Mark Shields Apologizes for Saying 'Christmas Season' on Christmas Eve
Syndicated columnist and PBS regular Mark Shields on Friday apologized for saying "Christmas season."
Such occurred on the most recent installment of PBS's "Inside Washington" broadcast in many parts of the country on Christmas Eve (video follows with transcript and commentary):
GORDON PETERSON, HOST: The people who are opposed to [the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell] in the military are saying they’re hearing from the combat arms, the troops on the ground, that this might have an impact on unit cohesion. What are you hearing, Mark?
MARK SHIELDS: I’ve heard, I’ve heard the same thing, but in the spirit of the Christmas season -- if you’ll pardon the expression – the, I, I, let me endorse what Charles has just said.
Readers are reminded that during last week's "Inside Washington," NPR's Nina Totenberg apologized for saying "Christmas party."
As NewsBusters reported Thursday, Totenberg later claimed she was actually defending Christmas because the Department of Defense called the event she was referring to a "holiday party."
As such, given the chuckling present off-camera, Shields was quite likely referring to last week's incident, and possibly making light of it. At least, we have to hope that was the case.
However, for those not familiar with what transpired on the previous installment - and even for some that are - this could have been quite offensive especially airing on Christmas Eve.
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Comments
memo to the libs
Submitted by jon_torlin on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 12:54pm.
Looks like someone sent a memo to all the talking head libs about saying "sorry for saying Christmas." Has to be because Shields wasn't saying that in a joking tongue in cheek manner.
So Maxi-Shields, just one thing to say.....
Merry Christmas, a$$hole!
-Jon
Yet, another spineless
Submitted by Soldat44 on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 12:58pm.
Yet, another spineless talking head. Shields doesn't have an original thought of his own. Poor soul.
It's quite clear...
Submitted by bkeyser on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 12:58pm.
that this is NPR policy. Obviously a memo has been issued regarding the use of Christmas references. How PC of them...
I'll bet that Maxie has said
Submitted by killa37 on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:00pm.
I'll bet that Maxie has said 'Ramadan' a few times....................
What's Truly Sad In Our Culture?
Submitted by Bourbeau on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:06pm.
What's sad is we have to listen to the likes of Shields, Tottenberg, Browkaw, Rooney,Schieffer, and other liberal apologist long after they've seen their better days. You would think we would demand new voices versus the same old bull that's dumped on the airwaves, week after week. The same holds true on the right; it's getting old listening to the condescending whining of Laura Ingrahm, even Sean Hannity is getting so damn predictable it's painful. Every discussion starts off with an attempt at being condescending and funny, as if that adds anything to tthe discussion. I'm finding myself, more and more, turning off the TV and just reading selected articeles about things I care about, or can learn from, and shutting off the talking elites.
Who cares what this gasbag
Submitted by Armymom on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:14pm.
Who cares what this gasbag has to say. I know I comment on these idiots, but I never watch or listen to any of them. I hope these idiots all got coal in thier stockings for Christmas. These are truly sick individuals!!!
Friday?
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:17pm.
I guess we should be glad he didn't say "on this Holiday Eve."
Not as bad
Submitted by jon_torlin on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:30pm.
I don't consider that as bad, to me that's more neutral, but at least it wouldn't be like going out of the way to apologize for saying Christmas. To be honest, I don't remember this happening before at least from the MSM. Sure, they would try to be neutral about Christmas with Holiday, but apologizing for saying Christmas?
Who the hell came up with that? That's about as bad as the apology tour that the Chairman went on. If anything, it's almost like following that example. And of course, since the bogus potus is a muslim, it's like the MSM is falling over itself to remove any references to Christ in general.
We can't let these bastards get away with that kind of nonsense.
-Jon
It all started out by some
Submitted by ThisnThat on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:26pm.
If this keeps going, this will end up as the following:
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
It started with throwing
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 2:12pm.
It started with throwing prayer out of schools, thanks to
Madalyn Murray O'Hairif you'll pardon me, Mark.......
Submitted by Herbster on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:27pm.
Pardon me, but I thought Mr. Shields was in the Home for Forgotten Talking Heads. Did I say "Heads?" My mistake. It should have been a different part of the anatomy.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.....even to you, Mark!
PBS--your tax dollars at
Submitted by liberalsarefunny on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:50pm.
PBS--your tax dollars at work.
Merry Christmas!
Submitted by tampamom25 on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 2:01pm.
I'd bet he offended more people by apologizing than by saying it in the first place. Good grief, since when did it become a crime to offend someone? There will always, always, always be people who don't like what you're doing or saying, but if we all stop saying things that offend, there might never be another conversation in the world. By the way, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas. And for another reminder that is possibly offensive to some (and I really don't care), this holiday is a celebration and remembrance of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Emmanuel, God with us, God who came to earth in the form of man, to save all men (women and children too) who repent of their sinful ways and turn to Him. Without Christ, there is no Christmas....... Merry Christmas!
Saw this on a t-shirt
Submitted by Ozconservative on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 7:49pm.
This is Australia
We eat meat
We drink beer
We speak English
We celebrate Christmas
If you don't like it.......
F*CK OFF!!!!
I'd like to apologize...
Submitted by KyWriter on Mon, 12/27/2010 - 3:24pm.
... for saying "Mark Shields."
Yeah, Right!
Submitted by Tyler Durbin on Sun, 12/26/2010 - 11:25am.
I don’t buy Nina Totenberg’s story: She has absolutely no credibility as a PC apostate. Indeed, she and her cohorts at PBS are the very embodiment of PC! If she was doing schtick, then her use of comic irony represented a very inside joke. How would anyone -- even her fellow panelists -- know the technical name the DoD had given this party?
"Hey Lama! How about a little something (you know) for the effort?"
Libs hatred of Christmas
Submitted by rondo on Mon, 12/27/2010 - 2:44pm.
Mark Shields is a communist and he should go where he belongs.
North Korea woulod be the ideal place for him as they don't believe in Christmas and GOD.
We need to clean out all these panty waist liberals as they have screwed up our republic
Good Bye Mark !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was a barb sent to piss people off
Submitted by tombaker on Tue, 12/28/2010 - 4:02pm.
This was his way to go after the critics of Nina Totemberg
They are making fun of Bill Oreilly.
These are mocking comments, and you can hear the laugher. Don't be so knee jerk to this BS. They got you. Made you flinch.
Pardon the expression is a taunt....get it. They are asserting you are yahoos, and then you double down
Psst, moron.
Submitted by RESTLESS 1 on Tue, 12/28/2010 - 4:20pm.
As such, given the chuckling present off-camera, Shields was quite likely referring to last week's incident, and possibly making light of it. Such was addressed by the author of the article. You're not too bright, are you?Delete
Submitted by RESTLESS 1 on Tue, 12/28/2010 - 4:21pm.