By Big Tent Democrat

Good for Greg Sargent and good for TPM:

Anyway, this should settle it: As dumb and clueless as Shuster's "pimp" remark, this was never really about him. The Clinton campaign, while genuinely upset about what Shuster said, lashed out at the network because they were primarily irked by Matthews' conduct, and were sending a message to MSNBC that it's time that Matthews muzzle himself.

Of course Tweety was the biggest problem, but Shuster (who defended Matthews and has his own pattern of sexist comments), Joe Scarborough and the entire network have a sexism problem in their coverage. But the important thing is it was about NBC's pattern of behavior, not about David Shuster's one remark. Good to see TPM acknowledge this.

By Big Tent Democrat

I wanted to leave this alone, but I can not, in good conscience, do so. Josh Marshall on Hillary Clinton's statement on David Shuster, (see also Shakes' Sis on the malign acceptance of sexism and misogyny at Huff Po):

To Fire or Not to Fire (Hint: Option #1)

In his interview with Hillary Clinton, The Politico's John Harris asked whether she really wanted MSNBC's David Shuster fired. . . .

Josh Marshall is saying that Hillary Clinton wants David Shuster fired based on this statement:

By Big Tent Democrat

Many know of the high-profile controversies I've noted above, but what about the less publicized incidents of sexist and misogynistic commentary that have gone unacknowledged and uncorrected by NBC News and MSNBC? Media Matters has documented scores of examples. Just last year, MSNBC host Tucker Carlson said of Sen. Clinton: "[T]here's just something about her that feels castrating, overbearing, and scary." Further, Carlson has said of Clinton: "I have often said, when she comes on television, I involuntarily cross my legs." Just how seriously are these issues being taken? . . . MORE

Is this an appropriate photo of Hillary Clinton for Time Magazine? Not to my mind. I think it's very offensive. Not just the depiction, but the uneven anatomy. Gross.

Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are on 60 Minutes tonight.

If you watched, tell us what you thought. Was the coverage even? Did it change your mind or add to your conviction as to which candidate to support?

The Writers' Strike is about to end. The union voted to approve a settlement. Here are the major terms.

The LA Times Strike Zone is here.

By Big Tent Democrat

Memo to our friend Josh - put away the shovel and stop digging your hole deeper. His latest explanation is perhaps the most damning of himself. He writes:

Some readers seem to believe that Clinton is saying that it's not about suspensions or apologies. It's about MSNBC's need to reevaluate its pattern of behavior.

. . . I give the Clinton campaign the respect of knowing that they're no slouches with the written word. And the words in this letter were clearly chosen with great care. The point of that passage was that merely suspending Shuster was insufficient -- that he needs to be fired. That's what they meant. And I have little doubt that Shuster and the MSNBC execs understood the meaning the moment they read it. I think it would be wrong to shy away from making that clear.

(Emphasis supplied.) It is damning of Josh that he can not imagine that the point of the letter was this:

I would urge you to look at the pattern of behavior on your network that seems to repeatedly lead to this sort of degrading language.

(Emphasis supplied.) I agree with Josh that NBC might not see that that is the point - NBC's pattern of sexism is manifest and people oblivious to and accepting of sexism do not easily change their stripes. It is sad to see that Josh in this episode is one of those people too.

By Big Tent Democrat

Talking Points Memo continues its very poor journalism on this story. Now Josh Marshall approvingly publishes an e-mail that falsely characterizes Hillary Clinton's letter to NBC News President Steve Capus as calling for David Shuster's firing. What is particularly egregious about TPM's work is it minimizes, even omits, the REAL point of the letter - that NBC has demonstrated an unbroken pattern of sexism in its reporting and commentary and Clinton's demand that this pattern be addressed.

At this point, it simply can not be denied, TPM is choosing to ignore NBC's egregious pattern of sexism. That is very bad of TPM and Josh Marshall. This is part of a pattern of malign acceptance of sexism that we must all fight against.

Update [2008-2-9 22:10:28 by Big Tent Democrat]: After its egregious journalism on this story, TPM NOW compounds it by simply lying. Yes, I am calling TPM liars. Their LATEST headline Says "Clinton Backs Off Firing Demand." They NEVER demanded it. ONLY TPM said FALSELY they demanded it. Shame on TPM. Shame on Josh Marshall. Disgraceful work.

By Big Tent Democrat

Over at TPM, Greg Sargent is, in my opinion, completely misreporting what Hillary Clinton meant in her written response to NBC Clinton wrote:

Nothing justifies the kind of debasing language that David Shuster used and no temporary suspension or half-hearted apology is sufficient.

I would urge you to look at the pattern of behavior on your network that seems to repeatedly lead to this sort of degrading language.

. . .

(Emphasis supplied.) Sargent utterly misses Clinton's point. He thinks she wants Shuster fired. That is not what Clinton is demanding. She wants "the pattern of behavior [at NBC] that seems to repeatedly lead to this sort of degrading language" to change. Too often people miss the real problem. Jamison Foser got it. Greg Sargent did not. BTW, that is poor reporting by Sargent imo.

By Big Tent Democrat

Capus' statement is the best sign yet that NBC News is beginning to take seriously the lengthy pattern of inappropriate comments about women made by NBC and MSNBC reporters. (NBC News did not issue a statement about Matthews, allowing Matthews' overly narrow, on-air quasi-apology to stand as the closest thing to an official statement.)

But apologies and statements and even suspensions don't mean anything unless they are followed by an actual change in behavior. Things didn't change at NBC/MSNBC after the Matthews controversy; hopefully they will this time.

That is one of the big issues about this. We can not fall into the malign acceptance of sexism.

Keith Olbermann apologizes for the David Shuster/Chelsea Clinton pimping comment that's been the talk of the blogs today.

It sure has ignited a lot of tensions...Earlier, Big Tent Democrat put himself in Time Out for the rest of the day for insulting a reader. He says the rules have to apply to him as well.

Via Media Matters, here is the apology David Shuster gave on MSNBC's Tucker Carlson show:

Last night during the show, I spoke about Chelsea Clinton and noted the affection that so many of us have for her. I also spoke about phone calls she has made to super delegates to convince them to support her mom. In describing this effort, I used a phrase that was inappropriate, and I apologize to the Clinton family, the Clinton campaign, and all of you who were justifiably offended. As I said this morning on MSNBC, all Americans should be proud of Chelsea Clinton, and I am particularly sorry that my language diminished the regard and respect she has earned from all of us and the respect her parents have earned in how they raised her.

Note to readers: Keep your comments civil. All points of view are welcome here provided they are expressed without name-calling, personal attacks or insults or profanity.

Update: Shuster transcript from last night's Tucker Carlson show below: