MSNBC’s David Shuster Suspended for Chelsea ‘Pimped Out’ Comment

February 8, 2008 | Filed Under Democrats/Leftists, Media Bias, News, Publius Contributor, Society/Culture, Warner Todd Huston |

-By Warner Todd Huston

As Mark Finkelstein reported on Newsbusters on the 7th, MSNBC’s David Shuster made a rather interesting comment about Chelsea Clinton as he was hosting “Tucker” that evening. Shuster asked if Hillary Clinton’s use of her daughter on the campaign trail seemed “like Chelsea’s sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?” Well, NBC has now announced that they’ve suspended Shuster over the comment…. so much for free political speech.

In a press release, NBC says the following:

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.

Of course, Shuster’s comment seems quite mild compared to say Randi Rhodes’ radio skit that said that Romney supporters would go on mass murder sprees, or that conservatives will “kill” Hillary as Chris Matthews said on the 8th… or just about anything that the women on the View say at any given time. Not to mention the horrible things that liberal TV hosts have said about Rush Limbaugh or any conservative figure.

So, where are all the suspensions of liberal TV hosts who attack conservative candidates or personalities? Can you name one?

And, it is also interesting that Hillary has gotten into such a faux outrage over this particular comment. No one hearing that comment would imbue it with a sexual meaning. Shuster’s comment is completely understood to mean that he thought the Clinton campaign was using her daughter in a cheap way, but no one imagines it to have a sexual connotation at all. In fact, there isn’t even any real way to misconstrue the comment into a sexual innuendo on Shuster’s part. It just isn’t too hard to “get” his point at all.

Is Hillary that thin skinned?

Worse, why did the TV giant bend over so easily and suspend Shuster for this little comment when they let so many vile slams on conservatives go by without so much as a raised eyebrow?

In fact, MSNBC makes their biggest name caller a center of attention, don’t they? After all, not long ago the Cable station said that Keith Olbermann formed a focal point for their new “leftward tilt.”

So, suspend someone who says a somewhat off color comment about a leftie, but encourage and reward those who viscously attack conservatives.

That’s the MSM for ya!

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Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as newsbusters.org, townhall.com, New Media Journal, Men’s News Daily and the New Media Alliance among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events. He has also written for several history magazines and appears in the new book “Americans on Politics, Policy and Pop Culture” which can be purchased on amazon.com. He is also the owner and operator of publiusforum.com. Feel free to contact him with any comments or questions : EMAIL Warner Todd Huston