“Imus initially was given a two-week suspension for calling the Rutgers women’s basketball team “[something really uncalled for and degrading to all women]” on the air last week, but outrage continued to grow and advertisers bolted from his CBS radio show and its MSNBC simulcast.” via Houston Chronicle
You really think CBS/MSNBC would fire Don Imus solely over his comment when his show brings in $15 million a year? He got fired by the court of public opinion and the good old U.S. dollar because advertisers were bolting. That’s not sexy for the news though. Being degrading to women (which his comment was) isn’t going to sell papers either. But racism will. Don’t just be disappointed by Imus. The media is not doing so well here either.
Suprised by his comments?
Let’s take a look at his past
He famously called Rush Limbaugh “a fat, pill-popping loser” and Lesley Stahl a “gutless, lying weasel.” His exchange of insults (“fat pig”) regarding his show’s former news reader, Contessa Brewer, made news as did Brewer’s response (“cantankerous old fool”). When Tucker Carlson brought up Brewer on the program in 2005, Imus hung up on him, calling him “a bowtie-wearing [body part].”
via Wikipedia
On the other hand.
Imus, maintaining his 2007 commitment to the U.S. troops fighting overseas, helped raise over $6 million toward Center for the Intrepid, a Texas rehabilitation facility. Considered to be the largest technological center of its kind in the country, it is designed to help treat disabled veterans and help them with their transition back into the community.
More recently, Imus took on the Veterans Administration when the Washington Post published a story uncovering the deplorable living conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Imus’s rants preceded Army resignations, including that of Gen. Kevin Kiley, then Army Surgeon General, who lived adjacent to the troubled building and testified before Congress that he had no idea of the deplorable conditions because performing barrack inspections was not in his job description. This outraged Imus, who unleashed a relentless attack on Kiley’s personal fitness for military duty and dedication to his wounded troops.
also via Wikipedia
There’s a lot on this guy.