Cynematik • Cyndi Greening

So I want to begin this post by saying that I really like MSNBC reporter David Shuster. I find him to be literate, educated and thorough. So, I was shocked, absolutely shocked to hear David Shuster was in the doghouse over a comment he made about Chelsea Clinton. Especially since I’d seen the episode in which he made the offending comment and was not offended at all. I guess I’m slipping. I just didn’t find it all that upsetting. Shuster appeared on the TUCKER CARLSON show (which I never watch because I find him totally offensive) but knowing Shuster was on, I thought there might be something interesting in the political arena. After a news story about how Chelsea Clinton (who has never participated in the campaigning for either of her parents in the past) was now campaigning for her mother, Shuster made an off-hand remark about the possibility of Chelsea being “pimped out” to call the Super Delegates. I laughed when I heard it. Maybe it’s because I taught in a college environment and heard the term “pimped out” bandied about with great frequency. Maybe it’s because I follow what is being produced on cable networks (anyone ever heard of PIMP YOUR RIDE?).

To be honest, I find myself far more upset by the misogynistic commentary routinely made by Chris Matthews on HARDBALL. Even political pundit Rachel Maddow (whom I also adored) has spoken out against Matthews’ woman-hating commentary. And, as many of you know, I do enjoy watching Keith Olberman but, lately, it seems that all of his reporting has been, “Obama good, Hillary bad.” Since I’m pro-Hillary, I find that far more irritating. So, to have David Shuster getting suspended and being publicly flogged for humorously stating the obvious, it’s quite surprising. But, I’m thinking, if the Clinton Camp is getting sick of all of the lopsided coverage by the media, this might put everyone on notice that they need to shift out of that misogynistic mode. It also paints Hillary as the underdog and that may drive voters to the polls in the upcoming primaries. I assume there are people much smarter than me running these campaigns so I’m certain they’re thinking of all of these sorts of things too. Perhaps, David Shuster is just the sacrificial lamb. He’s such a terrific reporter and analyst, I sure hope this resolves soon.