MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
I'm not about to repeat what analyst Mark Halperin said on MSNBC's Morning Joe program this morning, although you can find details out here.
While I generally think we're too deferential to presidents, the language Halperin used was inappropriate and disrespectful to the office and the man. Apparently MSNBC was worried enough about the language to suspend their senior political analyst "indefinitely."
It is true, however, that Obama's behavior at yesterday's press conference was baffling. As the president of a country facing huge problems, he did nothing but poison the well. He said that those who don't agree with his policies would rather you die from some foodborn illness than let go of a tax perk for corporate jet owners.
There's no reason to use a vulgar word to describe this behavior, but Americans may want to let the president know that his behavior is disappointing.
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Jun '10
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
It's about time we call a richard a richard. Besides, how much respect can you have for a useless class warrior masquerading as the most ineffectual president the US has ever had.
Dec '10
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
There's no reason to use a vulgar word for it on a broadcast medium. In a private conversation, however, there are excellent reasons to use that term: it has the virtues of brevity, clarity, and emotional impact.
Too bad for Halperin that he thought he was having a private conversation when he was in fact speaking to the multiple dozens in the MSNBC viewing audience.
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
Stuart Creque
There's no reason to use a vulgar word for it on a broadcast medium. In a private conversation, however, there are excellent reasons to use that term: it has the virtues of brevity, clarity, and emotional impact.
Too bad for Halperin that he thought he was having a private conversation when he was in fact speaking to the multiple dozens in the MSNBC viewing audience. · Jun 30 at 8:17am
I had to delete my first four attempts at describing his behavior before I landed on something Code of Conduct-friendly.
May '10
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
Oh dear. For that one he should apologize. Can't believe Wilson got rebuked for saying "you lie", and Alito got criticized for mouthing "not true". Perfectly fair statements. Obama lies a lot (because he sucks), and deliberately with malice aforethought uses situations where people can't answer back to berate them. Because he's a jerk.
My signature on his e-birthday card was "hang in there, man. you'll figure it out eventually". He hasn't, but at least it was a civil little tweak. Get invites to all sorts of swell DNC soirees to this day.
Speaking of, we need NYC Sushi Pictures. Dish the dirt. I won't tell.
Feb '11
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
Someone should pull together a list of all the things said on MSNBC about *conservative*, including G W Bush, and especially female conservatives.
While Halperin shouldn't have said it, it was pretty mild in the context of the ongoing media diatribe against all of those they consider heretics.
GE's stewardship of its media assets, including NBC and MSNBC, has been disgraceful: I hope that Comcast will do a more responsible job.
Mar '11
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
It might be vulgar but the truth is sometimes vulgar as well.
Mar '11
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
I was trying to think of a Weinergate joke that was CoC-friendly, but couldn't come up with anything.
Jan '11
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
I'm not above a little Anglo-Saxon now and then, but not on TV. But that Obama performance yesterday was insulting and demeaning.
Walking out is about the most common tactic in any negotiation. For Obama to rush to the microphone whining about it is really embarrassing.
When Obama was running for office, he was accused of not having any executive experience; he answered that he ran a campaign.
That I know of, Obama has never had much experience, if any, as a working lawyer who had to make deals. The fact that he was angry at a negotiating tactic betrays why executive experience is important.
Look at what Wisconsin liberals did to Scott Walker. Can you imagine how Obama would react? He's a child.
Mar '11
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
I am baffled that MSNBC suspended him over this. Maybe they thought he was comparing the president to Dick Cheney? I am sure that would be a suspendable offense in the eyes of MSNBC.
May '10
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
Now we will be spared political analysis from a smug, potty-mouthed juvenile, at least for a while. What a culture!
Jan '11
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
Halperin was foolish and wrong to say what he did. In his defense, though, he thought he was doing to be censored. He asked if they were on a 7 second delay so he could say what he thought, believing the producer would dump his remark. The producer should have dumped the remark. Joe Scarborough was calling for the remark to be dumped, but MSNBC let it go, even though they were warned to be ready to hit the dump button. The producer claimed he was incompetent and didn't know how to dump the remark. That simply isn't plausible. My guess is that the producer didn't like what Halperin had to say and decided to let him hang.
May '10
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
Now that's an interesting thought! Let this be a warning to other journalists - don't insult The One.
Jun '10
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
I don't care for vulgarity, but mild vulgarity seems to have become the norm all broadcast and cable, hence that all too frequent use of the vulgar term for one's rear end. It would have been just as inappropriate (and just as true) to call the President a clown or a twit or a jerk or ... (you get the picture). It is the undignified swamp in which we can expect the left to wallow.
The president is bad guy and is unfit for his office for many reasons. However, I expect the right to behave with more dignity than the left.
Apr '11
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
Honestly, which was more vulgar: Halperin's remark or the President's performance at yesterday's press conference?
Oct '10
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
He should have said "jerk". That's the word I use :)
Sep '10
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
Why is the word for the male member a pejorative? Isn't that, um, sexist?
Dec '10
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
"Ricocheteer" is a pejorative? And "Ricochetette" isn't? First I've heard of it.
Dec '10
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
Did you hear about the confused taxidermist who mounted the wrong end of the client's tiger on a plaque?
It was a catastrophe.
May '10
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
He apologized to the President? What, no "I apologize to anyone who was offended"?
I am also shocked that the White House called MSNBC. How thinned skinned this administration must be to make phone calls after one idiotic remark on one morning show.
Dec '10
Re: MSNBC Suspends Halperin For Vulgar Obama Comment
Remember, Obama is the fellow who scratches his cheek with his index finger as he speaks on neutral topics... but scratches it with his middle finger as he talks about his opponents.