Message to Bill Cosby: Stop the Blame Game

Op-Ed by Karen Hudson Samuels, Deputy Editor Tell Us USA News Network

My hopes of comedian Bill Cosby coming forward to clear his name by addressing the mounting accusations of sexual assault have been shattered.

Instead of addressing his accusers and preserving any remnant of his standing as America’s favorite Dad, Cosby has decided to play the blame game, by taking the African American media to task. This is not just disappointing but perhaps a sad revelation of his true character.

For weeks, the outpouring of women telling their stories of unwanted sexual advances by Cosby have emerged; with their allegations all having one element in common, there was an attempt to drug them.

The latest allegation to surface came from African American super model Beverly Payne whose Today Show interview of Cosby’s failed attempt to assault her went viral.

Finally breaking his silence, Cosby recently spoke to a New York Post reporter by phone from his home in Massachusetts.

“Let me say this, I only expect the black media to uphold the standards of excellence in journalism and when you do that you have to go in with a neutral mind,” Cosby said.

No Dr. Cosby, you want a double standard from the black media which is tantamount to placing the race card! It is a fact that women have come forward accusing you of rape. Reporting that fact does not mean media, black or white, has failed to “uphold standards of excellence”.

The basic standard of journalism is to report facts and to make corrections when mistakes are made and with a neutral mindset. That is not to say there isn’t journalistic bias, there is and it generally stems from the owners of media outlets that may a conservative or liberal slant. Journalists do their best to maintain a balance between upholding the standards of their profession and reporting the facts, however unpleasant they be may to their bosses.

The crisis management firm of Hiltzik Strategies along with attorneys Martin Singer and John B. Schmitt is advising Cosby according to the New York post story. If pointing the finger at black media is their advice it’s a disastrous crisis management tactic.

Why not just tell your side of the story Cosby; why not take the moral high ground? If the accusations are really false why not sue for slander? Clearly the women who’ve spoken up have damaged your reputation with their verbal accusations.

Diverting attention from oneself by blaming others for your problems makes me wonder about you Bill Cosby as a role model.

Detroiters may recall Cosby having quite a presence in the city several years ago. Robert Bobb, the Emergency Manager of Detroit Public Schools at the time engaged Cosby in several back to school rallies. Cosby was even invited to speak to the city’s young black men on unwed fatherhood, challenging them to take responsibility, get an education and learn from their mistakes. Whatever happened to that Bill Cosby?