tough question.

Seems like a tongue slip- but a hurtful one for Chelsea. Suspension may be about right.

Here’s one definition:

prostitution
(prŏs’tĭ-tū’shən, -tyū’-) pronunciation

n.

1. The act or practice of engaging in sex acts for hire.
2. The act or an instance of offering or devoting one’s talent to an unworthy use or cause.

Hi, Jane. While the “claws” thing didn’t really bother me (well, in an eye-rolling, here-we-go-again way maybe), “pimp” or “pimping” does, especially when used about a woman. I used to live in the middle of the “Minnesota Strip” near Penn Station in New York, so I may be over-reacting… or it may just be that I’m turning into a cranky old woman.

Ohh, it’s getting crazy all up in this election!!

Nobody knows if she was actually pimped out. Does it seem like it? Hells yeah. Did Chelsea really wake up and say, “Hmmm… let me call three of the “View” ladies and ask them to vote for my mom.” Maybe it happened that way, maybe not. But it sure does seem like she was pimped out.

And they’re all pimping everybody. Clinton seems to pimp out her daughter and husband. McCain pimps out his mother. Obama pimps out Oprah. Huckabee pimps out God.

from below:

Fer chissakes. After all these years of completely over the top sexist, racist, and all kinds of other -ists statements from Tweety Mathhews, JoeScar, countless “guests,” The Entire Pox Newz on-air roster, Hillary gets a “point made” on Shuster?!? Shuster is the one worthy of taking to the mat about sexism in the BigMedia?

Jeezus. It just perpetuates the Pox line about big bad NBC, and about Liberal journalists, since Shuster wasn’t liked by the Noize Machine. Way to take a stand Hillary after all these years.

Perhaps Hillary is “reaching across the channels” to gain some more Pox News viewers, since she does appear on the channel A LOT.

Especially strange considering Roger the Hut Ailes was the slime that produced the “barking dog” cartoon about Chelsea years ago. Doesn’t seem to bother Hillary or Bill anymore…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....41823.html

I missed the Obama claws post Jane. I also feel the Pimping for the campaign thing is being blown way out of proportion. I guess I am cynical, but I think the HRC will be blowing any and everything out of proportion if it can get them some press. I smell desperation.

I generally object to the term on racist grounds. I seem to recall that term is used by rightwingers to frame Black men like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, the term ‘poverty pimps’ is racially loaded and is used to debase and marginalize African-Americans.

Jay Severin, AKA Jimmy Severini in Boston was always good for this term and also the ‘race hustlers’ term applied to the same men.

In this case Shuster used the term that is bandied about by peoplein a casual manner and simply shouldn’t be used by a professional newsman to describe anyone who is not an actual prostitute purveyor.

Smarten up media folks. Do your jobs, you are news people, not Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert.

-G

I think the more egregious aspect of Schuster’s remark is how it comes as a bolt from the blue (ha!). Where was David when Mitt’s boys were serving their country as their Dad’s “pimps”? Where was he when Dick Cheney’s “girls” were street-walking for the Ol’ Dickmeister? Chelsea is helping her Mom move up in the world. I suppose she could be volunteering for the infantry instead . . .

My girl (I’m her boy) have discussed this pimped issue briefly. We have come to the conclusion that whether or not the comment holds water, it probably should have been expressed differently. Like in ‘used’ instead of “pimped” for example. And that’s all my lady and I will have to say about this circumstance.

Vote Democratic. Don’t stay at home. Please. Next November.

However, the second meaning of prostitute may be less extensible to the word pimp.

pimp

intr.v., pimped, pimp·ing, pimps.

To serve as a procurer of prostitutes.

Given the context, I think Mr. Shuster might have found a better formulation for his thoughts.

I heard the pimp remark when he made it. I wasn’t offended by the word “pimp.” But I do remember recoiling, just a tiny bit, thinking sheesh, now they’re going to start in on the benign and lovely Chelsea. Cripes.

And that was it.

Suspending Shuster? double cripes. The guy is a mensch, I think. A real reporter, as far as he can be, and fair in his opinionating. Let’s put it this way: When Shuster says something egregious, I am surprised. When Matthews does not say something egregious, I am surprised.

I agree, he is the fall guy for Matthews (don’t even get into Tucker Carlson).

And then we all spend so many minutes on this — while the torture cabal continues unchecked.

Was Mitt Romney ever said to be “pimping out” Tagg and his brothers? How about McCain and his blogging daughter? How about four years ago, with Dick Cheney and his daughter? These folks have had adult children kids at least as involved as Chelsea, if not moreso, and they get the “wow, isn’t that neat how their kids are part of the campaigning” treatment.

Hillary, OTOH, gets called a pimp, making Chelsea a whore by implication.

I don’t care who you back in this race. This was waaaaay over the line, even if Shuster was speaking colloquially.

Ubiquitous would have it about right.
I don’t think he should be suspended. After years of being fed hate and fear as a constant diet I find it truly innocuous, and I might add right on the money as far as truthiness goes. But a bad choice of words in an oh so pc world.
I say this without any Hilary hate or prejudice…mho

Not a very thoughtful comment by a usually very astute David Schuster. However, it is no worse than multiple comments made by Chris Matthews on a daily basis and I don’t see him getting in much hot water at all and certainly not ’suspended.’ Double standard, anyone?

I’ll just repeat what I said last thread - it’s gonna take way more than one slip-up by David Shuster before I’m off his bandwagon. Bringer of truth and understanding in the Libby case and most other things. Besides - JoeScar hates him; that’s its own incontrovertible and positive personality test right there, methinks.

And, long as I’m here, I tend to think that any sexual connotation the the word “pimping” is, if not outmoded, is at least equaled by more recent usage - authors and actors speak openly on talk shows, e.g., about ‘pimping’ their book or movie.

Oh, I almost forgot. Lahoma tells me I might want to consider that Mr. Shuster acted stupidly. But she also says she will continue to watch and listen to him. But… she indicates that Shuster should, “straighten up”. I agree with her.

I think Jane’s right. The “pimp” comment isn’t that big a deal. In fact, I use to say the Republicans “pimp” the evangelical vote.

Jane: You’re right, it was a minor infraction. But I guess you could say it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Shuster stuck up for Tweety as well, remember? He was a great reporter when he was on the Libby trial but there is a certain attitude at MSNBC that I just can’t ignore anymore. It’s pervasive and systemic. Now that Obama has driven it out into the open, I can’t let my 12 year old daughter watch shows like Countdown anymore. She’s incredibly smart and she learns very quickly. Recently, she’s been playing with her tablet on her computer during Countdown so she hasn’t been paying attention. But now that I see how the MSNBC ambience can affect her self-image, I just can’t have it on the DVR anymore. It would be like taking a giant step backwards to the days when it was ok to say that women couldn’t be anything more than secretaries and teachers because of their raging hormones. I thought we fought that battle but really there was just an uneasy detente, which now appears to be broken. Back to the barricades we go.

Even more interesting to me was everyone’s attribution of my motive for putting up the poll, or their assumption about what my feelings on the subject might be.

Don’t get caught in that either/or way of speaking…everyone, always, never/ever - etc.

I know I didn’t comment on your motive because you never said what your motive was or even alluded to it, sooo - not “everyone’s attribution of my motive” doesn’t include at least me. I’m more than certain there were others. And Jane, don’t you go back and look either! Let it go, really - it’s OK. I’m jus’ sayin’

That’s always the way I hear it too, so much so that I don’t perceive it even as negatively value loaded any more. To my ears it just means “promoting.” I understand that others might not have the same response, and with some justification, but the whole thing kind of surprised me.

Agreed. But Jane did use “prostitute”, so I went there.

The most inmportant thing in this house is to defeat the Republicans, with a sizeable vote. Can you imagine? President McCain. It’s felt Mr. McCain will make Barry Goldwater and George W. Bush look like peaceniks.

It’s a pattern. I think what Shuster said was wrong, but I thought the apology would have taken care of things, assuming he didn’t start acting like Chris Matthews. I think the reason Shuster is paying the price is because:

1. As you said, he’s paying the price for Matthew’s behavior over the past few years. MSNBC has been thoroughly embarrassed by the misogynistic behavior on their network in various incidents
2. MSNBC really, really wants another debate
3. Shuster’s comment was, indeed, pretty disgusting, and it was reinforced by laughter in the background (may have been Tucker, I’m not sure)

One last thing that could have been a factor is that MSNBC is appearing to be too biased. Today, for example, they had Peggy Noonan on the “Morning Joe” show. It just so happens that Noonan also published a particularly derogatory column today where she compared Hillary to Rasputin and the character Glenn Close played in “Fatal Attraction.”

Maybe, also, it’s starting to register with them, that the woman they’re trashing might be president in less than a year.

Is it OK to say that Obama pimps out Michelle, and his little girls?????

OF COURSE NOT!

Nobody would EVER say such a thing. But with the Clinton’s it is different I guess.

I would make the same decision with a 12 year old and MSNBC right now. And Shuster did himself no favors by sitting around with Banjo Boy giving Matthews a pass, it sounded like the old boys club. But yeah, I think it was final shoe time.

And now… to the issue of what President McCain plans to do about Iran.

Exactly

Wow.

I think we need to drop all colloquialisms from our vocabulary, and starting right now we should only speak in unambiguous absolutes.

Of course, I’ll have to suspend myself from my own blog, because I still use them when justified!

I was WAAAAYYY more bothered by the Noonan column. It was awful.

I think I’ll make a couple of margaritas.

Well you do have a point. It would not be a term I used under those circumstances.

I understand what you and Jayt are thinking, that has worked it way into usages in the language different from its original intent. And that is understandable as all languages change over time. However, for Chelsa and her parents the connotation was too negative. I like Schuster and I think he needs to more careful but sometimes mouths outrun minds.

You don’t say a girl is being pimped by her mom especially when her Mom will hear. On the other hand When is Hilary going to stand up to Tweety Schuster is a one time thing I can forgive.
Tweety however has made it a career. Still is she nuts KO is the best person on mainstream media Fox News is using her she’s getting played.
Heck have the BBC moderate the debates I respect them more than anyone else.

Thanks for the support, Jane. I don’t think I’m overreacting but she’s pretty vulnerable to societal messages right now and I don’t her to lose her edge.

but I have to believe he’s largely paying for the sins of Matthews.

This offends almost as much a the dumb comment Schuster made. David Schuster is one of the best talents they’ve got.

Tweety spews anti woman invective every time he open shis damn mouth. Schuster screws up once and SCHUSTER is the one to be suspended? WTF?

It’s a pattern of behavior..Shuster still thinks that Tweey’s remark about being elected because people feel sorry for her is right. “She is just looking for sympathy”.

It is not the first time Shuster has reflected the misogynistic Clintonview of colleague Chris Matthews. Shuster defended Matthews over the remarks — for which he eventually apologized — that Clinton was elected to the Senate only on account of her husband’s Lewinsky affair. (He told me in an e-mail two weeks ago that he viewed Clinton’s complaints as sympathy ploy to get people to think the media attacked her on account of her gender.) You may be sure that neither Shuster nor Matthews would refer to lobbying by the Kennedy family for another presidential candidate as being “pimped out.”

arktimes

Heck have the BBC moderate the debates I respect them more than anyone else.

Now there’s an idea! They have no real dog in the hunt.

Shuster gets suspended for saying something stupid, but Mukasey won’t investigate anything to do with torture, spying…and he’ll show up at work on Monday as usual. Plus, W and his policies have been responsible for millions of people dying the world over, and he’s still in office.

So who is pimping out Mukasey and W?

At least I can’t get suspended from myself.

Da ya think!
That kind of writing…and people think that’s journalism or even intelligent commentary. Testify!

pimp mire, eyed.

Breaking News:

From now on all media outlets must refer to congresses low poll ratings whenever the subject of George W. Bush’s poll ratings are mentioned.

-Ministry of Information

Ah Jeebuz punaise! LOL!

This post is great example of why FDL has become my first and often only source for “news.”

With the rising tensions across the blogoverse the last few days/weeks, it’s nice know that this site is led by fair and honest people. At FDL, there is a general sense of simply trying to find the most truthful explanation for all things political, with a good dose of action thrown in for good measure.

Sadly, some other sites I’ve liked in the past have just become places to pimp their candidate of choice, facts be damned. Some of the recent posts here and following comments, which have been well thought out and researched, have challenged my own beliefs. This is great! It is also how one grows.

Thanks Jane! I’m happy that this is the only blog I’ve ever donated to, and would highly recommend to others that haven’t tried it to hit the “Support This Site” link in the upper right. It just feels good.

David Schuster is one of the best talents they’ve got.

Tweety spews anti woman invective every time he open shis damn mouth. Schuster screws up once and SCHUSTER is the one to be suspended? WTF?

I agree. Still, it doesn’t make Shuster’s comment any less of a problem.

Let’s them suspend Shuster for a couple of days — but they can fire Tweety.

He’s paying for Tweety, which is too bad, because he actually did his research during the Plame case.

MSNBC, which used to be more watchable for me, has become a challenge and watching Tweety is like watching a train wreck. I still watch KO, but only when it’s just him.

I don’t know, Anderson Cooper’s got a weird zen thing going that’s easier for my stressed brain to handle these days.

pimp mire, eyed.

*groan*

Schuster made a mistake- and got punished. I have no grief with any of this.

He couldn’t even ofer a straight up apology
MSNBC’s Shuster falsely claimed he said “Americans should be proud of” Chelsea Clinton before his “pimped out” comment
http://mediamatters.org/items/200802080003

Inre public v private speech, slang, especially slang, which crops up from black culture, with its various meanings based on reversals, and riffing on literal meaning with outrageous and prodigious hyperbolic tonguing in cheek is a minefield for political and sports reportage in media such as television and radio, and Mr. Shuster should have been hip to it. On the other hand, I had a grand old time telling people on the street that “It’s hard out there for a pimp,” was George Bush’s 2004 campaign song.

23

The most inmportant thing in this house is to defeat the Republicans, with a sizeable vote. Can you imagine? President McCain. It’s felt Mr. McCain will make Barry Goldwater and George W. Bush look like peaceniks

You are exactly right and I am tired of reading all of the blog comments about “How I won’t vote for “X”..The funny thing is that these self involved people think “it” is about them. How many are giving time, money or support for “their candidate”?

Atrios says it best:

No One Gives A Shit Who You Vote For

link

As a Man, I have said many things that I should be ashamed of but lessons learned and respect gained, awareness and being surrounded by woman…this kind of shit is usually dished out by those with projection problems.

“…pimp their candidate of choice…”

Now THAT was funny!

Shuster is a good journalist/reporter; Many times he gets right down to it and doesn’t usually fall into that partisan bias like others. It was an unfortunate use of the term. He should just said the campaign was using her shamelessly.

The more likely thing is his voice is being silenced for other things and this is the excuse. Didn’t he apologize already?

Oh I love that post. I’m gonna link it up.

I think it was offensive. But, if he offers up a real apology, I would let it go. We all say stupid stuff.

I do agree he is paying for the sins of others.

It will be interesting to see how others at MSNBC deal with this as we go forward. After the Matthews ‘apology’, I think their coverage became even more sexist.

Let’s them suspend Shuster for a couple of days — but they can fire Tweety.

That would be proportional.

I like that Hilary has started to attack the MSM Schuster is a poor target appearing on Fox to debate is a poor choice. Attacking Fox News can help her.
I hope she attacks the MSM more!

Hi Jane. Thanks for putting up this thoughtful post. Its a generational and urban thing in my view. Plus, what sociologist Irving Goffman speaks about in terms identifying one’s persona on a particular stage. The pimping comment might be OK on a blog or with friends, or on comedy central but not on national TV news. And then, it needs to be brought into play for others -Romney’s kids, spouses of all sorts. Particularly bad here was the fact of Chelsea’s relative age and gender.

Bush chimps out Laura….so I have heard.

-G

There might be a generation gap here. I am 62. I have never used that phrase in my life and found it highly offensive.

I agree with you mostly, but slang is part of every culture, often as a key component of insider-outside identities, youth culture etc, i.e. it is not just black.

Here!!!!Here!!!! The Obama “thing” is starting to worry me. A sub-set of Obama supporters have “fundie-wing-nut” psychology. Reading comments on some of the other “lefty” blogs..I think I logged on to LGF.

3 dings.

-G

I don’t have an opinion about what if anything NBC should have done. I do think the use of that word to describe his thoughts was awkward at best, but more than that it seemed silly to say that about Chelsea no matter what word he used to describe what he was saying. It really doesn’t make sense. My reaction to it was similar to what Bill Press’ reaction was. Which was, “Noooo”. “Chelsea…”–B Press

That’s always the way I hear it too, so much so that I don’t perceive it even as negatively value loaded any more. To my ears it just means “promoting.” I understand that others might not have the same response, and with some justification, but the whole thing kind of surprised me.

“Pimp”, I would venture to say, is a word that most people viewing NBC would associate with the traditional meaning of the word, a pimp, putting out prostitues for hire. Not everyone has “pimped” (forgive me) the distorted meaning of the word.

Just because it has become the latest fad word in some circles doesn’t mean it is appropriate to use in legitimate news. It was a poor choice of words on Schuster’s part.

By the way, I agree that he is also paying for his collegues sins.

Also by the way, I would like to see the F word returned to its proper place in the bedroom, but that’s just me. I remember well my first visit to Wonkette. Whew! Funny, but could have done without the F word in every sentence. After a while, it loses its effectiveness, and meaning. Thinking that this has happened to “pimp” as well.

Even more interesting to me was everyone’s attribution of my motive for putting up the poll, or their assumption about what my feelings on the subject might be. Which was actually much more about them and their individual need to view this race through a particular lens than anything else.

Everyone? I never did such a thing, my issues were the characterization of the word ‘claw’,that the comment was not assessed in context, and the fact that (due to the former to reasons)we were even having this debate.

On to the David Schuster remark. We all know the word in its traditional sense but being that I’m on the tan side, I thought I would also offer up the urban definitions as well. Why? Because while I wholeheartedly agree that by its original definition, it is egeregious, I also think in context of how the word is used today(think Pimp my Ride) that others may not necessarily see it as being a negative comment. Without further ado:

Pimp/ pimpted out
1) embellishment, ornament, decoration

I am not minimizing what he said, suggesting that he meant something else, twisting or spinning, I just want people to know that there is another definition by which people especially younger people.

Frankly, I see it more with the Hillary group, but that is my perspective. As Kiddo says, eye on the prize.

Shuster is a media harlot, pimp-mire-eld.

OK, got that out of my system.

To others, what shuster said was symptom of incredible stupidization of corporate media. That the media stars, even normally solid people like Shuster, would waste their breath bloviating about the candidates’ kids (whether Clinton, or Romney or anything else) in such a nincompoop fashion, shows what jabbering jackasses they have all become. Look at the wasteland of the NY Times opinion columns this week (with a few exceptions).

I heard an interview with Chelsea Clntion a few days ago. She sounded like a very serious wonk-dweeb who preferred to talk about issues. She said she was prouder than words could express about her mother’s presidential bid. Definitely did not sound like anyone who could be “pimped” or would be effective in such a role. But the only thing I really know about her is from that one interview, other than she had a cat names Sox.

Nope, coming from Hollywood the word has been used for decades as a synonym for “promote.” It’s not a “late fad,” that’s just how it’s commonly used. Which may skew my interpretation of it, I’m willing to admit, but it’s how book tours, movie promotion and PR gambits of all kind are commonly referred to and have been for as long as I’ve been in the business.

a pimp’ll be on the butt of the MSM

As someone who is not a supporter of either of them until the general election, I have to say that I tend to agree with Steve-AR. But as you note, YMMV.

I think language matters. The term bothered me. And I think it was gratuitous and not needed. But I’m the one who does not watch TV news. Ever. So there you go. Maybe I’m the one who’s out of touch.

Shuster gets Shushed.
Shuster deserves it. It’s about time. I guess Hillary canceling a debate had to hit the money strings.

Jane:

I am surprised by your comment. I know words like [Mod Note; racist terms removed] may be routinely used by black rappers and comedians. I do not think that they are appropriate for a network broadcast. I also do not think that anchors such as Shuster should be using slang words like “pimping” to look and sound “cool”. I am a man and I found it offensive especially being directed at someone like Chelsea who was just doing what she thought was helping her mother.

deminutah

“incredible stupidization of corporate media”.
“jabbering jackasses”

LOL

Love it.

I don’t have much of a problem with the suspension, or Hillary’s reaction.
But I beg her to unleash that same kind of attack on Fox News, which is
a million times worse every minute of every day.

“Pimped my ride” is a wholly unrelated meaning. Culturally it is asking to have your car refinished to flashy as in the way a stereotypical “pimp” dresses. An appearrance.

The way Mr. Shuster was using “pimp” was literally to say the Clintons were putting Chelsea out there to sell herself for votes.

Sentiment understood because that is a logical argument or point of view in the way she has been thrust into the limelight to campaign for her mother.(Whether you agree or not) It was a tasteless or in artful unprofessional way to say it. Far less offensive, however, than to specifically degrade someone simply because of their sex.

Well I will go with you you then. I’m an Obama supporter from the outside, but I tend to see the vast majority of the Obamiac group as energy kids (oxygen), so, I don’t necessarily take them as seriously as the “mid adult” bloggers here and elsewhere. Sorry for the ignornce but what does YMMV mean.

I am all for calling people out when they use insensitive language, but I am also wary of the politics of taking offense. Shuster deserves to be challenged on his language, but is this big backlash fair, or political manipulation?

Look at the actions to which Shuster was talking to. The Clinton campaign had Chelsea take the unusual step of making personal Election Day phone calls to the female hosts of “The View”. Extraordinary.

So what Shuster was mainly pointing to was the strong departure from the past, whereby Chelsea had maintained a much quieter role regarding the campaign.

My feeling was that Shuster used the loaded language to suggest the campaign was in fact debasing the former First Daughter, who had in the past enjoyed a status well above the fray. That’s a very fair opinion. and it’s disappointing that David might lose his job over it.

FWIW.

I was and still am a big Schuster fan.I think he works harder at actually learnign the information he is reporting thanjsut about anybody else they have at MSNBC. This is not a slap at KO, it’s just he’s in a different catagory being a desl guyinstead of a field reporter.

That being said, MSNBC seems to be getting more and more lockeroom-ish lately. It’s like what Tweety has in contagious. And,yes, could they PLEASE stop with the coverage of missing, drunk, vapid, or nervous breakdowning blonds.

Remeber that Taco Bell comercial “Just drop the Chalupa”? MSNBC please just drop the “blond” stories.

It’s very different to talk about pimping out a book than to talk about pimping a person, especially a young woman.

I found the use of the word to be ugly and offensive in this context. In another context, maybe not so bad.

I’m hearing a faint voice from upstairs asking if I’m feeling hungry for rib roast, baked potatoes and Caesar’s salad. Since we are having company in less than two hours for dinner, bridge and politics. I love this woman. I dislike bridge. I play best when I’m the dummie hand. Thank gawd our guests are Democrats. One problem. He likes Hillary and she likes Obama. Why can’t things just be perfect?

i was using it more so to demonstrate how the meaning has changed; I wasn’t equating the two. I gave my disclaimer but I’ll go put on the Kevlar suit anyway

Never liked Shuster, but in DC and in the upper levels of MSM wonk-hood, just about everyone’s either a pimp or a whore or both.

YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary

That was a bone-headed comment by Shuster, but he is paying for Tweety’s and MSNBC’s sins. OTOH, wasn’t Shuster all over the Lewinski tempest when he used to be at Faux? Perhaps there is a little bit of pay back as well.

A sub-set of Obama supporters have “fundie-wing-nut” psychology. Reading comments on some of the other “lefty” blogs.

Could we dial back the “Obama supporters are moblike” meme please?

LOL!

Why would they stop with the coverage of blonds? Dan Abrams thinks they are in contest with Faux and CNN. Did you see Jon Stewart last night? Or was it Wednesday? How Faux is co-opting the “Best Political Team in TV” schtick.

Oh and your characterization of pimping a car as equivalent to the way a pimp dresses tells me you may have been watching too many movies. It is true that it has to do with embellishment and ornamentation but leave the stereotypes out.

BTW I forgot to add the definition of ‘promoting’ but jane did that above

I’ll second RobZuber. I never was a Hillary supporter, but I’ve been really pissed off for a long time at the abuse the right has hurled at Chelsea Clinton, for the offense of being Bill and Hillary’s daughter. Schuster’s better than the average cable news guy, but even if unthinking, the comment was vile, so I’m not sorry he was suspended.

However: while I have a lot of sympathy for Chelsea, when the Clinton campaign puts out a statement saying that they might not agree to engage in debates on MSNBC any more it makes their decision to accept an invite from Fox look even worse. Fox has been far worse to everyone in the Clinton family as well as Democrats in general.

“But I beg her to unleash that same kind of attack on Fox News, which is
a million times worse every minute of every day.”

A million-times worse than how MSNBC has been biased against her? I don’t think so, and neither did the evaluation by an independent media watch group that was reported on FDL some days ago.

Rob:
Thank you. What would they have said about JFK or RFK supporters back in the 60’s?

Nope, coming from Hollywood the word has been used for decades as a synonym for “promote.” It’s not a “late fad,” that’s just how it’s commonly used. Which may skew my interpretation of it, I’m willing to admit, but it’s how book tours, movie promotion and PR gambits of all kind are commonly referred to and have been for as long as I’ve been in the business.

But those are the inside circles you run in. You are as you say, “in the business”. I doubt that the word “pimp” as a substitute for “promote” has yet entered the mainstream conscience. Even if it was a slip of the tongue for Schuster, which it would seem it was, it shouldn’t happen on national tv.

Personally, I think this is Hilary’s shot at the media putting them on notice to play fair. Perhaps its too bad that Schuster is the fall guy, but I seriously doubt that he will be banned for long. Look at Imus. Unless, they were looking for an excuse to sideline him anyway. Think that may be a possibility?

Now I’ve received an email from up stairs inquiring about the whereabouts of Margarita. I forgot about her. Things are starting to pop. Obviously I need to quit fooling around.

Dan Abrams thinks they are in contest with Faux and CNN.

An old boyfriend of mine started out his career working for the Neilson Ratings service.
Actually, MSNBC is in a contest with FOX and CNN. for ratings

I think I can say with some confidence that it wasn’t what he meant. People hear things through the filter of their own experience but Shuster comes from media too. I’m pretty sure he used the word as a colloquialism in the same way I would.

And yes, intent does matter. If Sean Hannity said something like this, with his track record, I admit I probably would take it quite differently.

Frankly the Clinton’ are smart/effective politicians. As with the NH stuff, they are milking this for all it is worth. Frankly, I preferred it when Obama straight out said, the Clintons are not racists. And, moved on.

These are my thoughts exactly. While not offended by the word “pimp”, it’s part of the MSM meme that people pimp for democratic ideas, programs or candidates and other people ’support’ conservative ones. My response to Shuster et. al. (borrowing from Jon Stewart’s response to a similar ploy by Romney), “Fuck you!”

I too thought that the use of that particular piece of slang in mainstream newsmedia was eyebrow-raising, though the term itself is more a comment on the speaker than an attack on the person about whom it was used.

And as you say it is more offensive on racial grounds -e.g. Schuster would never dream of saying that Michelle Obama was being “pimped out” by her husband in similar circumstances.

Nonetheless I still think this offense was careless but not a product of a network’s systematic attacks. Chris Matthews is a different story and should have been “suspended” long ago. There’s a difference between stupidity and chronic stupidity.

So maybe Schuster was accusin Bill an Hillary of DECORATING their daughter? Well- that’s a thought.

I was thinking about interview with Chelsea I heard. She sounded extremely smart and informed. Very interested in issues.