These statements speak for themselves. Yes, what Imus said was over the line, and his firing is a good thing. Now how about we go after the others who have done the same thing? After all, we are not hypocrites, are we?
First off, Imus was fired because there was an uproar over his comments that made his advertisers squeamish. That's the way media works in a free economy, it's not tit for tat.
Now to the examples.
1) Not really a fan of Rush, but what's the problem here? I think most frat boys who commit rape on a U.S. college campus look like Fred Durst, and I've said so many times. If I had a radio program, I'm sure I would have said it on air because I truly hate frat boys and Fred Durst. That's my personal opinion.
2) So were many of the poor in New Orleans not drug addicts? I've lived in many major metropolitan cities in the U.S. and I have to tell you that poverty and drug addiction have gone hand in hand in many cases. Not all by a long shot, but many. He's a commentator paid to express his views, that's his view.
3) Michael Savage is an idiot. In fact he's a knuckle dragging, simplistic demagogue of an idiot with two firing neurons in his head. But, he's a commentator paid to express his view and that's his view. If I had a talk show I would call him a knuckle dragging, simplistic demagogue with two firing neurons in his head. Tell me, would you have quoted him if he called Ann Coulter an emaciated skeleton with a prominent Adam's Apple spouting off quick and easy sound bites against anyone she disagrees with?
4) I have no idea who Neil Boortz is. I also know that if I was paid to express my comments, my views on the personal appearance of Lindsay Lohan, Brittany Spears or many others wouldn't be much nicer.
5) Again, I don't know Glenn Beck. He sounds like a jackass, but I guarantee he's paid well to express opinions that make him sound like a jackass. See it causes people like you to post a quote from him and people like me to think I don't know who that is, I should google him. Suddenly his site is being googled a lot, arbitrary Arbitron, or Nielsen, ratings go up and his advertising revenue increases.
Tom Leykis didn't make your list and he's a putz of even a lower order than Michael Savage and one I would heartily cheer to his firing with a most expensive champagne. However these people are paid to express an opinion. We might not like it, but if there is a market for it, and it doesn't cross an First Amendment boundaries (that area admittedly vague and constantly in flux) what is the problem? If we don't like them, we don't listen. If they offend us we are free to contact their managers and advertisers. If advertisers feel the cons outweigh the pros they rescind their spending which results in these personalities being fired. If you don't want to be a hypocrite, then voice your disapproval in the many avenues available to you.
That's a free market. That's the beauty of the First Amendment which will always be first and for very good reason.
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