What exactly is MSNBC thinking? The way the cable news network has treated two of its hosts lately makes you wonder if the suits are thinking at all. Both Martin Bashir and Alec Baldwin got themselves in hot water for making offensive remarks. But the network suspended only one of them–the one whose comments were not made on the air.
Bashir has apologized for his disgusting suggestion that former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin deserved a particularly vile form of “discipline” for her recent comments about slavery. But while his remarks were widely condemned, the silence from 30 Rock has been deafening. Bashir remains on the air.
No such luck for Alec Baldwin, whose Friday interview show “Up Late” was quickly yanked after he used homophobic language in a public confrontation with a photographer. MSNBC slapped him with a two-week suspension, during which Baldwin blogged that his show might not return.
Baldwin is no journalist and MSNBC knew all about his hot-headed history, including frequent use of anti-gay slurs, when it handed him an hour in prime time. A cynic might even suggest that the bosses were counting on Baldwin to attract attention–good or bad–that could draw an audience to his show. And if his program is canceled, it surely will have more to do with the fact that “Up Late” has lost 40% of its viewers since last month’s premiere than anything Baldwin said off the air. [One day after this piece was posted, Baldwin’s show was indeed canceled.]
Here’s the real question: Why is making an offensive comment after losing your temper in public a cause for suspension but a carefully-scripted, insulting attack on the air is not? Could it have something to do with the target?
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think Baldwin’s language is acceptable under any circumstances and suspending him was the right thing to do. But, in fairness, Bashir should have faced at least the same penalty and probably more.
Bashir himself seems to have recognized the wider impact of his comments when he apologized for making them, saying “they have brought shame upon my friends and colleagues at this network.” Shame on MSNBC for letting those comments go unpunished.
Update: Bashir resigned from MSNBC almost three weeks after his controversial remarks. He took time off after the incident but was never suspended.
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Shortly after this piece was completed, Martin Bashir failed to show up for his 4 p.m. show on MSNBC. A network spokeswoman says he is on a “pre-planned vacation.” In other words, even if his absence does have something to do with his comments, MSNBC isn’t owning it. So…I’m standing by my conclusion: shame on MSNBC.