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Video: Time Editor Calls Obama A "Dick" On MSNBC, Now Feels Bad
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 30, 2011
Modified Jun 30, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 30, 2011
Modified Jun 30, 2011
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Time magazine's editor-at-large and political analyst Mark Halperin appeared on MSNBC's Morning Joe, where he called President Obama a "dick." And now he feels bad! Halperin Tweeted, "I want to offer a heartfelt and profound apology to the President and the viewers of Morning Joe.My remark was not funny.I deeply regret it." Ahh, the lamestream media.
Halperin and the other Morning Joe folks were discussing Obama's remarks on the economy yesterday. The Washington Post noted that president used a "combative tone" when referring to Republicans, "They’re in one week, they’re out one week. And then they’re saying, ‘Obama has got to step in.’.. You need to be here. I’ve been here. I’ve been doing Afghanistan and bin Laden and the Greek crisis. You stay here. Let’s get it done." So the talking heads of Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski asked Halperin what he thought:
Halperin: "Do we have the seven-second delay today? I want to characterize how I thought the President behaved?"
Brzezinski: "We have it. [To producer] We can use it, right?"
Scarborough: "Yeah, sure, come one, take a chance. Have faith."
Brzezinski: "Let's see what happens."
Scarborough: "I'm behind you. You fall down. I'm gonna catch you."
Brzezinski:" And the precedent has been set on the show, so you're good", [referring to his 2008 F-bomb on the air, which resulted in MSNBC instituting the seven second delay].
Halperin: "I thought he was kind of a d--- yesterday."
Scarborough: "Oh my God. Delay that! Delay that! What are you doing? I can't believe you. I was joking! Don't do that! Did we delay that?"
As you can see from this clip, Scarborough was really shocked!
Later, Halperin apologized on air.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Gawker, which has made fun of Halperin before, opines, "Now: we're of the opinion that if you're the type of person who likes to call people "dicks" in public (as we are), you should be sure not to hold a job in which it would be problematic for you to call someone a 'dick.'"
Update: Now MSNBC has suspended Halperin! This is the cable news station's statement, "Mark Halperin’s comments this morning were completely inappropriate and unacceptable. We apologize to the President, The White House and all of our viewers. We strive for a high level of discourse and comments like these have no place on our air. Therefore, Mark will be suspended indefinitely from his role as an analyst.”
Halperin then said, "I completely agree with everything in MSNBC’s statement about my remark. I believe that the step they are taking in response is totally appropriate. Again, I want to offer a heartfelt and profound apology to the President, to my MSNBC colleagues, and to the viewers. My remark was unacceptable, and I deeply regret it."
Tagged
dick
joe scarborough
lamestream media
mark halperin
media
morning joe
msnbc
president obama
stupid
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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