Hillary writes NBC about Shuster's comment: "Chelsea's mother long before I ran for any office"

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: Clinton writes NBC about newsman's Chelsea comment

MSNBC correspondent David Shuster may or may not hang onto his job, following his distasteful comment about former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton. But this much seems safe to predict: Even if Chelsea's mom relents on her threat to boycott future debates on the cable network, Shuster won't be one of the questioners.

Her campaign aides quickly made clear their furor over the journalist's remark. Hillary Clinton followed up with a letter today to the head of NBC News, Steve Capus. The Times' Pete Nicholas, our primary Clinton reporter, was among those who received a copy, and here it is:

"Thank you for your call yesterday. I wanted to send you this note to convey the depth of my feeling about David Shuster's comments.

I know that I am a public figure and that my daughter is playing a public role in my campaign. I am accustomed to criticism, certainly from MSNBC. I know that it goes with the territory. However, I became Chelsea's mother long before I ran for any office and I will always be a mom first and a public official second.

Nothing justifies the kind of debasing language that David Shuster used and no temporary suspension or half-hearted apology is sufficient. I would urge you to look at the pattern of behavior on your network that seems to repeatedly lead to this sort of degrading language....

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/02/hillary-clint-2.html

[DURHAM D]

1. Want to take bets on whether or not this is mentioned on the Sunday shows.

I say not. The media will circle the wagons to protect their own.

[earthside]

2. Only a campaign in trouble ...

... would have its candidate take time to comment on such a trivial incident.

Something clearly happened to Clinton(s)'s campaign after South Carolina ... it is like they are now tone deaf.

[Dhalgren]

4. The more coverage this gets the better it will be for Clinton.

There are an awful lot of daughters out there and an awful lot of parents who side with Clinton on this one. I don't support Clinton or Obama, but I don't think it is trivial either. But then I have a daughter...

[jkshaw]

3. I'm a little concerned for Chelsea

All this coverage, the appearance of being shielded at her age by her mother, must be embarrassing for her. Not that I wouldn't be furious myself in Hillary's place. I just know my twenty-something daughter would be extremely uncomfortable if I made a big thing of it.

[DURHAM D]

5. Yeah right.

You have completely missed the point. Pretty sure that would embarrass your daughter even more.

[jkshaw]

9. Sorry Durham

But you have completely missed MY point.

[Jane Austin]

6. Shuster's comment was not about Chelsea.

It was about how the Clintons are using her.

It was crude and ill advised and stupid - but it was not about Chelsea.

[DURHAM D]

7. Neither - it was because he is mad at Clinton staff members.

Re-read the emails - all of them.

[Jane Austin]

8. I don't know what you're trying to say, but

the "pimping out" remark refers to the parents, not to the child.

I did not speak to motivation in any way.