MRC director of media analysis Tim Graham appeared on "Hannity & Colmes" on Friday night to discuss the David Shuster suspension over his suggestion that Chelsea Clinton was being "pimped out" by Hillary. Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes insisted both that Shuster was (a) dreadfully wrong and yet (b) over-punished for a verbal miscue. (FNC's transcript is here.)
Both hosts suggested that Tim was defending Shuster, which he denied. "Chelsea Clinton now is 27 years old. She is not the 13-year-old that moved into the White House. And the problem that — we have a much greater problem in the United States today — that she's been treated....with such an adoring tone. They really treat her like Saint Chelsea." Tim also said MSNBC had a double standard between Shuster and far wilder comments from Keith Olbermann: "Keith Olbermann could come on and say that Bush is responsible for killing 3,500 Americans. Or remember when he called Chris Wallace a monkey posing as a newscaster?"
At the end, Tim summed up: "I'm simply saying I think we do have way too much sensitivity toward Chelsea Clinton. The New York Times, again, this piece that Jodi Kantor wrote last year. She sort of said people are so excited that her lips moved and sound came out. There is just too much worship there."
MP3 audio also available (2.37 MB | 5:15 in length).
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Listening to Alan Colmes
February 11, 2008 - 14:38 ET by Dustin JolleyListening to Alan Colmes talk, you'd almost think that he got most, if not all of his Liberal talking points from Media Matters for America, just like Keith Olbermann obviously does.
Two Points
February 11, 2008 - 15:14 ET by vaboxrboy1. All candidates use their families in campaigns, and once in office they become fair game for criticisim. Remember the weird stories about little Amy Carter and the troubles of the Reagan kids?
2. The term "pimping" is vulgar and we should ALL be outraged that Schuster (and others) even think it is okay to say during the news.
Pimp
February 11, 2008 - 15:22 ET by ChaitealoverI was shocked to learn that an adult woman I know actually thought that "pimp" means to take something run down and give it a glamorizing makeover, because she's watched an MTV program that fixes up old cars!
Arbitrarily changing the meaning of words is one of my pet peeves. Remember when "gay" meant lighthearted or having a good time?
Chai
“...Bury me on my face,” said Diogenes; and when he was asked why, he replied, “Because in a little while everything will be turned upside down.”
sign of the times
February 11, 2008 - 17:30 ET by jondelwicheWe had this discussion on an earlier thread
and your friend is absolutely correct. Google
can link you to urban dictionary sites where
pimp has taken on so many meanings, including
making the old into new or hip again. I agree with the language loss, but it is common: oddly,
being "the bomb" now can mean being good or hip???, and
"smokin" can mean the opposite as well (cool). yadayada.
The lessons here: dont act like someone you're not, and the Clintons really need a "victim" card to bump their poll #'s. The other guests on this show were far from shocked.
End of story, until the Clintons saw an angle.
Crude language
February 11, 2008 - 15:31 ET by docbYes, the comment was crudely worded but it was nonetheless true. It was not pointed at Chelsea but at how hclinton was using her. She is an adult and has staid in the background all her life but now her parents need her to serve their Blind ambition for a third term---between calling celeb's to get airtime- to pushing youth and superdelegates she is being used for that very purpose...
I do not approve of that Obbie person attacking our current president either.
Watching him is tough, too.
February 11, 2008 - 15:56 ET by WhoIsJohnGaltI never know which eye to look at...I feel like I'm trying to listen to an iguana...
...pardon me, that was so wrong, and I fully regret it. I don't know what made me say such a hurtful and I'll say ten "hail Hillary"'s tonight.
Why is it defending Shuster
February 11, 2008 - 14:40 ET by Lame CherryHow ridiculous of Hannity to postulate that Mr. Graham was defending Shuster considering the things I have heard come out of Sean's mouth over Alec Baldwin for example.
People get caught in this trap of Shuster.............the reality is Chelsea Clinton and Gram Hamrod were both whored out by Hillary.
Gram got the geezer men going hot.............and Chelsea was the red light district prostitute teasing in the window to bring in clients.
Hannity knows better than this and this virginal treatment of Chelsea forgets her puke covered face in London falling down drunk and other character faults.............she is not Mother Superior of a Convent.
She is though being pimped by her parents as she always has been pimped. I hope though that she has a better fate when Hillary tosses this one as Socks got dumped and Buddy was left to run wild and get run over.
Hillary is a pimp and it is unhealthy for pets to be around her and Bill.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Tim you did a great job in
February 11, 2008 - 14:54 ET by bigtimerTim you did a great job in the time you had not being interrupted by Colmes last Friday...glad the staff brought this out, I had forgot about it, you were exactly right the way you put everything regarding the hypocrisy with msnbc and the opinion about Saint Chelsea, you know... the grown woman now....lol.
Your zing about Olbermann was sooo true, I loved it!
I hope all girls in America get
February 11, 2008 - 15:08 ET by YahooWatcherthe opportunity Chelsea Clinton have gotten, that being going staright from college with no experience to a six figure "consulting" job. Kinda sounds like her Mom, no experience but wants the job running the free world.
YW... Yeah and she is
February 11, 2008 - 15:22 ET by bigtimerYW...
Yeah and she is working in hedge funds too...I wonder if her mom's Soros connections helped...lol!
"There is just too much
February 11, 2008 - 15:30 ET by balboa"There is just too much worship there."
Sounds like Tim is disappointed that the Bushies aren't revered in the same way. :-)
At least President Bush has
February 11, 2008 - 15:48 ET by Gary P JacksonAt least President Bush has earned it.
I meant the twins.
February 11, 2008 - 16:28 ET by balboaI meant the twins.
If the word choice was so
February 11, 2008 - 16:48 ET by BuffNBoneIf the word choice was so offensive, I wonder why her father hasn't spoken out about it. If he has to be reminded about paternal responsibilities and now chooses to say something, his timing (lack of) should then be pointed out.
My take is, if Chelsea regularly watched "The View" and decided to make her calls to the cast members then Shuster's remark may have been out of bounds. But if she made the calls at someone else's bidding then it probably is just a poor word (singular) choice. "Pimping" unfortunately is now part of today's lexicon and communicators are encouraged to use one word if it can still convey the same meaning as many words do.
As it stands now, HRC and her handlers are getting lots of (free) mileage out of the episode and a modicum of sympathy along with it. Plus she is innoculated from any MSNBC criticism for a while.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
Cause her Daddys mind
February 11, 2008 - 21:44 ET by IamTinmanRuns in that particular gutter. He believes women are to be used when needed and then ignored until the need arises again.
I think Daddys a little gunshy right now.
More Hillary Humiliation
February 12, 2008 - 05:57 ET by Cool ArrowImagine being boxed so tightly in the corner you have no recourse but to promise America your spouse won't stray. A POLITICO reader extracted just such an assurance from Hillary.
Oh yeah, now there's a Presidential stand if I ever heard one. Makes you feel all patriotic and sh#t.
♣ a seal
Eyeblast
February 12, 2008 - 14:52 ET by viluzionI just wanted to mention that these Eyeblast videos work really well on my computers. That's a good site.