To the Point
How Did Don Imus Go Down in Flames?
Radio shock-jock Don Imus had a record of brutal, vulgar attacks on ethnic groups and women, but celebrity politicians and news figures were regulars on his program. Why was the slur on the Rutgers basketball team the last straw? What does the episode illustrate about America's popular culture? Also, a promotion for his girlfriend spells trouble for World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz and, on Reporter's Notebook, Kurt Vonnegut, the Free Speech Movement, and today's bitter disputes about language.
By Warren Olney • • 1h 0m ListenRadio shock-jock Don Imus had a record of brutal, vulgar attacks on ethnic groups and women, but celebrity politicians and news figures were regulars on his program. Why was the slur on the Rutgers basketball team the last straw? What does the episode illustrate about America's popular culture? Also, a promotion for his girlfriend spells trouble for World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz and, on Reporter's Notebook, Kurt Vonnegut, the Free Speech Movement, and today's bitter disputes about language.
