I actually had the television on Thursday evening when David Shuster made his incredibly stupid, offensive, and inappropriate comments about Chelsea Clinton. Quite honestly, it sort of flew over my head because I was distracted, but, you know, the guy’s an idiot:
Using a prostitution metaphor for the daughter of a presidential candidate is a surefire way for a journalist to get into trouble.
On MSNBC yesterday, correspondent David Shuster went there, amazingly enough, while interviewing two guests about Chelsea Clinton’s role in her mother’s campaign. “Doesn’t it seem as if Chelsea is sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?” he asked.
Hillary Clinton’s communications director, Howard Wolfson, today called the comment “disgusting,” “beneath contempt” and “the kind of thing that should never be said on a national news network.” Noting that Clinton had just agreed to participate in an MSNBC debate Feb. 26 in Cleveland, Wolfson said: “I at this point can’t envision doing another debate on that network.”
On Thursday, when Clinton spokesman Phillippe Reines contacted Shuster and told him the comment was offensive, the reporter e-mailed back that he was referring to the fact that Chelsea is making calls to convention superdelegates but refusing to talk to the press. Shuster did make that point on the air — after his pimped out comment, which was not delivered as a joke.
Frankly, when it comes to Bill and Hillary I think anything’s fair game. But leave the kid alone.
February 9th, 2008 at 12:52 am
Schuster thinks he’s sharp and funny.
But he comes off like a petty, whiny, small time, arrogant ass.
This suspension should be a realty check for him.
MSNBC could do better and I hope they do.
Keith Olbermann is quite good.
February 9th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
While I don’t agree with what Shuster said, I do believe the Clintons are opening up their family to this kind of critizism when they are all out there campaining.
I would suggest to you that far worse things have been said about politicians on the 24 hour news networks.
Shuster apologized for his comment. I believe it was sincere and that should have been enough.