David Shuster: "I Was Thrown Under The Bus To Pay For The Sins Of The Father"

David Shuster's now-infamous "pimped out" remark happened just two weeks ago yesterday — meaning that he returns to "Hardball" today after serving his two-week suspension. In regards to his suspension, Huffington Post's Rachel Sklar asked, "Would this have happened without Chris Matthews?" Today, as he returns to the air and gives an exclusive interview with TVNewser's Gail Shister, Shuster seems to answer Sklar's question with a resounding "NO."

"Does it bother me that I was thrown under the bus to pay for the sins of the father?" Shuster asks rhetorically in the interview. "No. As somebody who's covered politics for a while, I understand all the forces that were in play."

Matthews himself created controversy with remarks about Hillary Clinton that many viewed as sexist and for which he himself was ultimately forced to apologize.

Visit TVNewser to read the entire interview, which includes Shuster's explanation, "Tensions were clearly building. I was at the wrong place at the right time, or the right place at the wrong time. I don't know which."

UPDATE: Shuster returned to the air on "Hardball" with a package on John McCain and the New York Times. Screengrabs from his first day back on the job below:

David Shuster back on the set of "Hardball" after serving his two-week suspension

David Shuster and Chris Matthews on the set of "Hardball," or,
David Shuster and the father whose sins he was "thrown under the bus" for

Comments

[leftbehind2000]

05:24 PM on 02/26/2008

under the bus is exactly where Shuster belongs.

His choice of language was sophomoric and lame. A journalist should have at least a little higher standard than that.

not surprised that he still fails to recognize his mistake.

[JJinWI]

04:48 PM on 02/26/2008

Schuster deserved his censure long before it happened. He shows minimal respect to the guests who appear on MSNBC. Must have been the FOX training.

The sooner he's off my TV, the better.

[Krispi]

03:40 PM on 02/26/2008

I must say that I am disappointed in the way that many of you say what is on your minds in these posts. Mr.Schuster is a hard working individual and I have always been impressed with his grasp of the situation he is reporting on. Someone said previously that these "cable guys" aren't real reporters and I can only answer to that person's ignorance on who is really doing the job of covering the news of the day. Reporters like Schuster have always dealt with acts and what has really been said. You can always tell that this guy is covering the news and you can tell he's done his homework. I personally don't like Chris Matthews after watching him over the years, his bulb seems to be dimming out. I don't care for people who ask you a question and before you can answer that question your interrupted with another question. People like this I consider crass and obnoxious. Chris calls it "Hardball" I call it nonsense.
I get a lot more truthful information watching MSNBC vs FOX and if you want to say those guys aren't real reporters, well I'll agree that Mike Wallace, Brit Hume, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity aren't but leave Keith Olberman and David Schuster alone. Go watch your ABC, NBC or CBS news and get a bunch of meaningless subjects thrown at you as news worthy while they play that important sounding music at the beginning and end of the show in an attempt to elevate their legitimacy as informative news broadcasts.

[sharkcity]

04:03 PM on 02/26/2008

How many time did this asshole call Ron Paul names?? msnbc is a front for GE's war profiteer machine as is universal films

[leftbehind2000]

05:27 PM on 02/26/2008

I agree with almost all that you are saying here. But his choice of verb was truly unprofessional. The fact that he doesn't recognize this and move on shows he hasn't nearly the "grasp" that he should have on the way in which to appropriately conduct an interview for a major news network.

[batmanindy]

02:16 PM on 02/26/2008

Under the bus is too good a spot for these hacks at MSNBC.

Shuster is a loser and Matthews' day has come and went.

I honestly can not watch any of these cable 'news' shows anymore. Two-bit actors trying to be reporters / commentators. They all suck.

[larmarch5]

01:01 PM on 02/26/2008

Schuster schmuster--the manure flows from the top. David would do well to go to another network. There is a culture of bloated male ego/fratbrats/faux gnus/ta-da/prima-dons at MSNBC. Smurfball is, well, smurfy and smirky. Yawn. There are better sources for news aka information.

[Gmoney1]

09:43 AM on 02/26/2008

Wow, did you hear that Chelse is earning 200K with the hedge fund company? What about giving back to america, what with all the entitlements she has had as a result of her father's presidency and Hillary's talk about helping the underclass and such. Why not help the poor first. What about giving back atleast initially -

[Didi47]

12:54 PM on 02/26/2008

Gmoney1:

Getting desperate are you? It looks like you are trying to steer attention away from Michelle Obama getting a 200,000.00 RAISE uping her salary to over 320,000.00 right after Obama got elected to the Senate. All this at a non profit hospital that charges the poor and uninsured 3 times more than anyone else. Are you also trying to steer attention away from the millions in assets Obama has - that just don't fly with his 'supposed' income?

Going after Chelsey - again demonstrates the 'depths' the Obama cult will sink to in order NOT TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT OBAMA.

[HDR]

01:08 PM on 02/26/2008

What sacrifices have any of the 5 sons of the corporate raiding, former (or is he?) candidate Romney made?

[steviec]

01:32 AM on 02/26/2008

If he really feels he was thrown under a bus, he should say who he did it for. If he had made a deceent apology, I think it would've all been forgiven...but instead, we have Olbermann saying he is "literally sorry"-- have you ever heard anyone put those two words together? Not truly, or sincerely sorry (because I'm sure he wasn't) but literally????

[jfh]

10:34 AM on 02/26/2008

He is typical of closeted Repug Thugs

It is not my fault

I am paying for the sins of the Father (and just who is the father?)

I hear better excuses from my 4 year old grandchild.

Grow up Little Davie Boy --- try to be a man and accept responsibility for your words and actiions!

[PhiloTheDialectician]

01:25 AM on 02/26/2008

If only he had used the word 'procure' instead of 'pimp'

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/procure :

procure: To bring about; effect: procure a solution to a knotty problem

Then there would be wiggle room.

[BonnieG123]

09:36 PM on 02/25/2008

Even outstanding journalists and broadcasters can slip up with a poor choice of words. His use of a slang expression in this context may have a mistake but I sincerely believe it was a simple "OOPS" moment. His consistent and reliable professionalism precedes this mis-statement and will continue after. Love you David and so happy to have you back!!!

[Didi47]

01:05 PM on 02/26/2008

bonnie..:

What outstanding journalists and broadcasters are you talking about? I haven't seen any since this election began. I HAVE seen pundits and wanna be commentators - who are terrific at skewing the news in Obama and McCain's favor. But Journalists? Where are they? So far, none to be found. The closet ones to date ... as far as truth telling goes.. were the ones I saw on last Saturday Night Live's broadcast.

[PackyJ]

08:14 PM on 02/25/2008

Schuster's cooment was crude, but accurate.

Hillary IS pimpimg out her kid.

[OhYeah08]

04:05 PM on 02/25/2008

Shuster should have been fired, just like Don Imus was for his uncalled for racist remarks; unless you think disparaging, sexist remarks are OK.

[hoopesaz]

12:34 PM on 02/26/2008

Yea, "pimp" is pretty derogatory. Olberman should be fired right with him for using the same phrase on multiple occassions referring to folks in political office.

[BlondeLebanese]

01:02 PM on 02/26/2008

He should be fired?? What Shuster said was accurate...why the hell should he be fired? I mean, if O'Reilly can make remarks about LYNCHING and still be employed, Shuster did nothing wrong. Thank heavens for MSNBC, if they could get rid of Tucker Carlson and stifle some of Chris Matthews remarks, it would be a perfect channel for me. I understand some people don't like MSNBC, thankfully they are not obligated to watch it.

[ntmessage]

10:25 AM on 02/25/2008

David just got worked up with all the hysteria and blogger and media bashing that has been attacking Hillary for months.
He didn’t realize he was on national TV and the general public does not go for those kinds of phenomenally biased attacks.

[bluejean1960]

10:22 AM on 02/25/2008

I will send this news to members on the dating site http://meetwealthyboomer.com And as a part-time model, I uploaded my best photos, the members there said I am an amazing "naughtygirl".. Maybe you want to comment on my pictures?

[blastocyst]

05:03 PM on 02/25/2008

nice try

[billis3811]

10:53 AM on 02/24/2008

Wow you people are stupid. All, of you, please, get the hell over yourselves.

[crystalsapphire]

01:39 PM on 02/28/2008

Why? Oh, let's see.. you are a big fat overweight and undereducated middle-aged man with, or without an ugly, overweight wife who you believe should be "barefoot and pregnant".

That is, if you HAVE a wife. Probably have to pay for it.

[sl26]

03:43 AM on 02/24/2008

His comment was a little crass but not worth all this attention. Matthews is offensive and obnoxious every day. Why haven't they reprimanded or fired him?

[enoughalready13]

07:14 PM on 02/24/2008

THAT IS THE QUESTION OF THE CENTURY