Don’t let the door hit you on the way out…

The New York Post’s Michael Shain and David K Li add fuel to the fire regarding Lou Dobbs’ exit from CNN…

CNN had also long been asking Dobbs, known for his tough stance on immigration, to tone down his harsh rhetoric.

Last month, Dobbs’ William Morris agent, CNN sources said, bluntly told Klein: “You’re unhappy, he’s unhappy. Let him go.”

Dobbs told Klein in recent weeks he wanted to go “the opinion route,” laying the final groundwork for his departure.

CNN had been unlikely to renew Dobbs’ contract in 2011 anyway, sources said.

CNN is pushing hard to position itself as a middle-of-the-road news source, between left-leaning MSNBC and conservative Fox News Channel.

“Lou was polluting the CNN brand,” said a TV insider.