Editorial | 'Some idiot comment'

Radio personality Don Imus' first response to criticism of his racist, misogynist description of the Rutgers University women's basketball team was that people shouldn't get worked up about "some idiot comment meant to be amusing."

His indifference predictably set off the antennae of civil rights leaders always on the lookout for racism in America. (Not a difficult job, unfortunately.) But they weren't the only ones bothered by the shock jock's remarks. Indeed, anyone amused by Imus' self-described idiocy must have a warped sense of humor.

The Rutgers women, smarting from losing the national championship game to Tennessee, had nonetheless achieved a remarkable season. They and their legendary coach, C. Vivian Stringer, should be basking in their accomplishments. Instead they're recovering from an undeserved verbal assault by a radio talk-show guy who, in his zeal to sell more soap than the other radio talk-show guy, will say anything to generate buzz.

Imus has no shame about what he does. That's why his subsequent apologies - the latest yesterday on Al Sharpton's radio show - have sounded so hollow. But just because Imus isn't too sorry about calling the Rutgers' team "nappy-headed hos" doesn't mean good people shouldn't get worked up about the incident.

Imus, after all, doesn't just sell soap; he sells a lot of soap. His outrageous comments - and there have been many - attract millions of listeners who tune in seeking more of the same. Publicity about this incident may even increase his audience. (For now, CBS Radio and MSNBC have announced that they would suspend the program and simulcast for two weeks.)

Much preferable would be for millions of Americans to tune out not only Imus but all others who blast our culture with hurtful language that sets people apart as lesser human beings. That includes those black rap stars whose overabundant use of the n-word makes some whites think it's OK for them to talk that way, too.

Indeed, the casual manner in which Imus and his show's producer disparaged the eight black members of Rutgers' team suggested they had engaged in such conversations before, perhaps with other blacks. "I'm not a white man who doesn't know any African Americans," Imus said on Sharpton's show. If any are close to Imus, they need to set him straight.