NAACP finally speaks out against Lieberman, Dodd

This was long overdue.

As Sen. Joseph Lieberman Wednesday said he would continue to appear on radio host Don Imus' show, the president of the state NAACP chapter blasted both Connecticut senators for continuing to support Imus.

Lieberman, a regular guest on Imus' morning program, called the acerbic host's racially charged remarks about the Rutgers' women's basketball team "deeply offensive," but said he would not boycott the show because Imus is a "friend."

Sen. Chris Dodd, who announced his presidential bid on Imus' show in January, criticized Imus' comments this week, but stopped short of saying he wouldn't appear again on his show.

"I totally disagree with Sen. Dodd and I totally disagree with Sen. Lieberman," said Scot X. Esdaile, who heads the 6,000-member Connecticut NAACP. "They both should pull back immediately."

"They should show their support for the young ladies who were abused," Esdaile said.

I just don't think people like Senator Dodd and LIEberman get the message. Look at their statements.

"I assume the best in people," Dodd said Wednesday. "[Imus] made a mistake, a dreadful one. But he's made an apology and I take it to be sincere."

Lieberman would not discuss his views, instead issuing a statement.

"Don Imus' comments were deeply offensive. He is right to apologize and strive to make amends," the senator said.

"Because he is a friend and I know he is a better person than his remarks would suggest, I will continue to appear on his show. Don's task now is to heal the wounds that he opened by his hurtful comments about the young women on the Rutgers basketball team."

The hypocrisy of Lieberman knows no bounds...

Controversy over his Imus appearances is nothing new to Lieberman, who has been a guest on the program for years - at the same time he has been one of Washington's leading voices urging more morality in public life and in the media.

He was under fire when he ran for vice president in 2000 and president three years later. Even as Imus continued to make controversial, racially tinged remarks, Lieberman continued to appear on the show. Former spokesman Dan Gerstein noted that Imus refrained from making such remarks when the senator was a guest.

"Appearing on a show doesn't mean you sanction everything he does," Gerstein said.

Oh, I get it...out of sight, out of mind. Lieberman and his mouthpiece DANGERStein are a class act.

Hats off to the NAACP for finally stepping up and doing the right thing.