure there are some good qualities about him but are hidden by all the defects that are on the surface.

[writer33]

It would’ve been better, but we are making a comparison in hypocricy.

[Bahbah]

Imus was genuinely contrite.

Letterman says up yours.

[Star Traveler]

I wish Johnny Carson was back... LOL...

[shadeaud]

I don't really like Imus, matter of fact I call him Imush, but he does his sttick and has for years without the line of racist, bigot, antisemite,antichristian or anti any ethnic or sexual barrier. He did hold the line on children however. I can not recall or hear of an accusation where he chose to include children in his sttick. I took his show as a way of kicking my mind into gear. Somedays he was conservative, next day from Mars. I hated to listen to him some days and would turn him off for weeks at a time. I missed the remarks he made about the female volleyball or soccer team whatever they were but they happen to be black so he crossed the line(for some unknown reason) and was forced out(after all the good the jerk had done for the kids). Some say his ranch was a way to hide from the IRS and enjoy what he truly loves with a few kids with cancer coming by for a couple of days to qualify him for the tax break) I personally don't think his stupid comments were A. out of line and B. outrageous enough to get him canned,but Sharpton has some mystical voice with enough of those ‘’in the know’’ to bring him down.
Letterman, on the other hand, is an out of the closet liberal who will continue to attack any person who brings the conservative voice to the surface. He attacked George W. Bush every night on his show and was an attack dog with what's his name oh yeah John McCain when he canceled his spot. His constant foolish antics on Gov.Palin were lame and yet targeted to hurt not only her campaign, but her personal integrity. Now he's attacking her family. The media takes it as a somewhat joke and just an error in Letterman's judgment, but let's move on. I say NO WAY. Can this turd and let him drive 110mph back on the Henry Hudson to his complex in Connecticut where he can watch re-runs of his appearance as host of the Academy Awards. The man is a disgrace to humanity as are the skinheads. Do not compare Imush with littleman. Imush will kick your butt in a New York minute if you pick on a child, littleman will call for his mommy.

[trumandogz]

That and the standard becomes quite different when you look at the targets of each person. It’s the same sexism and racism displayed for everyone to see.

We will see what Letterman's rating do over the next few weeks or months, if they decline, he may be fired, if they increase or are stable he will not be fired.

Most importantly, both CBS and Letterman's advertisers can review the ratings book's cross-tabs for the show and determine if there is an overlap between social conservatives offended by Letterman's comments and and social conservatives who regularly watch Letterman. If there is no overlap, Letterman will not be fired. My guess is that there is little overlap.

[writer33]

I’m not comparing Imus to Letterman. I’m comparing the reaction of the mainstream media to each incident, and the hypocricy when it came to Sarah Palin and her daughter.

[writer33]

If there is no overlap, Letterman will not be fired.

That wouldn't surprise me at all.

[humblegunner]

Is he a scum bag, a douche bag, a communist or all three. You decide.

He's a guy on TV 'way too late for anyone to watch who read a stupid joke.

[writer33]

Yep, I’d agree with that as well.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Well said - despite Imus’s failings - he obviously cares a great deal for kids - that’s not an act.

[stop_fascism]

I agree. Imus was speaking spontaneously, and got carried away. What he said was incredible crass, but he seemed genuinely sorrow, and did his best to make amends. He still got fired.

Letterman, oth, delivered a prepared joke. He had plenty of time to consider the disgusting nature of the remark, and went right ahead. Later, he gave a smarmy non-apology which was almost as crass as his original remark. He will probably get a new contract out of the deal.

[edcoil]

I have that on 105 USA

[trumandogz]

Of all the posts on FR that I have read on the subject, I have yet to read one that said, "I have watched Letterman almost every night for years but I will not watch him again due to his Palin joke."

CBS knows that social conservatives are mad at Letterman, but they also know that social conservatives do not watch Letterman. Therefore, they will not lose ad revenue over the Letterman-Palin rift. Instead, Letterman's ratings may creep up.

Imus on the other hand had a more difficult problem with his MSNBC show. First, he made his living by interviewing politicians and media types, both of who for a time saw Imus as radioactive and would not go on his show.

Second, Imus had a limited number but higher caliber of advertisers than Letterman who were sensitive to the Imus comments.

Third, Imus' ratings were low and MSNBC had nothing to lose by getting rid of Imus and replacing him with Scarborough.

OTOH, Letterman did not alienate potential guests, he has a larger pool of advertisers to pull from, he is holding his own in the ratings and CBS does not have a Plan B.

[LA Woman3]

Imus made a comment that was off the cuff on live radio. Letterman’s comments were prepared ahead of time. Three times over two nights.

[paulycy]

CBS knows that social conservatives are mad at Letterman, but they also know that social conservatives do not watch Letterman.

But this is exactly why making a successful and firm stand on this is so important.

We conservatives and decent people across the country can send the message that we are paying attention to their behavior and their message and we can reach them when we want to.

This is the legitimate projection of political power we are after. The double-standard media is not living in a vacuum. We are here and we demand the same respect as everybody else.

[writer33]

OTOH, Letterman did not alienate potential guests, he has a larger pool of advertisers to pull from, he is holding his own in the ratings and CBS does not have a Plan B.

True.

[writer33]

Imus made a comment that was off the cuff on live radio. Letterman’s comments were prepared ahead of time. Three times over two nights.

And yet, still no outrage in the mainstream media. Hypocricy at its finest. Despite who's was worse, the target matters.

[nascarnation]

If you’ve ever seen Letterman sans makeup, it’s enough to scare children on the street. He’s one of the oldest looking 62 yr olds I’ve ever encountered.