A post-Imus 'Republic of Virtue'

The Washington Times ^ | April 18, 2007 | Tony Blankley

[Interesting Times]

Excellent op-ed by Washington Times editor Tony Blankley.

[Interesting Times]

For me, the repressive mentality was brought home last week while participating in a National Public Radio interview on the Imus affair. A "respected" liberal journalist and I were exchanging views when she said (to closely paraphrase): As long as we got Imus off the air, I don't much care how we did it.

Eggs, omelet.

But we all know that "hate speech" is in the ear of the listener. In Europe, citizens can be — and have been — criminally prosecuted for calling elements of Islam violence-prone. The great crusading journalist Camille Paglia was forced to live out her last cancer-ridden days in exile to avoid paying the penal price for her honest (and accurate) expressions on that topic.

Ouch. He means Oriana Fallaci, of course...

Mr. Imus may be an imperfect martyr — but the malign forces that brought him down must be opposed ferociously.

Amen and amen.

[leadpenny]

I read it in my paper copy this morning.

Good one, Tony.

[Nextrush]

First they came for Imus........

[rhombus]

As long as we got Imus off the air, I don't much care how we did it. In other words, the ends justify the means.

I was engaged in a debate over the Constitutional legality of Roe vs Wade and got a similar response from a teary-eyed and emotionally distraught woman. She admitted to not caring because the end justified the means for her too.

[Boston Tea Party]

I called the Times and asked them to correct it.

[Molly Pitcher]

Oriana Fallaci....Camille Paglia

One Italian name sounds like the next!:^)

Blankley's an excellent writer. He'll be rather chagrined to have this mistake pointed out.

[theDentist]

Yesterday, quietly, among the media storm over Virginia Tech, John Kerry released a statement in support of Imus, saying he shouldn't have been fired.

Thanks John, where were you a week ago when he needed that support? A week late and a testical short.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

The great crusading journalist Camille Paglia was forced to live out her last cancer-ridden days in exile to avoid paying the penal price for her honest (and accurate) expressions on that topic.

Glad to hear that Camille is still alive...

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[leadpenny]

I had not seen your comment and wondered about Camille too. Tony’s going to kick himself. Or Camille’s going to kick him.

[Dustbunny]

Excellent article !!!

[OldFriend]

Sounds like something Eleanor Clift would say! And mean!

[don-o]

bump for later

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Yesterday, quietly, among the media storm over Virginia Tech, John Kerry released a statement in support of Imus, saying he shouldn't have been fired.

John Kerry probably really does miss the show because Imus thinks George Bush is stupid and called Dick Cheney a 'war criminal' everyday. I actually tuned into the show for 15 years, but every once in a while I'd take a break.

I don't think Imus is a liberal, but on the other hand, he had mostly liberal politicians, reporters, and authors on everyday.

Imus could be a nasty guy who trashed some of his co-workers at MSNBC and NBC when he was on the air so they probably don't miss him the same way John Kerry, Russert, Dave Gregory, Howard Fineman, Frank Rich, etc. would...IMO

[Old Retired Army Guy]

He forgot to mention who had the most to gain by silencing Imus. If you’re having trouble figuring that one out, my hint is he used to refer to her as “Satan”.

[theDentist]

Yes, he does miss it. They all do. But the fact that he waits until the issue is off the headlines before he decides to offer token support just turns my stomache. I’m not surprised by it though.

[cricket]

Imus was/is the Libs sacrificial goat which they believe will then ligitimize their efforts to go after their real targets as per successful talk radio/Rush et al. . .they are too clever by half; but cannot yet say; they do not have a win strategy.

That said; was it political correctness that this speaker does not identify his 'counter-part' that day? Why not at least name one of the 'malign forces' when you meet one. . .head on?

[pinz-n-needlez]

Bingo!

[Interesting Times]

I called the Times and asked them to correct it.

Thanks... somewhere in Washington an editor is kicking himself.