Fire Imus?

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

. . . As for the firing, no one has a right to make a ton of money off of free speech. Imus can say whatever the hell he wants but that doesn't guarantee him a fat contract with MSNBC. It is not remotely similar to jailing someone for burning a flag. Someone else will have to pay the man's salary.

The Constitutional right of free speech has no application here. The Constitution states:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Thus, the only Constitutional right to free speech in this country is the right not to have the govt. suppress your speech unless you are inciting a riot, causing a panic, etc. - which are judicially created exceptions.

This is a common misconception. And, it is why Imus can be canned. The only Constitutional violation would be if the govt. passed a law canning Imus.

In the end, Imus was an idiot for making these remarks and he is paying the price.