Imus to CBS -- You Wanted "Irreverent," Now Pay Up!

61. I saw the story on AC360. Not only did the contract state that Imus was to be irreverent and outrageous, it noted his past behavior and good/bad reviews and said that was perfectly fine with CBS, keep up the good work! Plus he had the 'one dog bite' clause that he had to be warned once before he could be fired, and it was a new contract so his past behavior does not count.

I am laughing non-stop about this one. If only MSNBC/CBS had said 'We will wait until Don speaks to the women at Rutgers before we make any final decision.' As it is, they lost the advertisers, they have not returned. They have lost the ratings as his listeners are gone. And now CBS may end up paying for a four year, $40 million vacation for Don! What a bunch of losers!!!

I bet the I-man is going to laugh all of the way to the bank on this one! I hope someone picks him up soon, I have listened to him for years and anyone who calls him racist does not know him the least. His charity work is not a front. You don't raise almost $100 million over the last 15 years just for a front. He gave kids of all races who are dying from cancera chance to have a week at his ranch to forget their problems and just be kids. He helped with the new Intrepid center for the vets in Texas. He raised money for other charities, and his wife has a cancer center for kids named for her. He has railed against Thermiasol (mercury) in kids vaccines for years now, and he has supported the fight to get congress to look at Thermiasol in vaccine as a possible link to Autism and similar maladies in kids.

He is no racist, and with him nothing is sacred, even himself. He taks shots at everyone, including himself. He is an equal opportunity offender and he treats everyone the same.

I hope he comes back soon, I would even get XM radio if he ends up there. If you only hear what he says and not in the context it was said, sure it will sound effective. But we don't live in a vaccuum, or at least some of us don't.

I bet ol' Al and Jesse are not too happy about this, and that alone makes it all the better.

Posted at 6:56AM on Jul 24th 2007 by TheIndependent

62.
Oh, I forgot to add...

Imus (creep-Donald) said he was "sorry'. Remember that ceremony Folks?

So...so...so...if he is sorry....(ha ha) let him be a man (with a cowboy hat...whatever) and take the consequences that sorry people take!!!

THAT"S NOT what's happening people! You think Vergie is a pig???? It's hard to pay for that Limo, when you live this high life by being ignorant for profit!

Walk Imus...or get a horse....like a real cowboy would!!!

Posted at 4:57PM on May 3rd 2007 by Observer

63. He should just retire. He's just an old curmedgeon and needs a good haircut.

Posted at 6:19PM on May 3rd 2007 by John Joseph

64. I hope he gets $80 million! I want him back on! Those idiots trying to do his show are pitiful, to say the least. Not a brain among them.

He was the reason I woke up at 3:00 am every morning.

P.S. to #49: His wife is not estranged.

Posted at 7:53AM on May 4th 2007 by Old Toady

65. I agree, he should be paid the full amount. CBS, and the advertisers of the show, caved in to people who have a history of being racist themselves. What a bunch of cowards.

I don't like Imus, but I love free speech. I don't at all like what he said, but he shouldn't have been fired. He apologized to the wrong person. Al Sharpton. Who, after all the racist things he's said, did not "forgive" Imus. The women of the basketball team accepted the apology and forgave him. They are the ones who count, not Sharpton and Jackson. I would have respected the women even more had they demanded that Imus not be fired, because THEY forgave him. He does an enormous amount of charity work, and these charities will suffer because of this.

Posted at 4:51PM on May 3rd 2007 by coolbreeze

66. Good. He shouldn't have been fired for what he said. He apologized and I believe truly meant it. CBS was wrong to succumb to the pressure of that idiot Sharpton. They should have stood by the "I" man after all the years he made money for them.
I hope he gets every penny. He deserves it. Then, Bring Imus back to radio/TV.

Posted at 5:08PM on May 3rd 2007 by Bill

67. I am a black woman and very proud to be both. I could care less what some crochety old man says whether it is broadcast to the universe or he says it with his hand over his mouth in his basement.
He directed his comments to those girls at Rutgers and it was in very poor taste. Rightfully, he should have apologized to them and he did. Witnessing the backlash has been embarrassing and pitiful to say the least, it's like watching people kick a corpse. I don't even like him but fair is fair, I hope he gets his money.

Posted at 5:31PM on May 10th 2007 by lielos

68. Are you all nuts. NOBODY deserves $40,000,000. How much are you earning????????
What is he doing for all that money.........talking stupid. How much is a surgeon earning and a soldier, who is risking his life. I think the world has gone bananas.

JUST STOP SUPPORTING THIS NON-SENSE.

Posted at 5:42PM on May 3rd 2007 by yur benton

69. He deserves the money, if only for having to sit across from Al Sharpton and apologize for "being a bigot" to someone who IS a bigot.
And Number 64....why don't you try reading before you jump in to show how ignorant you are?
It would serve CBS right to have to pay the money and not get the benefit of the show, which I liked and found funny......anyone else out there remember when white people were allowed to find things "funny"?
I miss him on the radio/TV but I hope he gets enough money that he never has to do anything he does not want to again.

Posted at 5:57PM on May 3rd 2007 by TotallyFedUp

70. Love the lawsuit, but what about CBS and the FCC? Why isn't the FCC punishing CBS for creating such a contract? If Imus wins, that is proof CBS is the source of the problem, and therefore should be the one apologizing to the entire country.

Then maybe someone (omg, Bush?) should clean house at the FCC, if they condone CBS's role. Of course, there is likely a Bush know-nothing crony heading up the FCC.

All the money changing hands in this battle should go to scholarships or equivalent.

Posted at 6:20PM on May 3rd 2007 by David A

71. It was wrong to fire him esp. after they gave him a two week suspension, they should have waited to see how he did and then let him decide to leave or stay based on the viewers reaction to him. I think Jesse Jackson and The REV.(is he really a man of God) Sharpton have way too much power in this country. I hope he gets all his 40million and then some and I hope CBS fires their high priced lawyers who told them to get rid of him. Good luck Imus and thanks for all the work you have done to support the troops when they come home and all the children. You said something wrong but your actions sure speak volumes unlike the others who are all about themselves. hey jessie how's the kid of yours, you know the one you tried to pay off for not talking, the one out of wedlock and Al how do you sleep at night. You are such a blow hard..Whatever happened to that girl you used, you remember the Brawley girl..shame on you..

Posted at 7:16PM on May 3rd 2007 by Brooklyn

72.
This has nothing to do with the Black Caucas.

It has everything with being a decent human being.

Posted at 6:22PM on May 3rd 2007 by Observer

73. When Les Moonves caved to the demands of Sharpton, Jackson, and all of his minority employees - hey, isn't Julie Chen your wife? - he totally lost his perspective. Same thing with US Govt caving to illegal immigrants. It's too late for CBS - who overreacted - to admit error. That's allright. The very (mostly minority) employees who demanded he get the ax, may find their wages in jeaopardy when CBS has to fork out millions to Imus while he rides off into the sunset with the loot, finding his next tv/radio audience. Go get 'em Imus - they could take lessons from you. Let's face it - you're the only one with any reals guts. And, unlike CBS, you admit when you're wrong. Hope your lwyer rips them a new one - been pissed off ever since they screwed Dan Rather to the wall.

Posted at 6:40PM on May 3rd 2007 by GET SOME BACKBONE MOONVES

74.
I agree,

Blatant sharp-tongues like Jesse and Al do NOTHING for justice.

Can they be canned too? Will MSNBC hire them??? With or without a contract??

Get a Satelite Station Imus. You belong out there, with all the Porn Freaks and Howard Sternies.

Posted at 6:53PM on May 3rd 2007 by Observer

75. Imus should be paid and given his job back. CBS and the rest of the country should go after Jesse Jackson and that other racist, Al Sharpton. Imus could spend the rest of his life making stupid comments and never come close to the damage that has been done by these two clowns.

Posted at 10:55PM on May 4th 2007 by Martha