"Pointing at the offenses of other "sewer mouths" does not excuse what Imus did. "

No, but pointing out the precidents that have been set and the "standards" that have previously appeared to be acceptable does give an understanding as to what led to his words. It is not acceptable, and he deserved to be called on the carpert.

What this points out is a change, for the good, in our behavior and tolerance.   Hopefully it will not signal and end to freedom of speech and government intervention in such matters.

The worst kind of censorship is self-censorship when we become afraid to speak our minds.

Of course the decision was motivated by dollars, not morals. It was a business decision, and it does not make it wrong to be considered as such.   These companies are beholding to stock holders and they would be in violation of their trust to allow a program that is not making money to continue.