Her comments and those of her co-hosts were inappropriate and uncalled for, but I don't think she should get the sack over it.
If only she'd take that lesson to heart. And there is a considerable difference between citing views in an independent interview, and views based on the official policy of the largest religious tradition in the history of the world, and a fundamental basis of Western Civilization. You can disagree with Robertson all you want, but you cannot honesty claim he's some out-of-touch kook, or a deranged nutcase pulling stuff out of his ass. Furthermore, there was nothing hypocritical about his actions, or inconsistent with any position he had professionally or publicly taken, and the interview was outside of his job. He didn't state his views on the air on his show, in a manner inconsistent with the message of his show. As Harris-Perry stated, her remarks, and those remarks made by guests on her show where contrary to the spirit and letter of principles of behavior she espouses.
Melissa Harris-Lacewell-Perry-Whatever on the other hand, or the hosts of the MSNBC shows who had her as a commentator before she got her own (Rachel Maddow being one frequent promoter of her), would have been on the front lines demanding the firing of Rush Limbaugh or Don Imus or Paula Deen or just about anyone they did not have a vested political interest in protecting, for the same kind of remarks she made. Her job is, for all intents and purposes, to condemn the exact sort of thing she did. What is more, she made those remarks in the performance of her professional duties, so there is the malfeasance aspect.
Robertson was defended because his remarks had nothing to do directly with the performance of his job, except from the publicity/image point of view, and even then, an argument could be made that the audience for his show is not generally the sort to be outraged or offended by his comments. From a strictly marketing standpoint, he should be getting a bonus, for increasing sales and interest in the show, to the benefit and profit of his employer. The MSNBC woman on the other hand, could not plausibly claim to be attracting a broader audience to a far-left, politically-correct, thought-policing program with her comments. Instead, she was doing just what she and her fellow travelers claim to oppose, merely flushing her stated principles down the toilet because her targets do not conform to her predetermined racial expectations.
And it's "hear, hear" when you want someone to pay attention to, or "hear", what the speaker of whom you approve is saying. "Here, here" is a cry for attention to oneself, as it imperatively draws attention away from another to party to the one saying it.
“Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.” GK Chesteron
Inde muagdhe Aes Sedai misain ye!
Deus Vult!
*MySmiley*