Shuster Suspended, MSNBC 'Still Hopeful' Democrats' Debate Will Take Place
MSNBC has now officially suspended David Shuster for his comments regarding Chelsea Clinton.
In a statement this afternoon, an MSNBC spokesperson noted that the network was still "hopeful" that Senators Clinton and Obama will participate in the Feb. 26 debate to be hosted by MSNBC.
Herein the full statement:
On Thursday's "Tucker" on MSNBC, David Shuster, who was serving as guest-host of the program, made a comment about Chelsea Clinton and the Clinton campaign that was irresponsible and inappropriate. Shuster, who apologized this morning on MSNBC and will again this evening, has been suspended from appearing on all NBC News broadcasts, other than to make his apology. He has also extended an apology to the Clinton family. NBC News takes these matters seriously, and offers our sincere regrets to the Clintons for the remarks.
Both the Clinton and Obama campaigns accepted invitations from us on Thursday evening to participate in a February 26th debate. Our conversations with the Clinton campaign about their participation continue today, and we are hopeful that the event will take place as planned.
It is high time MSNBC has been reined in and MEDIA be held to some kind of standards. GE/NBCU/MSNBC have repeatedly been over the line and seemed to relish it. The American people deserve better, and our inability to make quality decisions is infected/affected by the commoditization of news/journalism (Constitutionally protected?). How ironic that the Clintons, who accelerated the DEREGULATION OF ENTIRE INDUSTRIES AFTER REAGAN/BUSH -- including MEDIA OWNERSHIP -- now are being affected by the beast they released. I believe Hillary hangs out w/Rupert Murdoch. How nice. The MEDIA and Billary want it all ways, w/no consequences. No cigar. It's OK for others to be ambushed/abused by the MEDIA, but only when it affects them -- is there a problem. Where's the quality children's programming we were promised??? Instead, we get "reality" t.v.
Sorry to disagree but between Russert and Matthews - it is quite obvious they are showing their favoritism to Obama.
I am an independent and have not decided at all.
But from listening to these two yahoo's going at you would think it is up to them to decide who is in office next.
Here is some suggestions.
1. Matthews...your stale and boring and you wear far to much make up, we are tired of you. Turning the channel to ABC and Fox.
2. Russert, you will interview and tailor your questions to the person of your liking. If you don't like someone you will tar and feather them in an interview, can't do that with Hillary, she is right back at you. And McCain will rip your face off. Russert - your not a political genius, your just an EMPLOYEE of NBC. Move on, your time has come.
Chales Gibson has more class in his little finger than you two clowns, and Shuster, you should be made to pick up the dog waste from Barney and Miss Beasley the White House Scotties. You cow of a man.
Allie
No wonder MSNBC is in last place in rating's with people like Shuster, Oberman & Mathew's. They are all opionionated fool's not real newsman. I think Microsoft should end their little adventure with NBC before they go down in flame's with them.
There is no question that MSNBC on-air staff favors Obama over Clinton. It is absolutely kafkaesque that they attack FOX for being biased, huh?
In any event, I am boycotting both NBC and MSNBC over this latest business with Shuster. My family and I will watch them again only if Shuster, Olbermann, Matthews and Russert are fired ... in other words, we won't be watching them ever again.
Frankly, CSPAN provides the best coverage and we can get plenty of opinion from many sources without having to watch such partisan (i.e. pro-Obama) garbage as what is televised on the GE/NBC/MSNBC conglomerate.
3:02, you got it. There are so many things that are so very wrong with Chris Matthews--but, above all, he wears way too much makeup. I think he secretly wants to be in the band Kiss.
It's a shame Shuster used such a verb but lots of media people have used a lot worse & mischaracterizing words-Get over it! Shuster is one of the BEST reporters out there-I always look(ed) forward to his segments because his superior analytic ability typically would shine through. He's not the parrot so many of these reporters and hosts are and I hope to see him back on the air ASAP.
Have you never said a word about someone you wish you could take back? Shuster is right on 99% of the time. So he's human-get over it and appreciate the superior product he offers-it would be a loss to not have his political analysis on this race while we're right in the thick of it.
I agree with the mega media comment by renatam. Those who think they'll get better from Fox will only be more misinformed-so if you want your opinions to lose (more?) credibility, go ahead and watch the laughing stock of corporate media news.
And as far as Obermann-FGS! He's about the only one out there tough enough to call a spade a spade-and he does it well with his superior intelligence and articulation. Just because you don't like what someone says doesn't mean it isn't true. And just because something is repeated incessantly doesn't mean it isn't false. We've got to wade thru the BS folks to get to the truth, and after watching all the networks, MSNBC actually offers the best hope, as poor as that best may be.
Since this political season started I have become a regular reader of "The New York Observer". I believe you provide a honest view of politics and even more important, a strong belief in the need of the media to be its own biggest critic. The direction the GE/NBC/MSNBC conglomerate has chosen in its embracing of the on-the-air, locker room vulgarity and hatred of women has led to many men and women to just stop watching their crude shows. Not just politics, the network airs other tasteless shows about prison glorification, sexually charged female murder cases, and other demeaning presentations of women. When they now present the Clinton daughter as a whore and the parents as pimps, this is a call for a complete house cleaning of their network from top to bottom. Hate is a bad thing and the degrading of women is mankind's greatest sin.Shame, shame, shame.
Keith Olberman and David Schuster are the best and most insightful analysts. Too bad David got caught up in the MSNBC zeitgist and one-upsmanship of Matthews/Russert et al. With that said, folks should NOT fall into the trap of the neverending VICTIM game of the Clintons, who will use ANYTHING to change the landscape in their favor. Ironically, Chelsea Clinton's calls to Super Delegates and selectively speaking while standing silently at Campaign events -- is part of the problem. "Mom" put her in this position. Hillary is FRIENDS with Rupert Murdoch and in NYC I have never heard a peep from our JUNIOR SENATOR about their programming and outrageous commentary. She is also friends w/John McCain -- and I submit the following for a possible matchup between them. THIS is what we should be focusing on and anyone who drags the Democratic Party down in ANY way at this moment in time, is questionable. Read this and then maybe we will ALL turn the page from the Bush/Clinton/Bush dynasties!
McCain has distinguished himself as an uber-hawk on foreign policy, according to Hari, who is on the editorial board of The Liberal magazine.
“To give a brief smorgasbord of his views: At a recent rally, he sang 'bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb-bomb Iran,' to the tune of the Beach Boys' ‘Barbara Ann.’ He says North Korea should be threatened with ‘extinction.’
“McCain has mostly opposed using U.S. power for humanitarian goals, jeering at proposals to intervene in Rwanda or Bosnia . . .
If they did favor hillary, I am sure that they would not be suspended! I don't see this suspension as making an example. It is quite pathethic that management would stoop to such level. Rupert Murdoch own the NY Post and they endorsed Obama.