If a Media Scandal "Falls in the Forest," Does it Make a Sound?

Is anyone else as amazed at the media silence around the Shuster/Clinton debacle as I am? Talk about circling the wagons. The complete and utter lack of coverage by any of the major networks or by MSNBC and CNN just makes me loathe the media even more. How many news cycles did we see on the Snub-that-Wasn't? How many cycles did we endure on one candidate or another saying "Wasted Lives," or Hillary's tears? Far too many.

There is no triviality too small for today's 24/7 media to cover ad nauseum and yet:

1. A major reporter on a cable network (tied to the vaunted NBC) said something indefensible about a candidate's daughter

2. That reporter has been suspended "indefinitely"

3. The Hillary campaign has distributed to all reporters a blistering letter to NBC about it

...and yet it's not worthy of even a MENTION by the networks or CNN? I don't watch FNC, but a friend who does told me they have been talking about it. Well, good for them. This is not a story that should be covered up just because it's happening to one of their own.

More...

I'm on record many times, including in a diary on Friday, saying that I do not believe Shuster deserves to be fired over this. A temporary suspension is warranted, in my view, but because he does not have a history of this kind of thing, it does not constitute a firing offense. That does not, however, mean it's not worthy of coverage. How in the world is a reporter suggesting Chelsea is being "pimped out" not news, but Obama turning to talk to a colleague near Clinton is? I know a few print reporters have written about it, but that is nothing like 24/7 television, and we know it.

I love Gwen Ifill more every time I see her on something other than her PBS show (which is also good) because she's not afraid to speak truth to power. She is the ONLY person I've ever seen go on Russert's show and speak that-which-shall-not-be-named, whatever that might be for the week. During the Imus mess, she was the only one who said to Tim, "You've been awfully quiet about this incident yourself, Tim." And yesterday she was the only person in all the MSNBC and NBC coverage of the election over the weekend to dare say out loud: Shuster crossed a line and words matter.

We are all on different sides of this election, but I think we can agree the media proves itself again and again to be pitifully weak and hypocritical.

•  This issue is becoming overhyped.

  Shuster got what he deserved. There are much worse things, both for the Clintons and for everybody, than Shuster.

  by klizard on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 09:33:16 AM PDT

  •  The only place it's overhyped is the blogs

    There is no hype on television, that's my point.

    by lapis on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 09:34:51 AM PDT

    •  You think we don't have enough

      discussion of silly, insignificant fluff taking the place of discussing real issues in this country?  You want more?
      Oh.

      by elmo on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 10:22:55 AM PDT

    •  MSNBC

      MSNBC mentioned it all day Friday, then has dropped it sense, as they should.

      Why should this story have further legs?

      by ScrewySquirrel on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 11:25:34 AM PDT

  •  I agree with both you and Gwen Ifill.

    Shuster did cross a line, and words do matter. But I also agree with you that he did not commit a firing offense. If he understands that he did something wrong, and if he sincerely apologizes(which he so far hasn't done that I've seen), then he should not be made a scapegoat for the repeated offenses of Chris Mathews and others. But I still think that HRC did the right thing by calling foul, and drawing a line in the sand to put ALL of the infotainment networks on notice that some things are beyond the pale and can't or won't be shrugged off as "everybody does it so we might as well ignore it".

    by cackyp on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 09:43:33 AM PDT

•  There was something about it

  on the news this morning.  Don't remember the network, but it was along the lines of "Are candidate's children fair game?"

  I agree it's a non-story, except in that similar language is not used to describe other candidates' children who make campaign appearances.

  by Tracker on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 09:36:59 AM PDT

  •  What if a advisor to Obama or McCain had said it?

    Do you think it would be covered on television?

    by lapis on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 09:39:30 AM PDT

  •  It was mentioned on....

    ....  Howard Kurtz' show "Reliable Sources" on CNN... I think he did it in his "Media Minute" segment.

    He also took issue with the fact that the only news station anchor/talking head to call out Mitt Romney for his fear mongering was Jon Stewart on A Daily Show....

    Really though, I would not expect any network to weigh in on it.  MSNBC had enough coverage of the apology.

    I do agree that the apology was enough... and the suspension was enough... he should not be fired.

    by Jen K in FLA on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 09:58:43 AM PDT

•  Shuster Apologized!

  Do you want him killed?

  This is Hillary's only hope for positive press coverage during the next 18 days, so she is really playing it up.

  by Delaware Dem on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 09:49:18 AM PDT

  •  Yes, I want him killed

    that's why I said it's not a firing offense and sent a letter to NBC telling them as much.

    If people didn't react so reflexively to issues, we might actually be able to have a dialog. I'm pro-Obama, think Shuster crossed a line, do not believe he should be fired and -- the point of this diary -- consider the media covering up their own scandals to be, well, pretty scandalous.

    by lapis on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 09:53:54 AM PDT

    •  it isn't a scandal

      It's already been way over covered in my opinion.

      by snkscore on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 10:01:12 AM PDT

  •  maybe just put in the penalty box till after the

    election.

    by 88kathy on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 09:57:32 AM PDT

•  tree fell, tree heard...people moving on to other

  trees.

  by GernBlanzten on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 09:56:25 AM PDT

•  I am thinking that anyone who uses a sex

  reference with Clinton gets a bounus.

  New Head for Clinton Campaign

  We're not gonna like it when the energy turns on Obama.

  How does that old saying go:

  They came for Gravel, I said nothing
  They came for Kucinich, I said nothing
  They came for Richardson, I said nothing
  They came for Clinton, I said nothing

  They came for Obama, it was to late to say anything.

  by 88kathy on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 09:56:41 AM PDT

•  Manufactured Outrage

  I'd like to thank the networks for not going along with this absolute joke of an a "scandal".

  If you think this is a scandal, you need to grow up.

  This is about as important as what food Britney is eating in the hospital.

  by snkscore on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 10:00:09 AM PDT

  •  I think Americans have forgotten

    what is important. This sort of thing is what's left.

    by elmo on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 10:26:51 AM PDT

    •  Agreed

      Hillary could use that "scandal" time to talk about any of a million issues that are important to the country.

      by snkscore on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 08:09:51 PM PDT

•  Everyone seems to be overlooking his

  insulting joke of an "apology". That in my mind was the final straw.

  by raindrop on Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 10:24:58 AM PDT