Image Credit: Kevin Wolf/NBC Universal/AP Images
MSNBC took immediate action today by suspending senior political analyst Mark Halperin after he used a vulgarity to describe President Obama during today’s Morning Joe. Halperin was addressing President Obama’s Wednesday press briefing with host Joe Scarborough when he asked, “Are we on the seven-second delay?” Assuming that he could speak freely, he then said, “I thought he was a d–k yesterday.” Watch it below.
A statement from MSNBC soon followed: “Mark Halperin’s comments this morning were completely inappropriate and unacceptable. We apologize to the President, the White House and all of our viewers. We strive for a high level of discourse and comments like these have no place on our air. Therefore, Mark will be suspended indefinitely from his role as an analyst.”
Halperin followed with one of his own: “I completely agree with everything in MSNBC’s statement about my remark. I believe that the step they are taking in response is totally appropriate. Again, I want to offer a heartfelt and profound apology to the President, to my MSNBC colleagues, and to the viewers. My remark was unacceptable, and I deeply regret it.”
Another example of someone in the spotlight not taking responsibility for their actions UNTIL they have to.
Would he have regretted if there was a 7 second delay??? Good Move by MSNBC
This just shows you how far right MSNBC is. They won’t ever give Obama any credit for the great job he is doing.
MSNBC on the right? You’ve GOT to be kidding.
Fox = right
MSNBC = left
great job ??? what rock you been living under the last 2.5 years. the only great job he’s been doing is posing for pictures while on vacation….
Except that they should have suspended him permanently instead of indefinitely.
No he would not.
It may have been inappropriate but nobody said it was inaccurate.
I don’t care what your politics are, you should at least respect the office of President. I thought President George W. Bush was bad for this country, but I would never call him a vulgar name because he was the President, and I think whoever holds that office is entitled to respect. Now that Bush is not President, however…no, I will still refrain from vulgarity unlike many people who post on these sites. Civil discourse is fast disappearing in this country.
agreed. there was a time when you could have a conversation about politics, actually addeess issues. now, we have become a nation of name callers and apologists. at least part of the blame is on the education system in this country, i believe. A lack of knowledge on the basic concepts of critical thinking and debate. If you were on a high school forensics/debate team and your argument for your side consisted of calling someone names and just stating that the other side was wrong without backing it up or offering alternatives, you would lose. It’s sad when politicians, journalists, and pundits (who can only loosely be considered journalists nowadays) should take lessons from high schoolers.
I agree its just funny that MSNBC who had no problem labeling Bush everything from Satan to Hitler now has a problem with their commentators disrespecting the office.
RIGHT ON! It was totally accurate! AND, I typically say we should respect the position of the Presidency BUT with this president, he does not RESPECT any of us. I’m tired of hearing him tell everyone what to do (the total opposite of what he does!)A total dictator and hypocrite who does NOT have America’s BEST INTEREST or the AMERICAN People’s interest at heart! Go play more golf bo!
You’re an idiot.
You are wrong, the President wants to build the middle class but he is working against Republican’s who want to hand control of the country over the corporations. This President DOES care, please do some research.
@SARAH D
Who do you think all the stimulus money went to……thats right big corporations. The middle class can’t get Dems or Repub rich or donate large enough sums of money to get them elected so we will always come second.(actually third behind the poor)
I just don’t understand what goes through these pundits minds when they are on TV. In what universe would this be appropriate?
I support Obama, but I thought this was kind of funny.
He can go to FOX news. He would fit in there perfectly
Wow Tony, did you think that one up yourself, or did Keith O. tell you to post that?
I thought we ran off all the moron birthers. Guess not.
The birther morons will always be around just like the morons who can’t tell if its day or night cause their head is firmly planted up Obama’s a$$.
Overreaction by MSNBC. The language was not appropriate but worse things are said on other networks. Let the hosts deal with it. I watch the show every morning but missed this
Overreaction is right. Stop with the word police already. I can only imagine the words being said about politicians from other hosts on the side. He made a bad choice, move on.
MSNBC only has 5 or 6 viewers, so if you didnt watch, that means no one was watching. So who was offended?
Totally classless for a so called class guy.
They would not apology if it is directed against to any of the GOP candidates or President Bush.
Who care about making fun of President Obama when he is doing such a lousy job!
And if he had NOT be suspended, conservatives would be screaming of “liberal bias.” I swear you guys just make this s*** up as you go along.
Please, if he was discussing a Bush press conferance he would be praising Bush for his cowboy toughness. Beltway pundits like Halperin only get upset when democrats show some attitude.
Kinda funny, actually. When the president is cool and dispassionate they accuse him of being emotionless. Now, when he shows some stones, he’s a d*ck. I’m beginning to think NOTHING this president does will suit the right-wingers. Gasp.
Yeah right. Ask the Dixie Chicks what happens when you criticize President Bush.
I never cared for the Dixiechicks…I think they’re stupid…but country fans dropped them for attacking Toby Keith not President Bush…and yes…I miss him. I thought the liberals were going to take care of the chicks…guess yah’all don’t like their music either.
thou has DARE to speak against our lord and savior, barack obama!!?? off with his head!!!! hmmm…wonder if MSNBC would have gotten their panties in a twist if this was said about anyone BUT our dear leader? i guess not since i have heard MUCH, MUCH WORSE about other people who tended to be a little to the ‘right’ of MSNBC. way to show your true colors! that speech was like watching a skit on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. obama is a JOKE. he is the emperor realizing that he has no clothes.
Are you typing with a white hood on in a cabin right now?
Yeah!! Who care!!!
wow… I wonder if halperin will be seen in public after being taken into the back room and convinced he should no longer express how he really feels about the obama agenda?
Don’t get carried away it was about the news coference on Wednesday.
Statements like that can put the President’s life in DANGER. NOT FUNNY.
@LoveforPeace, what a colossal overreaction! I don’t think saying someone is “kind of a d*ck” is going to put them in danger no matter who they are; and being called “kind of a d*ck” is not the same as calling them an “actual d*ck.” Completely different animal. I think an apology is in order, but that is it. It wasn’t that big of a deal considering the comments the left and right have lobbed at each other. Now I think it’s just funny. I’m sure Michelle Obama is probably saying the same thing, “yeah, sometimes he IS kind of a d*ck!”
Someone on MSNBC said something negative about a democrat? The media constantly demeans and insults conservatives, regularly making them out to be completely insane and uncaring of anyone other than rich white people. MSNBC is just as biased as Fox, and may be even more so. It’s too bad, the second a democrat is given the same treatment as what many major news outlets give republicans, only then is it an issue. There is no one more biased and less open-minded than a liberal, just get into a conversation with them and they are all for everyone’s rights until you disagree with them.
Almost all of the media outlets have gotten out of control. Look what happened to Gabrielle Giffords.
Are you blaming that tragedy on the media? Really?
MSNBC would have never suspended Halprin if he called Bush that
so when people from the media called President Bush worse, they got suspended to…right?
Cry, birther, cry!
I don’t believe for one minute Obama was born in America. Guess that makes me a birther….can we also say antiabortionist…pro-life….antiinfanticide…proIsrael..proeducation..not this crap passing for education these days. Hhhmmmm…antiMOREtaxes…NO to the debt ceiling. Oh and I know the difference between someone who is alive and who isn’t….something the President apparently doesn’t know.
One door closes, the FOX door opens
Mark Halperin’s dislike of Obama has been evident since the 2008 campaign. Given his public persona it’s surprising he would say something like this anywhere but in private.
You are correct. Halperin should be fired, not suspended. He lacks journalistic integrity and can no longer try to pass himself off as an impartial newsman.