Martin Bashir Resigns From MSNBC

[Hissyspit]

Source: Huffington Post

Martin Bashir Resigns From MSNBC

Jack Mirkinson

The Huffington PostDec 04, 2013

Martin Bashir has resigned from MSNBC, he announced in an email posted by Mediaite on Wednesday.

Bashir had been under fire for weeks after making highly incendiary comments about Sarah Palin.

Bashir's email read:

After making an on-air apology, I asked for permission to take some additional time out around the Thanksgiving holiday.

Upon further reflection, and after meeting with the President of MSNBC, I have tendered my resignation. It is my sincere hope that all of my colleagues, at this special network, will be allowed to focus on the issues that matter without the distraction of myself or my ill-judged comments.

Read more: http://www.huffpost.com/us/entry/4385884

[alp227]

1. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[cilla4progress]

2. Crap! I thought he was very good!

And the Palin comment was well-deserved.

Hopefully he will show up on another network, like Stephanie Miller.

Wonder who will take HIS place there?

[karynnj]

22. He was good, but the comment was NOT appropriate and juvenile

Yes, I know that many on the right say awful things and don't end up off the air. However, the comment adds NOTHING to any subject and is inexcusable. That he is leaving may say that our standards are better.

In fact, it may explain something I saw playing with reading twitter yesterday. It started when I entered "john Kerry" in search and saw that in addition to links on the things he is doing, around a third comments came from the RW - saying obnoxious things. Out of curiosity, I typed in "Hillary Clinton" - in her case nearly half or more were RW many prominently including words like Benghazi. I then tried a few Republicans, Scott Brown (who is flirting with running in NH ), Mitt Romney, and Chris Christie. While not all of the tweets that were about them are positive, there is none of the name calling insanity that you see for both Kerry and Hillary. There were some questioning why Brown thought he had a chance - but like most links that were unhappy with JK's deal - they were civil. I think the difference reflects better on us. That they seem to have more presence on Twitter due to those brain dead tweets can't make them more persuasive.

One conjecture is that these people feel free to do this - even when it is under their name - because they are repeating people they here on the radio and Fox. We all know that unflattering names were given to Bush, Cheney and others on various message boards, but I can not think of any MSNBC or Air America radio person who repeated them on the air. Personally, I think THEY need to change, while we need to not engage in stuff like that.

The fact is that NO ONE not already in agreement with Bashir would be persuaded by that comment - in fact, someone neutral would likely simply be disgusted with him. I really don't get anyone defending his words. I do get people saying they were atypical and that he needed to apologize, but should have been allowed to stay.

[cilla4progress]

23. I believe they were said in an emotional moment for Bashir

and not entirely irrelevant given the context.

I agree the comment was juvenile, and I can understand the appropriateness of an apology.

Not something he should have left over in my opinion. Esp. considering things said on the right where they are still playing, Limbaugh, etc.

I respect your opinion, in any event!

[karynnj]

33. The context does make it more understandable. I had not read the FULL context until this thread

after I commented.

It also could have been changed SLIGHTLY to make it acceptable - even saying that maybe had SP seen a movie depiction of how that slave was treated, she might be reluctant to equate it to things far less harrowing - even to her.

I suspect that was what he was intending - to point out she needed to better understand how bad slavery was and have empathy for those who experienced it - and for her, it might take some way to make what happened more real to her. Obviously, enduring it herself would be the most direct personal way.

I do think the right intentionally sensationalizes what any Democrat, leftie, etc says - twisting the words far from what they meant. I do agree that happened here. It is horrifying to hear the echo chamber when it is used against anyone you know to be a good person.

I remember Senator Durbin having to apologize for having spoken of actions at Abu Ghraib as things we do not associate with how the US acts, but rather forces like the Nazis, Pol Pot etc. This was twisted to say he said the US troops were like the Nazis. After a day or more of explaining that was far from what he said, he apologized on the floor of the Senate.

[movonne]

41. No wonder their numbers are going down...the only one I watch will be Rachael and sometimes

Chris Hayes...I really liked Martin and watch him when I could...he had a good sense of humor..

[Politicalboi]

3. NO!

Over that self centered piece of shit who tells some to shoot their problems away. Eat shit Sarah. And eat shit MSNBC.

[immoderate]

4. This is sad. Martin was (is) an incisive commentator.

--imm

[brush]

5. Too bad. Our loss

I saw the newscast. It was in response to some foolishness Palin stated comparing the federal debt to slavery.

Bashir cited a cruel, actual story that happened during slavery: a slave master whip an enslaved person, rubbed salt into the wounds, and still not satisfied with his cruelty, had another enslaved person shit into his mouth.

Bashir insinuated that maybe the same should happen to the word salad-spouting Palin.

I can't say that I disagree with him.

[kelly1mm]

7. Wait, you are saying that you think any human (yes, even RW'ers like Palin) should be

wipped, have salt rubbed in the wounds, then have someone defecate in their mouth? Really?

[brush]

16. C'mon! Metaphorically of course.

Bashir's whole point was to point out absurdity of Palin equating the incomparable cruelty of slavery (the whipping, the salt and defecation) with the federal budget.

She obviously knows nothing about the real horrors of slavery and the federal budget is just as obviously way over her head.

[maddiemom]

49. There will be no stopping the outrage right wingers will now be ginning up

over any critical comment. Bashir has given them carte blanche. Meanwhile right wing talking heads will be more outrageous than ever.

[silvershadow]

6. Martin, you should have just taken a deep breath on moved on with your good work.

Yes, it was an embarrassment and a small stain. It also was already in the past. You shouldn't have dwelled on it. You will be missed.

[tblue]

26. Exactly. Palin should apologize

for making us have to endure her. This is sad news. Msnbc is so NOT a mirror inShe of Fox News, which never gets on anyone's case for dissing the Left.

[George II]

8. Rats! He and Alex Wagner are the two best on that network (Matthews is third to me)

[cilla4progress]

24. Big Eddy!

So strong for working folks.

[George II]

28. Yes, I forgot about him - he is the best, Bashir 2nd and Wagner and Matthews in there too....

....I really don't care much for the rest of them, too "showy".

[otohara]

9. Bring on Ronan Farrow

too bad about Bashir -I was hoping for the best, but not surprised by this outcome.

[JustinBulletin]

10. MSNBC will keep Chuckie, Greggy and Mrs. Greenspan though, won't they?

Of course they will, the little darlings. I wish Martin the very best and will miss his sharp commentary.

[question everything]

37. Her name is Andrea Mitchell! Why is it so hard for you to accept the fact

that most women are not the property of their husbands? That many choose to keep their own, professional names?

And why should anyone take your opinion seriously with such a misogynistic attitude?

Wake up, we are now in the 21st Century!

[appacom]

61. andrea mitchell is more dangerous than limbaugh

because she throws the rock and hides her hand. Not as well as she used to. She's getting old now, and too tired, it seems, to even pay lip service to the illusion of objectivity.

Probably that's why my take on the 'Mrs. Greenspan" reference is different from yours. I just saw it as an apt comment on her character.

[angry citizen]

11. He will be missed

I will certainly miss his wit and humor.

[Swede Atlanta]

12. Let's see Olbermann and now Bashir.....

I think I shall program my TV to inhibit viewing of MSNBC.

Bye-bye now...........

[bayareaboy]

46. And don't forget what those jerks tried to do to Ed Schultz...

He had to do weekends for a while and now has one hour, a day instead of two. So will Rachael Maddow be next.

[randr]

13. I hope he lands at Al Jazeera

His indignation is shared by most American's.

[LittleGirl]

14. good grief that's a huge loss in my book

I've got a love/hate relationship with MSNBC and have for years. I used to watch Rachel every night and Martin is the only one during the day I could stomach. I think the comments were unnecessary but for the love of chris, can't believe he would resign over them.

[Awknid]

29. I love Chris Hayes and Rachel

(Most of the time). But Martin was the only reason I turn on the TV at 4:00!

[bayareaboy]

47. Matin Basher really really knows ...

the English language much better that all the rest of us.

He got carried away, but I certainly understand where his feelings lie.

[dregstudios]

15. Palin for $ale

Bashir only too elegantly put what we all have been thinking for the past five years. Since she quit her post in Alaska, Palin hasn’t run for public office but still plays the part of politician who calls her constituents “fans.” What exactly does she do other than essentially proposition her self and image to the highest bidder? Sounds like Sarah is America’s highest paid escort! See how down and dirty she’ll get for the money at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/06/ecstasy-of-sarah-palin_15.html

[840high]

52. As much as I don't

care for her - don't include me in your "we."

[HangOnKids]

56. LOL you won't be included in the "we" that think she is a shit head idiot

Feel better now?

[jollyreaper2112]

17. Lets face it, he's forced out

If management wanted to keep him, they would have refused to accept his resignation. And this is why it's tough to get real journalism from the media, because these people have families and expenses and need to eat. They are paid more than you and I but they are still answering the master's call. You can snipe at your master's political enemies but never question the system.

[jessie04]

18. Damn

.

[DonCoquixote]

19. OK MSNBC

You have shown your true stripes by feedign one of your better commentator to Palin. If you did not have Rachel maddow, I would have nothing to do with you, and I may even stop watchign her so as not to feed the people who pay joe scab and Chuckie todd.

[The Wizard]

20. Down goes MSNBC

Caving in to Republican temper tantrums is a recipe for losing. Ask John Kerry. Bashir should have repeated it every day until the frozen grifter went over the edge.

[onehandle]

21. damn. nt

[LionsTigersRedWings]

25. Did he make that comment on air?

If he did, that was pretty stupid.


He should have known better than to say something like that on air. If it was in private than this sucks. So many people say worse things in private than that!

[vt_native]

27. Free Speech TV

freespeech.org

[tblue]

30. They're dropping like flies over there.

I don't watch msnbc much anymore since Keith left. Even if it was mostly his fault. It's just not worth getting accustomed to anybody's show on msnbc since it probably won't last. We need another Current.

[Leith]

31. Outrageous!

For all the vicious words that come out of the mouths of reichwing commentators and elected officials, Bashir is gone because he said that one of them should experience for herself what slaves in the US went through? Perhaps he should have called her a "dog" like Limbaugh did to Chelsea Clinton. Or a "slut" or "prostitute" who should make video clips for the internet. Or just "unpatriotic," "fascists" (as opposed to "commies&quot , "palling around with terrorists," or even "you lie!" as Palin makes a speech?

For the hundreds of nasty lies that Palin and others who call themselves conservative and Republican tell every day, what Bashir said was about as tame as it gets. The freakin' double standard at work again. IOKIYAR, indeed.

[vrp]

32. I heard the broadcast,

and It wasn't that bad. Is Palin that thin skinned? Not nearly as bad as what she dishes out herself. He shouldn't have resigned!

[FiveGoodMen]

35. Sarah Palin Accepts David Letterman's Apology for 'Coarse' Jokes

http://www.foxnews.com/story/2009/06/16/sarah-palin-accepts-david-letterman-apology-for-coarse-jokes/

EVERYONE ends up saying they're sorry to that ... that ... *(^)*&^&*%())_

(if I say what she is I'll be forced to apologize to DU)

[erpowers]

34. He Should Have Stayed

Although I think Martin Bashir could have found a better way to respond to Palin's slavery comments(pointing how the nation got into this debt and how things have gotten better since President Obama has been in office) he should not have resigned. He and MSNBC should have stood up to Sarah Palin and her fans.

[xxqqqzme]

38. The suits at M$NBC

cave whenever the RWNJ open their mouths to complain.

[IrishMidget]

36. A sad day

He was truly one of my favorite non-primetime MSNBC hosts. No one will be able to replace his wit and humor.

[jwirr]

39. I do not usually watch him but between him and palin I will take him. They had better replace him

with one of ours.

[BumRushDaShow]

40. Ugh

Maybe they will give Joy that slot. She has filled in for him before (and has done so last week and this week). She knows how to handle moving a show along and can fling the barbs as well.

[LovingA2andMI]

54. Joy Reid???

Guess I'll have to until 5pm to see Ed, skip 6pm, turn back on at 7pm to get my Tweety fix....then move to Discovery ID...

[michello]

42. And yet

Mark Halperin can call the President a Dick but still remains on Morning Joke....Nice.

[spin]

43. It might be possible that if we all simply ignored Sarah Palin, she would simply go away. ...

But for some reason it appears to be a requirement that any good liberal has to insult her. It also seems essential that the latest insults have to be stronger than the older ones.

It is quite possible that Palin was the main reason that McCain lost his bid for President. I doubt this but I seriously believe that she did cause McCain to lose votes. She had her fifteen minutes of fame and should have disappeared in the wilds of Alaska. Why didn't that happen?

We accomplish little by insulting Sarah Palin as she thrives on insults. Bashir resigned from MSNBC because he had to waste his time insulting a person who is basically politically insignificant. While he ruined his career on MSNBC, she benefited from the publicity and will probably appear more often on Fox News. The sales of her most recent book will probably skyrocket.

Sarah Palin reminds we of the inflatable 'Bozo the Clown Bop Bag" I played with as a child. You punch it as hard as you can in the nose and it squeaks and falls over --but then it bounces right back.

[DeschutesRiver]

64. Except this thread re Bashir, I just hit the x to hide/trash can most of the Palin threads.

For the most part she is yesterday's fish wrap, does stink and there is absolutely nothing newsworthy in the incoherent words she tries to string together.

Lots of other things here to see that are much more worthy of a click, IMHO.

[ancianita]

44. Not Bashir. HER. Palin. She should be forced to resign from America.

[Dawson Leery]

45. The "liberal" MSNBC.

[LovingA2andMI]

55. The Corporate Comcast Owned Network of MSNBC....

it more like it.

[heaven05]

48. this is REALLY disappointing.

Palin is not worth this man's job. Fuckers!!!!!!

[Redford]

50. I agree but they need to stop letting HER live rent free in their heads

Sarah Palin has no power. She is not in elected office. Martin Bashir made a disgusting analogy that made me feel like he was a bit of a woman hater. I would not of continued to watch him had he stayed because it made me feel very uncomfortable. Sorry, but it was over the top for me.

[heaven05]

51. what he said actually happened to slaves

Last edited Thu Dec 5, 2013, 02:33 PM - Edit history (1)

was that over the top? Nothing to be sorry about, you're entitled to your opinion about his analogy. RW media's darling needs to go back to alaska and stay the fuck there. She's useless.

[840high]

53. For me, too. I would

never watch him again.

[Paladin]

59. Your outrage is noted.

One Martin Bashir is worth a dozen Sarah Palins. Bashir is no longer on the air, while Palin's execrable output continues, non-stop. How about a few bars of the ever-popular "liberals should always be nice even if conservatives aren't" tango, just for a dramatic conclusion?

[greymattermom]

57. old dudes watch Fox for the "girls"

Sarah is/was one of them. But she's quickly aging. When her sex appeal is gone, she'll be replaced. Martin's appeal is his brains. He'll find something. I always wonder why more folks don't point out the real reason old white dudes watch Fox. Disclosure: I was interviewed on Fox this week. I'm an old not sexy white "girl".

[polynomial]

58. It takes a lot of moxy to say that

The time is drawing near when the collapse of this mainstream news medium is actually self-inflicted. I may-be corrected but Martin Bashir is the second to Nova out in wild controversy. Keith Olbermann was the other evening news telecaster I remember that had very fiery devastating commentary about Bush and his administration. My own conclusions had developed from reading various popular authors that had well documented proof Bush was a political profiteer.

Yes Mr. Bashir could have been much smoother lighter and more elegant. But he did not because being raw, rude, brash, and obnoxiously repugnant sends a message that can creep through the news noise. This was a code red with no turning back.

There is something in the background he knows and is bought off likely by a separation resignation deal. When this medium is so connected by the G.E. parent company and a long range partnership with Andrea Mitchel afternoon anchor wife of the former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Mr. Allen Greenspan privy to insider information in trillion dollar deals that mastermind the one percent success America now has to tolerate is a huge slice of stress that could force anyone to the deep end of descriptions.

This is the second blast broadside and Keith Olbermann likely on NSA a Metadata file somewhere in the MSNBC data bank calling to welcome Martin to the new club, with a laugh and a chuckle, many could think Keith saying it’s good for you Martin especially you didn’t have to defect to Russia.

[George II]

63. GE hasn't owned for almost 3 years.

[yurbud]

62. can someone make a list of all the worse things people on Fox News and talk radio have said?

[Pterodactyl]

65. The guy sounds like a total A-hole. Was his show any good? I've never seen it.