Dixie Chicks - Grass roots effort to boycott their product.
Imus - Professional Victim's Rights activists take up the cause before public sentiment could even be assessed and in fact were the cause of the public becoming aware of it.
Dixie Chicks - the campaign consists of e-mail chains, phone calls to radio stations and blogs/internet forums.
Imus - The MSM follows the lead of the Prof. VR activists and carries their water on air 24/7.
Dixie Chicks - Never apologize and subsequently reinforce their original offensive remarks with stronger ones.
Imus - Apologizes repeatedly and acquiesces to every demand from the Prof. VR activists.
Dixie Chicks - Grass roots critics are lambasted and ridiculed by the MSM.
Imus - NBC/MSNBC execs and CBS execs agree to meet with Prof. VR activists and, in closed door negotiations, immediately submit to their demands.
Dixie Chicks - Lose about 40% of their sales due to individuals choosing not to buy their stuff.
Imus - Immediately loses every contract he has.
Do I think that's just life in the free market? Yes.
Did Imus hoist himself on his own petard? Yes.
Is it fair? Who the heck said life was fair?
Is it just the same as what happened to the Dixie Chicks? ...
Imus pretty much put the Dixie Chicks on the map.