Clinton Campaign Not Looking for Shuster to Be Fired, After All

Anyone who thinks NCS learned its lesson hasn't been watching "Countdown" with Keith Bloberman. For the past several weeks, Bloberman has devoted the first quarter hour of his "newscast" spinning every comment from the Clinton campaign into a perceived obfuscation that exists only in Bloberman's mercenary mind, while simultaneously exculpating Obama from ever criticism. His nightly rants have been completely devoid of any objectivity whatsoever.

I was a big fan until he decided to become a 3rd rate political hack. Nobody at NBC can be trusted anymore.

I’ve been an ardent Clinton supporter from the beginning of this campaign, but this response is out of line. Political commentary is an outgrowth of the 24-hours news cycle. You can no longer cry the names of Murrow and Cronkite any time a station with the word “news” in their name delves into the realm of commentary, however scathing or tasteless it may be received.

If it’s the intent of the Clinton campaign to express their distain for an apparently lax attitude at MSNBC regarding sexist comments, then it’s well within their rights and appropriate to express those concerns. But for a candidate for President of the United States to suggest that a commentator be fired for their expression of an idea is completely over the line. Hillary Clinton must be aware of the impact of her words; and understand that even though she may be speaking as a mother, the influence of those words is that of a likely future President.

Just as I supported the campaign’s criticism of Barak Obama’s irresponsible statements regarding his plans for Pakistan, I am equally critical of Clinton’s disregard for the context from which her words will be heard. It’s especially an issue with regard to the media. To suggest certain resolutions are insufficient is bullying of the media. When you’re the likely President-Elect, this is in effect an infringement of the right to free-speech.

There is a great deal of latitude in how our rights are protected by the Executive. The person yielding this power must have an acute sense of it and act responsibly with regard to it. We’ve had eight years someone who is oblivious to it. I hope that this latest development (whereas the campaign is not calling for Shuster’s firing) holds true, and that both campaigns understand that the President should be a champion of our rights, not an activist parent succumbing to parental instincts with regard to the Constitution. This country needs its activism, just not in the White House.

Shuster went over the line, but when the Clintons start pretending to be victims again, I run for cover.

When will both Hillary and Bill realize that they are their most repulsive and obnoxious when they are pretending they are victims? It is pathetic.

If Shuster had said the word "pimp" in reference to McCain's daughter, or Obama's wife....or 9 year old daughter.....would there not be a few words said to his boss?
I say print Shuster's home address and telephone number, and put his kids' names and faces up on tv, so he can get the feeling. He has no respect for anything except trying to get a "hit" to further his cheap no responsibility papparazzi career.

Society has gotten to the point where when things like this are let slide they just get worse. I am sick of the media, I can barely watch it anymore. Not so with PBS, they do not have to do things like to that insult or degrade either side.

Hillary is in a tough position, it should not be up to her to decide to do the right thing and fire Shuster.

That Shuster has not been fired already without putting more onus on the Clinton campaign compounds NBC's mistake.

Fire this guy now, NBC, and do not blame Clinton - just do the right thing.

If the Clintons really cared about boorish attitudes towards women, perhaps they should check out another NBC moment, when a woman named Juanita talked about how Bill Clinton raped her. Then again, maybe that's what this has been about all along!

It should be noted that the Clintons are, in effect, using every loophole imaginable to surpress free speech- and they're not even back in the White House yet! Chelsea can go around and pressure super-delegates, but you shan't dare questions her?!?!?! Criticize her, and your reporters will be suspended? The message is clear- don't say anything bad about us, or else!

The Clintons are sick and depraved, as are the people that support them (unless they are just brainwashed, which is probably worse). If Barack can beat them, maybe he really IS the messiah!

CNN got rid of their political commentators due to Obama camp.
Yet they bring in Carl Berstein who just reeks with hate of the Clinton's and probably woman. What is the problem here?

Chris Matthews began this long ago. When he said Hillary was elected to the Senate due to her husband fooling around, I'm paraphrasing, that was it.
I always liked him. True colors. A real good ole boy comment. An apology from any of them is meaningless.
Chris spoke his heart. Any opinion of his is now irrelevant as he lost my respect. Same with Schuster.
Naturally Hillary's daughter will contact delagates as she is family. She believes in her mom. ALL candidates are utilizing family memebers. Michelle Obama and Oprah are using all their star power. Kennedy is in fact "pimping" Obama.
She won't cancel debate, she's too classy. Maybe MSNBC did this intentionally hoping she would? She wants debate. Obama's few years in the Senate has been used running for President.

So what would be wrong with wanting Shuster and several other talking heads fired? Nothing of course.

If the democratic base gets that powerful that media out lets will fire bloviators, then good for us.

We aren't there yet. I think that's obvious.

That is why Clinton didn't specifically ask that Shuster be fired.
Is there an implication in the letter that Clinton wants Shuster to be fired? Perhaps, but the denial by Clinton's camp pretty much ends speculation that it was anything more than implication.

Now we got a headline on this site saying "Clinton Camp Backing Off Firing Demand?".
Since we've already established that there was no demand to fire Shuster, this bit just seems to be a bit of provocation.

This whole thing looks like blow back. Clinton rightly goes after MSNBC and Shuster for saying something vile.
The media in general tries to find a pretext to flip this back on Clinton. So low and behold we have the letter described as a "demand" that Shuster be dismissed. The charge is based on a very loose reading of the letter and a bit of the mind reading that the media loves so much.

So the story changes from Clinton being one of the few Democrats that is able to stand up to the media, to Clinton makes unreasonable demands.

False indignation never swayed me.

Bring back David Shuster.

The comment was distasteful, but certainly not some crazy out-of-bounds question. This is an adult who her parents "shield" yet are happy to use politically (as Shuster clumsily said instead of "being used" -- "pimped out"). I am a woman and fairly open-minded and what is most disturbing about this issue is for the first time I actually feel that a political campaign is trying to play politics with a news organization. Sure, MSNBC has pundits and a campaign may not like they way they talk, but for NBC to take this complaint this seriously is disturbing. It indicates a need to be in the good graces of a political campaign versus just trusting in their reporters. And if I am not mistaken, the coverage as I flip through in the last 48 hours seem to be all Clinton-glow -- someone actually described Clinton as a great orator. I think NBC is being played. The apology was enough (and too much even) -- this is an adult who wasn't being insulted as much as her parents were. I plan to write NBC to let them know that I am disappointed in how they seem to be being played. Political campaigns are good at organizing letter-writing campaigns NBC -- this was really pretty mildly distasteful.

Slowly but surely, I will not be voting for Clinton -- and maybe not watching MSNBC. I am tired of the undue influence.

Of course, others might think she is capitalizing on an ugly moment to galvanize female voters.

What say you?

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And just WHO are these "others" you mention? Or are you just creating some "straw men" to bash the Clintons with?

Is this the worst thing that has ever been said about a Clinton?

Close, but no cigar.

This all stinks!!!

Hillary doesn't want to debate Obama and she's looking for any damn excuse to get out of it. Sounds like Shuster gave her a reason. Too bad...

Words are that...words. If you don't like them, use some to defend yourself otherwise get in line with the rest of the heard and be quiet!

I applaud people who give a little color to their language. I would rather have a intelligent discussion with someone I completely disagree with then have a head bobber who is just going alone with me because they have no idea what's going on.

I'm no Hillary, Obama, Romney, McCain or any other politician fan. I vote on issues....that's it. I try and figure out who is going to do the least amount of damage to the issues that matter most to me and vote that way.

The only year I didn't do that was with H.R. Ross Perot. I thought maybe what we needed was for the country to be run like a big corporate. Well...Enron fixed that idea.

NBC is out of control. I cannot believe some of the things I have heard from Shuster, Matthews, and Russert. I have heard them make inappropriate comments, laugh, and sneer at the Clinton's.

I am soooo done with NBC over this inappropriate media biased. I actually have equated them with the downfall of this country - right along with the Bush administration. We are in serious trouble in this country, and NBC is an excellent example of why.

NBC is the WORST and trashiest media coverage available in America right now. They have done everything to smear the Clinton's and push Obama down our throat. We cannot afford for a bunch of out of control fanatics to influence this election. We cannot afford Obama, or any new president that will need a learning curve.

Who is getting paid off here, or what is the truth behind NBC's motives? I am sickened and saddened by the NBC coverage of this election. What has happened to NBC? Someone at the TOP should be FIRED. America we are watching the demise of a giant = NBC.
NBC why do fear Hillary Clinton so much?

Disgusted in Illinois

Shuster has fans?

Shuster's comments were in poor taste but I can't help thinking that a DESPERATE Clinton campaign is trying to milk this for all it's worth.

Memo to Hillary & Bill: It won't work. It's time for change and Obama is the man to do it!!!!!!

how can people actually say that the clintons are bullying the media like they've always done? how are they responsible for david shuster's comment? there is a big difference between being a "bully" and responding to an disgusting remark.

no where did anyone from hrc's campaign say that she wanted david fired. wolfson said that she was thinking twice abt appearing on anymore debates on the network. that isnt bullying. that is saying enough is enough! they trash her every single morning for three hours straight, while they kneel and make the sign of the cross before uttering the word "obama." go hillary!

This is a great opportunity to shake some sense into the media. They should have no on-air opinions and should simply report the facts.

I say Hillary has a great opportunity here to correct one of the most glaring problems in our nation. We want the news and only the news.

has anyone asked the romney boys why they havent served in a war that their father supports?

did anyone aske abt the drinking and dancingon tables by the bush girls when they were stumping for dad?

NOPE! why? media bias against the clintons! that is the only plain simple explanation for what was said regarding chelsea.

can you even begin to imagine what would have happened if shuster said the word "pimp" with regard ti michele??? this would be the biggest RACE issue ever... forget gender and you know david would be fired. period. end of story.

msnbc has gone off the deep end with their shoddy reporting... this is just another aspect of it... notice how mika doesnt even feel the need to disclose that her dad and brother are advisors to obama and her other brother is advising mccain???

p.s. to the idiot that made reference to the fact that obamas daughters arent calling superdelegates... they are children. little children. make some sense you moron. like a little kid is going to call a former president or senator or party elder. for real?