Mark Halperin on POTUS: "I thought he was kind of a dick yesterday." (VIDEO)

[jefferson_dem]

Un-edited VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-7io3OBoDQ

On this morning's "Mourning Joe". Then Halperin tries to apologize.

Halperin apologizes for Obama gaffe
By: Tim Mak
June 30, 2011 07:07 AM EDT

Mark Halperin, editor-at-large for Time, called President Obama “a dick” on Thursday on a popular MSNBC morning show and then quickly apologized.

“I thought he was a dick yesterday,” Halperin, who also is a senior political analyst for MSNBC, said on Morning Joe, referring to the President’s conduct during his press conference.

Host Joe Scarborough hoped to prevent the comment from being broadcast, saying, “Delay that. Delay that. What are you doing? I can’t believe… don’t do that. Did we delay that?”

Just minutes later, Halperin quickly apologized to the president and viewers for his choice of words. “Joking aside, this is an absolute apology. I shouldn’t have said it. I apologize to the president and the viewers who heard me say that,” Halperin said.

<SNIP>

VIDEO at LINK: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/58098.html

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Mark Halperin is always kind of a dick.

[flpoljunkie]

5. Halperin thought he was being so cute, too, first asking if they were on the 7 second delay

He should lose his job as an MSNBC analyst. An apology is not enough.

[CTyankee]

11. And smirking the whole time...

funny, his apology doesn't really sound authentic. He needs to get over himself...

[Empowerer]

16. He doesn't regret saying it at all - he's just mortified that he was HEARD saying it

This was not a slip. He said it very intentionally.

[CTyankee]

31. He had that frat boy look on his face, just dying to say it and look cute.

Stooopid!

[Guilded Lilly]

37. Totally agree.

He was caught. That is why he apologized. It's why anyone apologizes, sure, and I think he WAS mortified by his lack of class. Joe Scarborough is only upset because his producer was late on the delay button, not because he thinks his *guest* was wrong. Scarborough is consistently a bullying punk who tries to hide his snotty behavior behind laughter, insistent talking over his guests or *joking* rudeness.

While Halperin has every right to think what he said (let's face it, we all think far worse about any number of Republican/Rightist/Ultra-conservative political figures) he promotes himself as intelligently impartial, when he is not. It's more a matter of class and professionalism in this kind of forum.

[karynnj]

39. Exactly

What is weird is what he wanted was to say it - have it bleeped, and have the reaction of the MJ crowd - all in on exactly what he said - while the audience would have the basic idea, but not the exact words - so no one could complain.

Is this high school behavior - or merely middle school? It seems like middle school to me - and I fully understand why my youngest, who is working on an el ed degree wants to concentrate on K - 4, even though she could teach up to 8th.

[karynnj]

36. My exact reaction

Not only a smirk, but, as he continues, a semi repressed smirk coupled with vestiges of things that convey sincerity - the widened eyes and looking straight into the camera. Like any politician, he as a media pundit (rather say that than journalist), he knows how "to look sincere", but his disdain is SO strong that he can't hide it.

[Empowerer]

19. Why would you ask if there's a 7-second delay when you're on television?

Aren't Halperin, et al supposed to be discussing issues for the benefit of the audience? The idea that he thought it appropriate - aside from the crudeness of his remark - to essentially whisper secrets to the other panelists while the audience was watching reveals a narcissism that is quite breathtaking.

"I'm on television but I'm going to say things that I don't want you to hear."

[flpoljunkie]

2. Wow! I just heard his apology and wondered what he was apologizing for.

We all know who the 'dick' or 'dicks' are here--and it's definitely not the president!

[flamingdem]

28. Good time to call MSNBC and let them know if we're going to deal with this "dick" any longer

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10285339 /

[phone]

[babylonsister]

3. Lots of class, all of it low. nt

[yardwork]

21. Good one!

[Sky Masterson]

4. Maybe President Obama needs to be more of a dick

:shrug: The right wing has more dicks in it than a gay porn orgy.

[TheDebbieDee]

6. +1!

[awoke_in_2003]

47. Yeah...

and they are bigger, too :rofl:

[Atman]

7. IOKIYAR

A Democrat would already be forced to resign.

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. My thoughts exactly.

[pacalo]

9. CLASSY! Why not show he's vocabulary-challenged? When one can't express himself adequately

he can just throw in an expletive to compensate.

[mod mom]

10. Will he be put on suspension like Ed Schultz? removed from the air?

or since it was a pejorative slam against Obama, it's no problem?

[Enrique]

12. the worst thing is that it's not even true

Obama is being very civil in this fight (way too civil imo) and he gets called a dick.

McConnell who is actually being a total dick, no one would dare say it about him.

[elleng]

41. Don't know if that's the 'worst' thing, but sure is true that McC

should be properly characterized by media. Could certainly be done while being 'civil.'
:hi:

[awoke_in_2003]

48. If you even say "boo" to republicans...

or state a truth, you are considered a dick. Republicans can dish it out, but they can't take it

[tanyev]

13. Sounds like the president hit a nerve.

Good.

[Empowerer]

14. This was not a "gaffe"

He said it intentionally with considerable forethought - he just assumed that the 7-second delay would keep the general public from hearing him say just what he thought of the President.

This was unprofessional, obnoxious and far beyond the pale.

[Tatiana]

15. Would he have called either Bush a "dick?" What about Reagan?

This is completely unacceptable. Pompous jerk.

Of course, that's why he fits right in with the Intern Killer and his crew.

[TwilightGardener]

34. No--they were worthy of respect, even if only due to the office they held.

That ended in January 2009.

[EffieBlack]

17. TRANSLATION: "The President was uppity"

[Enrique]

18. i think there's something to that

I criticize Obama a lot, but there's not a lot to criticize about his personality. Criticize honestly, anyway. There's a ton of dicks in politics, Obama is definitely NOT among them. If someone calls him that, they might have some issues.

Same with Pelosi. Like her or hate her, her personality is pleasant. Anyone who calls her a bitch, aside from being rude, might have some woman issues.

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. Longer Halperin: "That f*cking n*gger has no right to talk to US like that."

Everybody knows that that is just what he meant.

Obama called out oil company tax breaks and tax breaks on corporate jets for Gawd's sake. He was MILD.

Halperin should be shitcanned from MSNBC and TIME immediately.

[yardwork]

22. I thought the exact same thing. Disrespect reserved for Obama.

Same as when the Republican representative shouted "you lie."

[Empowerer]

23. He's not embarrassed that he said it, he's embarrassed that he got caught saying it

He was quite comfortable and smug in using this epithet against the President - it's obvious that he's said it before. He just didn't mean for the general public to hear him using it.

The very essence of hypocrisy.

[yardwork]

27. He's probably secretly smirking at the knowledge that it went on the air.

They're making noises to placate anybody who might be thinking about firing them from their useless jobs as talking heads, but inside they are very pleased with themselves. They remind me of the smart ass kids who sat in the back of class.

[Dawson Leery]

51. Respect only applies to Republican Presidents.

The (corporate $$$$$$$) beltway media makes sure that consensus is respected.

[awoke_in_2003]

49. Good point...

I forgot about the racial implications.

[Connie_Corleone]

24. Disrespectful. Where's his suspension from showing his face on MSNBC??

[Thrill]

25. His obsession with Huntsman can be seen in the correct light

now.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

26. In medieval times Halperin would have been taken to the Tower

[Sheepshank]

29. can't win for losing...

they want Obama to have balls, to stand up, to be mean and say it they way they want him to say it. He generally doesn't meet any criteria for making waves, for sticking it to the Reps, or calling them down. Now someone says Obama does exactly that, and it's a negative?

THIS is exactly what I see going on at DU on a daily basis.

[Blue Owl]

30. Thanks for sharing your fucking thought, Mark

n/t

[hedgehog]

32. Psychological projection or projection bias is a psychological defense mechanism

where a person unconsciously denies his or her own attributes, thoughts, and emotions, which are then ascribed to the outside world, usually to other people. Thus, projection involves imagining or projecting the belief that others originate those feelings.<1>

Projection reduces anxiety by allowing the expression of the unwanted unconscious impulses or desires without letting the conscious mind recognize them.

An example of this behavior might be blaming another for self failure. The mind may avoid the discomfort of consciously admitting personal faults by keeping those feelings unconscious, and by redirecting libidinal satisfaction by attaching, or "projecting," those same faults onto another person or object.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection


But seriously - just what did Obama say yesterday that so irritated Halperin? We need to find out, so Obama can keep saying it!
:evilgrin:

[elleng]

43. THANKS for this, hedgehog, perfect timing (for ME!)

Dealing w one in my personal life, caused me depression in the past until I recognised what he was doing. Its a fairly powerful mechanism.

As to what PrezO said, will have to think about that; others here surely will. Mebbe, 'do your homework, I do, I'm always here?'
:hi:

[Mass]

33. I think he should be able to say that. What is offensive though is that the media present him as

objective when he talks about politics. If any doubts were remaining, this makes things very clear. (BTW, when are we going to stop thinking that apologizing because somebody voices what he thinks is enough. It is the thought that is offensive, not the voicing of the though).

[karynnj]

35. Though I would never say it, I have long thought the same of Mark Halperin

The amazing thing is that this suggests that among the people he associates with this kind of speech and attitude is appropriate - and not just behind closed doors. That is disturbing as he is considered a credible "journalist".

He is clearly anything but, and that was clear with his book on the 2004 race with John Harris. In the book, they praised Matt Drudge calling him this generation's Edward R. Murrow. That is appalling by itself, but it was in the context of the story that was much of the first chapter that they used to show the "problem" with Kerry's campaign. What it really showed was the problem in the authors' morality and journalism standards.

The story was how a GOP operative and Matt Drudge used a little, innocuous piece of information they had - that in DC, John Kerry went to a name hairdresser and got his hair cut - charge $75. Likely something he does every few months. True, there are cheaper places, but even someone far poorer that JK could afford this and his hair looks good.

What they did was to concoct a story of a $1000 hair styling/coloring, highlighting event, complete with fake quotes by fake stylists on how he is extremely particular about how his hair looks. The Kerry campaign and the salon within hours of when the story was first posted in the right blogosphere and then put in the spotlight by Drudge. It never became a real issue. (Rove etc later - in the same vein - pushed a story that he used Botox - using a pre photo from a month after he had cancer surgery and was quickly back to work and campaigning and the after, a picture of an exuberant Kerry speaking on the night of his Iowa win - about 10 months later. )

The telling thing about this with regards to Halperin is that he and Harris chose to lead the book with this. What it actually shows is that RW blogospere at that point had turned their echo chamber into a very efficient smear machine - and that they admired that - rather than being alarmed by it. It actually says nothing about Kerry - other than he does have very nice hair - nice enough that Drudge etc thought it believable that that the shiny silver wavy hair was actually the result of hours of work by a top stylist, rather than genetics. In fact, it shows that he DID response quickly and completely. It is not clear what Halperin and Harris thought he should have done.

[polichick]

38. Joey Scar told him there was a delay, so he went ahead and said it...

To Joe's (pretend?) horror.

[ClarkUSA]

40. Teabaggers have a new idol! He'll probably be asked to headline the next CPAC gathering.

TIME is the largest magazine publisher in the US, too. This right-wing tool is its political editor?

Gee, another example of the liberal media, eh? :sarcasm:

[Beacool]

42. He's entitled to his opinion.

But he shouldn't have said it on the air. It was disrespectful.

:crazy:

[RoryK]

44. Mr Scarborough ought be suspended as well.

If you'll permit a foreignor's opinion, Mr Scarborough is a bigger "dick" than than anyone else in America hosting a TV programme.

[awoke_in_2003]

50. not only is he a bigger dick...

he is also unbearably smug about his dickishness.

[CitizenLeft]

45. I was going to start a thread asking what he said...

I heard the apology, but not the comment.

I have loathed him for awhile now. Now he can dispense with the unbiased label, and just move on over to Fox.

[Fire1]

46. Halperin, FUCK YOU!! n/t

[Beaverhausen]

52. Like Obama is even close to the total dick we had to endure for 8 years with Bush

[McCamy Taylor]

53. WTF? A "dick" is someone who protects the poor? So, St. Francis was a "dick"

because he wanted the rich to help the poor, too?

[McCamy Taylor]

54. Halperin must have gotten an RNC talking point that Obama is now "an angry Black man."

[gkhouston]

55. Stewart's gonna have fun with this.

:popcorn:

[JoeyT]

56. When a person like Halperin calls you a dick

you take it as highest praise and double up on whatever made him call you that.