MSNBC (and CBS) ... here's a chance for you to do the right thing

[Stinky The Clown]

You guys now have a few hours of good morning viewing and morning drive air time to fill.

Don Imus is now gone for at least two weeks. Why not give that air time to an experienced, smart, intellectually honest, representative African American voice?

Track the numbers. See how it goes. If they look good, tell Don to go to his ranch and enjoy his many millions. He's 67 and richer than god. He won't miss any meals if he's unemployed.

You guys, if you give a fair shot to some newcomer to the national stage and it wins will see your ratings soar. Imagine ... a 'mainstream' outlet like yours attracting the normally marginalized 'urban' media demographic.

Do it. Its the right thing to do.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Al Sharpton looking for a job?

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Actually ... no. Not Sharpton and not Jesse Jackson

I'm thinking more along the lines of the likes of Joe madison or Kweisi Mfume or Gene Robinson. Want a woman? How about this one as a blast from the past: Lannie Guinier? Someone like that. Or even better, some young, mid sized local market radio kid who's a comer?

[DemReadingDU]

8. Someone who is anti-war

They should get someone who wants to bring the troops home.

Think about Imus from a different angle...he wants the troops home, he is quite vocal about ending the war.

Doesn't anyone else wonder who might be behind the money machine trying to silence Imus, to silence the anti-war critic?

Sponsors, Proctor & Gamble, are pulling their ads, another way to silence the anti-war critic's show.

Just my 2 cents.

[Ninja Jordan]

4. Al Sharpton is part of the problem, not part of the solution.

[tularetom]

2. Aw he'd probably just end up on fox

And he'd whine every day about how he was a victim of "political correctness".

[Carni]

6. That is EXACTLY what will happen eom

[spooky3]

5. Kojo Nnamdi on public radio (WAMU in DC) is wonderful

He's the polar opposite of Imus. I believe he is originally from Africa (but has been here a long time) and I realize some people would object to him on the same basis that they object to calling Obama African American. But he is capable of handling interviews with anyone about practically any topic, and always treats people with respect, yet doesn't let callers get away with BS.

His and Diane Rehm's are my favorite shows. It would be great to see him get more attention.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. I don't know him, but that's the kind of thinking I'd like to see go into a ....

.... selection for this. Smart people.

[spooky3]

10. He's on in the middle of the day--can you get WAMU where you are?

on edit--here's a link:

http://www.wamu.org/programs/kn/

[wisteria]

9. Why just consider an AA, why not a woman? Or someone with a handicap or

a Hispanic or someone of Asian or Indian decent?

Frankly, I don't agree that Imus should loose his job over this, but if it came to that I don't think we should limit our choices. Many minority groups are discriminated against- we should consider them all.

[beaconess]

11. Maybe because plenty of women have shows, but no blacks have their own programs

Every morning show has female hosts - no black hosts. In primetime, Paula Zahn, Nancy Grace (yechh!), Greta Van Susteren have shows. But not a single black person does.

A woman anchors the CBS evening news. No black person does. A woman anchors Nightline. But even though they have three co-hosts, ABC couldn't manage to find an African-American hire for the show.

Maybe that's why.

[Doctor_J]

12. Careful what you wish for

I am sure if they did decide to do something like this it would be Armstrong "Payola" Williams or Shelby Steele.