Imus’ latest scuffle recalls Bangor visit

BANGOR – The flap over controversial radio personality Don Imus’ recent racial remarks about Rutgers basketball players isn’t the first time the shock jock has touched a nerve among his listeners.

Ten years ago, Imus got into a verbal tussle of sorts with then Bangor Mayor Patricia Blanchette.

The episode was triggered by a request from Dudman Communications, which was sponsoring Imus’ 1997 visit to Bangor, to dress the city’s towering Paul Bunyan statue with a “Welcome, Imus” T-shirt.

The Ellsworth company wanted to honor Imus with the stunt when he came to the Bangor Civic Center in October of that year for a live broadcast of his “Imus in the Morning” radio program.

“I’m not at all comfortable with what’s going to come out of that man’s mouth,” Blanchette said of Imus when the request went before a council subcommittee.

“He’s rude, crude and very offensive. I want no part of inflating his already oversized ego,” she said.

There was precedent for Dudman Communications request. In 1984, a giant red fez was set atop the statue of Paul Bunyan’s head in honor of the Shriners’ Northeast convention here.

When that was pointed out to the council panel, Blanchette argued there was a big difference between Imus and the charitable group, noting that the Shrine had raised millions for burned and crippled children.

Blanchette’s comments irked Imus, who unbeknownst to the mayor had raised millions of dollars to find a cause and cure for sudden infant death syndrome. The proceeds from ticket sales of his Bangor appearance, which ultimately reached $6,000, were donated to Camp Capella, a summer camp in Dedham for the United Cerebral Palsy of Maine.

Imus was quick in his response, calling Blanchette “a big, fat, ugly, hairy moose,” “a frigid hag” and “an ignorant nitwit.”

The controversy raged for months, consuming the community. Bangor residents and city officials chose sides. Paul Bunyan did not get the T-shirt.

In fact, a month before Imus’ Bangor appearance, the city council adopted a ban on any adornment of the Bunyan statue or any other monument belonging to the city.

When the big day finally arrived, Blanchette showed up at the civic center to defend her city.

“If I didn’t show up, what would he say?” Blanchette said at the time.

When Blanchette walked onto the stage, Imus stood to shake her hand and the audience cheered.

He also stuck his thumbs in his ears, wiggled his fingers and stuck his tongue out when she walked to her seat, but otherwise behaved himself.

“Is it as bad as you thought?” Imus asked Blanchette about the show.

“Almost,” she answered in her characteristically blunt style.

By the end of the interview, apologies had been made and bridges had been mended. Blanchette gave Imus a pair of moose-drop earrings and a key to the city.

“Come back,” she told him.

Blanchette recently was re-elected to the City Council after a few years off and also represents Bangor in the Maine House of Representatives. She was in Augusta Wednesday and could not be reached for comment on Imus’ latest controversy.