Shuster Suspended For "Pimped Out" Comment

Mediabistro.com ^ | 2/8/2008

[Sleeping Freeper]

NBC NEWS STATEMENT REGARDING CHELSEA CLINTON COMMENT:

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.

[Doe Eyes]

Nasty names. At no point what so ever.

Should be unacceptable to refer to anyone's daughter that way.

[cajungirl]

A news anchor very well knows the various meanings of pimping.

[ReignOfError]

You don't suppose she would like to have it both ways - her daughter a grown up and active politically but still with the bubble of protection afforded to her as a child?

Sure. Most candidates historically have had it both ways. Barbara and Jenna Bush, Vanessa and Alexandra Kerry, Elizabeth Cheney and Cate Edwatds all went out on the campaign trail for their parents. As long as they stick with a simple, positive message, the media usually stays off the attack. Just look at the hue and cry when Edwards brought up Mary Cheney's sexual orientation at the '04 VP debate.

In 2000, the Bush girls were too young to do a lot, but Karenna Gore and Rebecca Lieberman were out there, as, I believe, was Elizabeth Cheney. They all had pretty much the same protective bubble.

"Let me tell you about my mom/dad." It's nice, fuzzy message, and attacking someone who talks up a parent comes across like kicking a puppy. If the kids go negative, if they go on the attack, then the whole picture changes. You can't fire grenades and then claim to be a victim when you get incoming.

Most of the time, spouses have had the same sort of shelter. Can you imagine the howls if anyone had attacked Laura Bush or Tipper Gore? The Clintons are an obvious exception, because Bill is a veteran politician. But even at that, he got a pass for "standing by his man," as it were, until he went negative.

A note: I'm talking about the more-or-less reputable mass media. All sorts of scurrilous rumors (some even true) have floated about candidates' spouses and kids in the tabloids, the rumor mill and the blogosphere.

[My Favorite Headache]

But it’s ok for him to call Bush every name in the book.

Gotcha.

[no dems]

He’s taking a page from the playbook of his mentor, Chris Mouthspews.

Chrissy was making some “not so complimentary” remarks about Hillary a few weeks ago. Bill made a phone call to NBC and Chrissy got humble; real humble, real fast; uh huh.

[ReignOfError]

I meant that you don't see people calling pimps "pimp" anymore. They fall under the umbrella term "gansta," because pimps are most always also gangstas.

I don't think I'm wrong about this.

There are categories and subcategoriee. A pimp (or playa) is a someone who smooth-talks, dresses up, runs game; a banger is someone who is more direct and violent.

"It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," from the movie "Hustle & Flow" won the 2005 academy award for best song. 50 (pronoinced "fiddy") cent hat a 2003 hit with "P-I-M-P." And on and on. I assure, you, the term is very much in current usage.

[kcvl]

Its probably good for us to get used to it before the issue is whether to socialize a quarter of the economy.

I'm more than a little used to the Clintons. I don't want what they are selling, AT ALL!

[ReignOfError]

If the media accused President Bush of Pimping Out Jenna and Barbara, I doubt there would be any reaction from the President or his fellow Republicans.

If you're right, it's only because there would not to be any need for an official response. Talk radio, Drudge, and the blogs would rain holy hell. Not to mention the flotilla of viking kitties setting forth from this very site.

[presently no screen name]

It is a DENIAL of ever having done wrong.

With no one standing up to her/them - it is seen as approval. Why this guy apologized is beyond me. Let THEM prove his intent.

[beckysueb]

What the heck did he say. The article doesn’t say.

[BJungNan]

What was the remark. I’ve seen three news stories saying someone said something but none saying what was said.

What was said?

[ronnie raygun]

This is what free speech has come to. Get ready for even more stupidity from the circus clowns in town.

[newnhdad]

He can crap on the President and Republicans for seven years but say one thing about the Clintons and you get a vacation?

[ReignOfError]

I did not seem to notice a high profile for the GWB daughters last time out. It does seem that the respective daughters of both politicians took and one is are taking an extremely minor role in the elective process.

They're out there and active, just not in high-profile events. In past campaigns, they've mostly traveled from one college campus to the next, talking to audiences of, at most, hundreds at a time. Small crowds, few rhetorical fireworks, little press attention except in the campus newspapers. I'd bet it's effective; a lot of today's male college students had a schoolboy crush on Chelsea Clinton, like an earlier generation did on Tricia Nixon.

I haven't heard anything about Meghan McCain campaigning for her dad, but my verdict is not guilty.

[ReignOfError]

DAVID SHUSTER: Bill, there’s just something a little bit unseemly to me that Chelsea’s out there calling up celebrities, saying support my mom, and she’s apparently also calling these super delegates.

BILL PRESS: Hey, she’s working for her mom. What’s unseemly about that? During the last campaign, the Bush twins were out working for their dad. I think it’s great, I think she’s grown up in a political family, she’s got politics in her blood, she loves her mom, she thinks she’d make a great president...

DAVID SHUSTER: But doesn’t it seem like Chelsea’s sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?

[pjsbro]

Excuse me, but I don't remember any objections when Keith Olberman accused President Bush of "pimping" General Petraeus on 09/20/2007. Think MSNBC will apologize?

[pjsbro]

Excuse me, but I don't remember any objections when Keith Olberman accused President Bush of "pimping" General Petraeus on 09/20/2007. Think MSNBC will apologize?

[pjsbro]

Excuse me, but I don't remember any objections when Keith Olberman accused President Bush of "pimping" General Petraeus on 09/20/2007. Think MSNBC will apologize?

[pjsbro]

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/092107A.shtml

[gondramB]

You again make several good points. What I was wondering though was whether the newspaper articles signal a shift into a more policy related role for Chelsea. That can blur the lines. Nobody should have a problem with policy oriented criticism of Mary Cheney’s job performance, for example but that’s different than a scummy attack using her personal life to get at her father.

That line got blurred a bit when Nancy Reagan was accused of weilding too much control in the White House and President Clinton practically telegraphed a fight by giving Hillary a big policy role.