Controversy over Bashir punishment doesn't go away

[alp227]

Source: AP

NEW YORK (AP) — Martin Bashir's apology for graphic comments about Sarah Palin on MSNBC hasn't ended questions about whether the remarks deserve punishment from his bosses, giving unwanted attention to a cable network dealing with sinking ratings along with loose-lipped hosts.

Palin, in a Fox interview on Sunday, said MSNBC was guilty of "executive hypocrisy" by not publicly disciplining Bashir for his "vile, evil comments." Four days after Bashir apologized, MSNBC said it was "handling this matter internally" and wouldn't comment further.

"It's a systemic problem," said Jeff Cohen, an Ithaca College journalism professor and liberal commentator who was a producer for Phil Donahue's prime-time MSNBC show a decade ago. "It's a problem at MSNBC. It's a problem in cable news. It's a certain coarseness where everything goes. I guess they can keep sanctioning and suspending people, but there's something wrong when name-calling is considered OK."

Bashir's comments about Palin came on the same day MSNBC suspended actor Alec Baldwin from his weekly show for two episodes for his part in an off-the-air episode. Baldwin used an anti-gay slur in a confrontation with a photographer on a New York City street.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/controversy-over-bashir-punishment-doesnt-go-away

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

1. FOX News doesn't have any "problem" with this

It's standard operating procedure to 24/7 lie and name call, and never have to apologize to idiot politicians who insist on playing the victim card.

[madeline_con]

20. Except there was no lying or name calling.

Bashir was only stating factual examples of what happened to slaves.

[daybranch]

21. sometimes you just have to pint out the aburdity

Political correctness/Willful ignorance has run amok when truth and insight such as Bashir pointed out is not allowed. I thank Bashir for telling it like it is. I believe he is a great asset to MSNBC and must continue to explain the absurdity of charges against democrats and the president from the right wing. I recognize that many would rather avoid the nastiness that was slavery and see it as just a quaint economic contrivance benfiting everyone's white ancestors but our own who of course could not do anything like that . Lets grow up and listen to Bashir. He is speaking out against evil. And Palin is evil as well as absurd.
Democrats of the third way like Dee Dee Myers tell us that we must use civilized non-inflamatory language to makw our point i a non=emotional way. Where has she been for the last 50 years? appeals to emotion is the only thing that wo0tks. Her smugness and that of many other so callled democrats is what alllows here to avoid the pains of seeing the destitute and the poor as a cause for emoti0on. Shame on those who criticise Bashir for being passionate.

[24601]

35. Have you read the original story? He included factual information, and then as the AP reports,

"He suggested the former Alaska governor deserved the same treatment."

Whether you agree or disagree, he went beyond providing as you say, "factual examples" and if he had stopped at that point, there would be no story.

[monmouth3]

2. Put your big girl undies on Sara..n/t

[Orsino]

10. Well, let's not pretend she wasn't overjoyed at an excuse to play the victim...

...for the nine hundred sixty-third time.

She puts on her big-brain glasses and make-up.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

3. I still hold...

...that Bashir didn't even owe an apology. This is nonsense.

[EC]

5. I agree.. n/t

[BlueCaliDem]

28. I agree, too. eom

[Delphinus]

32. Agreed.

Why does truth have to be apologized for?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

4. I have to agree with FOX on this ...

... when someone says that someone else (even Palin) should receive the worst punishment, torture, and humiliation inflicted on slaves, then a line has been crossed.

Bashir and MSNBC handlers should have thought this one out.

I'd expect this sort of thing from FOX, or from Limbaugh.

What Palin really deserves: to be ignored.

[alp227]

6. Agree with your first point not your last.

Sadly, Sarah DOES have a mainstream following. She has what, a million facebook followers? I think SOMEBODY had to tell the brutal truth, and I'm glad Bashir did albeit over the line.

[W T F]

8. When Rush Limbaugh gets kicked for calling Sandra Fluck a "Prostitute".....

I might be inclined to agree with you, but the right wing has a double standard when it comes to disaplining their own for the same offense. Screw 'em, they created this cesspool of name calling, if they can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

17. Like wrestling with a pig

I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.

---George Bernard Shaw

[freshwest]

25. +1

[BlueCaliDem]

29. + 2 eom

[marble falls]

11. Mainstream? Ultra-Right wing.

[madeline_con]

23. I'd bet $ that wasn't the worst punishment, torture, and humiliation inflicted on slaves.

But it IS what Palin deserves, IMO.

[lostincalifornia]

7. What a bunch of garbage. How come the outrage is 99% always against progressives, and almost never

against right wing wackos

[leftynyc]

15. They've perfected playing the victim

It's the only card they've got and they use it unsparingly. It's not like there's a groundswell of outrage from the average citizen over this but they'll beat this horse until its offspring is dead.

[freshwest]

26. Because the news machines are owned by right wing billionaires. They will never change. And it's not

really about ratings, either, as they are merely mouth pieces for the billionaires to influence the public.

Slipping lies daily into the mass consciousness of America. So that they can get the bigger payoff, to own the USA and every thing in it.

When they've gotten enough, they'll probably turn all networks straight into the Two Minute Hate like Fox News, Beck and Rush have been. They won't even pretend to be about news.

Heck, they aren't about news now. Only as a talking point to push the propaganda. A lot of their news is not even current events. At times they put out stuff that is years old and don't admit it. Just as in videos on youtube and internet stories that use bots to update the 'news' which in looking further, is years old. We've seen many of these at DU pointed out, but the taste in mouth and the outrage remains. It's all bull.

[onehandle]

9. Palin isn't worth her weight in shit. I stand with Martin. nt

[FoxNewsSucks]

12. Me too,

He said it well. Stupid Snowflake Snooki probably thought Bashir was agreeing with her.

Until someone literate explained his commentary to her, and told her to be outraged.

[Left Coast2020]

13. I feel Bashire should receive some support from us.

It was a piddly affair to begin with.

[tblue]

14. She brings out the worst in EVERYONE.

Including herself. Look, Republicans never apologize for anything. NOTHING. EVER. When they catch flack they don't get defensive. They change the subject. So I am not for unilateral disarmament. Bashir apologized publicly and was very sincere. What else do we want from him? Blood? We want him to bow down and grovel? A second time? For Sarah Palin? Nah.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

31. Still can't figure out why he had to apologize in the first place.

[kelliekat44]

16. If he were conservative....he would have two more shows. nt

[TDale313]

27. Unfortunately, totally true.

They get rewarded for this behavior.

[petson]

18. punishement

Long time past I have detected that do not throw the stone within the mud otherwise it additionally return on you.

[PassingFancy]

19. Caribou Bimbo Barbie deserved to hear the truth from Martin Bashir

and he should not be disciplined - he owed that bimbo no apology - he told the truth about Palin and she needs to be a big grown up woman instead of acting like a spoiled little brat kid throwing a temper tantrum.

[Nye Bevan]

22. I don't like Palin, but saying that someone should shit in her mouth crosses the line IMO.

Bashir is not the Rude Pundit, he should keep it a bit more professional.

[stevenleser]

24. He doesnt deserve punishment. She insulted the memory of those who endured slavery

Her flippant comment comparing Obamacare to slavery deserved a very graphic response. Slavery included not only what Bashir described, it contained state sponsored rape and genocide of those of African descent.

Casually comparing that to a health care policy deserved the harsh wake up call it received.

[mountain grammy]

30. Has anyone ever listened to Coulter and others? I am outraged at the outrage

over Bashir's remarks. He said nothing compared to the shrills on fox.

I stand with Martin.

[kelliekat44]

33. I bet Palin didn't even understand the comment until someone told her to be offended. nt

[Sand Wind]

34. lol, good one. nt

[Pterodactyl]

36. I never watched Martin Bashir. Was his show any good?