Though most view Fox as lowering the boom too quickly, Drudge miscalculated the necessity of political correctness. Far from imposing heavy-handed censorship, Fox decided to exercise its proprietary rights of intellectual and creative control. Common sense tells you 'free speech' doesn't extend to zealous employees in corporate settings. Nor does it extend to the management personnel subject to the same labor laws governing the workplace. No matter how righteous, entitled and grandiose, even powerful employers run the risk of law suits by shooting off their mouths.
Political correctness applies to management and labor alike.
While exploiting power differentials is more commonly seen in management, overstepping important boundaries is also witnessed among subordinates. Words do matter. Venting your spleen and making regrettable public statements costs both employers and employees dearly. When the doors are tightly sealed, expletives can bounce off the walls. Judging by the outcome, it appears that Drudge may have pushed the situation to the breaking point.