David Shuster's Emails

by Taylor Marsh

If you want to know why Shuster was suspended, baby, this is it.

The title of this post says it all: "The Mess at MSNBC."

Politico.com has put up the entire email exchange between the Clinton campaign and David Shuster. It's also been in the comments here, as well as being passed around via email. One can hardly find a more ignorant move from Shuster than this. Putting your spin into text. Not only did he defend the indefensible, but digging in your heels on something like this is just plain stupid. As I said originally, he's built up a lot of reserve for his reporting, especially on Libby and other matters, but it's clear he doesn't understand the double standard towards Chelsea Clinton, especially when compared to the kids of the other candidates. Romney's sons all campaigned for their dad, but in the middle of a war he supports, has one reporter asked them why they haven't served their country? Are they being "pimped out?" If Shuster had made this comment about Obama's kids, the furor we're witnessing right now would pale in comparison to the shouts for Shuster's head. As a radio person and on air commentator, I'm not calling for that at all. If you talk for hours extemporaneously, you're always one sentence away from saying something stupid. But what made matters worse for Shuster was his disgraceful non-apology on "Morning Joe."

The truth about Shuster is that he never intended to apologize; didn't want to; was made to. The exchange below reveals it. It's also why he ended up getting suspended. Imagine this attitude being displayed while his bosses were getting besieged by phone calls, emails, as well as irate MS/NBC female employees. Shuster's cluelessness is one thing, his unprofessionalism is another. But in this day and age putting your idiocy in text form is just dumb. It's also arrogant and gets to the heart of the problem. MSNBC has obviously sent a message, whether through Chris Matthews or their continual genuflection to all things Obama, that all things Clinton are fair game. It's important that everyone see the evidence. Mess at MSNBC, indeed.

Original Message-----

From: Philippe Reines
To: David Shuster
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 7:14 p.m.

David - how hard is it for someone, anyone, in the vast MS/NBC universe to contact any one of us at the campaign for comment about Chelsea before going on air and saying that she is being "pimped out" ? It's absurdly offensive. And what the hell does that even mean?

I just don't get MSNBC - does GE not allow you to make toll calls? What's the problem.

Philippe Reines
Press Secretary
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

-----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

-----Original Message-----
From: Philippe Reines
To: David Shuster
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 9:00 p.m.

Since you guys asked for the transcript - here specifically is what David said on air:

SHUSTER: "But doesn't it seem like she's being--but doesn't it seem as if Chelsea is sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?"

I have a hunch that such offensive and unacceptable language was never used on MSNBC's air about Karenna Gore, the Bush twins, Venessa & Alex Kerry, Kate Edwards, the Romney sons - or any other adult offspring who chose to campaign on behalf of a parent.

-----Original Message-----
From: Philippe Reines
To: David Shuster
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 9:16: p.m.

David - I want to make sure I'm crystal clear here - you're saying that because she doesn't grant interviews and makes calls on behalf of her mother, you are right to say that she is being pimped out?

I don't need to read a the whole transcript for context, you were way out of line. Nobody's jumping down your throat about asking for an interview or talking about calls she made. And you know it.

There is simply no excuse for being so offensive.

By actually rationalizing your behavior rather than accepting responsibility and apologizing, you become the poster child for everything wrong with tv journalism, and it's a shame your NBC colleagues have to be associated with this (expletive).

-----Original Message-----
From: David Shuster
To: Philippe Reines
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 9:29 p.m.

No. That's not what I'm saying. And if you bothered to look at the transcript and saw all of the glowing things I said about chelsea and the way she was raised, you would know that.

The issue is not her making calls. As + said on the air, I have no problems with that what so ever. The issue is not her refusing interviews. The issue is that the campaign has come down hard on reporters who merely sought to ask chelsea questions. You can't have it both ways. Reporters have long respected the clintons desire that we avoid chelsea and let her have her space. But to get angry at reporters seeking to talk to her now is patently unfair. And you know that.

--------------------------
Sent using BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: Philippe Reines
To: David Shuster
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 9:49 p.m.

I think we've each said what we have to say on this matter. Based on this email exchange, we're assuming two things:

1) You are not disputing that you said on air: "But doesn't it seem like she's being--but doesn't it seem as if Chelsea is sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?"

2) You have no intention of apologizing for the above.

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Comments

[NEWSWOMAN]

I can't believe some people are defending FOX as being "fair and balanced" toward the Clintons! The Fox crew only express the Republican view of things and how much they love America and support the "Troops". They do not like Hillary because she is a woman, and they express the sexism that lies just under the surface in American life. Hillary says that the media attack her because she is the front runner, not because she is a woman, but we know better.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

There is nothing MORE APPROPRIATE than the word PIMPING used in regards to Chelsea and her telephoning super delegates on behalf of her parents. How the heck did she get the telephone numbers of these super delegates? Out of thin air? Who supplied them to her? This is a disgrace and she and the Clintons have really stepped over the line. The larger question is, what right does she have to go telephoning them and television personalities to plead her mother's case, when she is involved with Hedge Funds, and her father is involved in a big Hedge Fund Scandal?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ViecghWE3pk

Additionally, Chelsea Clinton is not some sweet little naive kid!

Two Secret Service agents heard Hillary's daughter Chelsea refer to them as "PERSONAL, TRAINED PIGS" ... The agent on the detail tried to scold Chelsea for such disrespect. He told her ... he believed that her father, the president, would be shocked if he heard what she had just said to her friends. Chelsea's response? "I don't think so. That's what my parents call you." extract from (Unlimited Access, p. 90).

Here's some colorful Clinton language:

http://www.nowpublic.com/happy_valentines_day_from_hillary_and_bill

[realistic2008]

Chris Mathews and David Shuster should be sent to Siberia maybe their minds and mouths can be frozen for a while to our relief.

[hannabanana]

Unknot your pantyhose there missy. Shuster said nothing wrong. Pimping The ugly duckling daughter is exactly what the Clintons are doing. You may not like the term and they may not like the accuracy of it, but that's the fact of the situation.

[Citizenchick]

Shuster did nothing wrong. His statement was a fair one. The emails were perfectly professional. How long is he off the air anyway? Is it a paid suspension? HRC is blowing it big time.

[jstock]

Shuster's behaviour in all of this is indefensible. But, Ms. Marsh, don't you think that voting to authorize an ill-advised war an even greater sin? Clinton cynically voted to send our children into hell so she could look tough. I knew it was wrong, and I am but a lowly citizen. I cannot defend this kind of sociopathic behaviour. Yes, you and she both are women, and I'm sure the chance of having one of your own gender in the White House must be very exciting, but there will be other women running for president, and it matters who the woman is. After all, I would hope you would vote against an Imelda Marcos or Condi Rice. And, no, I'm not comparing these two horrible people to HRC, but you get my point. The one thing I will agree with, even as an Obama supporter, is that Hillary gets incredibly bad press almost all of the time, and Obama gets almost consistently positive press, as does (inexplicably) John McCain.

[Lazslo]

I hope David Shuster, or someone he knows can read this and hear this: not everyone is a moron in this country, and not everyone thinks what he said was inappropriate. In fact, many think what he said was appropo. We need a free media in this country, and if I were Shuster, or MSNBC, I'd be at war with the Clinton camp. No more free rides to the Clintons. MSNBC has done an excellent job covering this presidential race, and because it has been so exceedingly fair and so accurate, twice now the Clinton camp has sought to silence two journalists. This is not right, and some people have the brains to realize this. David's comments were about Bill and Hillary, not Chelsea, and were directed at the disgustingly low act of using Chelsea to call delegates to try and sway their vote. That also makes Chelsea fair game and the kid gloves that the press has used thus far, and the respect they have given her at the Clinton's requests should evaporate.

[Turk]

Pimp my ride, Pimp my house,
todays meaning is not that of the Huggy Bear in the starsky and hutch show. Chelsea isn't a little kid anymore, she is 27 yrs old. She works on the campaign as a woman. Why is all this protection being granded to her?

some of ya'll crack me up.

[realistic2008]

Why does she deserved to be attacked and no say the Bushies for screwing up this country and the whole planet??

[varekai]

Don'r worry about David Schuster, Ann Coulter is comforting him.

[realistic2008]

and with Chris Mathews they'll make an orgy of nasty proportions.

[Tsunami]

Shuster is one of the better MSNBC talking heads. Timmy Russert, Chris Matthews, Chuckit Todd, Joe Scarbois, all these and more are constantly bad-mouthing Senator Clinton. They are VERY misogynist. Poor Shuster will be the fall guy.

[rwilliams1961]

Misogynist?

I love the fact that Hillary supporters say they don't want gender to be an issue in the campaign, but that it's ok for them to whine like little girls if anyone says anything negative about Ms. Clinton.

You can't have it both ways. Either chin up and take it like an adult or start wearing little pink dresses.

I've been pro-women since I was a kid and my mother showed me what a determined, strong woman could accomplish on her own merits. She often says she was her rancher father's only son. She's tough, resilient, smart and ambitious. She's excelled in three professions in her lifetime. And never, never did she play the victimized female in order to advance her career. Apparently, that is not how you or your candidate's mothers and fathers taught you.

I have never heard of a female senator or congresswoman using her gender to game the system for her like Hillary does. To their credit, to Hillary's shame.

"There's no crying in baseball!" Or politics.

If Hillary is truly up to the task, she wouldn't feel the need for the worn out old D.C. M.O. of feigned offense to get ahead. She would do it on her own merits - which are considerable, but apparently not enough

[howl]

I think Schuster was so tired of being "pimped out" on Morning Joe (they have been arguing non stop for most of the month) Joe acts like a belligerent, drunken blatherskite - and the newly married Schuster, who is a talented reporter purposly got himself suspended in order to look for better career offers - A very tasteless comment has possibly done the trick.

[runswithscissors]

The comment has NOTHING to do with prostitution like so many are saying. It's an expression that means someone is being used for the personal gain of another. I really can't believe that so many people have never heard this before...it's pretty commonly used.

This comment is not misogynist and Clinton's LBJ commenets were not racist. People are getting really oversensitive right now, and while I understand that history may justify these feelings on both sides, blacks/women need to understand that bickering back and forth practically guarantees that neither will win. MLK was so successful because he united people of all colors and gender. If Obama and Clinton present a united front on race/gender issues, how does the GOP attack them without making themselves look bad in the process?

[ntmessage]

Clearly David has some personal animosity toward the Clintons and feels it is ok to take it out by bashing and smearing them whenever he can, even if it means he stoops to the same level as IMUS. IMUS was fired for essentially the same principal. David should probably be fired as well for this behavior. Since he is a reporter he has even less moral ground than someone like IMUS for this behavior. IMUS was an entertainer Shuster is suppose to be an objective reporter.

[EdRoberts]

What I love is that Shuster is such an over-the-top liberal - and it is Hillary, another liberal who is doing him in! Funny stuff...

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

If Hillary is a liberal, then I'm the Queen of Sheba.

[Roose]

I hope Shuster is enjoying the Clintons imploding campaign with a bottle of expensive champagne.

NBC: Bring Him Back! Take Matthews instead!

[longislandlol]

He should be censored and suspended.