MSNBC’s Chelsea "Pimped" Comment Angers Clinton

By Anastacia Mott Austin

MSNBC host David Schuster made an on-air comment during the station’s "Tucker" show, saying he felt that Chelsea Clinton was being "pimped out" by her mother’s campaign.

When another commentator discussed Chelsea’s increasing involvement in the Hillary Clinton campaign, Schuster interrupted with, "But doesn’t it seem like Chelsea’s sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?"

No one is laughing over at Clinton headquarters. In a conference call with The Wall Street Journal, the Clinton campaign’s communications director Howard Wolfson said to reporters that the comment was "beneath contempt." And though Schuster apologized on air, Wolfson said no personal apologies had been made. "I’m not aware that they’ve apologized. I haven’t received any phone call. I’m not aware Senator Clinton or Chelsea Clinton have received any phone call. I’m not familiar with any apology."

Wolfson added, "It’s the kind of thing that should never be said on a national news network…I, at this point, can’t envision a scenario where we would continue to engage in debates on that network."

However, I personally can’t envision a scenario in which Hillary Clinton would choose to avoid a televised debate. The Clinton camp has lobbied for as much exposure as possible, and Clinton is schedule to debate on-air with Obama on February 26th, before Ohio’s March 4th primary. Ohio is a key state, and both candidates will be wanting as much air time as possible. Time will tell.

Schuster phoned MSNBC’s "The Morning Show" to apologize on the air for his gaffe. "I didn’t think that people would take it literally, but…to the extent that people feel I was being pejorative, I apologize for that. I should have seen people would see it that way. I’m sorry."

The comment had originated in response to criticisms aimed at Chelsea Clinton for lobbying on her mother’s behalf, making phone calls to super-delegates and working for the Clinton campaign, but refusing any press interviews, which some sources found hypocritical.

Others responded that any citizen is entitled to work for any campaign, and not obligated to do interviews. Chelsea Clinton, however, is not just any citizen. A press source close to the Clinton camp said that if she is going to be working the campaign, she should be willing to make herself available publicly. "She can’t have her cake and eat it too," said the source.

But Wolfson told the press that MSNBC has a pattern of making inflammatory comments about Clinton and then apologizing. Last month "Hardball" host Chris Matthews said that the reason Hillary had attained the success that she had was because she’d gotten the "sympathy vote," saying "The reason she’s a U.S. senator, the reason she's a candidate for president, the reason she may be a front-runner is her husband messed around." Matthews later apologized, but has made the suggestion repeatedly.

"At some point you really have to question whether or not there is a pattern here with this particular network, where you have comments being made and then apologies being given," said Wolfson to reporters. "Is it part of a pattern? Is it something that folks are encouraged to do or not do? I don’t know."

As for HRC boycotting a televised debate before a major primary: Don’t bet on it.