I never could stand Imus and I certainly don't feel sorry for him. But do we really need Al Sharpton and the Thought Police dictating what can and cannot be said on the radio? Imus should be called out for his idiotic comments, but this attack on free speech is ridiculous as well. If CBS was really outraged by what Imus said, he would have been fired on the spot. And frankly, as anyone who scans the radio on a daily basis knows, Imus's comments are extremely tame compared to the daily rants of folks like Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage. But you know what I do when I hear an idiot like Imus or Savage on the radio? I change the station.

I agree, I can't stand Imus, but where does this censorship end? And when did people like Sharpton get put in charge of the censoring? I thought that free speech was a given in America, but obviously not. Regardless of how you feel about radio personalities like Imus or Limbaugh or even Stern, this firing is a defeat for all Americans who value our right to free speech, and we should be outraged. What happens when someone decides that Mother Jones is offensive?

Imus was silenced by public pressure, which included but was not limited to Sharpton. I've read that others calling for his ouster included a large number of journalists like Keith Olbermann. But the most influential party were average American folk who convinced advertisers that Imus was done. When the broadcasters (CBS, MSNBC) woke up to that, they had only the one practical choice.

But the point I'd really like to make is that Imus was broadcasting on public airwaves, owned by the people of America and licensed by our government to CBS and MSNBC. And if the public chooses to chase someone off the airwaves they rightfully own, shouldn't that be their right? While I wouldn't want to see the majority opinion push around the minority opinion in every situation (we got rights!), it seems appropriate in this situation.

I don't think the right to free speech includes free access to radio and television, both of which are regulated commercial entities. I think free speech means we have the right to think what we please and speak what we please, with a few minor exceptions (e.g., inciting a riot). And if we buy airtime for that speech, all we really need do is have the money to pay for it. If Imus wants to buy airtime and broadcast his opinions, that's one thing. But if he wants free airtime to spew his nonsense, well that's not kosher, IMHO.

So Imus access wasn't cut off, his funding was. Nobody is squelching his speech.

This is an example of capitalism at work, isn't it? It's about the money!

My guess is that there were darn few "average Ameican folks" who leaned on advertisers in order to exert some sort of social influence. But I could be wrong. I'm just unfamiliar with any sources documenting this particular collective action. There is no denying , though, that major adverisers deserted the show and this is the likely consequence.

Imus (and especially his producer McGirk - who I have always thought was racist) flagrantly used descriptives which were obviously insulting and could have caused a "natural" backlash, both correcting the infraction and moderating the inclination. Or you could turn to CBS's entertainment division where like sentiments or worse could be heard by well-paid Hip Hop performers on some of their labels or others in the social milieu. If there appears to be a swell of overall condemnation and concerted effort to "influence the money stream" of this voiced denigration of "bithes and HOs" then Imus would seem to be a worthy sacrifice. If not, this seems more like an orchestrated lynching.

He had Democrats on his program. I notice that too many liberals are closet racists.

Getting rid of Imus had absolutely nothing to do with "PUBLIC" pressure. This all happened too fast for public pressure to even come into play. In between the insults and sometimes obnoxious jokes, Imus made a difference. He is smart and most of all, influential. Where has the "outrage" been for the last 40 years? This was a concerted effort by a few RACIST black "leaders" to make a scapegoat out of Imus and the RACIST black member of the board of the network wanted to get rid of him too. And one of the worst things I have heard the past few days is the number of black women who have had the NERVE to go on NATIONAL TV and actually say that it wasn't so much that he used the word HO, but that he used the phrase "NAPPY HEADED" They are saying it's OK TO call them hos but DON'T DARE INSULT THEIR HAIR!!! I about fell out of my chair when I heard that the first time, but I now have heard it several times. That someone should lose a 40 year career for insulting someones HAIR is so disgusting it makes me SICK.

Racists come in all colours. Look at the racists that wanted to crucify the jocks. Where are they now to admit their rush to judgment?