ThetaBurst

Title
Clinton could pull out of MSNBC debates over anchor's comments

Link
SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- A distasteful comment about Chelsea Clinton by an MSNBC anchor could imperil Sen. Hillary Clinton's participation in future presidential debates on the network, a Clinton spokesman said.
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Excerpt

SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- A distasteful comment about Chelsea Clinton by an MSNBC anchor could imperil Sen. Hillary Clinton's participation in future presidential debates on the network, a Clinton spokesman said.

In a conference call with reporters, Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson on Friday excoriated MSNBC's David Shuster for suggesting the Clinton campaign had "pimped out" 27-year old Chelsea by having her place phone calls to celebrities and Democratic Party "superdelegates" on her mother's behalf.

Wolfson called Shuster's comment "beneath contempt" and disgusting.

"I, at this point, can't envision a scenario where we would continue to engage in debates on that network," he added.

MSNBC said Shuster, who apologized on the air for his comment, has been temporarily suspended from appearing on all NBC news broadcasts except to offer his apology.

"NBC News takes these matters seriously, and offers our sincere regrets to the Clintons for the remarks," MSNBC spokesman Jeremy Gaines said, adding the network was hopeful the debate would take place as planned.

Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama are scheduled to participate in an MSNBC debate February 26 from Ohio, which holds its primary March 4. The Clinton campaign has pushed hard for as many debates as possible with Obama, but Wolfson said the February 26 debate could be jeopardized.

Wolfson pointed to what he called a pattern of tasteless comments by MSNBC anchors about the Clinton campaign. Weeks ago, "Hardball" host Chris Matthews apologized to the former first lady after suggesting her political career had been made possible by her husband's philandering.

Shuster told The Associated Press he has tried to reach Clinton to apologize.

Bill Burton, a spokesman for Obama, called Shuster's comments "deplorable" and said they had no place in the political process.

Superdelegates are elected officials and other members of the Democratic National Committee who serve as unpledged delegates to the party's convention. They're expected to play an important role in selecting the party's nominee if the delegate contest between Clinton and Obama remains close.

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Comment:

So, we are now to believe the Clintons are going to bail on NBC?

NBC????!

The Clintons are going to give up interviews on Meet the Press? Hardball? Countdown? NBC Nightly News? Dateline NBC?

The Clintons -desperately seeking to conduct as many debates with Obama as possible (currently 5 requests are on the table)- are going to bail on NBC in the debate scheduled to take place just before the Ohio primary?

Yeah, right.

The day the Clintons refuse to appear on NBC is the day I become the anchor of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

I'll even be perky.

MarkMiller

I very much doubt they would refuse the free publicity at this point. I really do.

Jonesy

Translation: "His comment might hurt business, therefore he has been silenced; please give us your money."

itsmeeeeeee

prediction: hillary will kiss and make up with them if she can't find another replacement for that venue that week.

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The_Heretic

I say Hillary (R) Clinton is just using this as an excuse to get out of debates they know they'll lose.

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"Enough!!" -so rang Barack Obama's voice off the walls of Mile High Stadium

itsmeeeeeee

no, i disagree. that would piss the shit out of me if it were directed at my daughter, too.

even though their anger is completely justified, i still believe the campaign WILL use it to play one of their favorite cards - the victim card. maybe even shed another tear or two, etc...

in the end, however, i believe that hillary probably NEEDS those debates. i don't care how they are trying to spin it, now, her campaign isn't very healthy moneywise. cnn still insists that they verified from three different sources that her staffers were asked to work free last month, but that thanks to post super tuesday donations, they ended up getting paid. she's probably going to need that free exposure.

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MarkMiller

You know.......there are a few primaries today......nah.....they wouldn't have made such a big deal for just these. And it was pretty insulting.

EvilMonkey

This will only be used for political gain, the Clinton's pretending they have principals on this is an absolute joke.

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Barack Obama - Get the facts at BarackObamaWatch.com

Shake

She's already used the fake crying card, and now the fake indignation card. What'll be left if she wins the nomination and needs to pretend she's a decent human being?

MarkMiller

I don't know if it's fake, I mean I don't think she is that good an actor. It may well have been calculated....but to bring tears up spontaneously is very difficult for even the most experienced performer.

Has Clinton herself spoken about this yet or is the statement just coming from within her camp?