Chelsea Clinton "Pimped Out" - The MSNBC Comments and Hillary's Reaction
The facts are these: On Friday, MSNBC suspended correspondent David Schuster for a comment he made on the air. According to the Washington Post:
While filling in as an anchor yesterday, Shuster was discussing the 27-year-old's role in Hillary Clinton's campaign when he asked: "Doesn't it seem as if Chelsea is sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?"While campaigning in Maine, Hillary Clinton responded as any parent might, according to Fox News:Howard Wolfson, the campaign's communications director, denounced the prostitution metaphor, calling it "disgusting," "beneath contempt" and "the kind of thing that should never be said on a national news network."
...In a statement, MSNBC spokesman Jeremy Gaines called Shuster's language "irresponsible and inappropriate" and said he had "extended an apology to the Clinton family. NBC News takes these matters seriously, and offers our sincere regrets to the Clintons for the remarks."
"I am a mother first and a candidate second, and I found the remarks incredibly offensive,” Clinton said. “I can take whatever comes my way, that’s part of what I signed up for as a candidate, as an office holder. But I think that there’s been a troubling pattern of comments and behavior that has to be held accountable. So I have sent a letter to the head of NBC expressing the deep offense that I took and pointing out what has been a troubling pattern of demeaning treatment and I would expect appropriate action to be taken."The contents of Hillary Clinton's letter to Steve Capus, President of NBC News, indicates a suspension isn't enough. She acknowledges Capus' phone call to her but states that she feels he needs to go further:
Nothing justifies the kind of debasing language that David Shuster used and no temporary suspension or half-hearted apology is sufficient.NOW President Kim Gandy echoed Clinton's remarks about this alleged pattern, noting Don Imus' comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team and Chris Matthews' ongoing sexist anti-Clinton statements.I would urge you to look at the pattern of behavior on your network that seems to repeatedly lead to this sort of degrading language.
There’s a lot at stake for our country in this election. Surely, you can do your jobs as journalists and commentators and still keep the discourse civil and appropriate.
Comments
Bottom Line:
It looks like you got some vote fraud hankypanky, and selling of votes going on in the democratic caucuses. Obama seems to be doing disproportionately well in the caucuses where it is easier to commit vote fraud, and sell votes. Obama has not been doing as well in the non caucus primary’s where you can’t cheat the vote as easily.
I smell a pole cat. I smell the Karl Rove vote fraud machine at work. This looks like past presidential elections where most voters leaving the poles said they voted for the other guy. But Bush still won. No wonder Obama thinks the republicans have some good ideas. Apparently a lot of republicans are voting for Obama in the democratic caucuses.
The insurance companies, and medical industry that have been ripping you off, and killing you are determined to keep you, the American people from having good universal health care. So it seems they are supporting Obama. Along with the republican vote fraud machine.
This looks like a great story for a team of aggressive investigative reporters. Or maybe some good documentary film makers like Michael Moore, or Oliver Stone.
If I were the Clinton’s, I would focus like a laser bean on what has been going on in the democratic caucuses. No wonder the Republicans like Obama so much. Looks like he’s their man in the democratic caucuses.
I’m absolutely convinced now that Hillary Clinton is your best choice for good universal health care coverage. And HR 676 (Medicare For All). “Single payer, Tax Supported, Not For Profit, True Universal Health Care” free for all as a right. Like every other developed country in the world has. See: http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_hr676.htm
“HR 676:
For church goers: less money to insur. companies and more to the church- lots more.
Srs on Medicare: save way over $100/wk. Because no more medigap, long term care & dental insur. needed. No more drug bills.”
They really think you are all stupid, inattentive cash cows… It may be time to bring back Bad Bill.
Bottom line? The reporter wouldn’t have even thought “pimped-out” if Clinton’s child had been a boy. So, the remark was another demonstration of the incipient sexism in this country.
Kimberly
I think it was an honest attempt to use urban speak by this white man, which if said by anyone of color would have been okay. Whether we like it or not, time’s are changing for all of us. Allowing SOME peoples to talk one way, while others aren’t allowed to without reprimand, is NOT RIGHT! WE all KNOW what he meant, and it wasn’t THAT bad! I mean, it’s not like he made that comment in reference to her look or style of dressing!
Maybe this so-called reporter was trying to be cool and fit in with some preconceived picture in his mind, but there is no excuse for using terms that debase another person, regardless of how “street savy” they are trying to be. Many media personalities have taken the low road and received no disciplinary action, not even so much as a harsh word and as a result 90% of the media is out of control with the belief that they have the right to say most anything they want about anyone who crosses their paths. They believe they have the right to invade the rights and liberties of others. Yes there is Free Speech in this country, but there is also a thing called moral correctness. Another way to say it is, don’t do it to others if you wouldn’t have it done to you.
Maybe Hillary Clinton needs to get over herself, and stop using her family as a “Failed” Startegy to win the White House, and convience people herself! But as we all know that is too much like right, thats why we should all join together as a nation and back the next President of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama.
I think there are no good candidates; I would like a “none of the above” option on the ballot. Just like I did the last time.