MSNBC Host (Scarborough) Gets Bitten by His "Rat"

[kskiska]

By Howard Kurtz

Saturday, September 13, 2003; Page C01

Two weeks ago, MSNBC talk show host Joe Scarborough introduced a guest, attorney Mike Papantonio, to point a finger at the "Rat of the Week."

Papantonio slammed a wood-preserving company called Osmose, saying it makes a dangerous product used in playground equipment and has "figured out how to poison our children and make a profit in the meantime."

What Scarborough didn't say is that Papantonio is his law partner, and that their firm has filed a lawsuit against Osmose. Instead, he urged viewers to demand that the government recall the company's product.

After an inquiry by The Washington Post, the former Republican congressman said last night on his program, "Scarborough Country": "I should have known that Mike Papantonio was involved in that case and should have asked him that question, so you could have had the full story. . . . I'll be the first to admit it: I made a mistake. And for that, I'm this week's Rat of the Week."

Phil Griffin, an MSNBC vice president, said what happened was "unacceptable" and that viewers "were misled. . . . It is troublesome that we didn't disclose that this guest was a law partner and had a lawsuit against this company. That's wrong from the beginning. We were not fair to the audience, and that won't happen again."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3209-2003Sep12.html

[jenk]

1. lol

Phil Griffin, an MSNBC vice president, said what happened was "unacceptable" and that viewers "were misled.

what viewers?

just cancel this clown already

[kstewart33]

2. How low will MSNBC go?

First Savage and now this. I don't understand it. It's hard to believe that MSNBC is in any way connected with NBC.

[The Zanti Regent]

11. Lori's Ghost did it...

Will anyone ever ask Slimy Joe if he killed Lori because she was pregnant by him?

[catmandu57]

3. When they get rid of the ratwing

hosts they're so fond of then it won't happen again. How many times do they have to get burned to figure it out?

[bluedeminredstate]

4. That's a firing offense!!!

Wow, talk about sleazy - nothing like using your "credentials" as a "journalist" to make a little more money on that contingency fee.

What struck me was Scarborough, Mr. Ultra-Conservative-Let's-have-less-Gubmint, wanted viewers to write the government to get REGULATORS to ban this supposed poisonous substance.
These folks hate the government when it prevents them from making money by poisoning the rivers and streams, polluting the air, keeping our food free from bacteria, complying with worker safeguards, etc. and they think regulations interfere with the all-sacred FREE MARKET. But look at ole Joe now, lobbying the regulators by underhandedly getting the public to do it, using his TV show as a legal stategy. What a fuckwit.

MSNBC shows that ratings and competition with Faux are more important to them than integrity.

[madaboutharry]

5. What Bullshit

Take my word for it folks, I know this from my own frame of reference, YOU KNOW WHAT CASES ARE IN YOUR OWN DAMN CASELOAD! It was a con and they got caught. There was once a time when people lost their job over this kind of crap.

[Bushfire]

6. If Phil Donahue would have done it

they would drop him in a nanosecond.

[MidwestTransplant]

7. At least he didn't say

"fags should get AIDS and die," like a former MSNBC personality. See, they are getting better!

[VolcanoJen]

8. Three out of Joe's Four Viewers are Outraged... breaking!!!

:-)

[w4rma]

9. Scarborough should be fired for this.

Saying it "won't happen again" isn't enough. He did this purely to make some more money. And he opened MSNBC up to a false disclosure lawsuit.

[indypaul]

10. Typical "MSRNC"

and all the other so called "electronic journalists" who are
making television into the poorest form of communication this
world has ever known. Scarborough and the rest of his ilk
are unworthy of one second of air time and their sponsors
should hang their heads in shame. We should make note of
and remind their sponsors of this type of activity at every
possible instance not the idiot network managers.

[sduncang]

12. Typical ........

Why are we not surprised?? This has been so typical of the sleeze-balls....

Thanks for the post.