Pimped out comment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2St8qoXx1g
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MSNBC’s Chelsea comment angers Clinton
Anchor Shuster apologized on the air for his comment
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23073503/ - - - - -
(Video of apology here)
SEATTLE - MSNBC says it has temporarily suspended anchor David Shuster from all NBC news broadcasts — except to offer his on-air apology for what he said about Chelsea Clinton.
Shuster outraged the Clinton campaign by saying on the air that the campaign had "pimped out" the Clintons' daughter, when they had her place phone calls to party superdelegates on her mother's behalf.
In a conference call with reporters, Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson on Friday excoriated MSNBC's Shuster and called the comment "beneath contempt" and disgusting. And he said it could threaten Clinton's participation in a debate later this month on MSNBC and in future debates on the network.
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http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/...ycott-msnbc-debates/index.html?nl=pol&emc=pol
February 8, 2008, 2:14 pm
Clinton Campaign Threatens to Boycott MSNBC Debates
By
Katharine Q. Seelye
Updated David Shuster, a reporter for MSNBC who has been suspended because of comments he made last night about Chelsea Clinton,
just appeared on air and apologized.
He had said that Ms. Clinton
had been “pimped out” to make calls to super delegates on behalf of her mother, Senator Hillary Clinton.
“In describing this effort, 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,” Mr. Shuster said. “As I said this morning on MSNBC, all Americans should be proud of Chelsea Clinton and I’m 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.”
That was it, as he headed off into suspension-land.
Earlier in the day, the Clinton campaign had suggested it might refuse to do any further debates on MSNBC because of Mr. Shuster’s comment as well as an earlier one by Chris Matthews last month.
Mr. Matthews, who also apologized on air, had suggested that Mrs. Clinton had gotten as far as she had in politics because of sympathy in response to her husband’s infidelity.
Howard Wolfson, a spokesman for the Clinton campaign, said on a conference call with reporters this afternoon that Mr. Shuster’s comment was “disgusting” and “beneath contempt.”
He suggested there was a “pattern” at MSNBC where comments are made and then apologized for. He then noted that Mrs. Clinton had participated in a number of debates on MSNBC and had just agreed yesterday to another one, but added: “I can’t envision we’ll continue to debate on that network given the comments.”
Subsequently, Jeremy Gaines, MSNBC’s vice president for media relations, sent the following comment via e-mail:
On Thursday’s “Tucker” on MSNBC, David Shuster, who was serving as guest-host of the program, made a comment about Chelsea Clinton and the Clinton campaign that was irresponsible and inappropriate. Shuster, who apologized this morning on MSNBC and will again this evening, has been suspended from appearing on all NBC News broadcasts, other than to make his apology. He has also extended an apology to the Clinton family. NBC News takes these matters seriously, and offers our sincere regrets to the Clintons for the remarks.
Both the Clinton and Obama campaigns accepted invitations from us on Thursday evening to participate in a February 26th debate. Our conversations with the Clinton campaign about their participation continue today, and we are hopeful that the event will take place as planned.
