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Who Kidnapped David Shuster?

By Larry Johnson on February 8, 2008 at 9:22 PM in Current Affairs

Hillary pimping Chelsea?  Jesus Christ, David!  Are you on a sleep deprivation journey?  David’s top notch reporting on the outing of Valerie Plame earned him much deserved praise and respect.  But his latest shot at Chelsea Clinton is wrong on so many levels.

Taylor Marsh has the story:

Could David Shuster be any more unprofessional? Does he not realize that he’s talking about the daughter of a woman who is the first female candidate to be vying for commander in chief? One can only guess what would happen if he’d said something so heinous about Barack Obama’s daughter. It would have been Shuster’s Imus moment. Hey, but it’s just about Hillary’s kid, so she’s fair game, as is all things anti-Clinton. Evidently Shuster has decided to channel Chris Matthews  (read the rest here).

And now the rest of the story.  Someone got David’s attention and he apologized.  Taylor Marsh provides the following as well:

YouTube Preview Image

“Tucker” kicked off today with Norah O’Donnell. David Shuster nowhere in sight. Right after her intros, she threw it to Shuster, the results of which are above.

Afterwards O’Donnell talked to Andrea Mitchell, then had Hilary Rosen, an MSNBC analysist who is also a Clinton supporter, plus Jeanne Cummings, who writes for Politico.com.

The girls took the floor for the first fifteen minutes or so of the show, something you never see on MSNBC.

As for Shuster’s apology, I’ll let you be the judge. But considering he was dug in when this began I’d say this is a big win. Not for the political alone, but for what’s right and should be expected of media professionals, especially talking heads who think they have the right to smear anyone they want without paying a price. I’m glad he’s suspended, though we don’t know for how long.

The message has been sent and received. However, just like Chris Matthews, you’ve got to wonder how long it will take for another foot in mouth MSNBC frat boy to say something stupid. As we’ve seen, they’re pretty regular about these things.

  • http://www.evergreenpolitics.com shoephone

    It’s about time the pundits started paying a price for their bigotry. By now, the company ought to just do the honest thing and change the call letters from MSNBC to MSGNY.

    I’m not sure if Shuster should have been suspended (Matthews is the better candidate for that) but at least the corporate fathers are hearing the complaints. And if anyone thinks those complaints came only from the Clinton campaign they need to remove their heads from their derrieres, pronto.

  • http://www.evergreenpolitics.com shoephone

    Sort of off-topic, but while being inundated with cult mania in Seattle today, the Olympian newspaper was reporting that Jim McDermott — the congressional expert on universal health care — said he prefers Clinton’s health care plan to Obama’s. I’m sure the glazed-eyed ones will start vilifying McDermott now, the way they’ve been doing with Krugman.

    http://www.theolympian.com/adamwilson/story/352396.html

    “Kill the Messenger” is such an interesting campaign tactic to see in action.

    • http://OUTRAGEDBUTNOTSURPRISED bama_barrron

      i can hear the gnashing of teeth and the whine now … mcdermott will be described as a lap dog for the DLC. one of those old democrats whose time has come and gone … i mean, how dare him, question barack … shame on him!

      • http://www.evergreenpolitics.com shoephone

        Yeah, he’s only the guy who sponsored the Washington State Basic Helath Plan for low-income individuals twenty years ago. Oh, and yeah, he’s also the guy who actually WAS against the Iraq War from the very begninning, as a member of the House. And got slimed for standing up to the Bushies when it counted.

        Small details.

    • Cee

      Sounds like you think that Hillary will lose Washington.

      • http://OUTRAGEDBUTNOTSURPRISED bama_barrron

        i dont know if she wins or lose … but i do know they turned many people away from one of her stops day before yesterday … the site would only hold 5,000. she hit the crowd hard on “green” issues!

      • http://www.evergreenpolitics.com shoephone

        I fully expect Obama to win the WA State caucus. I also know a lot of people who are outraged at our state’s confusing, frustrating voting system. Many are unable to attend the caucus and yet… we will have a primary on the 19th where many more people will particpate but their votes will count for nothing.

        I also know there is a lot of Clinton support here (especially since the misogyny has come to the forefront in the media) but some people are not comfortable being forced to publicly state their preference in front of their neighbors.

        Regardless of candidate preferences, most of us still regard the secret ballot as a hallmark of democracy.

        The caucus SUCKS.

    • simon

      Yes, but it does provide distraction for the Obamabots, doesn’t it?

  • anon

    When I see David Shuster, I always remember the very first time I saw him. He was a beat reporter on FauxNews, working in D.C.

    Chandra Levy had disappeared and the story about Gary Condit’s affair wity Levy had broken but Condit had been in hiding – refusing to speak with the press.

    Shuster finally tracked Condit down, walking down a D.C. street. Shuster was walking alongside Condit, cramming a microphone in Condits mouth, asking Condit to comment about Levy. Shuster was repeating the same questions, over and over, while Condit simply ignored him. I guess Shuster’s FauxNews clip was to put some type of tabloid journalism, O’Reilly-stlye of tabloid journalism hit-piece on the TV that day.

    It was really, really low class and I have always had a low opinion of Shuster since that time. Never really what others saw in Shuster.

    • http://OUTRAGEDBUTNOTSURPRISED bama_barrron

      anon … i had forgotten that scene but your are absolutley correct. wasnt it interesting how faux backed off the condit story when deadeye cheney provide his alibi.

      • TeakWoodKite

        cheney provide his alibi.
        I missed this…Chandra Levy new something about Cheney and died for it?

        • http://OUTRAGEDBUTNOTSURPRISED bama_barrron

          teak … according to the alibi condit was with dick cheney at the time chandra was abducted. according to the police timeline, etc.
          condit always was a DINO … the absolute worst voting record of any california democrat in history.

          • TeakWoodKite

            Why would Cheney extend himself into this without a reason? Condit was worth an alibi from Cheney?

  • http://www.despair.com/sacrifice1.html Smilin’ Jim

    What do you expect from entertainment journalism?

    Sybil the Soothsayer is just a ratings war away.

    • simon

      What do you expect from entertainment journalism?

      Sybil the Soothsayer is just a ratings war away.

      Already working for the FBI, I hear.

  • rjj

    Don’t have TV so had to look up Schuster. His bio refers to what I read as The Bilge Award. It was the Bugle Award.

    Troubling, that, even though he certainly has earned himself a Bilge Award.

    • Hope

      The Bulging Tongue Award I think it was! :-)

  • rjj

    Anybody want to photoshop an image of Shuster (adjusting the tint) into

    amsterdam bordello window 1

    or [program won't allow(?)/display a second link]

    http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/09/21/Redlight_wideweb__470x340,0.jpg

    Thinking about doing that to an image of Chris Matthews last week I asked b at MOA what the Dutch word for bordello window was. He said one expression is Achter der Ramen, which means “behind the frame.” Behind the frame is a perfect kenning for the TeeVee screen.

    Not surprising these guys behind the MSM frame would be preoccupied with and hypersensitive to pimping and whoring.

    I don’t have a good photo editing program in this computer. I could probably find the time to do this if nobody else wants to take it on.

  • Jess Wonderin

    Un-bee-leave-able . . .
    Schuster has crossed over from tolerable yapping poodle to self inflated foolish Chris Matthews wanna-be . . . when will we get some real professional reporters that can carry on what Cronkite, Morrow, Risener, Huntley-Brinkley and those we watched in black and white, and believed them to be “reporters” . . . now we get frat boys like Shu, Matthews and Tucker more at home snickering at fart jokes and bashing women . . .

    Pathetic – “news” has become re-telling Administration lies and asking probing questions about who Paris or Britney is boinking . . . I am so tired of Clinton bashing as a substitute for really reporting the issues . . .

    Obama gives good talk . . . but we need ACTION. “Present” is hardly a “position” and the best way to “get along” with the Republicons is to reduce them to a powerless minority with a single seat on the Human Waste Disposal Senate Investigation Committee . . .

    • Marjorie

      I miss Peter Jennings.

    • Nellie

      Last paragraph gave me a good chuckle. Thanks!

  • Mike Howell

    Schuster is hoarse all the time, which bugs me in a talking head. He can’t even read MSNBC’s He Man Woman Haters Club’s talking points and keep his voice. What a wuss.

    And the dork that is Chris Matthews and self-righteous Keith Olderman suck too. Olderman is as obnoxious as Bill O at this point.

    It’s Larry, The Comedy Channel’s Dynamic Duo of Stewart and Colbert and Jake Tapper with ABC for me!

    By the way, while I’m typing this I’m looking at Valerie Plame’s pic on this website hoping she gets wildly rich off of her book. It’s the least she deserves after how she got screwed over by the Bush Regime.

    You’re a stand-up guy Larry!

    • simon

      Mike Howell:

      By the way, while I’m typing this I’m looking at Valerie Plame’s pic on this website hoping she gets wildly rich off of her book. It’s the least she deserves after how she got screwed over by the Bush Regime.

      I agree, after what they did, I hope she finds justice.

      Nothing better than to see those creeps where they belong, in jail, stripped of their wealth, legally convicted of treason.

  • Mike Howell

    Simon-

    You’re exactly right. I was remiss in simply wanting her to be compensated. The guilty must be punished as well. Thanks for keeping me straight.

    • http://OUTRAGEDBUTNOTSURPRISED bama_barrron

      compensation is good … you bet. justice would be most wonderful as well!

      but one thing for sure, valerie and joe have the respect and admiration of many many americans. bush and his traitorous band of shit heads cant say the same.

      • TeakWoodKite

        The FrogMarch Blues

  • chris

    when the personalities outshine the story there should be an editor there to whip their ass, but no…the editors are also caught up in the glitz.

    MSNBC has lost its mind long ago. Olbermann could be a saving grace, but even he is resorting to crass sexist comments often in the last part of his show. After doing great reports on events in Washington, he resorts to Britney Bashing, Paris Hilton Mongering, or some other such crap and just blows his wad on TV. He’s a sexist pig like the rest.

    Dan Abrams couldn’t look up a fact to save his damn life and also engages in these antics, which is why, as GM he should be held responsible and fired.

    Matthews has gotten off to the sound of his honking voice too long and considers himself as important as any member of Congress, as any celebrity he coddles, and so important to the viewers. But truth be known I’m watching less and less of his miserable coverage of anything. And I suspect that is true across the board.

    They’ve gone the way of the Fox; straight to the bottom.

    And I agree with Simon, justice is what Valerie Plame needs, not ‘riches’. I wish her family all they need to complete their lives, but I especially wish to see justice for her, for her colleagues who were damaged due to this treasonous act, and to the people like you and me who are invested in their success.

    over

    • scorber

      Ditto Chris — superbly said!!

  • http://OUTRAGEDBUTNOTSURPRISED bama_barrron

    a little off topic …

    th schuster story has sorta overshadowed the latest obama attack: he actually demanded that hillary make her financial records public … personal records.

    i suppose, the nest thing, he will want a special prosecutor! dont tell me he isnt channeling karl rove.

  • CWZ

    I’m honing in on a tiny, tiny portion of our discourse that is driving me crazy:

    …a woman who is the first female candidate to be vying for commander in chief?

    We need to desperately get off of this kick that the only job our Pres has is being the CINC. All we’ve heard these past 8 years is CINC, CINC and more CINC. We are a Republic, not a military dictatorship.

    Now back to our regularly scheduled bitchfest!

    • Nellie

      CWZ

      “Commander in Chief” is only for the Armed Forces. So, NO president is “Commander in Chief” of any of us who comment on this blog, or the majority of Americans. Just an another example of egregious over-reach by the Bush/Cheney Fascists.

      Thems the rules – found in Federalist Paper 69

  • kenoshaMarge

    Is Shuster a schizophrenic? I have seen him do some absolutely stand-up reporting in taking the Bush Administration to task and his pieces about Scooter Libby were excellent. Then he morphs into some Tweety Dimwit. Or could it be that just sitting in Tucker’s chair deletes I.Q. points and integrity? Or is it just that he bashes the Clintons along with all the rest of the Clinton Hating Media because that’s what is wanted by They-Who-Sign-The-Paycheck?

    • rjj

      Have you considered the possibility of one too many visits to the espresso machine – or other forms of self-medication?

  • Kathleen

    Just catching up. Have been in the medicare/private insurance maze with my ailing WWII Teamster step father. (What a fucking nightmare) So sad to witness people like my father who has paid into mediare and Social Security for 63 years (he is now 81) get the run around.

    I had heard the news that some main media head had used the word “pimped” in regard to the Clintons, had no idea it was Shuster. Tough to believe that he would slip like that. When Shuster has substituted for Matthews he often throws harder balls than Matthews with Hardball guest. Shuster can ask some hard driving questions, and acutally allows the guest to answer.

    • TeakWoodKite

      God speed with your Pa, Kathleen.