David Shuster: 'I Never Intended To Humiliate Or Embarrass Anyone At MSNBC' (David breaks silence)

[onehandle]

Source: Huffington Post

After an over six-month "indefinite" suspension from MSNBC, David Shuster's contract with the network has expired. A network spokesperson said Tuesday that Shuster, who was suspended indefinitely in April over reports that he filmed a CNN pilot, is "no longer with MSNBC."

Shuster, reached by phone in Washington, confirmed that he has officially left the network. "I had a great eight-and-a-half years with MSNBC and I have many lifelong friends that I made there," he told the Huffington Post.

Shuster would not discuss the specifics of his suspension from the network, merely saying, "I never intended to humiliate or embarrass anyone at MSNBC, and I harbor no ill-will or bad feelings towards anybody over there."

In the six months since his suspension — during which MSNBC paid him through the end of his contract, which expired earlier this month — Shuster has kept busy, finishing a Masters in Public Policy at Georgetown, traveling and volunteering. Shuster's next step involves investigative journalism, and while he won't go into details he promises it will have a big impact on DC politics.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/28/david-shuster-i-never-int_n_801914.html

[gkhouston]

1. I'm looking forward to seeing what that is. I've missed his reporting. n/t

[eleny]

4. me too

[dmr]

25. Me, too. Would rather see him than Chris Hayes subbing for

Olbermann or Maddow when they take time off. I can barely watch Hayes. I DVR it first & fast forward most of the program. He is not suited for on-air programming other than a guest spot - which he does well.

Shuster? I'd tune in & watch him anytime. I wish him the very best & hope to see/read him very soon.
:hi:

[Ilsa]

2. Wow, I'm happy for him.

I wish we could all continue to get paid while finishing a Masters degree, but I wish him well. He usually seems to have progressive issues in mind.

On edit: I've missed him on MSNBC. Many times I have turned it on, hoping I'd see him on, but was disappointed. He was very good at his job.

[napi21]

3. I hope to see him baack on the tube somewhere. I always liked

David. He's good at what he does. I ust hope he doesn't go to FOX!

[alp227]

13. shuster actually used to work for Fox News from 96 to 02

Wikipedia:

From 1996 to 2002, Shuster was a Washington, D.C.-based correspondent for the Fox News Channel. He was at the Pentagon at the time of the September 11, 2001 attacks and led Fox's coverage of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan. During the Clinton Administration, Shuster led Fox's coverage of the Clinton investigations including Whitewater, the Monica Lewinsky scandal, the Starr Report and the Senate impeachment trial.

Shuster was also a member of Fox's "You Decide 2000" political team. He spent four months on John McCain's "Straight Talk Express" bus and was Fox's lead correspondent for McCain's presidential campaign.

Also Shuster has criticized Fox News since he left.

[nashville_brook]

5. stay out of small planes.

"Shuster's next step involves investigative journalism, and while he won't go into details he promises it will have a big impact on DC politics."

[Kceres]

6. I thought he was one of the most professional television journalists I'd even seen.

So glad he'll be back on the scene soon in another capacity. I'll watch for him.

[WingDinger]

7. I wish someone would suspend my ass.

[yodermon]

8. "Masters in Public Policy at Georgetown"

Is this a typical 2nd degree for journalists? I wonder if it has implications with regards to his investigation(s)?
just musing.

[CLANG]

9. I think the Corporate Media has no place for reasonable truthtellers

He was getting a bit too uppity. Now that he won't be bound by corporate controls, he could be dangerous. And I look hopefully forward to seeing him (or reading him) in the near future.

[Wickerman]

10. I liked his work for the most part

but found his comments about Chelsea Clinton on the 2008 campaign pretty despicable and have viewed him differently since then. Best of luck to him in his new endeavors.

[CLANG]

11. I never figured out what he was thinking there.

He was actually trying to insult HRC, but it really backfired. I don't feel that was REALLY the reason he's no longer at MSNBC. It was a boneheaded and thoughtless comment though:

DAVID SHUSTER: Bill, there's just something a little bit unseemly to me that Chelsea's out there calling up celebrities, saying support my mom, and she's apparently also calling these super delegates.

BILL PRESS: Hey, she's working for her mom. What's unseemly about that? During the last campaign, the Bush twins were out working for their dad. I think it's great, I think she's grown up in a political family, she's got politics in her blood, she loves her mom, she thinks she'd make a great president --

SHUSTER: But doesn't it seem like Chelsea's sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?

[polmaven]

16. Ditto!

Before that remark I thought much more of him than I have since. I saw it as an extremely sexist comment.

[Beacool]

35. He is just one more reason why I haven't watched MSNBC in over 2 years.

They all had such "tingling" legs for Obama that there was nothing that he and his cohorts (Matthews, Olbermann, et al.) wouldn't stoop to say against Hillary. Many of her supporters stopped watching the network at the time. I for one have never gone back.

x(

[SoapBox]

12. I've missed David a lot...and Boo-Hiss to MSNBC management...

whoever they are.

[emulatorloo]

19. well at least they kept paying him until the end of his contract

I was glad to hear that part. Sounds like he made good use of the time. I look forward to what ever he does, he is an excellent reporter

[qazplm]

22. why boo hiss?

He started working with a rival while he was under contract with MSNBC, that's pretty much a no-no if you want to abide by your contract.

They still paid him and kept him away from CNN for six months, that's pretty standard procedure. They could have suspended him without pay.

[Creative]

14. Well, he is playing the game and attempting to remain "well-connected;"

perhaps FOX will offer him a contract.

[emulatorloo]

20. No. That's not who Shuster is.

He worked at Fox, hated it there and quit because of their BS and slanting of the news.

[onpatrol98]

15. Land well...

I'm sure he'll land well and I'm glad that he used his time off to pursue his interests and not get bogged down in the MSNBC issue. But, I don't miss him and never considered him a serious journalist. He just didn't seem very professional. He was always kind of snippy and argumentative.

[DesertFlower]

17. i miss him. nt

[H2O Man]

18. Recommended.

David will do well. And the American public will benefit from his being able to report without restrictions.

[myrna minx]

21. I always appreciated him and his work. I wish him well. K&R n/t

[connecticut yankee]

23. I'm sure he must be a very nice person

but I couldn't stand watching him. And I'm sure he knows his stuff.

He made these god-awful faces.

[DainBramaged]

24. I miss his presence at MSNBC very much, he took shit from NO ONE except his bosses

who are the same as at every other network.

[Kurovski]

26. Investigative reporting? that's excellent.

K&R

[EFerrari]

27. For people like me who don't remember, here is a brief article on his suspension:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/06/david-shuster-suspended-f_n_526699.html#s79019

[Slit Skirt]

28. I loved it when he got under Scarborough's skin

and I thought he was a great reporter

[Justitia]

30. David was a great reporter - his coverage of the Scooter Libby fiasco was the best.

I really liked him, he's a great journalist and I hope we see him back on teevee soon!

[pacalo]

29. David Shuster is one of the best & I miss him on tv. He gets my best wishes.

[deminks]

31. Good to hear from him again. He is tweeting again as well

http://twitter.com/#!/DavidShuster

[MrMickeysMom]

32. Hmmmm.... INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM...?

I hear a squeaking of the crypt and brush away cobwebs....


----------------- I . V . E . S . T . I . G . A . T . I . V . E ...... J . O . U . R . N . A . L . I . S . M --------------

:wow:

[Major Hogwash]

33. What did he say that caused him such distinction?

I must have missed what he did wrong to be treated like that.

[Janice325]

34. I've missed him, too.

I wish MSNBC could have kept him and replaced Tweety with him.

[jotsy]

36. There's a name I've been waiting to hear!

I'll be looking to catch whatever he's doing. Love his sidebar commentary.

Rec'd

[lonestarnot]

37. Hot diggity! Love the last line in the OP! Thanks for sharing.

[pam4water]

38. He always seem milk toast to me, but applying for another job shouldn't get you fired. He wasn't

a marquee name.

[CBHagman]

39. Duly intrigued.

It sounds as though he's made good use of his time, and I look forward to seeing him turn up in a new position.

[PatSeg]

40. I was just thinking about him today

I periodically Google him to see what is going on and until today I have found nothing. I really miss him on MSNBC. Glad to know he's pursuing investigative journalism.