Seems that "ho" has graduated to the same level of offensiveness as the n-word, snce Don Imus's tongue-in-cheek use of it has cost him his gig at MSNBC.
Interestingly, gangsta rappers who use it so freely never get their contracts cancelled for that reason. The reason: black men calling women "hos" is "part of their culture", so that must be respected.
It's another example of a racist lower standard being applied to black people. So why aren't lefties all upset about that? (Oh, I forgot. They created it, and continue to perpetuate it ... )