David Shuster Muzzled? Tweets Suggest MSNBC Management Ordered Him Off Twitter

When David Shuster posted his controversial tweets to conservative activist/journalist James O'Keefe last month, MSNBC called them "inappropriate." But did they also order the dayside anchor off Twitter?

On January 26, Shuster tweeted at O'Keefe, "@JamesOKeefeIII a) you are not a journalist b) the truth is you intended to tap her phones c) it's a felony d) you will go to prison."

Two days later, on January 28th, MSNBC told Politico that Shuster's comments were "inappropriate" and added, "We have talked to David about them."

But Shuster, once an active Twitter user, hadn't posted anything since January 27, leading some to wonder if he had been muzzled by the network. Tuesday night, what appears to be a private message gone awry all but confirms the news.

"Thanks shag. I hope to get the green light to twitter again soon. Cheers. d" reads one message, since-deleted.

"Thankyou. I appreciate it. I'm hoping mgmt will revisit the twitter issue soon. Thx again 4 your support," reads another.

MSNBC has thus far refused to comment on Shuster's Twitter silence.

Two different screengrabs of the deleted tweets:

Via Mediaite:

Via Johnny Dollar:

Comments

[cyndeewi]

09:31 AM on 03/28/2010

Shuster is right. The man is a criminal.

[OliverTwist]

08:49 AM on 02/22/2010

David is great!

A little bit of truth now and then is a good thing.

[Clevelandinwi]

07:26 AM on 02/22/2010

He's a little 'edgy' sometimes but compare him to the foxowhacko­s and he is just a pussycat!

[Choc1972]

04:43 PM on 02/21/2010

Check this out. What was his punishment­?

http://med­iamatters.­org/mmtv/2­0090716004­3

[collies1]

03:29 PM on 02/21/2010

Remember Schuster telling the Clinton's that they were "pimping" their daughter??­?
Its time for Schuster to shooo..

[DirectProf]

01:28 PM on 02/21/2010

Since I find Twitter about as appealing as a tonsillect­omy, I'm glad they did. Go MSNBC!

[Clevelandinwi]

07:30 AM on 02/22/2010

What is 'twitter'?

[Franklin Print]

12:55 AM on 02/21/2010

O'Keefe's modus operandi is espionage and subversion of the incumbent party and should be covered by the media as such.

Instead we hear about how he is "just a kid" and "if anything, he's guilty of being too exuberant.­"

[Clevelandinwi]

07:27 AM on 02/22/2010

HE IS A CRIMINAL. That's it.

[admiralj]

10:07 PM on 02/20/2010

Everything he wrote about the little twit, O'Keefe was true.

1. Not a journalist

2. The only reason he was in the office was to TAP the Senators phones.

3. He must have forgotten about Watergate.

4. The travesty of the justice system will be if he doesn't go to prison.

[Okieborn]

07:41 PM on 02/20/2010

Your the man David !!
America loves and respects you sir !!

[DanEboy]

12:32 PM on 02/20/2010

Get the boy a tissue and the whole msnbc station should be off the air....and takeRick" the Dick "Snachez..­.with them they are both a farce .....journ­alists....­nope....no by a long shot.

[mmark03]

05:43 AM on 02/22/2010

let me guess....y­ou think the faux news folks are journalist­s

[Halfwit]

05:56 PM on 02/19/2010

I'll be glad when they order this whiny slime-bag off the air entirely. Maybe he can take Rick Sanchez with him. They are both disgraces to their respective networks.

[Clevelandinwi]

07:28 AM on 02/22/2010

foxnoise is your favorite 'news' and 'journalis­tic' enterprise­?

[TXDeb]

05:46 PM on 02/19/2010

Please, myspace/fa­cebook/twe­eter these are juvenile social sites. This is similar to David having a conversati­on with this guy at a bar. How much say in someones personal life should an employer have? I say admonishin­g someone because of their personal social activity is against that persons rights.

[bertha112]

07:54 AM on 02/19/2010

HP, You scrub my posts for being critical of your site, but you allow racist comments on here without any hesitation­.

HPcrytes!!­!!

Please scroll down.

[rmct]

02:51 AM on 02/19/2010

Shuster can alway be Olberwoman­s intern. that is all he is qualified for

[Fair]

12:47 AM on 02/19/2010

Jeff Zucker never gets it.

He's too busy trying to emulate Roger Ailes.