Marcy Wheeler: GOP Will Investigate Clinton's "Blow Job" But Not CIA

Marcy Wheeler of FireDogLake, appeared on MSNBC Monday to argue for an investigation of secret C.I.A. operations under President Bush. But all of the post-segment discussion focused on her use of the word "blow job", which drew an apology from the anchors.

Wheeler was responding to Townhall's Matt Lewis, who argued that looking backwards and "investigating policies and activities that happened in a previous administration" would set a bad precedent.

"[Y]our idea is that after investigating Bill Clinton for a blow job for like five years, we shouldn't investigate the huge, grossly illegal things that were done under the past administration, only because Alberto Gonzales was too much in the back pocket of Dick Cheney to do it while he was still in office," Wheeler said. "That's ridiculous."

After the segment ended, the Tamron Hall and David Shuster expanded on her "passionate" choice of words.

"I'm sure she apologizes for that choice of words, she's very passionate about it," said Hall.

David Shuster chimed in: "We all say things sometimes when we're passionate that we don't intend, and especially on a dayside family-oriented cable television news network."

"I'm sure she apologizes, and we do, too," concluded Hall.

Watch:

Comments

[StonyStoner]

She used the appropriate language in my opinion. I think Ms. Wheeler was trying to link the triviality of the investigation of Clinton's sex life to the utterly disengenuous refusal of the GOP to investigate the CIA on the grounds it isn't important.

But leave it to the MSM to worry more about the language than the message.

[ROlmeda]

I thought the anchors handled it well (but not perfectly). They probably should have spoken for themselves and not for the guest, but they were right to immediately flag that the comment was inappropriate for the standards of their show and apologize to the audience.

Of course, my problem is that the comment was factually incorrect: Bill Clinton was not investigated for five years regarding that sexual act. But the accuracy of Marcy Wheeler's comment doesn't seem to be relevant, I guess.

[Dogwithoutaleash]

Bill Clinton got a blow job? When did this happen and why wasn't I informed?

[yoli647]

Agree..

[leftbehind2000]

Someone saying it like it is? Wow, how disgusting!

[HudsonGal]

Crude way of saying it but it is essentially true

[citizensrus]

s ack clinton
this is n uts
this will bl0w over
take the whole pa c kage
all these words have been censored in this context 3 times by HP

[MrsPeel]

I've had innocuous stuff cut as well. Capricious.

[MrsPeel]

I saw that live. It registered unconsciously, but it was only when Tamron and David made the apology that I really notised.

I thought it was refreshing. It's what happened, and what Republicans used so much taxpayer money to persecute and prosecute. Yeah, there were some Dems, as well.

I'm tired of euphemisms, giggles, winks and nods, and silliness.

[hadassah23]

Same here... saw it live, but it didn't register until the apologies.

[mwinik]

would it have been less offensive to use "an act of fellatio"? why are we all so uptight about sex? i think we all need to be having more of it; that way we're not all so afraid of it.

[petef59]

All the adults have been seriously, maturely and ethically been guiding their money (future), or letting other fine, upstanding adults manage their money for them. Very serious adult work (hehehe).

[citizensrus]

That sucks.

[fiftyfiveandcounting]

People are saying that she apologized. I agree. She didn't apologize. Tamryn Hall did, for her. She spoke as it should be. Also, I find it very interesting at at 4:55 today, Tamryn was very vocal in not interpreting someone's words after a comment made at the Sotomayer hearings. Did Michelle apologize, I think not. Go Michelle! Tamryn (pardon the spelling) love your reporting but............you can't have it both ways.

[bazokbros]

Pretty undisciplined and unprofessional of her to go on a credible news station and think using that language was even remotely appropriate. You have to reasonably assume she speaks before she thinks.

[citizensrus]

She really should have said fellatio.

[Jelperman]

Dan Quayle spells "fellatio" with an "E" on the end.

[Madmac]

I could use "a passionate choice of words right now". Time for an afternoon delight

[Mike Barden]

she shoulda used "pullin' a Palin"

[CuriousInSeattle]

Well it was on MSNBC so she at least caught a break. You need viewers to have offended them so therefore this was a tree falling in the forest thing.

[lib2dbone]

@cluelessinseattle:

You have no idea how many folks watch MSNBC daily to get the truth. These are the truly intelligent folks who don't believe the sky is falling and Pres. Obama is a martian, or an arab or asian.
You know. Throwed-off folks like you and your friends in the klavern.