Posted by
Tzimisce on Monday, April 16, 2007 2:09:58 AM
Now that Imus is gone, Al Sharpton is strutting around talking about everyone else who is on his list. Estimates say that the Reverend's rent a mob numbers about 500,000. In a nation of 300 million that's a pretty paltry sum - not even one percent. The fact that he could mobilize all of those people to boycott is still impressive.
Compare this to Imus who had an audience in the millions. If Mr. Sharpton's half a million can pressure broadcasters to dump Imus, what would happen if all of Imus' listeners decided to boycott the good Reverend's sponsors. Do you think that big corporations like McDonald's and Walmart would respond to the financial loss and pull their backing?
Take that thought out a little further and ask yourself what would happen if Imus' audience decided to throw a counter boycott against the people who abandoned Imus in his time of need: Procter and Gamble, Staples and American Express. And what about the networks that carried Imus? MSNBC that carried his television show and CBS radio which actually put the show on the airwaves? In an era where both of those networks are suffering in ratings it would sure be awful to see all those loyal listeners walk away.
Wouldn't it be great? What rant do you think Sharpton would go on? Would he complain of "racism" against him rather than admitting he made a lot of people mad? Sharpton keeps telling us we're a racist society. Since black people can call each other by racial slurs in jokes, music and art but white people can't, I'd have to agree.
Public boycotts can work both ways. Be nice to see what happens when it's reversed.