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David Shuster, MSNBC Mourning Chelsea Clinton Remark
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 8, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 8, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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Photograph of Bill, Chelsea, and Hillary Clinton on Tuesday night by Carolyn Kaster/AP
Yet another example of foot-in-mouth syndrome due to the hours of punditry on TV, followed by an apology and suspension! Yesterday, while referring to Chelsea Clinton's campaigning on behalf of her mother, MSNBC correspondent David Shuster commented, "Doesn't it seem as if Chelsea is sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?" Yes, he totally said that. Or, as the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz writes, "Using a prostitution metaphor for the daughter of a presidential candidate is a surefire way for a journalist to get into trouble."
Earlier today, Clinton campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson spoke out against MSNBC, noting that it was "disgusting" and "beneath contempt," even suggesting to pull out of a debate on MSNBC. So, tonight Shuster apologized:
"I used a phrase that was inappropriate, and I apologize to the Clinton family, the Clinton campaign, and all of you who were justifiably offended. As I said this morning on MSNBC, all Americans should be proud of Chelsea Clinton, and I am particularly sorry that my language diminished the regard and respect she has earned from all of us and the respect her parents have earned in how they raised her."
MSNBC president Steve Capus has suspended Shuster (the remarks were "irresponsible and inappropriate") and even Keith Olbermann weighed in (after noting that while Shuster is a good reporter) that the remarks were reprehensible.
Media Matters' president David Brock made a statement criticizing a "troubling pattern" of behavior from MSNBC commentators, such as Don Imus, Tucker Carlson, and Chris Matthews: "If MSNBC was genuinely trying to tackle the problem of sexism on their airwaves, this wouldn’t keep happening...The time for apologies has passed. The time for a real commitment to change is long since overdue."
We can't speak for 27-year-old Chelsea Clinton - or Jenna and Barbara Bush or Mitt Romney's five sons - but we bet most children of politicians try to support their parents' efforts however they can. Unless they're Andrew or Caroline Giuliani, that is.
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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