Imus gets 2-Week suspension [VIDEO]

[Previous posts on the Imus controversy with video, HERE and HERE.]

A two-week vacation from the airwaves is not the appropriate response by MSNBC and CBS radio. Imus and his on-air colleagues have a history of spewing racist and sexist comments on a program that hosts major political figures and his networks seem to think a slap on the wrist and a wink and a nod is going to end this mess.

His frequent on-air guests are already tapping him -- they're not running for cover -- they are already looking at how to salvage their outlet. Boston Globe columnist Tom Oliphant appeared on the April 9 edition of Imus in the Morning and said: "Good morning, Mr. Imus, and solidarity forever, by the way." And then this exchange occurred. (via Media Matters).

OLIPHANT: This guy -- David Carr, who writes a pretty good media column on Mondays --

IMUS: Right.

OLIPHANT: -- calls up, and the first question he asks me is, "Are you thinking about not appearing on Imus?" And for once in my life, I answered a direct question with a direct answer. I said, "No, I'm not." And he says, "Well, why not?" And I said, "Because, being the world's most boring person, I had taken the trouble to go all the way though this episode from about two minutes before you said what you said last Wednesday, and then all the way through the statement you made spontaneously on Thursday and then the more prepared one you made on Friday, and I said that's it. That took care of it as far as I'm concerned."

And -- but it was a cute little trick to see if your constituency would falter, and I was very happy to say no.

IMUS: Well, I appreciate that. I don't think your loyalty is misguided…

…OLIPHANT: But to me, that only means that those of us who, through an accident, were scheduled, who know better, have a moral obligation to stand up and say to you, "Solidarity forever, pal."