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'08ers React to Imus

April 11, 2007 1:49 PM

ABC News' Paul Fidalgo Reports:  As radio personality Don Imus' remark about the Rutgers women's basketball team continues to stir up controversy and debate, the field of 2008 White House hopefuls are endeavoring to carefully navigate through choppy political waters in their various responses.

While the candidates that have made public statements on the matter have universally condemned the comments -- some of whom have been recent (and frequent) guests on the program -- none have called for his outright ouster from his program. 

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., who herself has not been portrayed in a positive light on Imus' program, said, "You know, I've been on the receiving end of a lot of his barbs, so, you know, I understand, I'm a public figure. But it just went way over the line, and I think that, you know, the reaction is well-deserved."

The controversy has become a rallying cry on Clinton's website.  The site features a large picture of the Rutgers team and Clinton has issued a statement calling the remark "nothing more than small-minded bigotry and coarse sexism."

In a previous statement, Clinton made clear her position as to whether she would appear a guest on his program, saying, "I've never wanted to go on his show and I certainly don't ever intend to go on his show, and I felt that way before his latest outrageous, hateful, hurtful comments."

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in contrast, a longtime guest of the programs', made the case for forgiveness, saying,  "He's said that he's deeply sorry.  I'm a great believer in redemption.  Whether he needs to do more in order to satisfy the concerns of people like the members of that team, that's something that's between him and them."

"I've made many mistakes in my life," continued McCain, before adding,  "…and I've apologized and most people have accepted that apology."  McCain has also stated that he would still be willing to appear on the program in the future.

Likewise, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who claims a "rooting interest" in Rutgers' team, said that he, too, would still be a guest on Imus' show.

"I take Don at his word that he understands the gravity of what he did," said Giuliani, who added, "I called him a little while ago to talk to him about it personally and I believe that he understands that he made a very, very big mistake, that that wasn’t his intention, but it was very, very damaging what he said."

Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., also did not rule out a future stint on the show, but stipulated that he would come bearing harsh words.  A spokesman for Romney said in a statement that "if [Romney] did go back on the show, he would be sure to tell Mr. Imus how awful those remarks were."

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has been less specific about his feelings toward Imus himself, but released a statement saying the comments were "divisive, hurtful and offensive to Americans of all backgrounds.  With a public platform, comes a trust.  As far as I'm concerned, he violated that trust."

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., who announced his presidential bid on the morning shock jock's radio program, said of the remarks, "As the father of two young girls, I can imagine how hurtful these comments were to these young women and their parents. The comments were wrong and unacceptable."

Sen. Joe Biden, D-Dela., who has appeared on Imus' show many times, and has faced his own political trouble over what was perceived by many as racially insensitive remarks, has yet to issue a public statement on the matter.

ABC News' Kate Snow and 2008 Off-Air Reporters Eloise Harper, Bret Hovell, Jan Simmonds, Matt Stuart, Jonathan Greenberger, Donna Hunter, and Brian Wheeler contributed to this report.

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