Clinton Camp Threatens to Boycott NBC Debates Because of Comments About Chelsea Being "Pimped Out"

Well, well. I see there are a lot of opinions and emotions here!

If you don't want to watch MSNBC or if you don't want to listen to certain pundits, one would think that is your right.

However, I see we'd like to go a bit further than that. I see that hyper-sensitivity and identity politics - as well as some protectionist/paternalistic chauvinism, thrown in from the prudish guys for good measure - like always, will take a backseat to common sense.

Let's see. Might the term have been an unfortunate one? Perhaps. But it's hard to find one of these younger people nowadays - you know, the ones that Clinton's supporters tell us are naive and stupid - who would find it impossible to believe that "pimping" could have been used in a non-sexual way to denote usury of whatever stripe.

And Shuster's e-mails with the Clinton's press aide make it clear that the Clintons never intended to address the larger issue in the first place: The fact that the Clinton's would like to use (yes, "use") their All Grown-Up Daughter to pander for superdelegate votes, while insisting that she have some sort of special immunity from being interviewed by the press in the same way that any campaign operative - related or not - would be subject to.

Now the Clinton's need - at least when it comes to themselves - to have EVERYTHING both ways, is fulfilled. Chelsea is just a little girl who can't be "abused" by the press. Hey, I had more of a problem with the media commenting on her looks when she was young. But now she is 28 years old, and she is apparently grown enough to persuade virtual electors for the Democratic nominee, but not to be questioned by the press on that? The converse is a thirty-year old woman selling Girl Scout cookies. Kind of a weird double-bind to put someone in, wouldn't you say?

But it's not weird for the Clintons. Unsurprisingly, they have turned the issue around, and all the Royalists here - those who would fawn over the Clintons as if they were the sort of European monarchy they would apparently like us all to see them as - as well as some of the same Europeans who need offer us no lectures on the virtues of free speech - have spun the issue into not "respecting" The Apparent First Family's Majesty. Well, my my. Chelsea was "dissed". Sounds a bit like the sort of gangsta interpersonal dynamics whose wild popularity have led to the use of the term "pimping" into the mainstream and not so very sexualized slang that Shuster obviously intended it as.

What can be said is that the media messed up. But they shouldn't be fired. When it comes to being able to manipulate the people as well as the politicians allow us to be manipulated, they are just trying to clumsily find the least unsubtle way to point out hypocrisy and entitlement on the part of elected officials. Unfortunately, they never figured on a conspiracy of mass stupidity, mass prudery and Clintonian entitlement to turn the issue back around on THEM. And the public will ultimately lose by allowing everyone to forget about the larger issue while the Clinton Family coasts through another victorious news cycle, the next primary and (if they get their way) four(+) more years of dumbing down the American public while they make everything about THEM once again.

You people deserve what you will inevitably get from such sanctimonious jerks as them if you can't see through it.

According to the ladies on The View, they received surprising and somewhat awkward calls from Chelsea Clinton asking them to support her Mom. Of course, Chelsea has every right to campaign on her mother's behalf. But, I think people are taking issue with the degree to which Hillary has relied upon her husband and daughter in this campaign. By many, she is not perceived so much as an individual candidate, but more as a Clinton package. Personally, I think it not a winning strategy for Hillary to deploy Bill to one state, Chelsea to another, and herself to yet another state in a tight race because voters need and want to hear her message from her, not her surrogates.

Though I think the media often unfairly offends the honor and dignity of public figures (be it Hillary or Barack), I also think it's a little bit extreme for the Clinton campaign to throw such a "fit" over one anchor's disrespectful remarks. An apology was issued immediately by the anchor and there is no reason for this story to remain in the headlines any longer.

Let's stick to the issues and what truly matters for the future of our country.

First they didn't want her to do anything afraid that the media would emabrress them. Then they let her out to call upon 'celebraties' to support 'her mother' and are astonsihed by a comment that otherwise could be taken in jest but nonetheless unprofessional. Double standards and hypocritical politicians are an embarressment, more so than the media. When will the tears fly again I wonder.

It was a very hostile comment considering why shouldn't candidates kids be out helping them get elected? Romneys did. Its a good addition to the campaign and helps voters get to know the entire family better. Its logical Chelsea should play the youth and celebrity venue as Hillary doesn't really have a foothold in the younger "Obama" generation. I am sure Chelsea loves her mom and wants to help her and enjoys all the new people she is meeting and excitement of the campaing. The reporter demonized her efforts as if they are somehow bad, when in fact, they are good. I think he is ignorant and judgemental and distorting the news for his own, or editors/producers ends.

Free Speech ? If one were to hear some at a party ask whats' the difference between a jew and a pizza and they answered that they didnt know and it was stated that the pizza does'nt scream when it is put into an oven.Should I make a citizens arrest at that point or wait for them to openly state that they miss hearing johnny weissmullers' tarzan shout UNGAHWAH! at some restless hottentots?B.T.W the last original copies of "Blazing Saddles" are going fast.What does that indicate?

Chris Matthews, David Shuster, and all those other news Anchors who are racist, gender, biased jerks, need to be fired, they have really gotten out of control, News anchors where very honorable back in the day, who only reported fair and balanced news,and reported the straight news as is, now all they do all day long is set-up and trash people instead reporting the news, without bias or spin, in the name of profits and ratings to help increase the Republican, not the Democratic agenda,So all fellow Democrats,Obama and Hillary Supporters, please don't be caught off this time around during the Presidenial Election Season, because believe or not,the Republican party is working together with all the Corporate Media to keep control of the White House and regain control of both House of Congress.

Obama you will not escape their garbage if you become the Democratic nonimee, because they are really setting you up to be defeated by the Republican nominee, be on the look out, because the news media is owned by Corporate America, and Corporate America mostly is and favors the Republican Party,but right now, they are fatting you up for the slaughter, by first,by trying to get rid of Hillary,and if they succeed,which I seriously doubt it, they will began quickly grinding you up and slowly feeding you to the political dogs where at the end, John McCain is the only candidate standing to become President, so enjoy your temporary favorable free press by these baised, racial, gender, jerks while it last, because political horror is soon to come your way, your Inspirational and Emotional speeches of Hope, Change, and Unity movement will not be able to save you from this foreseeable Presidential bid lost.

Go Hillary!! Win, Win, Win, you're The New "Clean-Up Woman"

So helping her mother's campaign is legitimately called "pimping" because it benefits her mother? Would helping your grandmother get the government benefits she is eligible for, pimping? After all it is a solicitation that benefits her.

How come no one is talking about what MSNBC's Keith Olgerman said? Didn't anyone catch the whole "pass the guacamole" statement referring to Gov. Richardson (of Mexican origin)? Now what if Imus had said this? Or better, what if they had done a clip with Barak Obama and said "pass the fried chicken and collargreens?"

Why is there always a double standard? You can mock Jews, Catholic Priests or the Virgin Mary, but don't print any cartoons of Mohammed in a bad light. Why is it okay for Whites, Asians and Latinos to be made fun of, but not blacks? The media needs to start applying the same rules, universally. Enough of the hand picking which groups can be offended, and which can't.

And (MS)NBC is 100 times further to the left than FOX is to the right. (MS)NBC is definitely the Obama network. It's scary to see how a supposedly honest media could openly cheer on a certain candidate of their choice. What is wrong with this country? CNN and even FOX!!! are being more fair toward Hillary than (MS)NBC.

When is ABC going to come out with their own cable news channel?

Oh come on now! He didn't realize the word "pimp" was offensive? If that's true it's a reflection of him and his loss of any sense of decency. I'll bet he also doesn't see how it is offensive to advertise erection drugs in prime time on national television either. We have lost our self respect. If we are the leaders of the free world, are we leading them to this? I don't think they will follow.

This just another example of the extreme bias shown against Hillary Clinton in the media. This is not the only network, but this was over the top, he should not be allowed on TV.

Is Chelsea a child or adult? If she is going to lobby for her mom and campaign she is fair game. And who cares if Hillary won't debate. She is using her latest tactic to play the underdog to get more free press. I believe she is exploiting this topic for the same reason.

The Clintons have a track record of doing what it takes, dirty tricks, exploiting who and what they need to, in order to get elected.

While I don't like the phrase, they are using their daughter to further their "legacy and perceived right" to this presidency.

If Chelsea can't stand the heat, she should get out of the kitchen! Billary can't have it both ways!

Even a blind person would be able to see how biased all the networks are, males and females they have the power to use a mic and they sure use it for their own opinions and motivations. We call ourselves a democratic and rich country.. Are we?. As a mother I would defend my child againts anything or anyone, obviously this correspondents have no children or wives. I am sure their mothers taugh them better than that,but then again when they go in front of the cameras they think they can get away with anything so here we are making sure that they dont forget that we all on this together and we will bring them back to earth.

Yeah, like what woman in this country or any other, for that matter, hasn't had to deal with an unfaithful husband.
Truth be known, it would be like 98% of husbands have been unfaithful.
Hope Hillary is next president and we can put the nation in order again.

I can see better now what american and FRENCH have in common: SHAMEFUL SEXISM. IT IS OK NOT TO LIKE HILLARY CLINTON BUT SHE SHOULD BE TREATED FAIRLY. What gives a journalist the right or the impression that he can air these kind of shameful and un-american comments after those made by Chris matthews? It is getting Nasty! There is something wrong going on! No wonder why women are still being abused and bad treated. FAIRNESS PLEASE! We are all the same. Dignity-france

Let me think about it...what is worse..."pimping" or the meaning of "is"

PIMPING: Maybe a bad choice of words...it's just slang now people. I don't agree with it but slang none the less. It is just the truth. The Clintons are USING THEIR 28 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO BENEFIT HILLARY'S CAMPAIGN. They are making a very big deal about the use of slang (not against Chelsea) but against what they are actually doing.

THE MEANING OF IS: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman", "What IS the meaning of IS", Oral sex isn't sexual intercourse; she was a 20 year old intern

Really the Clintons have no axe to grind here; not with their slimey, shady past.

I can see better now what american and FRENCH have in common: SHAMEFUL SEXISM. IT IS OK NOT TO LIKE HILLARY CLINTON BUT SHE SHOULD BE TREATED FAIRLY. What gives a journalist the right or the impression that he can air these kind of shameful and un-american comments after those made by Chris matthews? It is getting Nasty! There is something wrong going on! No wonder why women are still being abused and bad treated. FAIRNESS PLEASE! We are all the same. Dignity-france

Response to Sam:

Sometime I may repeat things in my postings, because I believe you have to repeat, repeat, repeat, and repeat until the truth sinks in. Tuff, if you don't like it, move on to another post, it's just that simple. I'm not a spammer, my post may be similar,but not worded exactly the same way, if you have read all my post, you would see this.

Go Hillary Go The New "Clean-Up Woman."

"Me thinks she doth protest too much."

I have liked the political discourse on MSNBC and have been watching Chris Matthews and even Tucker although I don't agree with Tucker's views. However, these broadcasts of their opinions is a privilege and with it responsibility. Both Chris Matthews and David Shuster have crossed a line and their credibility of any objectivity is gone. Tucker should address this as well as it having been on his show. Chelsea Clinton is an exemplary young accomplished woman who withstood quite a bit in her young life- and has handled it with dignity. She is a daughter supporting her mother. Anyone who claims family values knows this isn't "pimping". She isn't "fair game" she's not up for election. Who is David Shuster to disparage her and why? Keith Olberman had the guts and respect to put an apology out that was tough and heartfelt. I haven't decided yet who I'm for but the bias now being shown by MSNBC indicates your information isn't worth watching. Will Tucker or Chris Matthews attack the Obama kids? McCain's kids? How about McCain's mother, is she fair game now? You gonna dig through her past? Where is a line of objectivity in journalism here? I hope in the next debate Tim Russert or Keith Olberman raises this issue with the candidates to let them personally express how sickening the gotcha journalism has become.

i can not beleave that some of you are turning this into a white or black thing this i support clinton because of her universal health care plans which obama does not have
obama backed off nucular waste spillage bill that he himself wrote and then soften the penilty language because he is currently getting big money from one of the largest nucular plant owners in the country not to mention his book calls alot into question.now if you are looking for mistakes you can find them in either canidate.
but msnbc has insulted the clintons not once not twice but three times.if that had happen to obama his supporters would be doing the same as they are doing now calling race into question
but what has happened is apauling and msnbc should be ashamed of them selves
it is very clear who they support without question