Before Wright Firestorm, Obama Called for Imus Firing
Barack Obama had been a presidential candidate for more than a year before he outright repudiated his long-time pastor for racially charged, anti-U.S. sermons. But when talk show host Don Imus was in hot water 11 months ago for racially insensitive comments, Obama was the first candidate to call for his firing.
When asked about the different responses to his pastor and to Imus, Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor questioned the premise of the comparison and defended Obama’s response in each case.
“He spoke out both times, so it’s entirely consistent,” he told FOXNews.com Tuesday.
Click here to see the original ABC News interview with Obama.
Click here to see Obama discuss the Imus fallout on MSNBC.
Obama — who in a major speech Tuesday decried controversial remarks by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. dating back to 2001 — called for Imus to be fired just one week after Imus made the remarks in April 2007, two months after Obama had announced his candidacy.
“There’s nobody on my staff who would still be working for me if they made a comment like that about anybody of any ethnic group. And I would hope that NBC ends up having that same attitude,” Obama told ABC News in an April 11 interview.
Imus ignited public outcry for calling members of the women’s basketball team at Rutgers University “nappy-headed hos” on his popular morning talk show.
The controversy dogged Imus, even after he issued an apology to the team and met with the players personally seeking forgiveness.
The public atonement wasn’t enough to save his job. He was fired by CBS Radio and by MSNBC, which produced the TV simulcast, but since then he has returned to radio with a show on WABC-AM in New York that started in December.
Obama said in the 2007 ABC interview he would never appear again on Imus’ show.
“He didn’t just cross the line,” Obama said. “He fed into some of the worst stereotypes that my two young daughters are having to deal with today in America.”
In the case of Wright, Obama denies ever personally hearing his pastor give sermons that blamed the U.S. government for HIV and cast the country as institutionally racist. But Obama has had a 20-year relationship with Wright, and on Tuesday he said he knew Wright had made controversial remarks.
When some of Wright’s remarks were publicized last year, Obama rescinded an invitation for Wright to speak at his Feb. 10, 2007, presidential announcement.
Obama didn’t outright condemn Wright’s views until last Friday, but Vietor said Obama had started putting the issue to rest long before now.
“He denounced specific comments months ago and he gave a thoughtful speech today,” Vietor said Tuesday.
everybody should call or email to cnn and msnbc not hide obamas past.he will be bad for our country.
I always keep an open mind when it comes to presidential politics. After all, the future of this great and wonderful nation is at stake. I truly believe that ALL candidates should receive equal consideration regardless of party. Obama’s relationship with the treasonous Rev. Wright and his role in the Imus scandal now casts justifiable doubt as to his intentions for this nation. I no longer trust Obama’s judgment nor his character. The Democratic party should get its house in order!!!
I wholeheartedly believe Mr. Obama is telling the truth from the bottom of his heart when he says he was not sitting in a pew when his reverend made those comments…………..he was dancing in the aisles like the rest of the screaming idiots.
No one is commenting on Mr. Wright’s association and friendship with Louis Farakhan, who was the leading U.S. hate monger in our day and in our country. Both their messages were so alike. And, Mr. Wright’s association and friendship with Omar Kadafi. Does anything else need to be said? This is getting comical…..and sad. A week ago I was giving BO the benefit of the doubt and leaning his way. Not now………not after that speech.
Generally speaking about the campaign and upcoming election……………IS THIS A DREAM? This mess can’t be real. This is shaping up worse than the bush administration. Can anybody spare a loaf of bread?
I’m no Obama fan. I sincerely hope this situation ruins his campaign. I do however love his ability to energize a crowd. I also believe he is the most cerebral of the current crop of canidates. My problem with Obama is his message. People, he is dangerous. He demonizes corporate America and high acheivers every chance he gets. When are we going to realize that the economic engine of this country is business? Business is what provides jobs, not government. Guess what? A lot of people who own businesses are rich. Our politcians have to stop this class warfare.
In short, don’t be for or against Obama based on race. There are plenty of reasons why he is dangerous for the country.
P.S. I don’t own my own business, but I’m bright enough to know how my bread gets buttered.
Thank you, Senator Obama……….the Republican Party is no longer divided.
To A. Agard in FLA> What you say about poor whites is true but it is also true for any poor group. I think the real problem in this country is not so much color as it is income, and lack of education. Any person who experiences both is in trouble i don’t think their race matters.There is no middle class. There are 2 groups the haves and the have nots. The gap grows wider every day.Color aside, a person who is uneducated and poor is much more likely to break the law or settle disputes with violence. It stems from being desperate. A desperate human is the most dangerous thing on earth. They are more likely to be racist too.
To larry from AK
I guess you are now in favor of 13 years olds having an abortion without their parents knowing? I guess you support burning the flag now? I guess you want God off the money now? I guess you are now against prayer? I guess you are now refering to our troops are terrorists like John FN Kerry and Dick Turbin? I guess you would give Iran’s President a standing ovation but spit at Mr. Bush who has kept this country safe for the last 7 years? I guess you don’t want to listen in on the terrorist phone calls? I guess you now are in favor of keeping the illegals coming? I guess you are in favor of killing our unborn? Congrats you are now a Democrat!! Thank God there is no draft!
He should step down as a Senator of the United States for the state of Illinois. Every leader or celebrity who has been associated with racial bias has been forced to resign for the good of the people. He should do the same. Whether he gets the nomination or not, do we want him representing this country? Imus is only one example of a person shredded in the media for racias bias. What about Dog Chapman? It shouldn’t be accepted by anyone. While I know that Sen. Obama did not make any racial statements, he has listened to this for 20 years. Some views had to hit home, this is his inspiration.
Obama has stated that he could never disown his racists pastor any more than he could disdown the black community. Perhaps it is time for Obama to wake up he doesn’t own either of them. He has maligned the black community and his pastor has called every white person in America a racists. Where does he think he is going to get enough votes to win the November election for president