I find it most incredible that there has been so much controversial commentary over the termination of Don Imus' media circus. In his three-ring world, where the norm is "walking the line between bad taste and big ratings", there has been a great deal of outrage leveled at critics such as Al Sharpton (who reported beefed up his security) and at others, such as Senator Barack Obama, for causing Imus to lose his cushy gig.
As if they had the power!
No number of African-American activists, or even Feminists such as those led by Eleanor Smeal, would be able to topple an American media "Icon" of bad taste and worse sensitivity. Not even one who had merely mediocre ratings, for he would be safe from replacement as long as the show made money for the network. Such was not the case with Imus. He was doing very well for CBS. According to Bloomberg, Imus's show charged the highest advertising rates of any CBS Radio program and accounted for a quarter of the profit at CBS affiliate WFAN in New York.
Only one group would have the power to force CBS to rid itself of such a proven money maker: The advertisers - those who paid Imus' broadcasting expenses with their advertising budgets. Imus' loose lips and loose morality brain caused many of his show's sponsors - including Staples, General Motors, Sprint Nextel, GlaxoSmithKline, Procter & Gamble, PetMed Express, American Express, Sprint Nextel, and Bigelow Tea - to decide that their promotional pelf would be better spent elsewhere. That was the only reason CBS saw fit to terminate Imus' show.
One has to wonder if such a display of financial muscle is about to be seen in a much more international venue, as a certain national sponsor is growing increasingly dissatisfied with the services being rendered by his bought-and-paid-for military minion.
Craig Read asserts that 50% of US politicians of both parties are tainted by Arab money. This is nothing new - Poppy Bush has long been "sponsored" by Saudi swag.
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