Don Imus got fired / thought police on a rampage

[Mongoose]

The guy called a group of mostly black women "nappy headed hoes". In what way is that not racist?

The difference if he was black is this, it is commonly understood that when you are a member of a race, saying certain things are acceptable than if you're not. Deal with it.

The ACLU was formed to protect your rights. Sorry that you feel it is "single handedly destroying the USA". I bet if you ever need them to stand up for you, you'll change your mind.

Al S. and Jessie J. are both racists, and have said racist things in the past. The difference here is they don't need commercial enterprises to back them like Mr. Imus does. Take away the money, lose your show, simple economics.

The simple fact here is that Mr. Imus said something that was both very stupid and racist. Do a little research on the word nappy as it relates to blacks and maybe, if you disagree with all this, you will change your mind.

This country has gone soft!!!! everybody wants to sue everyone and no matter what you say you will always offend someone!! It's all about money.
i agree al.s and jessie.j are both very racist..but becouse they are a minority it is ok...does that make any sense...and we put them on tv and radio.
i hate to tell you but we are running out of rights...

[Ole Unka Phil]

Well he should not have said it.... but...

I cannot help but think that had he reacted to the thing differently that this would not have been the result. As a comedian shock jock the best reaction to this is to not appologise. It is to take a indifferent approach and just tell people to lighten up. Oddly enough...

[bleachit]

The US does not have an unrestricted freedom of speech, to what extent that freedom goes is mostly left up to the courts.

the discussion of exterminating a group could be protected "I think group x should be wiped out"

encouragement probably not, depends on extent of encouragement and probably other factors. but Im no expert on the subject, just my opinion.

[SCpoloRicker]

Guys the first amendment protects you from government impingement on speech. It's not a blanket protection, and in particular does not protect your speech as an employee.

I agree that JJ and AS are both hypocritical, racist morans. Here a link to an article by Jason Whitlock calling out these two. And yes, he's black.

[beam]

Guys the first amendment protects you from government impingement on speech. It's not a blanket protection, and in particular does not protect your speech as an employee.

I agree that JJ and AS are both hypocritical, racist morans. Here a link to an article by Jason Whitlock calling out these two. And yes, he's black.

Ricker, that's the best article I've seen, hands down, on the whole Imus thing. Thanks.

[Lohman446]

This country has gone soft!!!! everybody wants to sue everyone and no matter what you say you will always offend someone!! It's all about money.
i agree al.s and jessie.j are both very racist..but becouse they are a minority it is ok...does that make any sense...and we put them on tv and radio.
i hate to tell you but we are running out of rights...

He had the right to say it

The groups that protested had a right to protest it

The corporations that pulled funding out of fear of reprisal had a right to do so.

The networks had a right to remove shows they felt would no longer be profitable.

This is not an example of our rights getting trampled, but instead exercised. While I agree that Sharpton and Jackson have far too much political pull and are hypocritical bigots, the fact of the matter is they do have that pull. This is an example of the checks and balances of society rather than law that libertarians dream of.

[Mongoose]

He had the right to say it

The groups that protested had a right to protest it

The corporations that pulled funding out of fear of reprisal had a right to do so.

The networks had a right to remove shows they felt would no longer be profitable.

This is not an example of our rights getting trampled, but instead exercised. While I agree that Sharpton and Jackson have far too much political pull and are hypocritical bigots, the fact of the matter is they do have that pull. This is an example of the checks and balances of society rather than law that libertarians dream of.

i have to agree with you. very well said...you hit the nail on the head...now back to paintball

[grEnAlEins]

Well... at least the Rutgers team accepted the apology

[toXicpb]

I never knew what exactly he said, because everything I saw on the news just said, Don Imus, You all know what he said.... blah blah... and nobody would ever show or say what he said lol.

[paintballfiend]

I wouldnt have a problem with Imus' firing so long as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are called on to apologize to the Duke Lacrosse team. But no, only white people are racist, and as such are the only racial group that has to face the ramifications and responsibilty of inflamatory comments.

I don't know, I thought it sounded kind of weird when those Duke guys were talking about injustice and racism.

[Aggravated Assault]

While Imus uttered stupid comments, that, at most, hurt and offended these players feelings, the Lacrosse players were smeared in the media, had criminal charges brought against them, financial suffering, plus being humiliated in the publics eye.

Let's see how many: from professor, to journalist, to talking head, loose their job because they tared and feathered these players right off the bat. Loose their livelihood because they leveled what seems now to be totally false accusations at these young men. My guess is zero.

But Imus had to go..? huh?

Love it or hate it, the first amendment protects free speech. Even this kind of political speak/social commentary that is unpopular and distasteful. All those who joined in calling for Imus's head....think; When this line not to cross is drawn in the sand, where will the next one be, and the one after that? Look at the two examples at Duke and Rutgers. We're on a slippery slope.

[wjr]

I totally agree with you Aggravated Assault. Free speech in this country is seriously in jeopardy.

I want an america where I can publicly make disparaging racist comments and know that I'll still be able to go to work the next morning, no matter how many people I've offended.

[Lohman446]

While Imus uttered stupid comments, that, at most, hurt and offended these players feelings, the Lacrosse players were smeared in the media, had criminal charges brought against them, financial suffering, plus being humiliated in the publics eye.

Let's see how many: from professor, to journalist, to talking head, loose their job because they tared and feathered these players right off the bat. Loose their livelihood because they leveled what seems now to be totally false accusations at these young men. My guess is zero.

But Imus had to go..? huh?

Love it or hate it, the first amendment protects free speech. Even this kind of political speak/social commentary that is unpopular and distasteful. All those who joined in calling for Imus's head....think; When this line not to cross is drawn in the sand, where will the next one be, and the one after that? Look at the two examples at Duke and Rutgers. We're on a slippery slope.

As has been noted - Imus firing had absolutely nothing to do with "freedom of speech" or any governmental interference for that matter.

Imus lost his job because his comments threatened to cause a backlash against the sponsors of his show. They pulled out. Without commercial support the show would not have been profitable and the networks chose to pull it for $$ reasons.

Don't like what some professor, journalist, etc said then get enough people to threaten to boycott sponsors of there commercial entity. Get enough (as Jackson and Sharpton appeared to have done) and you will get what you want. For a school, go towards the donors.

[gimp]

Here's food for thought.. does making a comment about race mean that the person making it is a racist?

Absolutely not, but to many people think it does. It really ticks me off.

[iambored]

Imus shouldn't have been taken seriously, he has attacked lots of people and this wasn't anywhere near as big of a deal till Jesse Jackson and that other dude stepped in. Personally, I'm fed up with Jesse Jackson recently. He is stepping in to things he doesn't belong in for the publicity. This should have never gotten this big, and it wouldn't have been bad if an African-American had said it, and even a few people who work for the media agree with that and they're are suppose to be making this grow so that the companies in the media make more money.
On the duke lacrosse player thing that someone mentioned, the minute that the case was thrown out it should have been over, not the media feeding the monster. Sad, when freedom means "media control." Feels like nothing isn't affected by the media anymore.