MSNBC Pulls "Inappropriate" Michelle Obama "Hardball" Ad Depicting Silhouetted Female Dancers (VIDEO)

MSNBC ran an ad for "Hardball" Thursday morning teasing a segment on Michelle Obama's image makeover. The ad featured background artwork of female silhouetted dancers while the phrase, "HER NEW OUTLOOK?" was displayed on the screen. When contacted, an MSNBC representative said the ad was pulled after only running "once or twice" because it was deemed "inappropriate." The full statement:

The artwork should not have been used, it was inappropriate. We pulled the spot this morning and it was re-done without those images.

Watch the "inappropriate" ad below ("inappropriate" artwork slo-mo'ed at end if you miss it):

From MSNBC, 6/19

Comments

[marthlois]

I've been around for many a "makeover" for the first lady to be.
It happens - I understand that.
But what the media is doing this year is to lead people to think that they are "making over" (poor choice of wording) Michelle from some weirdo/angry/black women.
I've had enough. I'm white. I'm 59. It is getting to the point where I will not put any media on anymore because I find it so unfair.
How to we implore people to keep open minds when this kind of crap goes on daily?
John & Cindy McCain should feel very lucky that the Obamas are the people of character that they are (and I invite no feedback about their character to me personally because I know of what I speak).
If they keep pushing this gutter envelope, they shall undoubtedly be met with more than they would care to deal with. Obama supporters follow his lead. But we can only take so much before we start a campaign to get gutter things out there as well. It would take a lot. But I, for one, am reaching the point where I ain't gonna be nice anymore.

[gulopartisan]

Amen. I distinguish precisely in my mind between "gutter politics" of lying, distortion, and deliberately misleading and the "ugly truth" politics that McC*n and his repug handlers deserve. Their glass house deserves every stone.

[BongHitsForJesus]

The masterful media professionals of yesteryear have been replaced by smarmy, talentless hacks who behave like smirking schoolchildren.

[Ping]

This comment is pending approval and won't be displayed until it is approved.

I dunno beating up on ole Lars there.....Shame on you Dan that was like child abuse. You matched wits with a completely unarmed opponent.

[TheRealMacDaddy]

You saw that too....wasn't it great! Lars was (to quote Chris Berman) Rumbling, Bumbling, Stumbling all over himself. He is such an azzhole I can't believe that Abrams books him unless it is solely for the comic relief.

It reminded me of Chris Matthews gutting Kevin James regarding Neville Chamberlain.

[Alessan]

The makeover business, is to make sure white people know she's not Angela Davis. O f course I love
Angela Davis.

[nellie]

What is wrong with Chris Matthews?

[Tulka2]

Chris Mathews is dumb, lazy or both. BTW...? I thought we had two great candidates in Clinton and Obama. It made me furious when Chris Mathews did his "I'm just a dumb shit from Philly" shtick, and slimed Clinton with his sexist garbage. He is always having little epiphanies and "asking" horrible rhetorical questions. As if, "I'm just asking!" Watch him. This is his act.

[Jjc2006]

Gee....what a surprise. Chris Matthews uses an inappropriate sexist piece against Michelle Obama. How surprising....NOT. Guess all those Obama supporters who have been defending Chris Matthews when Hillary supporters were complaining about him might be rethinking their pov.

[bascombe]

no obama supporters defended chrissie.
thanks for lying.
you must be republican.
it comes so naturally.

[lizr]

No sense insulting HRC people.

Matthews was sexist in his coverage of her and people here did not defend her.

I think maybe you haven't been paying enough atttention.

O needs to speak about sexism to get the women back in the numbers he needs!!!

Word tothe Wise!!

[Suthngal]

Yes, I am one of those Obama supporters who will stand behind Matthews. I like him!

[lizr]

I love Obama, but Matthews is a sexist jerk. always has been, always will be.

[kylie]

Most of us know that Matthews is nothing but a Republican hack.

Whoever was defending him must have been a Republican.

Matthews political panels and his subject matter are strictly geared to be Republican-leaning.

He has gotten way too predictable and boring.

[naijaman]

MSNBC just reduced Michelle Obama to a sex object....will the Hillary supporters cry sexism?

[AbbieXHoffman]

I see the comparison. Images of models as a visual representation of a fashion makeover for a woman NOT running for anything is soooo close to what a woman running for president had to deal with such as:

1. Barnacle saying that she reminds everyone on their first wife--but no mention of that on Huf Post
2. Matthews saying that she wouldn't be anywhere if it weren't for her husband (yet she was twice name the US top 100 attnys and had a long list of activist work for woman children and the poor--but no mention of that on Huf Post
3. Matthews saying, "Let me tell you how short Hillary leash is.."--but no mention of that on Huf Post
4. Olbermann saying that a someone should take HRC into a room and make sure that HE is the only one that comes out--but no mention of that on Huf Post
5. Cafferty saying after she cried that she has multiple pesonality disorder
6. Cavuto saying, "Men won't vote for HC because she reminds them of their nagging wives.--but no mention of that on Huf Post
7. Fox saying, "When HC speaks men hear, take out the garbage"--but no mention of that on Huf Post

Want more? Go here....
http://www.salon.com/opinion/walsh/election_2008/2008/04/09/one_last_time/index.html


Obama/Clinton 08

[lizr]

Disagree that HRC should be VP

But agree with everything else and if Obama supporters want to win you all better start listening on this topic.

NO kidding.

[Suthngal]

Doubt it, because they didn't care when HRC started race-baiting. This was a non-issue.

[lizr]

I beg to differ. Sexism is a very important issuein this election.

[pupbayer]

Nah. We don't care.

[AbbieXHoffman]

Maybe your gripe is better placed if you are insulted that she has obviously been told that she needs to soften up instead of lashing out at the media for using images of fashion models (not dancers) to visualize the story that she is heading that advice.

She is a strong opinionated woman and I like that, but sadly the country overall doesn't like that for a first lady. Don't blame the media for pointing out the truth of what she is undergoing. Work to change perception of what wives should be like in your daily life and that will trickle up.

[gulopartisan]

For me the most conspicuous element of the Michelle Obama buzz is the silence of feminists. in its beginnings, many minority women identified at the center of feminism a narrowed white entitlement. It's still sexism when the woman is black; where are the feminists? Where are Erica Jong and Gloria Steinem when the woman is black?

[antaeus]

And let's all repeat: HRC's loss had nothing to do with pervasive sexism . . . hahaha

[nellie]

And there's no pervasive racism, either ... ha ha ha

[Suthngal]

May I add another...HA!

[mshazen]

We did cry sexism and all we heard was whaaaaaaaaa!!!! Good Luck it gets you no where.

[lizr]

both sexism and racism have been operating in this election campaign..

and if we are sypathetic to one and not the other we will DIVIDE and LOSE our chance.

I really hope O's people GET A GRIP on this and QUICKLY!

THIS IS DANGEROUS.

[vonniewit]

What is wrong with the ad? What am I missing?

[xargaw]

What your missing is that it looks like an ad for "Charlie's Angels." It is not appropriate for a potential First Lady or anyone with Mrs. Obama's stellar accomplishments. What would you think if you saw a characture of Laura Bush in a mini skirt waving her hips and strutting her stuff. It is tasteless.

[Misterdc]

See, this is where we can start peeling the onion. Feminism doesn't have to be sexless. We all want to be seen as sexually appealing, but not at the expense of our accomplishments. This country is so messed up when it comes to sex.

As for the ad - it was stupid, not sexist. The campaign has already called it a "make over".

And Hillary fans, she lost because she was a clinton, not because of her gender.

[billreef]

Let's try this for starters:

1) She is being depicted as an exotic dancer. What about that wouldn't be offensive?

2) Obviously I am not alone in thinking this. They pulled the ad after it ran once.

3) The subject is stupid and demeaning to this woman who has been a coporate legal counsel and graduated from Harvard law school after coming from the south side of Chicago. You ever been to the south side?

[AbbieXHoffman]

I support Obama, but with a clear head. Most of his supporters on this board will lash out against ANYTHING that isn't pro Obama in the media. They can't even see that the headline in of this article is a misrepresentation.

Those aren't dancers, they are fashion models.

I can see if they have a problem that the media is saying that Michelle is having a make-over because she doesn't need one, but SHE IS IN FACT doing a make-over all the same. The media is just pointing that out. It's not news, it's just opinion which is what most of the commentary news is.

[macbabe]

*shrug* I am with you, what are we missing?

[mcole]

i think there should just be a general boycott of the MSN till they start doing what they're SUPPOSED to do...its ridiculous!!

[Tulka2]

Chris Matthews wrong-headed as usual. Today he either pretended not to understand, or actually did not understand, the complicated, campaign financing chess game between McCain and Obama. Mathews has got to understand if he has a hope of explaining quite a complicated thing to Joe Blow who is just tuning in. Instead he yammered on that Obama had "broken his pledge". "Is it just the same old politics?" Yammer, yammer. Is Matthews dumb, lazy, or both?

[LLT]

Dumb as dirt. Completely and utterly clueless. A verbal bull in a china shop every time he opens his mouth. And a truly awful "anchor." How in the hell did this guy get an on air gig? He's just terrible.

As to the ad, the woman is very likely the next First Lady of the United States, not one of Charlie's Angels. For God's sake, grow up and show a little respect MSNBC.

[jackieblu23]

He's got a face for radio !

[lizr]

He's not dumb. He is an absolute Republican TOOL who pretended to love Oba ma because he thinks McC can beat him. that is all.

[duze]

v-sign. It's 2008, take th sheet off your head and look around, everyone doesn't look,act ,talk , live or feel the need to break people down as you do.

Michelle Obama will continue to be a fantastic woman. You on the other hand, will continue to be
a miserable person.

[Superbus]

Stop! Enough is enough! She's not running for president. In her own right, her story of being raised by two black inner city parents and being able to go to an Ivy League school and have a succesful career of her own just go to show what opportunities are only available in America, and how people like her and her brother rise above the odds to become successful in their fields.

I will not vote for Obama based on issues, but I believe he is a good man, a good father and had the good sense to marry Michelle Obama.

[nunzia]

"based on issues"???
Be specific, or go away.

[Superbus]

I'll be specific when Obama actually explains exactly what he will do sans teleprompters and handlers.

[AbbieXHoffman]

Superbus doesn't have to as s/he is entitled to an opinion.

Obama/Clinton 08

[evekendall]

Thank you, Superbus. Even though we disagree on issues, your comment is appreciated.

[lizr]

you gonna vote for MCC on issues? tell us more.

[csepwede]

I'm an Obama supporter and a black woman.

Everyone needs to chill out. MSNBC was just trying to be young and hip.

Have a sense of humor.

[duze]

Lets just see how each of the famous ladies who entered the room fared with public opinion.
Regarding her looks, openness and likeability.

Hillary Clinton, needs to lose 25 lbs, change her hairstyle and hair color. Learn to lie as well as Bill. He could have explained away Bosnia. Bill could talk a cat off a fish cart. Hillary should never wear yellow and put on a form fitting dress. Hillary has beautiul legs, might have went over big during the primary. Oh and least we forget divorce Bill, it would brighten up her personality considerably.
.
Cindy McCain, should stop standing up so damn straight. she looks like she's waiting for someone to wind her up. Wear something once in awhile that doesn't make her look like a school marm.
Ease up on the makeup. Lose the red lipstick by any means necessary. Last but not least, stick to rehab..

Finally Michelle the Belle. Fine for no reason. When was the last time anyone actualy knew a woman as fine as Michelle Obama. She's smart, elegant, charming, capable, a great mom, a fierce advocate and looks better in a dress than 90% of the women she spends her day with. The only thing wrong with Michelle Obama is everyone else. We all have a tendency to pale in comparison. The country has never seen a candidate like Barack and yet delighted to see a woman as fine as Michelle standing by his side.