Joe’s Gotta Go
June 4, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Michelle Malkin reports this about Joe Scarborough:
So, NBC hires a “diversity leader” and trades Don Imus in for former GOP congressman Joe Scarborough–who at some point used to be a conservative and then absorbed the MSNBC Kool-Aid into his bloodstream. Scarborough’s idea of incisive radio commentary and enlightened comedy: joking with CQ’s Craig Crawford about whether Sen. Fred Thompson’s wife “works the pole.”
Works the pole? As a former MSNBCer — as well as a former colleague of Craig Crawford at the Hotline, and yes, as another conservative blogger supporting Fred Thompson – I have to once again ask the “Don Imus” question: Does anyone at MSNBC watch its own programming? Either way, Scarborough has to follow Imus out the door.
The reputation of this once great news network — and its corporate owners – I proudly worked for gets covered with more and more slop every time they let their hosts get away with saying these incredible things. This time, NBC should do the right thing and fire Scarborough on its own — before outsiders tell it to.
Jeffin88 said,
June 4, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
Disgusting. At least Imus was funny (sometimes)
joe@msnbc.com
Send them an email — it won’t go to Joe Scarborugh, but even better, it’ll go to the people who work with him. But remember — be on your best behavior. We want to let them know what he’s doing, we don’t want them to think FredHeads are like Paulbots.
Bruce Van Brunt said,
June 4, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
I use to like Joe Scarborough…. But he will never be an Imus. He will never get politicians or the members of the News Media to answer questions like Imus did. He cuts them off.
So the answer is.
Go now Joe… And Leave the Show… We don’t care if Imus said Nappy Headed Ho’s, we need you to go so Imus can get CBS and MSNBC on the GO.
Bruce Bradenton, FL
Maggie said,
June 5, 2007 @ 1:35 am
This entire Joe Scarborough quote has been taken out of context……why can’t the media, etc. air the entire conversation beginning with Traci Burgess stating that she was taking pole dancing exercises….Joe is great in the Imus time slot; but it looks like this will probably be another “lynching”.
Dr. Lead Based Paint said,
June 5, 2007 @ 10:43 am
I don’t think anyone watches MSNBC, not even the people that work there.
Hiflyer said,
June 5, 2007 @ 11:13 am
Until they finally take Pat Buchanan and put him in the old conservative folks home none of the MSNBC shows will get anywhere…..but Tucker has to be axed first…he spends most of his time falling in love with himself in the monitor…..the rest of the time he is just empty headed. Joe is riding the gop ‘I just woke up from my 6 year nap and realized I screwed up’ wave that is developing.
Arthur Branch said,
June 5, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
Them’s fightin’ words Joe… even if you did smile when you said it. I think you better be watching your back for a spell - sorta like a one-eyed possum among a mess o’ otters.
Carl H said,
June 5, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
It’s been a while since one member of congress whupped another with a cane. I think former Senators get to beat down a sassy former congressmen with a 2×4 for insulting their wife. Sic ‘em Fred, make Andy Jackson (and all Jacksonians) proud.
Aunt Rant said,
June 5, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
Morning TV has been depressing without Imus…
If he were a little more tech-savvy, he’d syndicate right from his ranch studio. Instead of waiting for some suit in New York to throw him a crumb.
Joe Miller said,
June 5, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
Maggie is correct. The comment was made within the context of pole-dancing as exercise. Please don’t make me have to defend Joe Scarborough! I’m begging you!
Muggins, San Jose, USA said,
June 5, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
Putting the quote in context does not assuage the intented slur.
Scarborough is a cheap shot artist, and should be below the
standards of MSM. Since he isn’t, it calls attention to the plunging
standards of MSM.
Susan said,
June 5, 2007 @ 2:25 pm
Morning Joe is nowhere near Imus. Bring Imus back!
Melanie said,
June 5, 2007 @ 2:25 pm
Joe shouldn’t be fired any more than Don Imus should have been fired. We all can turn the channel or dial if we don’t like what a person says because it might hurt someone’s feelings…what is this Venezuela and it’s going to be dictated what we are allowed to listen to? The bigger question is how Steve Capus, Dan Abrams and Phil Griffin continue to have jobs with the mess they have created over there; I mean, who bothers to watch MSNBC in the morning now that Imus is gone?
jumbo said,
June 5, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
Isn’t Scarborough near the bottom of cabledom’s politco hosts? Even lower than Olberman? So why the heck does MSNBC keep him on? My take - so committed to the left is MSNBC that, rather than host a successful (and profitable) conservative program, they intentionally keep a surefire doofus failure in the Token Conservative slot. The proof? Well, Joe Scarborough himself.
J J Everyman said,
June 5, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
That comment, that a woman ‘works the pole’ is so virulently anti-female that Scabrous should be given a one-way ticket to Florida, there to reside with Craig Crawford who approved the slur by his silence, & Lindsey (can anyone named Lindsay be good?) Graham - “Y’all be bigots. And I’ll fly the confederate flag over da cap’tol to prove it !” I’m in the Army Reserves. Watch it or I’ll hit you with my iron-bound copy of the UCMJ !
Chris said,
June 5, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
Oh my God. You all are mad. “Who cares about context! CRUCIFY HIM!!!!”
Mattsky said,
June 5, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
“The reputation of this once great news network”
MSNBC was once great? When was this?
Suzy said,
June 5, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
The comment was rude and offensive and he should apologize. I don’t think he should be fired, because saying someone looks like a stripper is not equal to making racist comments.
I’ve seen photos of Thompson’s wife and the truth is she does not look like first lady material. Not to mention the obvious age difference makes him look a little foolish (and can you imagine how many Viagra jokes we will have to endure from the late night comedians?). Voters judge candidates on who they marry — like it or not. Remember how much Teresa Heinz was a negative while Laura Bush was a positive?
paul said,
June 5, 2007 @ 10:15 pm
same joe who had a dead girl in his office, and did not seek reelection?
joe knows the pole palaces.
davod said,
June 6, 2007 @ 6:19 am
My, we have come a long way. Just what has Thompson’s wife done to cause Thompson to be denied the White House. From what I read here and other places it amounts to breast envy, or breast lust, on the part of the media and commentators..
Thompson’s wife is Jeri Kehn, was a political media consultant at the Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, and McPherson law firm in Washington, D.C., when they married in 2002. She also previously worked for the Senate Republican Conference and the Republican National Committee*
*http://www.elephantbiz.com/2007/03/report_fred_thompsons_wife_urg.html
mark-o said,
June 6, 2007 @ 8:15 am
The obvious difference between Imus’s comments, and Joe’s comments, is who the comments were directed at, and what level of political protection they currently receive. What I mean is, the first level is the white male, about whom anything can be said, by anyone, without fear of retribution. Next is the white female, who enjoys a few protections from derogatory comments, but only those generally perceived as extremely hateful (So Joe’s locker-room style comment wouldn’t quite qualify). Following that is any male or female “minority” with traditional or conservative values. They can be insulted relatively freely, as long as the comment focuses on their traditional or conservative views, and does not contain any racially-insensitive remarks (unless, of course, the comments come from other minorities, in which case suchs comments are fine). In dead last comes all other “minority” groups & individuals, about whom any comment (by a white person), regardless of context, is strictly prohibited and can lead to severe adverse consequences against the speaker. Those ARE the rules, folks.
Craw Craigford said,
June 6, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
Joe “The Pole” Scarborough: “Last week, we had a … triathlete — all muscle, in great shape — and she was talking about this exercise routine that she did. … It’s clean. … Housewives across America are doing it to stay fit. I said, ‘That’s great.’ Craig Crawford came on and I asked him about Senator Thompson. … I said [Thompson’s wife] is a very attractive lady and I said, ‘I wonder if she exercises this way?’ The blogs twisted my words, wretched them from the context. The crazy thing is I love Fred Thompson. … Just for the record: John Thompson — great guy. John Thompson’s wife — great person. … Did I say John Thompson? Fred Thompson. I’m a Georgetown basketball fan. What do you want me to do?”
Gekkobear said,
June 6, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
Ok Maggie, so it was a compliment, it means she looks like she works out.
I tried that same “compliment” at work today… anyone know of employment opportunities in Colorado? Or maybe a good lawyer to get the sexual harassment lawsuit handled?
If you really think that this is acceptable, go pick three ladies, and tell them “You look like you’ve been ‘working the pole’ lately”. See if you get positive or negative responses.
Then try to explain away the outrage with “context”. Let me know how that works for you; and how many people believe your “context” defense is bull****.