Grandstanding With Hillary Clinton Against Don Imus

NOT too far back in the distant mists of time American shock-jock Don Imus said something unsayable and Hillary Clinton jumped to defend the offended.

Imus called the female Rutgers basketball team a bunch of “nappy headed hoes”.

Reaction were swift. America was outraged. Imus lost his job. Imus apologised unreservedly.

The Rutgers women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer accepted Imus’ apology with good grace. Said she: “We, the Rutgers University Scarlet Knight basketball team, accept — accept — Mr. Imus’ apology, and we are in the process of forgiving.

“We still find his statements to be unacceptable, and this is an experience that we will never forget.”

A little overdramatic, perhaps, but point made. And time to move on.

Stringer’s going to stop there. Right? Er, no. People are looking and in the glare of the media spotlight the sports coach becomes the campaigner. Says she: “These comments are indicative of greater ills in our culture. It is not just Mr. Imus, and we hope that this will be and serve as a catalyst for change. Let us continue to work hard together to make this world a better place.”

But there is a risk that Stringer will go off the boil. She has a team to coach and can’t be politicking all day.

Which leaves the way open to Hillary Clinton to wade into the argument. You want Imus’ glib comments to be made bigger, into a cause? Well, Hillary’s here to help.

For starters Hillary told us: “Don Imus’ comments about them were nothing more than small-minded bigotry and coarse sexism. They showed a disregard for basic decency and were disrespectful and degrading to African-Americans and women everywhere.”

Quite so. Hillary had said the right thing. She was no Imus.

But the Presidential hopeful cannot leave it there and decides to meet the affronted team.

But the team is not all that bothered to meet Hillary. As a source tells Newsday: “Many of the players were in study hall from eight to noon and some had finals.” The players were “tired” of all the attention. “These young women need to do their classes, and wrap their spring semester.”

But she does meet with Stringer. Says Hillary: “She and her players have shown us the difference between bravery and bravado.” Yes, bravery. Women who play basketball are now brave. Is Hillary brave enough to pull on basketball shorts, vest and dribble for the cause? Would only the brave be able to watch?
Undeterred, Hillary then assembled the 700-strong campus and faculty for her call to arms.

They should make the “Rutgers pledge”. They should say: “Enough is enough, when women or minorities or the powerless are marginalized or degraded.”

Yes, powerless. The man who called them names has been sacked and shamed. He has apologised. But more can be done, says Hillary. This is politics – more can always be done.

It is time to empower women. It is time to vote in a woman. Vote Hillary and say no to nappy headed hoes. And yes to Mrs Bill Clinton…

Anorak

Posted: 21st, April 2007 | In: Uncategorized Comments (3) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink