MSNBC Turns Palin's Pardoning of Turkey Into Vehicle to Deride Her Over Slaughter in Background

NewsBusters ^ | November 21, 2008 | Brent Baker

[Sopater]

MSNBC took denigrating Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to a new low on Thursday night's Countdown. With “BREAKING NEWS” ridiculously on screen, MSNBC ended the show, hosted by David Shuster filling in for Keith Olbermann, with more than three minutes of video of some turkeys being slaughtered by a man behind Palin while rotating chyrons hyperbolically declared:

GOV. PALIN PICKS WORST POSSIBLE BACKDROP FOR TV NEWS INTERVIEW

TURKEYS DIE AS GOVERNOR PALIN TAKES QUESTIONS FROM MEDIA

GOV. SARAH PALIN KEEPS TALKING WHILE TURKEYS GET SLAUGHTERED BEHIND HER

GOV. PALIN APPARENTLY OBLIVIOUS TO TURKEY CARNAGE OVER HER SHOULDER

GOV. PALIN NOT REALIZING INCONGRUITY OF HER WORDS VERSUS HER BACKDROP

TURKEY-KILLING FOWLS PALIN NEWS CONFERENCE

The video aired after MSNBC ran a story on Palin's pre-Thanksgiving pardoning of a turkey at a Wasila poultry farm. Shuster, quite serious, set up the segment with this warning:

We've made every effort to sanitize the video of what happens next, but you still might want to consider getting the kids out of the room right now and anyone who's a little squeamish about where Thanksgiving dinner comes from. Are they gone? Okay, here's what happened next: As Governor Palin stepped outside of the hatchery, to give a post-pardon interview, she neglected to notice what was happening directly behind her -- in clear view of the television cameras. We've blurred out the goriest parts, but here's her interview, from start to finish. Afterward, Shuster asserted:

And you thought her media outings as a vice presidential candidate were as bad as it gets.

[Jane Austen]

From the beginning, MSNBC has attacked Palin, included with lies and slander.

Since some Democrats criticized Palin for her daughter's pregnancy, now they have a better target in Calif. Rep. Linda Sanchez who at age 39 is unmarried and pregnant.

[Marysecretary]

Good one.

[Awestruck]

she must really be seen as a threat if, even after the election is over and she wasn’t on the “winning” team, the media continues to attempt to marginalize and denigrate her.

[Post Toasties]

Now that they have formally declared war on the Republican Party, I consciously avoid watching or listening to the MSM whenever possible. I also haven’t bought a newspaper in I don’t know how many years.

[Night Hides Not]

Since some Democrats criticized Palin for her daughter's pregnancy, now they have a better target in Calif. Rep. Linda Sanchez who at age 39 is unmarried and pregnant.

Based on the pictures I saw of Ms. Sanchez, I much preferred watching Sarah with the turkey slaughter in the background. Liberals just can't deal with reality.

Willie Geist is the only redeeming person on Morning Joe. He actually asked "where do people think their Thanksgiving turkeys come from"? Or words to that effect. Then Joe & Pat went off on their screeds about the horrible treatment at hog farms, etc.

[halfright]

C’mon over to the house....Have two roosting up in the trees 30’ for the last few years. Really spooky at night for visitors that aren’t used to it..All they see is two large dark spots in the tree and they are moving. Especially if they are spooked. Big birds require big wings.

This is SOP for main stream media liars. Lets go out of our way to make the opponent look bad to national audiences.

[Manly Warrior]

There is absolutely nothing newsworthy here. The killing of animals for meat, whether domesticated or wild, is 10% normal and acceptable.

If this clip is used a propaganda, it should only apply to vegans, which, as we of course know, are liars. Killing animal life is no different than plant life, it is all to used by man for benefit. Quickly, efficiently killing is moral, torture is not.

The amazing part of this is that the very people who approve of killing unborn human children decry the killing of food. What complete morons, without a lick of sense or reality. Truly reprobate.

“as long as there is lead in the air, there is hope”

God bless and MOLON LABE

[af_vet_rr]

One turkey is pardoned and that means that the rest aren’t. That’s life in America.

Not only that, but they think we are a bunch of wussies by "sanitizing" the video and blurring out the turkey dying. The first time I heard about this, they made it sound like blood and guts were flying all over the place. I've dealt taking care of the Thanksgiving turkey before, and what that guy was doing was so much cleaner and easier than what I was doing.

[Manly Warrior]

10% should read, of course, 100%, oops.

[McGruff]

I have been the biggest fan of Palin...Clearly, this is amateur hour...perhaps she wasn’t ready for prime time after all.

Give me a break. Hardly cause for someone to change their loyalties.

[mathwhizz]

I don’t think it was amatuer hour. She just frankly doesn’t give a &#*# what the mainstream media says about her and will do whatever she wants.

This was a local interview and the lower 48 might be squeamish about how your dinner gets to your plate but in Alaska it’s no big deal.

Seriously, who cares? This is a 1 day news story and they will be on to something else tomorrow.

Nobody is going to talk about this in a week nevermind 3 years when she decided whether to run for president or not.

[Red in Blue PA]

Re: She just frankly doesn’t give a &#*# what the mainstream media says about her

Well then, she can kiss her chances of being President goodbye.

Like it or not, perception is important. Even after all she has been through (unfairly), she does not seem to realize this! And it is this point which causes me some concern about her future political viability.

[txlurker]

I blame both the news outlet that filmed this at such a hideous angle...and Sarah for being so stupidly oblivious to it.

She is putting herself into these mocking situations that are so avoidable. What is she or her idiot staff thinking? She is either incredibly clueless or truly has no future plans in politics.

[safeasthebanks]

Kiss off, newbie dweeb. (And from a quick review of your posting history, may I be the first to say, enjoy your sure to be short stay at FR).

[Red in Blue PA]

Sorry, but after all of the scurrilous attacks she has been through, she more than anyone should be aware of something so obvious as this.

If she cannot even do this, then I begin to question her judgement. And for the record, this is the first time I have done so.

[Red in Blue PA]

Re: She is either incredibly clueless or truly has no future plans in politics.

Agree. Prepare to be flamed though.

This was the first time I thought to myself that perhaps she isn’t ready for prime time.

[txlurker]

Like it or not, perception is important. Even after all she has been through (unfairly), she does not seem to realize this! And it is this point which causes me some concern about her future political viability.

Can you just imagine the next SNL Skit on this little escapade?

[KittyKares]

I like Sarah Palin, and I understand she is from the country and hunts moose and cuts it up and all that. But if she wants to appeal to the numerous urban dwellers who live sheltered from nature, this is not the way to do it. Remember that Californians voted to protect farm animals from having to live in small cages where they can’t move. So there is a sensitivity in other parts of the country that she needs to be aware of.

I could hardly hardly concentrate on what she was saying while I was watching the turkey struggling and wondering what in the world that man was doing to it — and smiling to boot. I had assumed turkey farms chopped the heads off and gave them a quick death. This seems like a slow, painful way to go. She needs a new set of handlers if she wants to go national.

[safeasthebanks]

Settle down, Mary...

[Red in Blue PA]

Disagree with Sarah and you are called a Mary.....you would fit in quite well in the Obama camp.