TVNewser’s Gail Shister is the latest media writer to tee off on MSNBC for not suspending Martin Bashir.
It’s no surprise that NBC tries to distance itself publicly from its corporate sibling. In this case, however, its silence has been deafening. How low does the bar have to go before Tom Brokaw speaks up, as he has in the past? More to the point, why haven’t any NBC women taken a stand?
Given MSNBC’s numerous problems, it can hardly afford the appearance of a double standard. But that is precisely where it’s headed if it maintains its decision to set a new precedent with Bashir. If Bashir gets a pass, imagine what the next incident will be.
Personally, I hope it’s spoken by a woman, and about a man. Then we’ll see what kind of Pandora’s box Phil Griffin has opened.
As I already stated, it’s highly unlikely and would be considered atypical behavior for any active current (MS)NBC employee to speak up lest they get taken to the private woodshed. Brokaw is the exception to this rule because he’s semi-retired and has elder statesman status that he’s free to do what he wants without fear of consequences.
This was a bad miscalculation by Phil Griffin. Suspending Bashir would have done a lot to limit the damage that’s been inflicted on MSNBC and, by extrapolation, NBC News the past week and a half.
That said, some of the hypocrisy being shown by elements of FNC are really really rich. It’s pure Schadenfreude, of course, but at the same time parts of it rings hollow, particularly the calls for any talents to comment on the matter which we all know Roger Ailes considers “shooting inside the tent”; something he would never tolerate in his own network.
Filed under: MSNBC
