Sharpton: I think that it is clear that we're not just talking, Wolf, about his personal beliefs or feelings, or even his being contrite. What we're talking about is public policy.
There's no way the airwaves should be used to allow people to call people nappy-headed hos. That's what he called these people. And, for him to say that, and just to walk away like, "I'm just sorry; I made a mistake," would then mean that the FCC, who regulates everything on the airways, and who sanctioned people, as far as Janet Jackson, with a wardrobe malfunction, has no purpose at all.
BLITZER: Everybody seems to think, though -- at least a lot of people are suggesting, including John McCain, who just spoke out on this matter, maybe he deserves a chance, a second chance, given the anguish. You saw him eyeball to eyeball. Did you sense how sorry he is?
SHARPTON: The question becomes whether or not we are going to have a regulatory policy that goes based on how contrite someone behaves, or whether or not they step over the line.
Again, Janet Jackson was contrite. The TV station was fined. She was fined. Everybody involved was fine. Are we going to have policy?
Are we going to say, if you say you are sorry, or even convince us you are sorry, policy is out the window?
And, then, the next guy can do the same thing, and use the precedent of Don Imus to say, I can't be punished. Those of us that believe women ought not to be called hos and that blacks ought not be called nappy cannot have that precedent live beyond this particular situation.
BLITZER: Well, did you get the impression he was sincere in his -- in his anguish? You sat just across the table from him during your radio program.
SHARPTON: I got the impression he was sincere. Whether he was sincere about keeping his job or sincere about what he did, I don't know him well enough to make that determination.
The real question is whether the stations he worked for are sincere about upholding a standard. The real question is whether the FCC is sincere about having regulations that operate the same for everyone.
And, when you see some hardworking young ladies who excelled academically to go to Rutgers University, and fight their way to the Championship, being reduced to being called nappy-headed hos, the humiliation they feel and a lot of young women -- I had my daughter in the studio today.
How do they feel? And, if nothing is done about this, if there's no punishment, what message are we sending to this country?
BLITZER: That -- that exchange you had with him, with your daughter there, I want to play -- I was listening to your radio program today. I want to play that little exchange, Reverend Sharpton.
Stand by for a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE AL SHARPTON SHOW")
SHARPTON: You see this young lady here? Where is she at? You see this young lady?
IMUS: Yes, sir.
SHARPTON: This young lady just graduated and went to Temple. She is not a nappy-headed ho. She's my daughter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: And what -- what was his response to you?
SHARPTON: I think he was a little taken back. And I think he understood why the impact of this is a lot more than just something that should be argued in the boardrooms of some radio station.
He hit a lot of us where we live. And a lot of us that have condemned a lot of the language in gangster rap and a lot of language on radio, and said to kids, you have got to quit using negative words, how do we go back to tell our kids to clean up their words, when you can call some exemplary young women this, and we say nothing and extract no punishment to protect their integrity and their self-esteem?
BLITZER: John McCain just said, only a few moments ago, that everyone deserves a chance at redemption. He's willing to give Imus another chance. James Carville, here in THE SITUATION ROOM, said he's been on his program for many years. He's been a friend of his. He's going to give him another chance, will continue to go on his program.
Do you think big-name celebrities, whether politicians or media stars or others, should continue to be guests on Imus' radio program?
SHARPTON: I think that, if there is no punishment, if there is no policy enforced, to continue to go there is to endorse the policy that
it doesn't matter how vile you get and who is violated, that an apology will do.
It's strange to me that none of them have stopped to talk about the offended. It is easy for people that have not been offended to forgive people that didn't offend them. I think that is arrogant and insensitive.
I would think that everyone, especially those running for president, would first say, wait a minute, has there been some punishment and acknowledgment by those who were offended here? How can I forgive somebody for something they didn't do to me?
BLITZER: What about all the good work he's done over the years? He's got a program at his ranch, as you know, out West. He brings sick children there, including a lot of minority kids. He gives them a chance to be out West. What about all the good work, the millions he's raised for these young kids?
SHARPTON: I don't -- I don't think anyone discounts that. I think that that is good. And he ought to be applauded for that. But I don't think that answers the point that he himself said, that he did a repugnant, racist act. And I think that, if someone is accused of something, sure, you weigh their background. But you still do not
say that that totally means that you have immunity from behaving in a great way -- in a way that is a great insult and a great offense to people.
I mean, if you go to all of those disc jockeys that have been fired for saying offensive things -- look at Al Campanis. He did things in his community. He was fired -- Jimmy "The Greek," fired.
Are we now going to get to the 21st century, and you have somebody say something more repugnant than Campanis, more repugnant than Jimmy "The Greek," and say, all you have got to do is say I'm sorry and have a few of your big-shot friends come out and say they forgive you, when you didn't do anything to them in the first place?
BLITZER: The Reverend Al Sharpton, thanks very much for coming in.
SHARPTON: Thank you.
BLITZER: Appreciate it.
