And THIS, Ladies And Gentlemen, Is Why The Left Tends To SUCK When It Comes To Politics...

[WillyT]

MSNBC President Phil Griffin Apologizes To Reince Priebus Over Tweet, Fires Employee
The Huffington Post | By Katherine Fung
Posted: 01/30/2014 4:08 pm EST | Updated: 01/30/2014 4:59 pm EST

<snip>

MSNBC president Phil Griffin apologized Thursday for a tweet by the network that outraged conservatives, and said that the person who wrote it has been fired.

MSNBC tweeted Wednesday night, "Maybe the rightwing will hate it, but everyone else will go awww: the adorable new #Cheerios ad w/ biracial family." The message referred to the backlash against a Cheerios commercial in 2013, and the network apologized for the tweet shortly thereafter.

Then, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus decided to turn the tweet into his issue of the day, calling on conservatives to boycott MSNBC. He also demanded an apology from Griffin, even though neither he nor Republicans had been mentioned in the tweet.

Griffin, perhaps sensing that the tweet was turning into a major problem, offered a lengthy apology on Thursday afternoon, including a personal apology to Priebus:

The tweet last night was outrageous and unacceptable. We immediately acknowledged that it was offensive and wrong, apologized, and deleted it. We have dismissed the person responsible for the tweet.

I personally apologize to Mr. Priebus and to everyone offended. At MSNBC we believe in passionate, strong debate about the issues and we invite voices from all sides to participate. That will never change.

<snip>

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/30/msnbc-apology-phil-griffin-cheerios-tweet_n_4697715.html

[1000words]

1. I don't consider the head of a large media corporation

a fair representation of the "left."

[lostincalifornia]

12. Exactly. The reason he did it is because he did not want to be boycoted by the repukes. Now if

Democrats demanded the same thing from any of the corporate media whores, nothing would happen

[Kablooie]

34. And Fox doesn't apologize about anything because they don't have any liberal viewers.

Any slurs on liberals remain standing because it draws in more conservative viewers.
They don't have to deal with pleasing everyone.

[lostincalifornia]

38. The communications act of 2000 and other deregulation might go down as the undoing of our democracy

[BlueStreak]

20. Exactly. MSNBC is mostly the same corporatist right

Last edited Fri Jan 31, 2014, 01:18 AM - Edit history (1)

as everybody else. They just let Rachael have a little latitude. And I guess they figure Sharpton can't do too much damage.

The best way to destroy the left is to prop up a lame network that is supposed to represent them. That effectively blocks many other true progressive voices. We saw what they have done to a whole series of people who came out with some clear talk.

I mean, seriously -- look at that line-up.

Ed talks mostly about Ed, as does Lawrence. Ed is a little more real, but they have him in a time slot nobody cares about.
Sharpton spends all his time talking about racial injustice, which means he's preaching to a small choir, and the choir has heard it all before, so nothing is happening there.
Hayes is interesting, but too wonky for most people.
Tweety is as narcissistic a host as ever was, and has only about 1% the insight he thinks he has.

So other than Rachael, I wouldn't call any of these "liberal" or "progressive". They are mostly just insiders talking insider stuff trying to bolster their own insider cred.

It is all unwatchable for anybody with any real liberal integrity.

Contrast this with how Olbermann operated. Or Cenk. Frankly at this point, we might actually be better off without MSNBC. All they seem to do is buttress the idea of weak-kneed wimps on the progressive side.

[Art_from_Ark]

25. I've watched MSNBC on a few occasions,

and I have to agree, "It is all unwatchable for anybody with any real liberal integrity."

[dawg]

2. I don't even understand what was supposed to be offensive about the tweet.

There has been a rightwing backlash against those Cheerios commercials.

[Warpy]

7. Priebus can piss and moan all he wants about being persecuted

but the fact remains that the tweet told him the truth.

The only thing worse you can do to a puffed up right wing popinjay is ignore him completely.

[BlueStreak]

30. My feelings too. It was just an obvious statement of fact that didn't mention the GOP at all.

[elleng]

3. Yes generally but

he's not exactly an example of 'the left.'

[ForgoTheConsequence]

4. Msnbc isn't the left.

They're a for profit corporation.

A good chunk of us don't give a shit about cable network entertainment news.


Msnbc and Fox News are the equivalent of professional wrestling for pseudo intellectuals.

[WillyT]

13. It's As Left As You Get On National Television..

But then I guess we agree.

[Warpy]

5. No kidding, I don't think the firing was the least bit justified

because it was neither profane nor inflammatory.

The best response would have been "we apologize for any offense Mr. Priebus took at this comment." That should have been the end of it beyond a talking to about people who are constantly sniffing around for something to take offense at.

[Bjorn Against]

6. MSNBC is owned by military contractor GE, they are not the left

MSNBC only pretends to be left because it gets them ratings, they may hire some left leaning personalities but their ownership is anything but left.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

9. Yep.

They used to have Michael Savage.


And Chris Mathews supported Bush, and then became a liberal again when the format called for it.

[Bjorn Against]

14. Yes, I remember when Chris Matthews was cheering Bush

Now he pretends he never supported the war, those of us who actually saw MSNBC in those years know they were cheerleading for Bush in much the same way that FOX was.

[Art_from_Ark]

35. Yeah, Tweety was unabashedly gushing over bush's codpiece-equipped flightsuit

It was pretty disgusting.

[DefenseLawyer]

10. GE sold NBC to Comcast some time ago

It's still owned by a giant conglomerate, just a different giant conglomerate.

[Bjorn Against]

11. Did not realize that, Comcast is not much better though.

[Dawson Leery]

8. Republican Phil Griffin and dead Intern Joe need to be fired!

[KoKo]

15. Thanks, WillyT...these Media "Tweeter/Twitter Wars" where each goes at each other

is starting to look like Schoolyard Chattering/Bullying/One Upsmanship...or

It's becoming like Media all at each other as to who can get more TWEET RECS!

I don't know. I just would prefer to read them on their own without their posturing and jostling for positions on "Twitter."

Like a world gone mad when I was in Jr. High School...and just trying to fit in...and there was just SO MUCH...it overwhelmed.

[kelliekat44]

16. Just showing his true allegiance. You know damn well that if Rachel, Ed, Larry and Al weren't on

they would be just like every other RW-corporate media outlet. Look what happened to Keith and look at what they show every Friday night after Rachel. And look what happened with one of best...Martin Bashir.

[Agnosticsherbet]

17. This isn't the fault of the left's politics.

Phill Griffin is just concerned it might affect his bottom line.

[WillyT]

18. Not Saying It Is... But...

considering ONLY national televised programming... which channel is closest to the Left ?

And while were at it... how come Seattle Seahawks Richard Sherman is accused of being a "Thug" all over the place, yet...

I have yet to hear ANYBODY in media call Rep. Michael Grimm (R-Staten Island) a "Thug" after threatening to trow a reporter off of a balcony and/or break him in half.

It's as if we have no idea as to how to fight back.

[MannyGoldstein]

19. I'm sorry that I didn't rec this post sooner

And for being a Liberal.

[WillyT]

21. The Tweet Was Tame... And It Was True...

Lord help us... when the truth is banished.

[MannyGoldstein]

22. Like the Outrageous! Outrageous! IRS "scandal"

Imagine... thinking that having "Tea Party" in an organization's name might mean it has a political purpose.

[WillyT]

23. THAT... Is The Thing...

Outrage sells... and raises oodles of money.

Ah... the new economy.

[WillyT]

24. Kick...

[Rowdyboy]

26. Certainly a major part, along with our fondness for circular firing squads and eating our own....

Some of us are most expert at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in the name of virtue.

[WillyT]

28. And Some Don't Want To Play The GAME Any More...

Been beaten down, fooled, lied to by smiling faces, and are just about to say... FUCK IT ALL.

We thought we had this really cool guy in 2008...

What the hell ???

[Rowdyboy]

31. Apparently our perceptions vary. I never had any expectation that I was

getting a really cool guy in 2008. To my recollection he campaigned as a moderate Democrat and nothing in his background implied much else. Really cool guys tend not to win major party nominations (like Mo Udall or Gary Hart) or, when they do (like George McGovern), they tend to lose. I've occasionally been disappointed by this administration but rarely surprised since I never had any unrealistic ideas about his basic political orientation. He was better than the alternative in 2008, again in 2012 and remains so today.

Hopefully he can ram through many more federal judges before we lose the senate because that's the legacy that IMHO matters the most-rational, non-"federalist society" judges. Maybe he can be a bridge to more progressive policies in the future. Doubtful I'll be around to see it but maybe in time even the Affordable Care Act will even morph into something that makes a difference in people's lives.

Its the best that I can hope for at this stage of my life.

[grahamhgreen]

27. Cuz MSNBC is not left wing.... not even close. They fired Olbermann and Cenk, after all.

[WillyT]

29. Oh I'm All About The TYT Army...

One of the benefits of TYT membership is you get to hear about the backstage drama...

When Cenk was at MSNBC... they had not declared it his time-slot, yet he kept giving TPTB a good deal of hell (as much as one can while on a TV Network)...

And he's been DAMNED honorable...

He gives a teeny story every now and again for the members of his site... but also informs us of what he saw from the inside.

My Fave ???

While he was at MSNBC, during his one year +/-...

He was NOT invited to the White House Correspondent's Dinner.

He WAS allowed to go to the after party, where he was introduced to Valerie Jarret.

He stuck out his hand for a shake, and she looked at him and (paraphrasing)...

"Oh... WE KNOW who YOU are."

So at least the Young Turks are on the WH radar.

[grahamhgreen]

40. Which indicates to me that they know and understand the arguments concerning how the admin

is supporting corporatism, crony capitalism, war and big oil, etc.. And that they know what they are doing is wrong but choose to do it anyway, otherwise they would address these criticisms head on rather than pretending they are with the people.

[WillyT]

32. G'Night !!!

[Rex]

33. Corporate media is not Left mainstream media.

It is all bought and paid for propaganda by the plutocracy. If you want Left...you still have to go to the Intertubes.

[liberal_at_heart]

36. I don't bother watching MSNBC anymore. They are profit driven media just like the rest.

[Scuba]

37. MSNBC is NOT "the left", or even part of it ...

[RandiFan1290]

39. MSNBC will probably purge soon

They have to get ready for another 2000 fiasco.