I have a problem with the idea of people trying to stop other people from working just because they don't like their ideas. I saw that whole Imus and Michael Richards thing as being as insidious as the McCarthy hearings. They're reminders that it's still possible to be blacklisted in our society. One need look no farther than Michael Jackson or Fatty Arbuckle to find promising careers ruined by the hint of scandal. Bill Maher got his ad revenue pulled from his show back in 2001, which led to it's cancellation for saying in late 2001, "Say what you want about the terrorists but cowards don't fly planes into buildings." There needs to be protection of unpopular speech in this country, for all unpopular ideas be they Nazi's, Communist, gay, or homophobic.
All of your examples are public figures. They make their living off pleasing the public. If they say unpopular things, and the public doesn't like them anymore, they lose their jobs. Big deal. Their "jobs" are expendable. MJ touched a little boy's wang (or not) -- too bad! Send in the next singing, dancing weirdo. It isn't as though these guys were building hospitals and all of a sudden found themselves out of work because of some flippant comments. I think we can live without Michael Richards.
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