Filling in on July 17 for Keith Olbermann, MSNBC's Alison Stewart devoted a "Countdown" segment to criticizing the dress Wendy Vitter wore during a July 16 news conference in which her husband, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), admitted to an affair with a prostitute.
With "Fashion Ho-Pas?" emblazoned on-screen (pictured at right), Stewart interviewed Radar Online's Jeff Bercovici, who snarked that Vitter's sartorial choice could mark "a complete reversal of the laws of skankery." [Video (1:37): Real (2.54 MB) and Windows (2.90MB), plus MP3 audio (753 kB)]
Olbermann returned to his program's hosting duties the next day and also hosted the July 19 program before turning over the helm yet again to Stewart for his July 20 show*, despite having had three days to become aware of the "ho-pas" segment, take disciplinary action against Stewart, and make her issue an apology. Olbermann either saw the light or felt the heat over the weekend, apparently, as he issued an apology about one-third of the way through his July 23 program (h/t Ian Schwartz):
"Not only was a series of unfortunate and inappropriate terms used, there is no justification for such a segment devoted to analysis of what a woman-- a victim of her husband's inappropriate behavior-- was wearing in public. The story should not have aired. It should not have been couched in the terms used. It should not have happened, and it won't happen again. So Mrs. Vitter, and to you the viewer, I once again apologize."
*Olbermann did, however, file a report via satellite on the July 20 show from a New York release party for the latest Harry Potter novel.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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Uh oh, looks like
July 24, 2007 - 14:57 ET by Hero SquadUh oh, looks like Liberalmann committed an unfortunate Olb-pas.
*****
"I'm sorry, you must have mistaken me for a clown that gives a damn!" - Sticky the Clown
So where is olby's apology
July 24, 2007 - 15:03 ET by TruthMongerSo where is olby's apology for all of his other shows then?!?!?!?
Shouldn't we be calling
July 24, 2007 - 14:59 ET by msh1973Shouldn't we be calling for Alison Stewart to be fired? Where is Al Sharpton?
Perhaps this means the
July 24, 2007 - 15:01 ET by Hero SquadPerhaps this means the "ho" part of Imus's comment is the lesser of the two evils.
Now if you'll excuse me, Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" just came on the iPod...
Hey!
*****
"I'm sorry, you must have mistaken me for a clown that gives a damn!" - Sticky the Clown
The Imus' should be
July 24, 2007 - 15:03 ET by bigtimerThe Imus' should be screaming at the top of their lungs...
Deidre where art thou?
LOL...
Ubermann and Imus never had any love lost between them to begin with.
Reverse racism is always okay...
Thank you. This was the
July 24, 2007 - 15:14 ET by BeowulfThank you. This was the first thing that came to my mind. This selective application of PC-ness is such BS.
The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers
Only blacks have that kind
July 24, 2007 - 15:14 ET by mostlymoderateOnly blacks have that kind of power. Nobody else
No Rehab for Alison
July 24, 2007 - 15:19 ET by acumenShouldn't we be calling for Alison Stewart to be fired? Where is Al Sharpton?
Nope. Per The Liberal Guide for Dummies Pg 32, Sec IV - The fact Mrs. Vitter is white and conservative trumps her victim status.
That was tongue in cheek...
July 24, 2007 - 18:09 ET by msh1973That was tongue in cheek...
I commend Mr. Olbermann for
July 24, 2007 - 15:12 ET by mostlymoderateI commend Mr. Olbermann for apologizing. I didn't think there was anything wrong with that outfit to begin with.
I was going to commend him
July 24, 2007 - 15:15 ET by Ken ShepherdI was feeling that charitably too until my skepticism set in and I reviewed the shows between July 17 and July 23 and the fact that he hosted two and let Stewart host the July 20 one, when he had had 3 days to "learn" about the segment and get outraged at the content.
That's evidence that strongly suggests it's not that he thought the segment was tasteless but that there was enough pressure brought to bear on him to publicly apologize.
Very interesting. I did not
July 24, 2007 - 15:19 ET by mostlymoderateVery interesting. I did not know about any of that. I try to stay away from both Olbermann AND Oreilly equally :)
Is that a Leopard skin
July 24, 2007 - 15:31 ET by MightyMouthIs that a Leopard skin dress?
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
I dunno, but from a distance
July 24, 2007 - 15:34 ET by mostlymoderateI dunno, but from a distance she is kinda hot.
Yep it appears that way...I
July 24, 2007 - 15:35 ET by bigtimerYep it appears that way...I saw the interview, plus she fills it out just fine.
Most likely the jealousy eh MM?
MM...are ya hearing me...MM...you being a rogue again are ya?...
....LOL...
C'mon BT...
July 24, 2007 - 15:38 ET by MightyMouthRogue? moi?...Naw... just askin' $-)
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
When you put this incident
July 24, 2007 - 15:38 ET by mostlymoderateWhen you put this incident together with the Fred Thompson incident, it leads one to suspect that the MSM cant handle a Republican hottie.
Well, it's a start. Now
July 24, 2007 - 15:52 ET by SMGalbraithWell, it's a start.
Now all he has to do is to apologize for telling his audience that he's a "news anchor" who hosts a "news show" and we're all set.
SMG
He should be an apology
July 24, 2007 - 15:56 ET by MightyMouthHe should be an apology "expert" by now. According to eyewitness testimony he should have apologized to every woman (or guy?) he's ever slept with!
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
I can understand
July 24, 2007 - 15:55 ET by sarcasmoI can understand (indeed, I still feel entitled to crack, if I think they're any good!) jokes/jabs about/to Vitter himself, but this is truly in poor taste. It reflects very badly on Ms. Stewart that she went after another woman who was really a victim in all of this mess. I might sincerely believe her choice to stay with this guy is, to say the least, odd, but she & her kids should be left alone even if people like me still crack occasional tasteless jokes about the politician.
JMR
"Olbermann did, however,
July 24, 2007 - 16:03 ET by Nortonalec"Olbermann did, however, file a report via satellite on the July 20 show from a New York release party for the latest Harry Potter novel."
I hope his hog warts are o.k.
Nortonalec
Is leopard skin print
July 24, 2007 - 16:05 ET by balboaIs leopard skin print appropriate for a press conference where your husband admits to doing untoward things.
Maybe everything else was
July 24, 2007 - 16:07 ET by MightyMouthMaybe everything else was in the dirty clothes hamper?
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Yea, why do you
July 24, 2007 - 16:07 ET by NortonalecYea, why do you ask?
Nortonalec
Maybe boa she was making
July 24, 2007 - 16:07 ET by bigtimerMaybe boa she was making hew own damned statement.
Understand?
Does it matter? Defending
July 24, 2007 - 16:22 ET by Roger the ShrubberDoes it matter?
Defending an ex MTV-vjay is hardly becoming. Who's next on your protection list, La-La?
Roger, I suspect anyone
July 24, 2007 - 18:15 ET by Chris NormanRoger,
I suspect anyone criticized here...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
I'm not really all that
July 24, 2007 - 20:35 ET by balboaI'm not really all that concerned about Stewart. She can handle herself.
Whatever happened to Tabitha Soren, though?
Married with 3 kids,
July 25, 2007 - 09:30 ET by Roger the ShrubberMarried with 3 kids, according to Wiki.
Let me say that I feel very
July 24, 2007 - 16:55 ET by MightyMouthLet me say that I feel very sorry for Vitters wife. There is no reason she should have to suffer this humiliation, dress be damned.
The humiliation is her husbands to bear alone. He did it, and NO ONE really needs to know if she stands beside him or not. That's between the two of them.
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Misplaced apology
July 24, 2007 - 17:33 ET by nkviking75This apology is like Osama apologizing for picking his nose in public. The apology is warranted, but there are far bigger offenses that should be apologized for. Not that any apology would be good enough.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
I work part time for a
July 24, 2007 - 18:07 ET by msh1973I work part time for a speciality women's high end retailer....the wrap dress is in style, as is small animal print. Perhaps she should have chosen a more conservative pattern, but really, how petty of Stewart! I might add she is a lovely woman, making the most of a humiliating situation.
Good points msh... I am
July 24, 2007 - 20:44 ET by bigtimerGood points msh...
I am quite sure that whatever she did with that wrap-around when she got home it wasn't to Vitter's benefit.
What say you...
I can think of a few places she wrapped it....above the shoulder area...rather tightly.
LOL!
Do the right thing
July 24, 2007 - 23:30 ET by stratmanI thought Olberman's apology was appropriate and genuine sounding. Good for him.
I also thought Mrs. Vitter looked very good, a bit casual maybe for the occasion, and handled the situation with aplomb, something the pinheaded harpies on CNN did not. Mrs. Vitter has her reasons for her apparel. I'm OK with that. It certainly was not tacky or trashy.
Killing them with kindness isn't working. Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.
my two cents
July 11, 2009 - 17:07 ET by ozarkianAnother sign of the acceptance of modern-day sexism (the real kind, not the angry feminist kind). Didn't clothes figure prominently in the criticism of Palin's campaigning? The latest is, she dressed like a "biker chick" at a memorial service, because she had on a skirt a little above the knee. Geez, there were even the slams at Hillary's constant pantsuits. Enough, already, or the same folks should start snipping about BO's tight, trendy suits.
Oh, yeah - just to prove that consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds -- it's okay to talk about Michelle-my-belle's clothes. That's because the press paints her as a fashion ideal, so pointing out HER faux-paus is just ridiculing the press's worship.On the other hand, Mrs. Vitter, Sarah Palin, and Hillary Clinton, are not setting themselves up as style icons.