Martin Bashir apologized on the air today for his Sarah Palin commentary last week…
…or should I say “was ordered to”?
Whatever the case (and I believe the latter is the more likely scenario), with this move MSNBC has set a very sad precedent and the wrong signals regarding what it will and will not tolerate on its air…
- It will not tolerate someone getting worked up off air in the heat of the moment and using a gay slur in public which alienated a core MSNBC constituency. For that you get a two show suspension.
- It will tolerate someone planning well in advance to state that someone should defacate in a conservative’s mouth. For that you merely have to apologize on the air.
- It will not tolerate someone saying on air that a Democrat Presidential candidate is pimping out their daughter. For that you get an “indefinite suspension”.
- It will tolerate someone using crude commentary about a former GOP vice presidential candidate. For that you get to keep doing your show without interruption.
Nobody should believe that MSNBC is playing fair with Bashir here. The minimum punishment should have been suspension (I and others argued termination was warranted). MSNBC has revealed its true colors with this move. You can beat up on the GOP with an almost reckless abandon and skate with only the slightest of punishments. But if you beat up on the home team…you’re screwed. I would not blame anyone in the GOP for thinking they can’t get a fair shake from MSNBC and NBC News now. Why should they after what MSNBC did with Bashir?
Filed under: MSNBC
