ORONO, Maine - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said she took “deep offense” at comments by an MSNBC anchor about her daughter Chelsea’s role in her campaign and said she still had not decided whether to participate in a debate sponsored by the network later this month.
“I am a mom first and a candidate second and I found the remarks incredibly offensive,” Clinton said at a news conference on Saturday at the University of Maine. ”I have sent a letter to the head of NBC expressing the deep offense that I took.”
She was referring to a remark from MSNBC’s David Shuster, who questioned on Thursday whether Chelsea was “sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way” by the campaign because she was making calls to voters and giving speeches advocating for her mother.
MSNBC said in a statement on Friday that Shuster had apologized to the Clintons on-air for the remark and was suspended from broadcasts except to make the apology, but Clinton suggested in her letter to MSNBC that the cable network should go further to make amends.
“Nothing justifies the kind of debasing language that David Shuster used and no temporary suspension or half-hearted apology is sufficient,” she said in the letter.
Pressed on whether she would participate in the debate that will be hosted by the network on Feb. 26, Clinton said: ”We’re going to wait and see how this plays out.”
Asked for a reaction to Clinton’s comments, the network said it stood by its earlier statement which also included MSNBC’s own apology.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
- Photo credit: Reuters/Jim Young (Clinton greets supporters at a town hall meeting in Maine)
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I am so sick of “politically correct” getting in the way of free speech and the right to express one’s opinion! Schuster was merely commenting on an observation of his own, questioning it, not stating it as fact. Perhaps he should have worded it differently, but he was only using the vernacular of the times. I don’t even think he should have to apologize, let alone have his job threatened!
If Hillary wants to withdraw from the debate, then fine. Stop being childish Hillary! Take your ball and go home…we can always find another game to play, and you can sit home alone. Who suffers? Certainly not us if you want to show your true colors. I was sitting on the fence until now, but I think you just pushed me over to Obama’s side.
- Posted by JillIt seems the media in the United States is anti Hilary just as they were for pro war in Iraq.
I find the media is pro Obama and men(white in particular) seem to be afraid of a woman being president in the US. Why is the media not addressing this in the US? Just to show again how biased the reporting is there still.
- Posted by Carol MorganThe comment wasn’t that bad. Shuster is a good guy. If Chelsea is gonna campaign, she should be ready for the heat. The Clintons are just trying to silence the media.
WHY DONT CHELSEA GO GET A JOB like the rest of us???
And she is as ugly as her mama.
- Posted by JonBthis is the result of putting your TWENTY EIGHT year old daughter out on the firing line and then not allowing the press to question/interview her at all.
the clintons cannot have it bothways but yes, they think they can. although we saw her grow up in the white house she is now an adult and why should she be protected from the hard questions.
the clintons are gloating… this is the second time they have checkmated msnbc.
- Posted by mariannei love the reporting that david shuster’s have done on msnbc i never thought he was this kind of a reporter he seem to be very good in what he has done in the past but went you start being around people like chris matthew whom also was fair on one point in time until he started kissing in to obama and talking about the clintons and joe scarbough whom when in congress never liked the clintons this is whats happens i hope he has a change in heart an apologize to the clintons he is from arkansas this way he can continue in the good grace of the american people.
- Posted by RAPHAEL RUIZI think, Shuster was actually expressing sympathy for Chelsea, who should have been more loved and gotten more attention from her parents and us as a former First Daughter. We have sad memories about her during Bill’s presidency. Maybe, Shuster was thinking Chelsea deserves something more dignifing than campainging for her mother begging for votes.
- Posted by MiaI am one of the biggest MSNBC fans but I have been quite surprised at how they have openly been anti-Hillary. David Schuster clearly went out of line here by using such offensive words. Afterall all Chelsea was doing was helping campaign for her own Mum. I mean who wouldn’t do that. From morning through evening all MSNBC does is promote Obama and bash Hillary and my friends and I have come to a conclusion that the network has an agenda here. The only person who has given a fair coverage on this issue, I believe has been Dan Abrams. Please go back to reporting and giving the viewer a chance to make their own decisions and not trying to tell them who to vote for.
- Posted by SusieI agree the remark was completely out of line and very inappropriate but let’s not start a witch hunt in asking for this mans job. He has apologized and is being suspended. That seems an appropriate punishment. He is an excellent anchor who made a bad judgement. Why are we so intense as a society that we have to ruin a mans career after one slip-up. Lighten up people.
- Posted by jessicaNobody referred to Mitt Romney “pimping” out his sons who were just as active in his campaign. A double standard yet again exposing systemic media prejudice towards all women.
- Posted by SamiShe is pimping her out. And her husband is pimping Hillary out so that he can be in the White House again. It’s true.
- Posted by Damon FernandesAlthough I think Shuster’s comment was extremely unfortunate, I believe he really made a mistake. He is a good and honest journalist and I have never seen him be biased in anyway. Clinton is not displaying grace and fairness in this situation. Neither she, nor the other candiates have a problem slinging mud when it suits them. I don’t appreciate her threats to pull out of the debate and holding MSNBC hostage - she is clearly trying to ruin a legitimate person’s career for her own quest to receive sympathy from the public. Very Sad!!
- Posted by kimberley millerIt might have been wrong for what he said but what he said is true. He should have just sugar coat it for Hilary Clinton. I am tired of her not being able to handle anything. She wants to be the leader of our country and look what she has done…She has cried and she is saying being a mother comes first. Well she can be a mother first and not have to worry about being President. Because I would think being PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES is a bit more important than fighting your childrens battles. Clinton needs to get her political stance correct. She is changing her mind way way to much and she can not take the heat. I can only imagine what would happen when she takes office.
- Posted by LeeannSo fathers that are Presidents don’t have that mindset. Balogna..show’s the nature of the beast and sexism support of that statement Jason.
- Posted by Ann AlohaThis is what occurs when filthy reporting enters the media coverage, filthy and ignorant students.
Enough Said.
David Shuster’s vulgar debasing comments about Chelsea Clinton puts him at the top of the list of most coveted reporters for the FOX News Network.
- Posted by mrogiHillary is a two-bit opportunist that would sell out the family dog to do her bidding. Can’t you see that this is just another opportunity for her? She is using this to garner sympathy. It’s all tactical to her. The reporter shouldn’t have said what he said, but do I have any sympathy for Hillary using this as a publicity stunt. . .no.
- Posted by LawrenceIf a similar remark had been made about Obama by the press or by anyone in Clinton’s camp for example “Oprah works like a slave for him” the media would have been all over it, outraged and the coverage and the significance of the remark would have been covered and discussed for days.
This kind of treatment of Hillary is not new. Have any of you seen the unblieveably offensive Hillary TShirts that the republicans are hawking? Of did anyone notice when some idiot shouted to Hillary “iron my shirts!” that people chuckled and the press paid no attention to it?
Everyone should read Robin Morgan’s piece “Goodbye to all that(#2)”
http://womensmediacenter.com/ex/020108.h tml
- Posted by jane denningThough i agree that Shuster was out of line, I can’t help but wonder if this is a look into the future term of office for the would be Pres Clinton. I can respect that she is a parent first and a candidate second, but I fear that this means she might place her role as the leader of the free world second as well. MSNBC and Shuster have apologized and they are also taking appropriate disciplinary steps. As an on the fence democrat, Clinton will lose my support if she is not at the MSNBC debate. I feel that being a parent is an important role, but what about her being a parent to the US?
- Posted by JasonI’m not a Hilary fan but I feel that journalist have gone to far especially when giving news as opposed to commentary. It has been apparent that NBC has been anti Hillary. If the network has any credibility they should fire chusster and nobody should ever hire him as a news man again. WE should all be held responsible for our actions. Some of these news types (Dan Rather) let their ego get in the way of common sense.
- Posted by bobHave to agree with the headline on this one. The media has a responsibility to avoid offensive, vulgar and bias opinions.
- Posted by AlbertMSNBC and David Shuster went too far with the rude comment concerning Chelsea Clinton helping with Senator Hillary Clinton’s campaign. The comment is completely out of line. No matter which candidate a person supports for this presidential campaign, a personal attack of this nature is the lowest form of “reporting”. One has to question David Shuster’s and MSNBC’s motives for this kind of attack and why MSNBC hasn’t fired David Shuster. While we have freedom of speech in this country, David Shuster is in a postion in which professionalism should come before his disgusting opinions.
- Posted by Tom