Today was a tough morning to be on the Morning Joe set. Mark Halperin was evidently less than enthused by the president’s performance at yesterday’s press briefing. He at first asked hosts Joe Scarborough and Mike Brzezinski if they were on a seven-second delay, and when it was confirmed, he said, “I thought he was a d**k yesterday.” However, it quickly became clear that the show’s crew was unable to delay it, so Halperin’s remark was broadcast, and he issued an apology later on the show. Here’s the clip, via Politico:
UPDATE: MSNBC has issued a statement denouncing Halperin’s remarks and has suspended him indefinitely. In his own statement, Halperin thinks the response is “totally approriate”:
Statement from MSNBC:
Mark Halperin’s comments this morning were completely inappropriate and unacceptable. We apologize to the President, The White House and all of our viewers. We strive for a high level of discourse and comments like these have no place on our air. Therefore, Mark will be suspended indefinitely from his role as an analyst.
Statement from Mark Halperin:
I completely agree with everything in MSNBC’s statement about my remark. I believe that the step they are taking in response is totally appropriate.
Again, I want to offer a heartfelt and profound apology to the President, to my MSNBC colleagues, and to the viewers. My remark was unacceptable, and I deeply regret it.
I've long been telling friends and family that Obama acts like a D**k towards his opponents, especially when he's in front of a friendly crowd and off-script
"Hey - I'm going to say use a curse word to describe the President. Can you bleep it out? Because if you can bleep it out, no one will no I used a curse word to describe the President"
Halperin is a Republican, which means he can dish it out, but he can't take it. A little criticism of the GOP Congress and Obama is a "d--k".
What happened to the party of Lee Atwater that I grew up with? It's turning into a bunch of whiners. (Heaven forbid somebody says something mean about Paul Ryan these days. Everyone reaches for the smelling salts.)
It really is up to Congress to raise the debt ceiling. It's not that hard. I know they can do it. They did it 20 times when Reagan and two Bushes were racking up huge deficits, without all the wailing and gnashing of teeth.
So, I suppose, fool, that there is no point at which we should stop the madness of ever increasing the Federal spending. That the party should never end. That because we have failed before, we should stop trying to correct the situation. Lie down and enjoy it. Well, a fool and his money are soon parted. And I will not lie down and take it, either.
Quit hiding behind the facade of trying to just lay this off on Reagan and Bush. You know that Reagan and Bush No. 1 were dealing with mostly Democratic-controlled congresses, and that the biggest deficits in Bush No. 2's second term were generated by the Democratic-controlled congress that Obama benefited from. And that Obama has now almost doubled the debt since he took office. So this has been quite a bipartisan effort, and someone has to stand up and yell "Stop!" now. Before we become Greece.
Where do you get the idea that Mark Halperin is a Republican?
And where are your own "smelling salts"? Talk about being able dish it out but not take it. A little word like "d--k" and you're in a tizzy? Most people have been called far worse than that without being fazed.
No doubt you also considered "you lie!" be a racist statement . . .
The accuracy of Halperin's assessment notwithstanding, I'm afraid that the level of discourse at MSNBC's roundtable is the future of journalism. Unbridled partisans shouting at each other, getting evermore vulgar, with no actual communication occurring.
The Jerry Springer-ization of our culture is nearly complete.
All things considered, Mr. Halperin's characterization of Glorious Ruler is too mild. Obama is a vainglorious bully and a coward. The incident that removes all doubt as to the character of this man is well-known.
In a State of the Union speech, Obama took it upon himself to adopt a self-righteous pose and publicly excoriate and insult the members of the Supreme Court who held forth in Citizens United v. FEC. The use of the formal venue to prevent any response from those he bullied shows him to be a coward. [Those democrats who applauded his boorishness are beneath contempt.]
Those who claim this malicious man is likable are willfully blind.
I've long been telling friends and family that Obama acts like a D**k towards his opponents, especially when he's in front of a friendly crowd and off-script
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Hey - I'm going to say use a curse word to describe the President. Can you bleep it out? Because if you can bleep it out, no one will no I used a curse word to describe the President"
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI thought his comment was appropriate and acceptable.
But, notice how quickly they moved on this - as opposed to how long they took to respond to Ed Schultz's comment about Laura Ingraham?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFinally, the msm has seen the light! This president is an arrogant and self-absorbed jerk.
Of course, Halperin is the sacrificial lamb in that he says what the msm is thinking but has to lose his job for it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHere is the youtube clip as well: External Link
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHalperin is a Republican, which means he can dish it out, but he can't take it. A little criticism of the GOP Congress and Obama is a "d--k".
What happened to the party of Lee Atwater that I grew up with? It's turning into a bunch of whiners. (Heaven forbid somebody says something mean about Paul Ryan these days. Everyone reaches for the smelling salts.)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou mean like Obama WHINING about having to negotiate over the budget? And how do you blend Lee Atwater into this conversation?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt really is up to Congress to raise the debt ceiling. It's not that hard. I know they can do it. They did it 20 times when Reagan and two Bushes were racking up huge deficits, without all the wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo, I suppose, fool, that there is no point at which we should stop the madness of ever increasing the Federal spending. That the party should never end. That because we have failed before, we should stop trying to correct the situation. Lie down and enjoy it. Well, a fool and his money are soon parted. And I will not lie down and take it, either.
Quit hiding behind the facade of trying to just lay this off on Reagan and Bush. You know that Reagan and Bush No. 1 were dealing with mostly Democratic-controlled congresses, and that the biggest deficits in Bush No. 2's second term were generated by the Democratic-controlled congress that Obama benefited from. And that Obama has now almost doubled the debt since he took office. So this has been quite a bipartisan effort, and someone has to stand up and yell "Stop!" now. Before we become Greece.
You are nothing but a fool.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhere do you get the idea that Mark Halperin is a Republican?
And where are your own "smelling salts"? Talk about being able dish it out but not take it. A little word like "d--k" and you're in a tizzy? Most people have been called far worse than that without being fazed.
No doubt you also considered "you lie!" be a racist statement . . .
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI wondered how long it would take...before Obama is compared to Nixon! I think that's what he meant. Wasn't it?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhen you've lost MSNBC ....
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou should not punish the man for telling the truth!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI believe Mr. Halperin's comment is what is commonly known as a "Kinsley gaffe."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePerhaps the Kinsley gaffe can have a sub-catagory added. From now on when the MSM speak the truth it will forever be known as committing a Halperin.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe accuracy of Halperin's assessment notwithstanding, I'm afraid that the level of discourse at MSNBC's roundtable is the future of journalism. Unbridled partisans shouting at each other, getting evermore vulgar, with no actual communication occurring.
The Jerry Springer-ization of our culture is nearly complete.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI want to take this opportunity to apolgize to the to the late Mr. Nixon.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHis only crime was forgetting the suffix "-head".
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAll things considered, Mr. Halperin's characterization of Glorious Ruler is too mild. Obama is a vainglorious bully and a coward. The incident that removes all doubt as to the character of this man is well-known.
In a State of the Union speech, Obama took it upon himself to adopt a self-righteous pose and publicly excoriate and insult the members of the Supreme Court who held forth in Citizens United v. FEC. The use of the formal venue to prevent any response from those he bullied shows him to be a coward. [Those democrats who applauded his boorishness are beneath contempt.]
Those who claim this malicious man is likable are willfully blind.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOr maybe they just don't agree with you.
The impulse of partisans to interpret the actions and motivations of those on the other side as "evil" is incredibly self indulgent.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse