Scott Whitlock's study showing a dramatic partisan tilt to David Shuster's evening "Hypocrisy Watch" segments drew amusing bluster from Shuster when Howard Kurtz reported the study's results briefly in Monday's Washington Post:
MSNBC's David Shuster is an aggressive career reporter who has never been positioned as one of the channel's left-leaning commentators. But in his "Hypocrisy Watch" segments t his year, the conservative Media Research Center points out, 34 of the targets have been Republicans or conservatives -- including Rush Limbaugh twice and Karl Rove five times -- and only four have been Democrats or liberals.
Shuster says the group is "funded and run by die-hard conservatives with a clear partisan agenda" and that his work on the now-defunct program 1600 Pennsylvania Avene "was hard hitting on both parties."
The first argument is largely true -- we are die-hard conservatives, although we're hardly party-line Republicans -- but the second argument is undeniably hilarious. Shuster clearly didn't have an evidence-based argument against the 34-to-4 tilt of this segment. He ends up complaining that it's clearly partisan to insist he refrain from being partisan.
I'd also quibble with Kurtz's notion that Shuster has "never been positioned" as a left-wing commentator on MSNBC. When you substitute regularly for Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann, you're a substitute bomb-thrower. David Gregory wasn't trying hard to match the flagrant partisan style of Chris and Keith when he started on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but Shuster clearly tried to fit into that partisan Play-Doh mold once he took over.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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I guess it all depends on
April 13, 2009 - 06:20 ET by eaglewingz08I guess it all depends on what you mean by 'positioned' and 'left wing' and 'hard hitting'?
Hard hitting- on a democrat, Gee Mr. Obama, should you be eating so many waffles this early in the day?
Hard hitting-on a republican, Gee, Mr. McCain, sources say you had an affair with an attractive lobbyist.
Left wing (only someone to the left of Stalin).
Positioned-I'll leave that to your imagination.
If his claim was true, he
April 13, 2009 - 16:30 ET by mattmIf his claim was true, he wouldn't have to insist on it. In fact, if he was even-handed, people on the Left would be calling him a right-wing nut case...
puh-leeze!
April 13, 2009 - 06:20 ET by puredmashiehow could this twit say this with a straight face?
swing hard in case you hit it.
Have another look. That's no
April 13, 2009 - 06:53 ET by SickofLibsHave another look.
That's no straight face.
Have another look ...
April 13, 2009 - 12:51 ET by TomWLook at that face. What do you see?
http://www.wdtprs.co...
Bangin' on the drums loud just to be making noise ...
Hey Tom
April 13, 2009 - 18:29 ET by the strugglerThat's not fair to Animal
Clearly being a lefty
April 13, 2009 - 06:26 ET by Jack BauerClearly being a lefty automatically puts you in an irony free zone.
Shuster claims that he: "was hard hitting on both parties."
Okay, well the stats show that he is wrong anyway. But the interesting thing is this...
Who's IN POWER Mr Shuster? And what happened to speaking truth to power?
Let's accept for a moment that hypocrisy has no boundaries. Then by random choice, you should be able to at least find a 50/50 split if you wanted to.
But if you were to slant it one way, then why isn't that towards THOSE IN POWER? In Congress. In the Executive. In the media. In academia.
Why waste your time on examples of hypocrisy from people who aren't currently running other peoples' lives?
The sad thing is, in the
April 13, 2009 - 06:27 ET by nadadhimmiThe sad thing is, in the view of todays socialists, 90% bias to the liberal side IS non-partisan. After all, it could be 100%. Hey Shuster, 34 out of 38 ain't bad, if you prostitute yourself to obama that is.
Schuster is a hoot. He's fair, doncha know?
April 13, 2009 - 06:40 ET by thebutlerdiditPersonally, I find him to be one of the smarmiest of the MSNBC crew.
All a Democrat needs is the upper-story window of public attention and the chamber pot of rhetoric. How else to explain the rise of Joe Biden? P.J. O' Rourke
Shuster is right on his
April 13, 2009 - 06:37 ET by motherbeltShuster is right on his "Hypocrisy Watch" segments.
Any Democrat or leftist will tell you that liberals can't be hypocrityes...because they don't claim to have principles.
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
The bait and Switch
April 13, 2009 - 06:51 ET by GeneralAlFor the eight years that George Bush was President, we were constantly reminded by these so-called journalists that it was their duty to keep watch on those in power. Why then is the focus still on Sarah Palin and Conservatives while Teleprompter Man and the Communist Libs are in power? I believe the answer to be a simple one. When these wonderfully objective reporters referred to "Those" they subliminally meant "Those Conservatives" in power. Furthermore, the last thing a liberal ever wants to admit is that they are in fact, a liberal! Liberalism is a sickness just like alcoholism. We need to establish LA [Liberals Anonomous] treatment centers across America to help these reporters recover from this dreadful disease. It won't do any good, however until they, just like the alcoholic, can admit they have a problem! Can you imagine Shuster standing before Chrissy and Tubby reciting "My name is David Shuster, and I'm a Liberal!" Then Chrissy and Tubby reply "And so am I!" Nah! Never happen!
Numbers
April 13, 2009 - 06:56 ET by Galvanic34-4. In this case, the numbers don't lie. Shuster's flagrant hypocrisy is evident no matter how much he protests.
And as usual with the Left, when they can't refute the facts, they try to discredit the messenger.
PS -- The photo of Shuster is priceless.
Think of it like a hockey
April 13, 2009 - 10:47 ET by TexasteacherThink of it like a hockey game. If team A (let's call them the "Stars") beat team B ("Canucks") 34-4, normal people wouldn't call that a "tie".
How long till shyster comes out and tells his fantasies like crissy?
obama's notion of bi-partisanship is telling conservatives to shut up and do what he wants.
troubling...
April 13, 2009 - 07:06 ET by jdripperMost people will understand they have a role to play when on TV. They are to entertain and grow audiences. FOX News understands this. If they can inform people along the way all the better.
What amazes me is how the loony tunes left believes they are not partisan and being fair and objective. Either they are delusional or bought off one or the other.
Jack
"If at age 20 you are a conservative then you have no heart. If at age 30 you are a liberal then you have no brains." Sir Winston Churchill
David Shuster is a LIAR
April 13, 2009 - 07:06 ET by SupermanHard hitting on both parties? Give me a break. David Shuster is clearly in the tank for the left. Or in other words, David Shuster has a clear partisan agenda.
Liberals hate it when the truth reveals their bias
April 13, 2009 - 08:14 ET by kevinm13Few liberals believe they are actually partisan. Those reporters in the MSM who have had journalism training believe their calling is to tell the truth but in fact most of the time their job is to distort the truth to fit the liberal agenda. Case in point, David Shuster's hit pieces on conservatives.
Keep telling the truth and the liberals will eventually be flushed out for being partisan shills for the Dim cause.
Shyster hits conservatives with an iron pipe...
April 13, 2009 - 08:15 ET by R D Helm...and slams liberals with a feather.
-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
Which proves...
April 13, 2009 - 08:48 ET by AgentAmericanWhich means that the squirrel is a perverted degenerate...
He wants to restrain and tickle Markos Moulistas, and wants to whip Karl Rove.
Shuster has kink written all over his face.
2010: A GOP Hill
Anyone Swallowing This Bile
April 13, 2009 - 08:42 ET by NoJellyExcuse me, but I hope it doesn't escape common sensibility that anyone swallowing this tripe is past the point of no return as it is.
The reason MSNBC is at the bottom of the bird cage is because there are so few of those kind of people...
No, I don't expect the networks to "get it". They are up to their nipples in collusion with the current regime, even if an industry-wide epiphany were to occur, their testicles are already tied to the wagon.
Nope Shuster, you're partisan...deal with it
April 13, 2009 - 08:58 ET by Lord ErondI think the raw nerve that pisses the lefties off is accusing them of partisanship. For some unknown mental reason or disorder, these jackasses don't see themselves as biased which is really scary because it's as plain as the nose on Helen Thomas' face.
Sorry David, you're partisan. You're in the tank for Obama and the libtards. Deal with it.
"To sin by silence when we should protest, makes cowards of men" -Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Let's Turn the Tables
April 13, 2009 - 09:31 ET by Bill W."David, you've stated that you're equally hard-hitting to both political parties, non-partisan. Interesting. Could you please give us a list the last 10 stories you've covered in which you've been hard-hitting on the Left / Democrats?"
Crickets...
Tim
April 13, 2009 - 09:56 ET by Noel SheppardTim,
"David Gregory wasn't trying hard to match the flagrant partisan style of Chris and Keith when he started on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue."
Very true, and if he had, he likely NEVER would have gotten the "MTP" job. ns
I hardly go to MSNBC anymore
April 13, 2009 - 10:56 ET by StarAZBut when I do cruise by, Shuster is very venemous now, I have noticed. Instead of asking a question and listening to the answer, he inserts his own view--and it's always pro-admin.
Schuster is always good for a wonderful laugh!
April 13, 2009 - 10:58 ET by pahuberHis face looks like he's dishing it out daily.
they're all such good team players
April 13, 2009 - 11:38 ET by katainkentall giving each other back pats and commendations for non existant accomplishements.
*pull string* a Shuster says : blah blah blah blah blah....
Dave, Davey, David...
April 13, 2009 - 11:56 ET by BondPlainBondYou may not like it, but, facts are facts.
Your liberal "version of truth" is useless in situations where facts are presented.
Do something most liberal men don't... Man up, Dave.
Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourself and your liberal delusions, admit you are powerless over your addiction to wildly liberal spin and finally take personal responsibility for wilfully inciting the hate and defamation of those of principle with whom you disagree, admit your outrageous hypocrisies, and those you foster on behalf of your employer, have become unmanageable and ridiculous.
Until then, you're nothing but a liberal hack.
Reporters and Opinion
April 13, 2009 - 12:28 ET by KC MulvilleShuster was never positioned as a commentator. He was positioned as a reporter, and he was expected to keep his slant to himself.
The irony here is that he couldn't keep his slant to himself, and instead of being fired for being partisan ... he was rewarded for it.
This guy doesn't even look
April 13, 2009 - 12:57 ET by RR GOPThis guy doesn't even look real in his pics, sort of CGI if you ask me. Is he related to Max Headroom?
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
Shyster
April 13, 2009 - 15:37 ET by east tennessee johnDavid, David, David, the only thing you've ever said that was remotely critical of a Democrat was when you said the Clintons were pimping Chelsea, and you caught hell for that, you little twerp of a weasel, my apologies to all other weasels.
He's left wing
April 13, 2009 - 16:17 ET by Ozark_SunshineHe just won't admit it because they have his b*lls in their hands. Anyone on the communistic MSNBC is left wing. The man has no credibility and his lies show it. I look forward to the day MSNBC and NBC go belly up because of bankruptcy, fraud and just for all the lies they tell. I won't even watch sports on NBC and their programming and news divisions are crap, but what do you expect when you hire the Idiot Olbermann for news or sports. The mabn couldn't even qualify for special ed classes because he's too stupid.
See that picture of Karl Rove...
April 13, 2009 - 16:45 ET by jawebster1over Shuster's right shoulder? That is one more example of how the left tries to demonize people. Problem is, Rove is on Fox News almost every day and anybody with half a brain and who isn't a Liberal Drone can plainly see that Rove, like his former boss, is a good and decent person as is Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin. Conservatives don't need to demonize people. They can sit back and let people like Frank, Pelosi, Reid, Leahy, Boxer and Shuster demonize themselves. Jim Webster