MSNBC Reporter Begrudgingly Apologizes For Chelsea "Pimp" Comment

UPDATE 4:00PM EST, SATURDAY FEB 9: Clinton wrote to NBC News President Steve Capus:

"Nothing justifies the kind of debasing language that David Shuster used and no temporary suspension or half-hearted apology is sufficient," Clinton wrote to NBC News President Steve Capus, who apparently had already called Clinton to personally apologize. "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," Clinton wrote. "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."

UPDATE 11:30 PM EST:

Keith Olbermann apologized to the Clintons on behalf of MSNBC during Friday's Countdown, calling Shuster's comment "utterly inappropriate and indefensible." Watch Olbermann tell the Clintons, "We are, literally, dreadfully sorry."



Politico's Michael Calderone reports that David Shuster initially defended his statements in an email exchange with Clinton campaign spokesman Philippe Reines. An excerpt:

-----Original Message-----

From: David Shuster

To: Philippe Reines

Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 8:51 p.m.

Nice to hear from you, philippe.

It is a fact that chelsea has made calls to superdelegates, as your campaign colleagues have acknowledged. It is also a fact that the campaign has reacted quite harshly to any media who have sought to interview chelsea. That was the point. By slamming any reporter who seeks to chat with chelsea while simultaneously having chelsea do campaign tasks such as trying to convince super delegates to support her mom, that's the reference.

Chelsea is polite and does a fine job of saying "I don't want to talk.". But for campaign staff to then jump down the throat of a reporter who seeks to talk to chelsea...that's an issue.

--------------------------

Sent using BlackBerry

Read the entire exchange here.

UPDATE 6:30 PM EST:

David Shuster appeared tonight at the top of "Tucker," where he first made the offensive comment yesterday, to apologize. Watch below:

David Shuster addressed the firestorm today on "Tucker." http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1407952676http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=1178199204

UPDATE 4PM EST: NBC News President Steve Capus has announced that David Shuster has been suspended from the network. He made the following comments to MediaMatters:

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.

UPDATE: The Clinton campaign is fighting back against MSNBC. Top campaign adviser Howard Wolfson has responded to David Shuster's comments, calling MSNBC out for a "pattern" of negative Hillary Clinton coverage and threatening that Hillary will no longer participate in MSNBC-sponsored debates:

A distasteful comment about Chelsea Clinton by an MSNBC anchor Thursday could imperil Hillary Rodham Clinton's participation in future presidential debates on the network, a Clinton spokesman said.

In a conference call with reporters, Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson Friday excoriated MSNBC's David Shuster for suggesting the Clinton campaign had "pimped out" 27-year old Chelsea by having her place phone calls to Democratic Party superdelegates on her mother's behalf. Wolfson called the comment "beneath contempt" and disgusting.

"I, at this point, can't envision a scenario where we would continue to engage in debates on that network," he added.

ORIGINAL POST: Guest-hosting "Tucker" last night, MNSBC's David Shuster commented on Chelsea Clinton's Super Tuesday phone calls to the ladies of "The View." In discussing whether this was appropriate, Shuster made an interesting word choice: "Doesn't it seem like Chelsea's sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?"

Watch:



This morning on "Morning Joe," Shuster ate his words (but he did not repeat them), apologizing for yesterday's comment that some saw as "pejorative."

Watch:

David Shuster apologized for yesterday's Chelsea Clinton "pimp" comment, though he was so embarrassed he refused to even say what he said. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1407952598http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=1178199204

From MSNBC, 2/8

Shuster was already having a bad day before he had to apologize on air. At 8:05 am "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough was on the phone and Shuster tried to cut him off. Joe would have none of it, saying in part, "He is sitting in my seat just because I'm allowing him to."

Watch Shuster's bad day begin:

Joe Scarborough Bats Down Shuster http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1407952655http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=1178199204

More: Read HuffPost's Taylor Marsh react to David Shuster's comments.
More: Background on David Shuster and a list of previous controversies surrounding him.
Previously: Chelsea Clinton Calls 'View' Ladies, They Imitate Her Breathy Voice

Comments

[dawlishgal]

Hillary Clinton didn't object (at least in public) when McCain told the filthy joke in which he made fun of Chelsea's appearance and hinted that both Hillary and Janet Reno were lesbians. She still claims that she respects McCain and that they are friends. So why the flap now about Schuster's remark, which seems milder in tone than what McCain said? Is it just some more bullying jockeying for media attention in order to paint them as victims again?

[preatorius]

I was watching CNN today, and the reporter called Ted Kennedy "The Mack Daddy of the Liberal Democrats"

The Urban Dictionary defines Mack Daddy as:

1. ultra pimp

2. A pimpalicous man who gets anything he wants (ie, sex, money, clothing, cars etc).

What was that?
That was the sound of Ted Kennedy ignoring the comment, because he has far more important things to do!

[SAMMY7]

It was the tipping point after one month of bias nasty sloppy disrespectful reporting at MSNBC; I actually began to watch Karl Rove on Fox news; LOL! He and Buchanan are the only ones actually offering objective analysis . MSNBC is worse than Fox. Karl Rove!!!!! LOL!

[SAMMY7]

you obama people scare me truly - what is this the 6th grade- explain away poor and unprofessional behavior by finding other examples of poor behavior? Such hypocrites- the Clintons retorted to a provactive remark made by Obama involving Reagan (compltely above the belt) and the press and world collapsed! A reporter says her daughter is being pimped and she should shake it off- you guys are hilarious! I will never vote for Obama.

[TekBoss]

I hope when he returns they give him his own show!

What the hell was so bad about what he said. Ever listen to Glenn Beck?

[kwahlin]

stop the drama, vote obama!

[SAMMY7]

Yes we can does not make one a
dali lama
without oprah ted and Caroline
he's just pitiful state senator Barack Obama

[treadway123]

We'll let's try again to log this on. Chelsie is fair game now she intered Politics. She's 28 and should talk for herself. Mrs. Clinton so busy asking for money,Defending chelsie and shakeing up and switching every one in her campayne, that she donk't have time to focus on beating Mccain and the Republican party. You know you have to let her go now. She has no focus, no drive, and distracted to do us any good any more.

[treadway123]

unfortunate this reported used rough words toward this young lady. However, Is this how Mrs Clinton will react when she becomes President? She can't go aroun alienateing reporters to. My gosh! First it's helpme I'm out of money. I have to change my latino manager for a black because it not going good. Now we have her defending her 28 year old daughter, who should defend herself if she wants to inter Politics. She's so busy letting everything go wrong and defending everything done----------when is she going to focus on winning over the Republican Party. She can't and thats the problem for Dem's. they need to just set her aside now, and get on putting mccain out-not a reporter who made a slip of a tongue.

[SAMMY7]

He was not suspended because of Clinton; it is because of the viewers who are outraged by the biias and nasty coverage by MSNBc; their mailboxes and blogs were stuffed! If Bama gets the nomination you all are in for one hell of a shock- he has had a free pass- but the Republicans won't stand for it, he is NOT READY.
I

[Dyogenes]

Recall David Schuster!

We'd rather have him back Now than a Third Term Clinton!

Bring back David. She's falling faster than a facelift. NBC, like DC, needs to LISTEN to your audience and not be whipsawed by old guard politicos. Don't end up like Marie Antionette. Think forward, not backward.

And, yeh, I'm proud to be pimping for David!

[eyecon]

Overall, Mr. Shuster has been an outstanding reporter. The guy said something REALLY stupid and offensive. He made a sincere apology and that should be the end of it. David was often the lone informed voice countering the "no underlying crime" nonsense during the Scooter mess.

I found Scarborough's on air treatment of a colleague to be outrageously offensive and spectacularly unprofessional. If Joe chose to have Shuster in his seat then Shuster had the responsibility of moderating the dialog. Joe is frustrated that Romney didn't make it and then took it out on Shuster.

[ErinG]

It is a gross understatement to remark that NBC brass is spineless.

[Bytor]

I'm suprised it took this long for a commentator to get nailed for comments made.Shuster just pushed the envelope over the edge.Fox is only riding this story because it originated from MSNBC,no love lost there.Seeing Fox try and walk the high ground in this area is laughable.I must say,I am stunned at the undeniable bias ALL networks are showing Obama over Clinton,they smell blood,and clearly aren't fond of her

[DCrez]

The Clinton"s want to have it both ways. They put Chelsea out front, but will slap you down if you dare to try to talk to her or about her.

First of all, Chelsea is not a baby, she"s a 27 year old woman working for her parent"s friend"s hedge fund. Now, let"s look at a few of her actions. She continued to speak with caucusgoers in Nevada long after she was warned that the time for solicitation had passed. She called The View women and in a babydoll voice begged for votes. She"s calling superdelegates trolling for votes and meeting with them privately. So, maybe the only argument here is whether she"s being pimped or whether she"s doing it freely. Either way, she has interjected herself into the race, so game on.

We women need to wise up and realize that Hillary is, once again, playing the victim for votes. That"s soooo yesterday.

[batmanindy]

The only thing I watch on MSNBC is Ollbermann. No Joe (dead secretary in FL) Sacrborough for me. No Chris (way past his prime if he ever had one) Matthews for me. No election coverage -- get it on the internet because I can't stand CNN's coverage and I have not watched Faux News for 4 years now.

Shuster is an idiot. He should fired for his comment. Faux will surely pick him up in 48 hours so no big deal there.

Shuster proves, by talking about a former president's daughter being pimped out, that he has no place in real American journalism. He needs to go back to some backwater town and do the 6PM news.

Buh Bye Arsehole!

[Dee321]

I wonder if John McCain would sit still if Broder had said:
1. McCains Mother: "doesn't it seem like Roberta McCain is sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way"

I wonder if you would sit still if Broder had said about your wife-mother:
2. Your wife-mother: "doesn't it seem like Mrs Cunningham is sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way"

Shows you what a kind of person you are if you do sit still for it.

[ACunningham]

Last year, the then 25 year old Clinton Child started her First job as a HEDGE FUND manager earning a SIX Figure salary.

She is old enough to come out and speak for herself and not have mommy and daddy defend Her Royal Highness.

[flasher3838]

you know the coverage of the dem campaign had gotten so bad that i truely felt fox news was a better outlet for fair information. i think that statement coming from a lifelong true democrat says it all. msnbc's coverage has been so one sided as to be a disgrace to true journalism. i did notice a bit of a change in the tone of the coverage on monday. i thought for the first time in months that it was a fair coverage of events. if i ever see mathews, scourborogh, shuster, olbermamn or a few of the others get rightous and outraged about any coverage of any event, i think i will puke. and mike barnekle is a waste

[jane1]

I completely agree. Hillary hasn't stood a chance against this unobjective "news". It is the same story on the radio. Some "liberal" voices on the airwaves have even stooped so low as to defend the "pimping" comment. They would NEVER defend it if it were directed Obama's way. Then they would have spent a month discussing the disgraces of racism being interjected. I crave a fair voice. I feel so utterly betrayed that this party is destroying itself. They could simply denounce this type of talk, but defend it??? This is sick. I have never listened to Rush in my life, I have read about him and his comments but not actually listened. Today, I tuned into him...scary!! At the very least, he doesn't pit his own party against one another. This crap about him not supporting McCain, is that, crap. He knows what he is doing. The more he says "bad" things about McCain, the more the "moderates" like McCain, all part of the plan.

[LadyD]

I'm really disappointed in MSNBC for caving in to the Clinton's. All this got her was some free campaign coverage. And Keith Olbermann!!! I can't believe he sold out too! He knows perfectly well how the "pimped" comment should have been taken!!! Nobody was calling Chelsea Clinton a "whore". It was a term meant to infer that Chelsea was being "used" to further the Senator's presidential campaign. The term "pimped" has evolved into the vernacular and for Keith Olbermann not to defend David Shuster right as an journalist to say this is just a case of the pot calling the kettle black!
Especially since he used the SAME term (and justifiably) in his Special Comment: "President of Hypocrisy".

Read excerpt below:
"But Mr. Bush, you have hidden behind the General's skirts, and today you have hidden behind the skirts of 'the planted last question' at a news conference, to indicate once again that your presidency has been about the tilted playing field, about no rules for your party in terms of character assassination and changing the fabric of our nation, and no **right** for your opponents or critics to as much as **respond**.
That, Sir, is not only un-American -- it is dictatorial.
And in **pimping** General David Petraeus, Sir, in violation of everything this country has been assiduously and vigilantly against for 220 years, you have tried to blur the gleaming **radioactive** demarcation between the military and the political, and to portray **your** party as the one associated with the military, and your opponents as the ones somehow antithetical to it."

I don't think Keith should be suspended...nor should David Shuster. I think Keith owes David an apology.

[ErinG]

The outrage was a charade, and NBC fell for it. NBC was so convinced, it aired an hour-long documentary on Hillary at least three times in three days.

[jane1]

Imagine the outrage if Bill, or anybody else for that matter, would have suggested that Obama had pimped out his wife or his two little girls. Why is it fair game for this so called joke of a "media" when anything goes so long as they are attacking the Clintons. For Obama, the protected one, the most benign word such as "fairytale" gets twisted into a racist comment. If people cannot see this double standard, they truly have lost their objectivity.

[strandwolf]

Pimp or whore: most in public life happen to be a bit or a lot of one or both. And either proud of that fact or too dumb to realize their status.

[sheraz]

Wow, why are you all still talking about this?

[SmithScottJ]

First of two parts

Hillary's actions towards MSNBC and David Schuster may prove to be just the sort of hyperbolic, heavy-handed, reactionary - dare I say hysterical - response that pushes Ms. Clinton right out of front-runner status to "also-ran."

It's hard to imagine that the Senator didn't understand how her reaction would look to the country-at-large. She has managed in one fell swoop to cast herself as ill-tempered, vindictive, petty, small, irrational, reactionary, unfocused; none of which are qualities high on the prospective voter"s wish list for likely presidential candidates.

Her actions so clearly play right into the hands of the real or perceived character flaws that have already been fodder for the political mediaratti since before she became Senator that it"s hard to imagine better fuel for the fire of her political enemies. The folks that love the conspiracy theories about the Clinton's vindictiveness and political backstabbing will have a field day. The sexist bigots who believe that a female is emotionally unfit to hold such high office will have a field day. Those who say she has a short fuse will have a field day. Those who believe she isn"t liberal enough will compare her actions to the media-quelling, criticism-crushing tactics of the Bush administration. Fox News will have a field day just because it's Hillary making herself look silly.

I don't know exactly what category her actions most accurately fit into but I know what category they do not fit into - Presidential.

[SmithScottJ]

Second of two parts

Whether Mr. Schuster's comments were or were not truly unacceptable journalism, Senator Clinton would have been much better served, mother or not, by a more politically astute response. Her comments about being a mother first, while otherwise admirable, seem to indicate a startlingly inept understanding of the environment in which she currently exists. That is to say, she is in the middle of a spirited campaign for the presidency of the United States, which is her public life to viewers, readers, and voters. Her motherhood is not her public life, nor is she running for Mother of the United States. Like it or not, that quality has never been amongst the criterion for past presidential candidates.

I believe Senator Clinton would have been far better served by simply, calmly explaining why she felt Mr. Schuster's comments were inappropriate and suggesting that he might choose his words more artfully in the future. This to be followed by some comment about how, in the larger scheme of things, i.e., her vision for the country and her work to bring those of differing opinions together to constructively work through their differences for the benefit of the greater good, ultimately Mr. Schuster"s comments will fade into the shadow of memory like so many of the millions of pieces of media punditry that make up every election cycle.

I hope for her sake this doesn't prove to be her Howard Dean Scream or John Kerry (too many to list here) or other form of political hara-kiri.

[transparent]

C'mon. This isn't little Chelsey in the white house who really was maligned and mistreated by the right wing. While I think the comment is stupid and low class, Chelsey's a grownup and as usual the Clinton's are forcing this issue to center stage for political advantage. Hillary should have made one phone call and let it go. It appears she is proving Schuster's point.

[stuckinohio]

Schuster's just another useless talking head. It was a stupid comment. While you may enjoy this type of punditry, I am sick of it. Seem's we are only getting opinion journalism these day's. Most of today's journalist are just as responsible as the Bush administration is for the sad state that this country is in today. They have been enablers.

[USMC1980]

Shuster is a pussy, he ought to be fired along with that fat-ass Matthews. Then they should suspend Olbermann. Olbermann is a joke of a pundit, he is so "up Obama's ass" it's frightening. Olbermann, Shuster Matthews...the MSNBC... "axis of scum".

[YouThinkAndTalk]

Is that what they taught you at USMC? What a bright example of an American soldier. You are indeed one of the few and the proud ones. I now feel better for America's future.

[SmithScottJ]

Intelligence at its peak!!! Isn't it good to know we can all turn to the HP for this type of insightful commentary?

[generaldelivery]

As indefensible as Shuster's wording was, there is a good chance he was attacking Hillary via Chelsea because he was channeling Tucker Carlson because he was sitting in a guest host for him. Shuster's not usually one of the rabid Hillary bashers at MSNBC.

[eddieinc97]

Poor David Shuster is just an example of his rough upbringing in the Bloomington, Indiana suburbs. Listening to sexist and degrading music from his rappa heroes Eminem, Beastie Boys, and Vanilla Ice.