Don Imus' behavior is, and always has been, deplorable, and I agree completely with his firing. What I cannot understand is why you would have Jesse Jackson, Mr. Hymie Town himself, pontificating on racial and religious slurs made by others. Shameful....I am so disappointed in you, Keith.

Keith - Imus' comments were without dispute wrong. However I believe we are on a very slippery slope. I believe there are free speech issues in grave danger. His program could have been used for so much good, I know that you did not like the sophmoric humor but it was obviously VERY popular. While I will defend to the death your right to an opinion and the right to state it I will no longer be able to value your opinion or watch your show after you have let a mob publicly hang a man for his ignorance. I am as saddened by your reponse as I am by Imus' ignorance and stupidity. Time to start watching Paula and to change my homepage. Jim Bunn Dewitt MI

You tried Keith, but it' obvious Jesse Jackson watched his opportnity to address other pundit commentary disasters just slip on by. Meet with NBC, you say Rev.? I'm open to that, but I agree with Armstrong Williams. You need to police your own backyard as well. Listening BET?

Thank you Keith for pointing out that Limbaugh and the characters on Fox Noise as well as others consistently utter derogatory remarks about those who do not look or think like they do. Is the reticence because the only people listening to them actually do look and think like them?

Imus will be ok(he's got $ and will probably find new work soon) but I hope he is just the first to one way or another get the message of treating innocent people with the respect and consideration they deserve.

I think there is another aspect of the Imus/Rutgers controversy that should be explored. Imus disparaged the team as women by calling them hos, and he insulted the team who is mostly African-American by calling them nappy-headed, but he also targeted the team for another reason. Because they lost. They lost the big game. I don't mean to minimize the impact of the racial and sexist slurs Imus hoisted upon these student-athletes, these commendable young women. But let's face it, Imus made an ignorant and mean spirited comment because they were, in his very small mind, losers. Even after overcoming a slow start, having a fantastic regular season, winning the Big East tournament over such teams as UConn and Marquette, then beating Duke and LSU in the NCAA tournament, all with a young team of mostly freshman and sophomores. The State of NJ was behind them, the Big East conference was behind them, hell they even lit up the Empire State building in Scarlet Red to support the team! But they lost, and that gave Imus the opening to call them nappy-headed hos. Are we so focused on winning at all costs that it makes it easy to insult a team that came within one game of being the NCAA champion? Shouldn't Imus apologize for that as well? P.S. And to all of you people who have been whining for the past 20 years about political correctness, well take a big whiff, because this is what your whining has lead to. Decency is something we should all strive for.

One more thought, Barak Obama has done his campaign and the hope I had for him to be a uniter, a grave disservice. When I heard his comments today, and then NBC fired Imus a few hours later it became apparent that my hope that the Senator could bring us together as a nation, was an empty one. Opponents will point to his comments and NBC's reaction with glee. In just a few hours a brilliant young man has allied himself with Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and many many folks will back away. I have.

As an African-American, Ivy-League educated, woman from the South, I believe that what Imus said was incredibly stupid, but hardly worth all of the hoopla of the last week. Yes, what he said was hurtful to those young ladies, but where's the outrage and outcry when African-American young women are portayed as and called much worse on a daily--sometimes hourly--basis on certain cable television networks by African-American men who call themselves recording artists or comedians? Who is calling for the firing of these people and the networks, producers, and sponsors? I'd rather be called "nappy" than what I hear on these stations. I watch Imus on MSNBC, and I judge him based on his actions, not just his words. Quite frankly, I am sick of listening to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton condemn Don Imus for his inappropriate humorous remarks when they have spouted and justified their own racist venom for years without apology. And then there are all these others coming out with outrage over these comments who don't even whisper about the daily intentional (as opposed to humorous) racist and sexist comments of Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, or Glenn Beck. Cancelling Imus' show was not the answer to the original offense, but was probably the only way to clean up the mess that NBC created by the way they chose to overreact to the situation. Ninety percent of my daily television watching has been on MSNBC or NBC, but NBC's reaction to this situation--not Imus' comments--has prompted me to change my source for news programming until NBC gets back to focusing on meaningful and relevant news reporting.

Whether it was meant to be humorous or not, I don't approve of Imus's comments. However, I think that all such language should be responded to accordingly. However, when are Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson going to go on a genuine campaign to rid our society of such "offensive language"? This story would serve a greater purpose if someone would compile the endless lyrics by black artists who regularly humiliate and debase African American women and ask when the last time Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson protested these artist's record companies or radio stations that regularly play their music. Dan Blue Point L.I.

It would be nice if people could be truly objective for a moment and see this zaniness for what it is--- an attack on Free Speech. Remember "I disagree entirely with everything you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it"?! Imus wasn't yelling "Fire!" in an full theater and he wasn't committing perjury. What he was trying to do was be funny, and, frankly, I laughed. But, not as hard as I laughed when Eddie Murphy did his skit on SNL as Buckwheat peddling his book "I Wanna Be a Ho!" (circa 1975). While we're at it, why don't we go after Robin Williams for his blatantly 'racist' blatherings in the smash, animated hit "Happy Feet." Robin got the black and the rican thang down cold, mon. Wasn't anybody even modestly offended? The truth is Imus is a liberal...He's outspoken...He doesn't like Bush and he doesn't like the war...and by the way MSNBC is "the liberal media" we hear blasted everyday on Fox and every other conservative outlet. What we have here is a trifecta! The powers that be get to destroy Don Imus, shame MSNBC, and pander to the black community. The truth be told, the black community has been made a witless accomplice. Sure, what Imus said is not politically correct and frankly, somewhat racist, but it pales in comparison to what passes for humor and entertainment in our society, particularly the orangutan-toting, doctor shopping, torch bearing, defender of all things conservative - Rush Limbaugh. What matters more is that Imus’s outspoken criticism of the administration could be construed as (dare we utter the words) “aiding and abetting the enemy.” Folks like Al “Twana Brawley” Sharpton and Rev. Jesse “I can rhyme and speak at the same time” Jackson have never seen a camera they didn’t want to step in front of and BET founder, Robert Johnson, have all seen an opportunity to get some traction on the race issue which has some value. But, let he who hasn’t made a racist comment be the first to condemn the man. Bottom line, beware whose speech you curtail—because yours could (and probably will) be next.

I listened and found the comments of MSNBC’s president to be very fair and touching! He seems like a decent man who was willing to make the right call! As a three-time white teenage runaway who lived on the streets, I owe probably my very existence to the African American community. Not only didn't any one pick on me as some stereotypes might suggest, people actually stopped to shake my hand, telling me I was the only white person they've ever seen in their neighborhood. To this day, I always try to be 'extra kind' to African Americans. In college and at other events, if there was only one person of color there, that is whom I would walk over and try to partner-up with as other classmates all but vacated their area (perhaps not consciously but vacated non the less). Knowing that such stereotypes exist and how colored people think we look down on them is why I take the 'extra' step that I do. I make doubly sure I thank them while making eye contact warmly. I think this "extra step” is needed when such underpinning of casual racism still exist at least at some level. As a person who’s studied Native American philosophy, I firmly believe that all people have their own special medicine that they bring with them into this world. NO ONE is worthless or any less special than anyone else. ANYONE given half a chance can become a doctor, an engineer, a law student, or any other professional or trades person. How we let so many people slip through the cracks is literally beyond me. Who is to say where the next medical or science breakthrough will come from? I very much enjoyed seeing Reverend Jackson on your show! He is a statesman and a diplomat with great experience! During your time with him I was shocked to hear about all the “other” comments talk-show hosts have made. I don’t listen to those shows and I guess I had assumed it existed to some level, but much as my jaw almost hit the floor over Imus, so too it did over those others. The last one about “prove to me you’re not the enemy” utterly caps all. This last comment in particularly reminds me of how our ‘nationalistic hate’ has now turned towards the Arab world. You know, it’s actually not uncommon to hear extremists actually calling for what is essentially the “MASS GENOCIDE” of ALL Arab people on MSNBC’s message boards. This administration has so twisted the word “terrorists” that even democrats fit the definition not to mention anyone of Arab decent. They have slowly and methodically galvanized this country to be against nations like Iran who have yet to do anything wrong to my knowledge. A CNN blogger actually wrote: "You know, there never was a payback for the taking of our hostages. So I say nuke them now and nuke them good." regarding Iran’s treatment of British sailors, which was read by Jack Cafferty on the air last Friday just to give ONE example. Thus I would very much would argue that if we are going to even pretend to be addressing racism in this country, than we sure better have the courage to see it for what it is and where it is. Unjust hate for ANYONE is racism and unfortunately these comments are not uncommon. Thank you for your time!

Jim, you backed away because he wants people to be publicly discouraged from being racist? Sounds like you need some serious help.

HYPOCRITES!! Thank you Keith for letting us hear Jessie (Hymie Town) Jackson pontificate about that racist Imus while pigs like Limbaugh get to spread their hate and prejudice with impunity. I will no longer get my news from MSNBC or NBC. I will miss your show but I can't stand listening to hypocites.

Keith, I don't think that you could have posed your question about others on radio, tv, and other sources of "news" and how the Right has gotten away with making "clear, outright, no one can argue" racial comments about citizens of this country and the world to the Rev. Jesse Jackson. I was waiting for a very smart answer from the former presidential candidate, but instead I was very disappointed. I don't know what I would call it, but it left me very confused and I still don't know what his position as to why he and Rev. Al Sharpton haven't agressively protested others to be fired who are repeated offenders of the First Amendment. You were very generous in give Rev J.J. another chance to answer you question, but annoyed that you gave him way too much of your valuable time. Your shout out to Allison was an example of your character and why I will always be a loyal fan.

The fact that you repeated the comments that Mr. Imus made (twice) was inappropriate and I, for one, wish you hadn't done so. It seemed cheap and unseemly. I'm glad he was fired not just for these most recent remarks, but for all that came before. It is my hope that some, if not all, of the people you mentioned later in the show would be next.

To quote an episode of "South Park": "Look Token, my dad apologized to Rev. Jesse Jackson and so everything's alright and I just wanted to let you know that." "REVEREND JESSE JACKSON IS NOT THE EMPEROR OF ALL BLACK PEOPLE!" "He told my dad he was!" Why are these people constantly given a platform? Imus shows up on Sharpton's show as if it's his confessional, Jackson appears on "Countdown" as if his self-importance is relevant. If we revisit the team’s news conference, it's clear that the white Rutgers players also felt a great deal of pain. The next hour Joe Scarborough got it right: it's also about "gender, gender, gender!" I thank NBC News for their responsibile decision to pull the plug on "Imus in the Morning."

Jim, I doubt you were ever sincerely in Keith's or Barack Obama's corner at all. You sound like one of those typical "Oh, I used to like you, but then you offended me, and I changed my mind about you, and now you are going to suffer for it as I boycott you" people--i.e., as if you never really liked them at all, but think your arguments against them will be more convincing if you pose as a "convert" and ex-fan than if you admit that you never liked them to begin with. Doesn't fool me. And it's like Keith said today on Dan Patrick's show: This is NOT a "free speech" issue. Free speech is given to us by the U.S. Constitution, but our employers and our airwaves are NOT obligated to extend it to us. Imus is perfectly free to spew his speech wherever he pleases, just not on MSNBC and perhaps not on CBS anymore either. That's their right. And Sherri, how can you hold up Armstrong Williams, paid to promote President Bush's policies in the guise of journalism, as an example of virtue? I agree that Jackson and Sharpton make bad spokesmen, because they have not kept the level of discourse high themselves all the time--especially Sharpton, who is just a grandstander. But there are serious and worthy issues at stake here, and I do not think there has been an "overreaction" by the media. It IS outrageous what African Americans, and women, and lots of other people are called every day, by a lot of people. Maybe this will serve to get us all thinking about it and whether it's time we stood up to it and just said "No more." Keith is helping steer things in the right direction by asking why so many purveyors of equally hateful speech still have their jobs on the air. Maybe this is just the tip of the iceberg. Isn't it at least worth hoping it is? Oh, and Patty: Good luck boycotting NBC until they "get back to focusing on meaningful and relevant news reporting." When you switch channels, you will find they are all talking about Imus, too. And just in case you switched off Keith in the course of your protest, you missed some other news that was meaningful and relevant. Too bad.

Keith, Good night and good luck. I wonder how Ed Murrow would think about this. I've watched my last MSNBC.

Please ask Rev. Sharpton and Rev. Jackson what their comments and positions were when Miss Jones of WQHT/New York offended Asians and Africans with "The Tsunami Song" (1.18.05) and Star & BucWild of WUSL/Philadelphia offended Indians with their abusive phone call to a call center.(12.15.04) FYI, both show hosts (who are African-American) apologized and were allowed to remain on-air.

MSNBC's self-congratulating has been ridiculous. It was obvious from the outset that NBC's decision would be based on business, not principle. And hey, I loathe Faux News Channel just as much as the next person, but MSNBC needs to step up to the plate and make a name for itself without resorting to the tactics of FNC (a news organization with unspeakably low standards to begin with). Let MSNBC's programming speak for itself, and if it does not speak pleasantly, change it. It's impossible to even begin to compare MSNBC's and Fox's lineups... stop overcompensating with playground tactics.

the bible says "pride cometh before a fall", mr imus is /were a proud-arrogant man. and sadly so, many others are going to make the same mistake. the racism in the racist will come out. mr imus became too complacent, because his ratings were up. of course we as americans are going to forgive him. you need to hire more than white people to write, produce and this probably would not have happened. i hope all of the sponsors pull their ads, in protest of this. its not what goes into a man, but what comes out of a man, that defiles him. when will america know that black america is not the enemy. i will continue to watch your programming, because you msnbc, made the right decision to fire this man

Imus and Countdown were the the only really entertaining news/opinion programs to watch on MSNBC...Watch out Keith...You may be the next victim in The War On Free Speech. Context was overlooked here. Imus never came across as a hardened sexist or racist to me. Just a crumudgeon who provided me with a chuckle or two in the mornings. I will miss his program and my coffee will taste just a little more bitter for awhile.[ ] Em If They Cant Take A Joke !

Jesse Jackson sir I am african-american from Chicago and you just had to push your agenda of why there is no black host on NBC, MSNBC etc. I guess you don't watch MSNBC. Have you ever heard of a beautiful afro-american female who host "The Most" named Alison Stewart?

Keith, I cannot believe you are missing the political backlash Don Imus is experiencing. Imus has blasted various politicians this year for such topics as the poor treatment of our wounded soldiers and now has received their wrath. Those who do not condemn stand condemned....and so the backlash was on. I stand with those for a ban on RAP and the firing of those promoting it. Rev. Jackson? and Sharpton, why do you stand by and do nothing to speak out against your own?

We are avid viewers of your show and The Most with Alison Stewart. Yesterday David Gregory on Hardball was speaking with Jackon while he was railing about NO African American hosts or anchors and no minority hosts or anchors on MSNBC. When Mr. Gregory tried several times to correct that error by bringing up Alison Stewart to him he talked over him and ignored him Today on your show he reiterated the same ignorance. This man wants to supposedly further women's causes and African American causes and two days running rudely and obnoxiously disrespects the Emmy Award winning Alison Stewart. PLEASE!!! DO NOT have Jesse Jackson on your program again. Jackson has never seen a camera he didn't love. I know your stance on Don Imus and although I frequently watched his show I was appalled at his remarks on numerous shows. I did not agree with firing him. Why? Because it is utter hypocrisy. Limbaugh has not been fired. O'Reilly has not been fired. Coulter is still being evil, Hannity and Colmes are still blathering and Glenn Beck is still railing. If this outrage had been real I would probably have supported this action, but I do not support Jackson and Sharpton's mob rule mentality to fire Imus when they have not also gone after these others for spewing this sickening stuff 'over the public airwaves' as they keep calling it. Don't even get me started on rap and its constant pollution on these 'airwaves'. I do admire you and your integrity and love your show. Please don't further their camera loving hypocrisy and double standards by having them as guests. They are an abomination to women's causes, children's causes and the name of their game has always been to divide and cause hatred. Just my opinion but I felt so strongly about this I had to write.

MSNBC owes it's ratings to Don Imus. The only reason you people are even on the radar is because Imus put you there years ago. Otherwise, you'd still just be a 2 bit network. If you're really striving to make it a horrible channel, give Solidad Obrien and her cartoon sidekick the time slot Imus had. Not only have you guys went completely overboard caving to the almighty advertising dollar, you wouldn't even let the show continue through friday to allow the radiothon to be televised. What horrible people you are. What you don't realize is your ratings will sink like the titanic, and your advertising spots wont be worth the electricity to broadcast them. My wife already says she's done watching MSNBC. I'm probably not far behind her...

Keith, please explain to me what 'nappy headed ho' means? At age 68 I know that the Brits call a diaper a nappy. A head is a head and Santa Claus is famous for ;ho, ho, ho. So therefore the remark means a diaper headed Santa Claus to me. Why on earth all the outrage at Imus (I don't watch him) when there are so many more important things happening in the USA? Thanks, for at least covering the 15 months extention of duty for our GI's while everyone else simply forgets about it because of IMUS. I am becoming more and more disgusted about the regular news. You are a breath of fresh air. Please do something about the total insanity about the IMUS factor. I feel like the vultures are feeding at the trough. What about Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, Ann Colton, O'Reiley etc, etc, etc. What on earth is going on here?

I clicked on MSNBC this AM just to see if you guys did as you said you would and take Imus off air. Just to let you know it will be the last time I tune in. As a veteran I will do everything I can to have all Vet's tune off. Mr. Imus did a lot for veterans and you guys folded like a cheap lawn chair under pressure from the Rev AL and Jessie, both of whom ahould never get air time on any show. You said your employees are concerned because you are a news program. Well how you do at the start of the war ? all the news CBS, NMB, FOX all allowed this President to take us to war because you did not want to take on Bush after 911, and now you show us again that you fold up under pressure. Just have the gut's to make sure that the two Rev's stop the rapping and make sure to pressure the big money add buyers to stop the rappers as well !!!

Hi, I think Keith Olbermann would be an excellent choice to replace the Imus In The Morning Program. As a VIP News Panelist, I have been writing for over a year to MSNBC to fire this arrogant Imus. Finally he got the ax, and good riddance. I always wondered why management never took action much sooner. I am a man of 65 years, I was taught to respect people, I was taught to be forgiving. Let America learn from this firing of Imus. Finally, I am sick of Bill O'Reilly, so gleeful that Imus is gone. I am sick of Fox cable, their day is coming. Bill O'Reilly is a know-it-all, that needs to be taken down a notch. Sheppard Smith of Fox is the man that MSNBC needs to hire, to do the time slot up against Bill O'Reilly. Sincerely, Darrell

Rob, this is NOT a "war on free speech." Can some people not get it through their heads...there is a difference between the right to free speech and the right to say whatever you want without being fired for it or having a broadcaster choose not to air what you have to say? Imus's right to free speech is not being infringed. He can still shout his views from the rooftops or post them on the Internet or copy them and distribute them on paper. The only thing that is happening is that a particular owner of the airwaves has told him "You cannot have a platform with us for saying them anymore." Learn and know the difference, people. Please.

Well, since this war is such a "cakewalk", I suggest we send a Food Network personality to be the czar. Rachael Ray comes to mind... Seriously, isn't the Chairman of the JCS or the Defense Secretary supposed to be in charge, or appoint someone to the Eisenhower role if no one in place now is capable of handling this task?

TRU - I DID watch Countdown every night, though I know few that did.And I have sent Mr. Obama a check, my last one. This issue is not about racism it is about a spineless company that is willing to sacrifice a man's career and a BRILLIANT radio show because of a mob mentality. Just because I disagree with your point of view, you say I wasn't really a Countdown fan. Unfortunate, but I have no way of proving myself. I also watched Imus every morning, and often left the dial on MSNBC for my news viewing. I remember Imus issues that he addressed that others did not. Did Keith demand the death benefit for soldiers be raised? No, but Imus DID and because of his pressure it was increased. Did Keith call out the Bush administration as racist for not responding to Katrina - Imus did. He also called out the Republican party for those racist ads they ran against Harold Ford - NBC RAN those ads. Keith mentioned them but more in humor than in pointing out how absolutely hate mongering they were. Imus has long been a positive voice for the Black Community using humor to reach Millions. Let's see if the movers and shakers that called DAILY into the Imus show will now call Countdown. Somehow I doubt they will. By the way, my wife and I started watching Countdown AND Scarbourough and Country when Imus said how well written Countdown was. Of all the people who joined the mob I am the most disappointed in Keith who joined with the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Fellow liberals who bought into this fake outrage should hang their heads in shame! Good By and Good Luck Keith - Jim

That sound we heard last night was the air escaping form Countdown's credibility balloon, with Sharpton and Jackson pontificating about racially offensive language. Brothers, go police your own before you take to the air to cluck about a dried-up relic like Imus. With the record labels making millions selling the most offensive black stereotypes and BET doing their best to underscore the same antisocial attitudes, you've got huge juicy targets just waiting for your disapprobation. KO should have held their feet to that fire and hard, but he didn't. A wasted opportunity to turn the question of Imus to a bigger and more important discussion.

It seems painfully obvious that GE/NBC fired Imus because sponsors began to drop the show. Why was Imus employed by the News division of NBC anyway? When did Imus become a newsman? This should server as a strong reminder that corporate news organizations can not be trusted. Imus should have been fired because his program has very little news value. A real newsperson or commentator should never be fired for what they say no matter how offensive. I often tune to MSNBC because I could not stomach the stuff on FOX noise or CNN. Now it has become more difficult to tell the difference.

Keith, you are the 1 of the 2 people who appeared on MSNBC who I felt actually had an agenda that was in step with that of the general public. The other was Don Imus. He's rough on sports in general and on sports reporters. I hate to think thats what may have really made people like you go after him. Either way fe said a bad thing but to see the way you handled this as turned me away from your show. Corporate censorship is no joke and I have given up on MSNBC at this point. You, al roker, and any other MSNBC employees who I suspect really urged Capus to do this have lost more respect then Imus has becouse I can't help to think that this may have also been an envy thing, a kind of king of the hill game and effort to knock him off. I will never tune into countdown agian which I feel is a shame becouse I loved your show aswell but this wasn't a win for civil rights it was loss for free speach. That mob frenzy is scary and I never felt that I would view Keith as a facsist. By the way, and people can call me uncle tom or anything else they like, but I am black man and I am going to miss not just my faivort show but my faviort network.

I'd like to know why the exoneration of the Duke 3 did not make the top five. You didn't even mention it at all to Jesse Jackson, who certainly had opinions on the case. Maybe put American Idol on hold on a big news night?

Here’s the deal in my opinion, first of all, great interview with Rev. Jessie Jackson. Secondly, Imus opened his mouth at the right time. He came after Ann Coulter’s remark about John Edwards. Liberals had started a small campaign to get papers to pull Ann Coulter’s column. We were ready. Imus had the exposure and the history of these types of comments for liberals to mobilize. The fact that he was on MSNBC and not Fox is very important. The fact that this happened now and not 2 years ago is also important. If Imus says the exact same thing 2 years ago, I bet that nothing would have happened. Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson would have been protesting without any significant media coverage. The liberals have awakened after a 6 year slumber. We have awakened and we don’t like what we see. Rush Limbaugh is taking note. He may be repulse but he ain’t stupid. Thanks for all that you do.

So it seems NBC News is now in bed with Al Sharpton. He is a great choice along with Jesse Jackson. Does NBC News agree to have Reverand Sharpton decide for them what is permitted to be broadcast? This is a quote from the great democrat today, "It is our feeling that this is only the beginning. We must have a broad discussion on what is permitted and not permitted in terms the airwaves." Thank you, NBC News, for promoting these trustworthy pundits.

In response to Tru M., I'm not boycotting NBC News--I just a busy person who has better things to do than watch 45 minutes of every hour being devoted to this Imus story, and have found that, while other networks are covering the story, it is not dominating their newscasts. What was the purpose of firing Imus, only to use his entire timeslot this morning to talk about Imus? Anyway, if you noticed the time of my posting, I did watch the rest of Countdown and appreciated Keith's restraint--I just wish the rest of the network would follow suit.

This isn't about free speech. It's about integrity in the media. Because MSNBC is on cable, does that mean they are allowed to have lower standards than NBC or any other network news station? Don Imus being taken off MSNBC should not be the only step, just the first step. I saw last night that Hannity is concerned about himself. Why is that? Wake up advertisers. Racism and bigotry do not belong on radio or television, by either party.

I'm not surprised that Sharpton jumped on this as soon as the door opened. He has been upset that Obama came along and dashed any of his hopes of another campaign for Prez. Both Sharpton and Jackson are nothing more than opportunists who jump in front of every camera to scream racism. Their exploitation of their race negates anything positive they may have ever done. The media should not legitimize their arguments by giving them airtime. There public exposure only serves as fuel to the fire of racism among the uninformed, the impressionable youth, and the die-hard bigots. Shame on the media who have given them the venue they crave. These two are has-beens.

Light the Bonfire Keith - As I watched you bursting with pride of your involvement as one of the NBC employees responsible for the termination of the MSNBC simulcast of Imus’ program, I could not help but think how lucky my fellow viewers and I are to have people like you and the good Reverends deciding what is best for us. After all, as someone making seven figures, living in the self proclaimed center of the universe and completely out of touch with reality, who is better qualified than you to know what should and should not be seen and heard by the rest of the country? True, I know how to change a channel or turn a program off, but why should I be forced to think when you are there to do it for me? And I am capable of putting things in perspective and context, but apparently there is no room for such logic in your thinking. And I know how to forgive, but that is not sensational enough for your ratings. So on behalf of all viewers everywhere, thank you for revealing what you really think of your audience. A word of caution is necessary. Someday someone who has the power to do something about it will come to the realization that you are prejudiced against Catholics. Of course, that type of hatred is still acceptable to you and the others like you who apparently make the rules by which the rest of us are expected to live, but your ignorance and bigotry will catch up to you eventually. In the meantime, light the bonfire, and gather all the books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, etc. that you find objectionable and toss them on the flames. But remember, you and the Reverends need to save room for the others who think like you, Rush, Bill, Sean and Neil. And here you thought you were better.

I agree with Linn Sewell. I don’t care for Imus. I’ve heard his show - while in the military I worked with a guy who loved him. But MSNBC could have stood by Imus. He was dropped because several of the advertisers dropped him and probably for other reasons - like low ratings. I don't believe for one NY second that he was dropped because of his comments. The guys who come on just after countdown have said worse in my opinion. Firing Imus doesn’t fool anyone MSNBC – it was a shallow move.

Imus was wrong to say what he said about the Rutgers gals. But Imus is/was a component of the "liberal media" which is PC. When one of the liberal media makes a mistake, there is no forgiveness. Considering the low standards of the conservative media, no one is there to be watchdog over their hate spewing, racist, misogynistic comments. At least the liberal media watches its own dogs. I think media hounds like Sharpton and Jackson will always be there with their knee-jerk reactions. I think this Imus issue has spun out of control and is a diversion to more important things going on in the world. If anything good can now come out of this firing, let heads turn toward the vitriolic conservative talk shows....their already watching their backs. just listen

MSNBC is a news organization. The resulting loss in revenue, the bad press and the fact they are as close to a factually based 4th Estate as we have in these days of MSM puppet propaganda organizations like FOXNews should inform your criticism for Keith backing the Imus firing. In trying to preserve that image of integrity, given the damage done by the Jackson/Sharpton hit squad, they had no choice - it was a valid business decision. For the integrity question alone, I can see why Olbermann - the networks flagship "good guy" - would call for Imus to go although I personally disagree for reasons previously stated. However, beyond that, it is just feeding that circle. The sheer abundance of Imus coverage was indeed revolting. Aside from Keith's restraint last night and daring to ask "Why just Imus?", Hardball was ruined by becoming the Let's Tar and Feather Imus Show. No offense Dave, you are a fine guest host and I love that the President probably hates your guts, but your producers lost their minds last night. The rest of your coverage since then has been just as unbalanced. See MSNBC? Balance. Practice what you preach in coverage.

Since Howard Fineman is a regular guest on Countdown, and has also appeared with some regularity on Imus, how about Keith Olbermann challanging Fineman about his Imus appearances? It is well known that Imus has repeatedly apologized and then gone back to the same stinkhole over and over.

Keith: 1.I am flabbergasted that the dropping of the charges against the Duke lacrosse players was not one of the 5 countdown stories-not that but including American Idol nonsense reflects very poorly on your editing judgement. 2. Re the Don Imus story-I would suggest you read the column by Jason Whitlock in the Kansas City Star-in my mind the best perspective I have seen anywhere in the media on this story.

They get rid of Imus, then have Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton on to give their opinions. I wish the media would quit giving these 2 hacks a platform. I do not care what they think. They do not speak for anyone but themselves. They do not represent African Americans!!

Don Imus will lose his radio show for his remarks. Perhaps deservedly so. He made some terrible remarks about 10 wonderful young women. and should be punished. We have however no problem with Al Sharpton who perpetrated a hoax and used divisive racial rhetoric for which he never apologized to the People of the State of New York for, a forum to be the moral pundit on what should happen to someone else. That is also an abomination.

MS-NBC handled this thing so poorly. For example; Not "allowing" to have someone like Keith opin with either a WPITW or Special Comment may lessen all future Special Comments. Now we have to wonder; was he "allowed" to do earlier special comments against this administration because the wind is blowing left and we can safely say the war is a mess? Will he have to “ask” permission for future special comments? During the past 3 days on Dan Patrick’s radio program, Keith flip-flopped like a fish on dry land over this issue. Slippery slope indeed. BTW: Before trotting out Alison Stewart and bringing up a bunch of other right-wingers, make sure your own “white” house is in order. I will give Keith some credit, he at least brought up the shrinking advertising dollars during Capus’s “I listened to my employees” spin. (Although Matt Lauer was a whole lot tougher on that point).

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