First off I think associated with criminals < being caught saying something racist < being an actual criminal. So I agree Jackson's associations would be a terrible reason to cut him, but if they believed him to be an actual criminal (I don't think they do), then it would be worse than being racist. Mind everyone that saying the N word doesn't make someone racist, so if anything, Cooper is guilty by association with the word.
Secondly, what I think people should be allowed to be fired for and what they can realistically end up fired for can be (and usually are) divergent things. I don't think that Twitter woman should have been fired for her comments; I don't think Don Imus should have been fired for his nappy-headed hoes comment. The fact that they were doesn't mean I have to think it's right.