MSNBC's David Shuster was duped Monday by someone erroneously claiming to be the McCain campaign adviser who leaked derogatory information to the press about Sarah Palin.
In his rush to report a scoop, Shuster and his producers failed to recognize that the leaker was actually a fictional creation as was the think tank he supposedly worked for.
This somehow got past that crack, investigative journalism crew so populated by America's most atrocious cable news network as reported by the Associated Press Thursday (emphasis added):
David Shuster, an anchor for the cable news network, said on air Monday that Martin Eisenstadt, a McCain policy adviser, had come forth and identified himself as the source of a Fox News Channel story saying Palin had mistakenly believed Africa was a country instead of a continent.
Eisenstadt identifies himself on a blog as a senior fellow at the Harding Institute for Freedom and Democracy. Yet neither he nor the institute exist; each is part of a hoax dreamed up by a filmmaker named Eitan Gorlin and his partner, Dan Mirvish, the New York Times reported Wednesday.
The Eisenstadt claim had mistakenly been delivered to Shuster by a producer and was used in a political discussion Monday afternoon, MSNBC said.
"The story was not properly vetted and should not have made air," said Jeremy Gaines, network spokesman. "We recognized the error almost immediately and ran a correction on air within minutes."
The folks at NBC and General Electric must be so proud.
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Comments Policy
MSNBC is for bottom
November 13, 2008 - 11:12 ET by BeatenValveMSNBC is for bottom feeders....
they're vetting and
November 13, 2008 - 12:08 ET by TruthMongerthey're vetting and retracting now?!?!?
here's a 2do list:
1. Bush lied about WMD
2. Cheney really runs the WH
3. CO-BO is qualified for POTUS
4. plenty more after that
yep
November 13, 2008 - 12:49 ET by RowaneYep, it's MSNBC FTL (For the Lose)
Another sterling bit of
November 13, 2008 - 11:12 ET by NewsbusterbrownAnother sterling bit of journalism from David "I Report Whatever I Want You to Know" Shuster.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Shuster got his start on
November 13, 2008 - 11:20 ET by SeashellShuster got his start on MSNBC with Chris Matthews. I think that is all that needs to be said.
POOOOOOOOFFFFFFF!!!!
November 13, 2008 - 11:13 ET by fairtax4everAs the last shred of journalistic integrity goes up in flames, Schuster (MSNBC et al) rushes to disparage another "slimy" Republican.
Quick, someone throw them BOTH ends of the rope before they drown!
Corrections have certainly
November 13, 2008 - 11:13 ET by TD in FLCorrections have certainly been the norm as of late. I like how, in most situations, they maybe take several minutes to discuss a story such as this; but then the retraction takes all of 5 seconds and is swiftly brushed under the rug. Thankfully Newbusters is around to call more attention to these so called "errors" of judgment given that most people hear about the story, but rarely the apology afterward.
Bill O
November 13, 2008 - 11:22 ET by inquiringmindYeah well it got past Bill O as well. Greta took him to task for it even before we knew it was a lie.
O'Reilly
November 13, 2008 - 13:44 ET by iveseenitallO'Reilly has become a lost cause. He's too busy promoting his books, laughing with Dennis Miller, worrying about his ratings vs. the other networks, or what is the latest quote from Whoopie Goldberg to do the "news analysis" he is so proud of. He missed the economic meltdown and the "real" Obama. If he continues his ways, he'll miss much of the evil that is coming. Unfortunately, the press depends upon ignorance for their "success". They gear their "news" to the masses in order to make obscene profits. I used to think O'Reilly was different. I was wrong.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
iveseenitall
November 13, 2008 - 19:47 ET by HeavyChevyI used to think the same thing. Sad too because it was O'Reilly that got me watching the news again, at that time I thought "sure he's a little pompous but he get's the job done" now he's just pompous.
Glad when Glenn Beck starts in the new year, until then Greta will do just fine.
"9 out of 10 doctors agree that flag burning is the number one killer of liberals."
I'm surprised that MSNBC
November 13, 2008 - 11:22 ET by Chris NormanI'm surprised that MSNBC even bothered to retract it. They don't retract all the craziness from Matthews and deliberate misinterpretations by their wonderboy, Olbermann.
Olbermann and Maddow used
November 13, 2008 - 15:30 ET by kgOlbermann and Maddow used it anyway.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
Baking News, not Breaking News
November 13, 2008 - 11:26 ET by SickofLibsShuster: "Hey, The Harding Insitute had a real website - I saw it myself!"
Of course, it has no actual content which the average 8th-grader would realize inside of 30 seconds, but, it IS a website. Good enough for MSNBC.
"Jounalism"
November 13, 2008 - 11:46 ET by iveseenitallThis is what "jounalism" has come to in America. This Shuster thing is one of these:
1. In his anxiety to report the story, he didn't bother to vet it.
2. This is purposeful. Get the story out there and then retract it if it is wrong. How many people saw the original story and did not see the retraction?
What the press continues to do is one of the most dangerous threats to our nation in its short history. The Constitution implies specific responsibilty to a free press to seek out and report the truth. Americans better wake up to what is happening. Country after country has lost its freedom through misuse of the press. It is no longer a "joke" that the press in America is the right arm of the National Democratic Party and now the new administration. All avenues of dissent are in jeopardy. Think about it. As little as two years ago, who would have considered that an unknown manchild, with no experience and no message, would be our president. And the press which refused to do its job is largely responsible. But beyond this, if a nation has a "free press" that is in bed with the government, it will ignore evil and even promote it. Just look around the world and see what keeps dictators in power---the press. If we want to lose liberty, this is the way to do it. Please, sound the alarm in any way you can. It is that important. Apathy will do us in.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Retraction and apologies.
November 13, 2008 - 12:01 ET by winston smithRetraction and apologies. Yeah, okay. But the deed is done. The media got the job done for the Democrats. They scored their pound of GOP flesh. There was so much yack-yack-yack by the MSM about Sarah Palin's alleged liabilities in the days after the election you can bet that most people won't care or even notice this "retraction". The larger picture, for the Democrats and their allies in the media, is that hopefully people now see Sarah Palin as an incompetent which just deepens the hole she's gonna have to climb out of if she hopes to have any future in national politics. The pro-Democrat media henchmen and henchwomen did their jobs, now it's up to Sarah to put the lie to their slander.
Right up there, next to the
November 13, 2008 - 11:42 ET by d1carterRight up there, next to the Karl Rove perp walk....bwhahahaha
You don't get it,do you?
November 13, 2008 - 12:27 ET by iveseenitallWhat a shame. Ignorance and immaturity are blissful. But what are you going to do when they come for you, or your kids who are so brainwashed that they actually believe what the Kos babies so often post here? Sad.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Republican =
November 13, 2008 - 11:47 ET by d4manRepublican = baaaaaaddddd
Democrat = gooooood
What's his email
November 13, 2008 - 11:48 ET by mikepatrI want his email address. I want to start feeding him crapola stories from multiple email addresses just to see what he'll report on without actualy CONFIRMING information he broadcasts out over a national network.
I could claim to be a deep throat style Palin insider telling Shuster that she is really an insect alien queen with plans of world domination and that that the minions of KKK racist followers have all been implanted with her eggs.
Now there's a story MSNBC can believe in! Journalistic integrrity? Not in THIS country anymore pal.
You can write to :
November 13, 2008 - 12:27 ET by mattmYou can write to : letters@msnbc.com and ask them.
You could also try dshuster@msnbc.com but that's just a guess.
BTW - Do you remember when Tom Lockjaw got duped by that fake O.J. witness? "I saw O. Jaaaayyyy! And he was lookin's scared!"
Of course, credibility has never been a priority for the MSM.
Is there a bigger
November 13, 2008 - 11:57 ET by FinerThingsClubMemberInTrainingPunk on tv than this no-talent ass clown?
I mean Tingles, The Mortician, and The Beaver are all just network boobs for MSNBC, but every time I see this guy I just think: PUNK!
Really it would be so very enjoyable to see, someone, ANYONE!, bitch slap him.
tingels
November 13, 2008 - 11:58 ET by daisy-ponyI wonder if Schuster had those MSMBC leg tingles running up and down one of his ! Thought he had a good story there, didn't he?
Shuster
November 13, 2008 - 16:06 ET by iveseenitallShuster is a young man. So many of his generation have been raised with the relativism which has destoyed morality. It simply doesn't matter if they lie, and there are no consequences for their words, no less their actions. For example, there are more reports each day about how, as the economy falters, stealing is making a big comeback. Shoplifting is on the rise. As people leave packages in cars, they are broken into and items are stolen. And what is the reponse of the "liberals"? They want to "forgive" 40% of all credit card debt. I hate to agee with those who have said this but, "the chickens are coming home to roost". Unfortunatly for the libs (and the rest of us), they are not the same chickens to which they were referring. They are the chickens born of the liberalism, socialism, and relativism of at least four decades in America. Sad.
P.S. I once read a comment about the Fall of Greece and Rome. The author said that it was not so much that there were lies and corruption. They are part of the human condition. The fall developed when all sorts of evil became acceptable in the society. Think about it. Not too long ago in America, what Shuster did would have been a huge story. Now lies and corruption are common practice in the press and elsewhere, sans conscience or consequence. Sadly, those responsible will not be held accountable for the economic crises. Barry Obama will not even be investigated for the lawlessness of his campaign. Are we finished? You decide.
BTW, When I first began to post on this site, at least two years ago, a "liberal" poster (still here) admonished me, "get the starch out of your shirt". Have things gotten better since then? Not by a long shot. I'm not exaggerating here. We are in quicksand and sinking fast. The question is, will anything or anyone be able to save us now? Certainly not Barry and his Chicago thug buddies.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Where's the large purple hat and gold chains?
November 13, 2008 - 13:02 ET by zachlindEvery time I see Shuster on TV I can’t help but wonder if he reports all of his income to the IRS.
Forgetting something…
November 13, 2008 - 13:06 ET by phbalancedMSNBC wasn't the only ones fooled.
The New Republic. The LA Times. Mother Jones. And other blogs as well.
Report the whole story, not just what satiates the Democratic, "left wing" blood this site so lustily thirsts.
Remembering something...
November 13, 2008 - 14:33 ET by KarmaMSNBC. The New Republic. The LA Times. Mother Jones. All from the same cloth.
If these are where you get your "news", your moniker is a misnomer.
There. Now I'm satiated for awhile. ;-)
No representation, without taxation!
clarity
November 13, 2008 - 15:10 ET by phbalancedjust stating the whole story which wasn't included in the original post.
and phbalanced referes to being non-partisan. left. right. republican. democrat. all of it is stupid and just leads to more divisiveness.
Oh -- THAT'S alright
November 13, 2008 - 15:08 ET by Jack BauerOh -- THAT'S alright then.
For a moment I was thinking it was only extreme leftwing nutjob propaganda organiztions spewing this nonsense.
Mother Jones, that's some John Birch Society type group, right?
The real story is that NB
November 13, 2008 - 13:18 ET by jdhawkThe real story is that NB is duped again. Always giving the "journalists" in the drive by media the benefit of the doubt.
This story was vetted and run anyway by MSNBC aka the propagandist for the DNC. The new new way to avoid a "blather" firing is to immediately or as soon after you are found out, retract the story. Ooops, I am so sorry . . .
Not calling for the firing of Shuster, NB? Anybody? Nah, they were just careless, misspoke, fumbled, producer's fault, <you fill in the "oops" here>. They will be careful next time . . .
Next lie . . .
jdhawk
November 13, 2008 - 13:35 ET by iveseenitallRight you are. See my post above. Shuster will not suffer any consequences. Big problem for America!
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
I read about this dude on
November 13, 2008 - 13:34 ET by marpelI read about this dude on Monday and then could not figure out why Fox wasn't reporting the guy's name. This explains it. This was a trick!!
I'm glad MSNBC and that nut job, Shuster, were left with egg on their face. But, it was reported on several websites that day...
Didn't this all start with
November 13, 2008 - 13:40 ET by Paul GCarl Cameron? I saw his original report on BOR, thought it kinda 'smarmy' then, and since, I've kinda 'tried' to follow this 'story' on other sites and blogs. Now, I'm not the smartest, nor the dumbest guy in the world, but I just cant make sense of this whole thing. Maybe it's just me, but..I'm lost. Is this now just one cable channel now trying to beat up another cable channel? I really dont see much more than that. CC should have vetted his 'source' better, sure. But now, it seems to me, the two channels are just fighting over who duped who.
Paul G.
November 13, 2008 - 13:54 ET by iveseenitallYou are seeing the light. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I do believe that the "soap opera" between Fox and the other networks is encouraged to boost ratings. IMO, it is all part of the bigger picture, to wit: "jounalism" is dead in America. The media, including Fox, plays the eager, ignorant public like a fiddle.They really believe that "the masses are asses". Thank God for the "free" internet, for now.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
imseeingitall..
November 13, 2008 - 14:36 ET by Paul GSry, wanted to do that for awhile lol. Because I agree with you, I'm trying to 'cut' down and just listen to Glenn or Neal in the morning now. Rush, Sean, then Mark at night. But that isnt 'news'. Even the "free" internet is just opinions and bias. Drudge might be 'news', but it's not really 'vetted' before he posts it. Hannity might be right, "journalism died in 2008".
And you're right, FNC is getting to be (or already is) just mindless backround noise in my house now.
isia... Thank God for
November 13, 2008 - 17:38 ET by bigtimerisia...
Thank God for the "free" internet, for now.
Free for now indeed.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
BT, you're right again
November 13, 2008 - 18:05 ET by Paul GAs soon as the dems shove the 'un'fairness doctrine through, you know they already have their eyes on the internet; then satellite radio (as soon as Rush, Mark, and the others move there). So Im afraid it will be easier for kids to get 'free'speech porn on the internet, than plain old free speech.
Hi Paul... Yeah, I've
November 13, 2008 - 18:13 ET by bigtimerHi Paul...
Yeah, I've been worried about this for years regarding the internet...govt. will always try to get their paws in on the internet, control and taxes...BOR has just about driving me nuts with his insinuations about the internet needed some mandatory control, of course they will all use the porn as the basic issue, the kids are always used to get their way although in my opinion they really could care less...I'm speaking of the majority of the pols...
Btw...I don't know if you have seen my posts...I have been like you...burnt out on some of the shows I used to watch for the time being...I also have been listening to more of talk radio instead, until evening.
Hey as an aside, you are the second person I have seen post that the politicians can get control of the satellite too...how so...I have heard the complete opposite....I really want to know.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
BT its scary..
November 13, 2008 - 18:38 ET by Paul GBut, who would have thought the gov't would be 'running' trains, who would have thought the gov't would be 'bailing out banks, auto unions...errrr I mean auto companies, home mortages, and now CREDIT CARDS!! So why not satellite radio? We're lettin' 'em. Who's gonna stop them? US? HAHAHAHA
And yea, I always read your posts, I wish you'd post more...since I always agree with you.....saves ME from typing lol
And yea, I've 'cut' down to 3 hrs in the morning with Glenn or Neal, then 3 hrs of Rush, 3 hrs of Hannity, 2 hrs of Mark Levine, then 2-3 hrs of Jim Bohannan (I've talked to him a couple of times on the air) and then if I can't sleep, 5 hrs of coast2coast
Thank God I drink alot lmao
Cutting Down...
November 13, 2008 - 20:17 ET by KimberlyLaura Ingraham with coffee in the morning. Rush at noon. Hannity on the drive home. Mark with dinner.
Then...lots of drugs to numb me to the horror these fine pundits have spent hours dissecting. I don't know if I can survive to 2010 (if my many illnesses don't claim me, the liberals surely will), but I know these fine folks and the ground troops here at Newsbusters will surely go on.
Palin/Thompson 2012 (Jeri, not Fred--he'll be going on the Supreme Court once Palin gets in)
Kimberly... I hope you
November 13, 2008 - 20:23 ET by bigtimerKimberly...
I hope you make it to 2010 also...a lot of us are in the same fix...then again, if you think about it gal...none of us know when our number is up.
Stay strong, good luck, wishing you the best too.
One thing is for sure NBs and others will continue to march on and fight the good fight.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Good evening Kimberly
November 13, 2008 - 20:39 ET by cocodrieYou are not alone. You will be in my prayers from now on. We need to pray for the safety of Rukus' niece also. The MSM is full of it, don't listen to them. 2010 is right around the corner, Start writing to the surviving republicans, make them grow a conservative backbone.
You do realize a NewsBusters blogger was fooled also?
November 13, 2008 - 14:59 ET by nwahsYou do realize NewsBusters blogger, Gladnick wrote an article about this guy as the leak. When it came out that it was a hoax, Gladnick shifted the emphasis to Fox News' Carl Cameron as being the one fooled when there was no evidence of that.
And now NewsBusters is going to point fingers at MSNBC? You do know the old saying about glass houses?
This is absolutely bizarre. Check out P.J. Gladnick's article about the leaker and the comments.
http://newsbusters.o...
Only differernce I see is one takes resonsibility for their report and one argues over the meaning of "might."
Err... I don't think you
November 13, 2008 - 15:03 ET by Jack BauerErr... I don't think you could find one conservative who believes the absurd claims regarding Governor Palin from (alleged ) McCain campaign staffer.
Now it turns out that the actual (only??) source of the leaks (sic) is a self-confessed hoaxer.
If you can't see the difference between some guy at Newsbusters and the vast resources of multi-billion dollar news organizations, then what's the point of pointing out anything to you?
Thats not what happened
November 13, 2008 - 17:28 ET by nwahsTry to muddle it all you like, but that isn't what happened. The hoaxer isn't the source of the Palin allegations. That was his hoax - that he's the source. He isn't. And he fooled Gladnick just like he fooled MSNBC. MSNBC admits it. Gladnick invents a story that Cameron "might" have got his gossip from a hoaxer, out of then air with absolutely no proof. That didn't happen. Gladnick doesn't even hint that he may have jumped the gun in taking the hoaxer's word that he was the source. The hoax was the guy claiming to be the source within the McCain campaign. Its really not that difficult to follow unless one intentionally muddles it.
Huh? You sound like the
November 14, 2008 - 10:44 ET by Jack BauerHuh? You sound like the twit in the muddle.
How do YOU know who Cameron's original lying "source" was? As far as I know Cameron has not revealed who told him the absurd fiction about Palin.
But back to my original post... grow a brain. Please.
Oh gosh
November 14, 2008 - 21:52 ET by nwahsHow do I know who Cameron's source was? I don't. I never said I did. Here's the kicker. YOU DON'T EITHER. P.J. Gladnick doesn't know either. But both of you exhibit dubious critical thinking. Arbitrarily - for no other reason except that it bails you out of your mistake - you assume the hoaxers scam is only that the information is untrue. You think he is absolutely honest about being in the McCain camp and being the leak source. There's no evidence to suggest any of it, but that scenario protects you so it must be true.
Your critical thinking is wanting. Stupid won't win. It won't win in 2010, 2012, 2014 or 2016. So I'll go off and "grow a brain." You continue fanning stupid.
I wait for the next "er, how did that happen..?"
nwahs... I'm sure this
November 13, 2008 - 18:12 ET by Clear thinkernwahs...
I'm sure this makes you just so damn happy. You may not have noticed but NB is not a Ntional News Media outlet. NB reports on the actvities of those that report the news, got it?
14 Year Old Proves Obama Intolerance
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
I agree Ct...I saw this
November 13, 2008 - 18:23 ET by bigtimerI agree Ct...I saw this earlier...glad you posted what you did...I can't believe nwa is still on this soap-box.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Real Journalism? No way!
November 13, 2008 - 20:45 ET by MNotaroSo tired of the liberal illuminati MSM reporting on what they call "news" with no validation and evidence to back up their stories. It's crazy! They are in such a rush to trample someone's character that they don't even make sure they have valid proof before reporting on it...and they call themselves Journalists huh? Not by a long shot!
Its not a soapbox
November 13, 2008 - 22:10 ET by nwahsOh I get it now. Its wrong when "they" do it.
I'm off my soap box. I won't trouble you anymore. I'm disappointed in you BT, but oh well.
Why would it make me so damn happy?
November 13, 2008 - 22:24 ET by nwahsWhy would it make me so damn happy? Right is right, wrong is wrong. I don't care if you make $10 a week or $10,000 a week - If you make a mistake and print an erroneous story, just admit the story was erroneous or just remove it. Compounding the situation by fabricating a story is childish and not even remotely ethical. This site is supposed to be the good guys. You can't gripe about unethical media if you skirt ethics yourself. So kill the messenger instead of debating the point and then go crucify another media outlet for killing the messenger. Wallow in your double standards - I don't care.
One does not have to be
November 13, 2008 - 21:41 ET by brerolOne does not have to be a conservative to conclude MSNBC and Shuster are pom pom girls for Obama. Therefore it makes you wonder how much vetting went into their story. This bias of theirs came back to bite them.