Not nearly far enough
Rem Rieder has the right idea:
It’s time for Russert and Thomas and NBC’s Andrea Mitchell and “Hardball” impresario Chris Matthews and Sens. McCain and Joseph Biden and Joe Lieberman—and many, many more—to, in the immortal words of Nancy Reagan, just say no.
By continuing to appear on a program hosted by a guy who makes comments this far beyond the pale, Russert & Co. are giving their tacit approval. They give Imus a protective cover of legitimacy. It’s as if they’re all members of the same club. Imus may be naughty, but, hey, he’s just being Imus.
But this doesn’t go far enough (never mind Russert and Matthews are troubling hosts in their own ways).
Journalists (I hesitate to include Russert and Matthews) and politicians should be very careful about the media company they keep. How about using the current Imus flap to, say, closely examine all of the blathering radio and television talk hosts (including Russert and Matthews). How about we make plain to the world the kind of nonsense that regularly passes for…what?…what do we call what they really do? Journalism? Commentary? Entertainment?
Oh, yeah. This guy keeps constant watch on them.
If Russert isn’t a journalist, who is? You?
When is the last time you broke a news story?
Seems all you do is second-guess working journalists. None of them is perfect. But at least they’re working.
Those who can, do. Those who can’t, pontificate!
I am no longer a journalist. I do not break, cover, or otherwise do anything in regard to journalism except study it and teach it.
I most certainly work.
Your take on the old saw of “Those who can…” is a good one. It’s usual articulation is so faulty as to slip into stupidity. Good for you for avoiding it.
I wonder who is qualified to pass judgement on anything the news media do?
In regards to Imus, journalist Gwen Ifill has an excellent contributing piece on the opinion page of the NYT today.
Geesh, Andy! Walter put you on the receiving end of some pontification, here. Maybe he ran out of work?