As radio shock-jock Imus finally got the boot for calling Rutgers basketball stars “nappy-headed hos,” one of his longtime enablers, Connecticut U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman (pictured), finally issued a public statement about his longtime friend’s remarks. Sort of.
Lieberman (CFL-CT) has long enjoyed getting boosts from visits to the openly racist Imus show, as he has with even more over-the-edge hate-radio jock Bob Grant, on whom he showered praise. (Grant regularly refers to African-Americans as “savages”; he’s also cruel to gays.) But the recent flap over Imus forced regular famous guests who never expressed a problem with him in the past to take some kind of stand. Lieberman has never previously felt a need to comment on any of Imus’s or Grant’s slurs against blacks or gays. (On the other hand, he did criticize Bill Clinton for sexual indiscretions with an intern. He also regularly blasted makers of violent video games.)
Can you figure out Lieberman’s new “stand”? Read the statement he issued to the press Thursday, then click here to comment. (And click here for a Courant story on local NAACP leader Scot X. Esdaile’s reaction to Lieberman’s and fellow Connecticut U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd’s remarks.)
Lieberman’s press-release statement: ““Don Imus’ comments were deeply offensive. He is right to apologize and strive to make amends. Because he is a friend and I know he is a better person than his remarks would suggest, I will continue to appear on his show. Don’s task now is to heal the wounds that he opened by his hurtful comments about the young women on the Rutgers basketball team.”