I listened to Imus on the radio once. Only once.

I didn't find him particularly entertaining. It felt to me like his grumpy curmudgeon act was just that - an act. Maybe he is really like that as a person, I don't know, but to my ear is wasn't believable as a radio schtick.

Now the man is unemployed - for about the week it take to negotiate his satellite radio deal - because of some stupid tasteless thing he said. Now like I said I lack great familiarity with his broadcast, but I was under the impression that saying stupid and tasteless things was part of the act. What got him this time was that his stupid and tasteless comment got the attention of racial publicity whores Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton.

Like moths to a flame these racist hype mongers pounced on the situation before Imus could offer his thirteenth apology. And before the TV lights had cooled and the good reverends' spittle had dried on the microphones major corporations were canceling advertising contracts. So effective are Jackson and Sharpton at racial intimidation that I'm not sure they even had to speak the word "boycott."

A number of people have been saying that this is a problem that should be left to the market to solve. And they're right. And it did. Corporations faced with the prospect of losing sales and damaging their brands pulled their advertising. A perfectly sound market based decision. MSNBC and CBS faced with the prospect of losing significant advertising revenue dumped Imus. Again a perfectly sound market based decision.

People will no doubt be hyperventilating about the damage being done to free speech. But I think that's a load of crap. Imus can still speak - just not on CBS and NBC. You can still speak. I can still speak. You, me, and Imus are still free to say whatever stupid offensive crap we want.

The race mongers, the thought police and the publicity whores will always be there. And when Al and Jessie finally retire and spend their days hook baiting instead of race baiting, someone will be there to take their place. Speech, however offensive, is not a crime. And those of us who are fond of our liberty and chafe and the bonds of politic correctness will need to work to make sure that it never becomes one.

Technorati Tags: Free Speech, Freedom, Freedom of Speech, speech

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 12:51 PM | No Comments | Add Comment