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UPDATE: Don’t look for Time Magazine’s Mark Halperin to appear on another news show right away now that he’s been suspended by MSNBC. We’re told that the suspension does not let him out of his contract which precludes him from appearing on another news network during its duration. MSNBC President Phil Griffin called Halperin on his cell phone shortly after the end of Morning Joe this morning to inform him of the decision to suspend him. Griffin told Halperin what MSNBC intended to say in a statement. Halperin immediately agreed and said that he wanted to make a statement as well.
Time Magazine has just issued a statement upbrading its Editor at Large. The magazine says his “comments on air this morning were inappropriate and in no way reflective of Time’s views. We have issued a warning to him that such behavior is unacceptable. Mark has appropriately apologized on air, via Twitter and on The Page.” Halperin added that his remark “was not funny. I deeply regret it.”
PREVIOUS, 9:07 AM: MSNBC has suspended political analyst and contributor Mark Halperin indefinitely for a slur he made today on Morning Joe describing President Obama. During a discussion of the president’s Wednesday press conference, Halperin, also an editor at large for Time magazine and co-author of Game Change, was asked by host Joe Scarborough what he thought of the president’s performance during the press conference. “Are we on a seven-second delay today?” Halperin asked. “I want to characterize how I thought the president behaved.” After assurances that there was a delay, he said: “I thought he was kind of a dick yesterday.” Everyone on the show’s panel was stunned, and later in the show Halperin and the hosts apologized on camera. Said MSNBC soon after in a statement: “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.” Halperin also made a statement in response to the suspension: “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.” Here’s his on-air apology:
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The Republicans in the House are fighting for private jet tax loopholes, but POTUS used a sarcastic tone and that makes him a dick? Halperin never was much of a thinker, just a Washington backscratcher than knows all the right people. Or as he himself would say, a dick.
I love the little Foxbots, they are so cute when their hypocrisy is all aflutter.
The problem was less that he called him a dick than the way he went about it. If it had just slipped out in conversation it would have been easier to excuse. He stopped, asked about the tape delay and then said it anyway. Plainly he was just trying to say something controversial and deserves what he gets.
“He’s a dick” is what we say around here when we’re struggling to find a compliment for the dumbshit feckless fraud.
Did anyone watch the show or the clips?!?!???!
I was actually watching this live early this morning thanks to another bought with insomnia and this whole incident seems much ado about nothing. First let me say that I agree with many others who have commented that President Obama has received a lot of undue and veiled name calling during his Presidency and the fact that Faux news consistently has a hard time referring to him as The President but rather Mr. Obama is a sign that we are in fact not in a post racial America and that some in this country and the media have a hard time accepting a black man as President.
This incident was NOT such an instance. This was not a slur of any kind. In fact before Halperin was goaded by Joe in saying what he wanted to say as they we discussing the tone of the President’s comments, and Mika, Joe and Halperin all asked if the show was on delay or if they can get a delay. Anyone watching knew that the next word was probably going to be “dick.” Halperin asked about a delay, Joe confirmed there was a delay and Halperin reluctantly made the comment. The network did not bleep the word. Joe and Mika and the rest of the Morning Joe crew started cracking up laughing, with Joe being faux-shocked. This was all regular early morning banter for the show. As a matter of fact they went on to argue if in fact the President needed to be a bit of a dick in order to get his point across.
What I find more troubling is that some higher up at MSNBC saw this as an opportunity to create some faux drama and get some publicity and attention by suspending Halperin. It really doesn’t deserve any serious time or discussion. Moreover it doesn’t deserve to hyperbolic ascription of the word as a “slur.” The media is supposed to be on the side of free speech and a defender of the concept, and yet more and more over the last year, the media is taking words out of their context and turning it into tabloid style fodder for cheap ratings.
In entertainment we always talk about content being king, well for the news media context should also be king.
-Greg
He was hung out to dry by Joe and Mika big time.
I am relieved to see that it was not a racial slur and at first, thought the network was overreacting. Then I remembered that the guy casually referred to the President of the United States of America, Mr. President, as a sexual organ. You may disagree with any president’s policies, but that level of disrespect has never flown.
He should be suspended for agreeing with the suspension. Lame!
So he called the president a dick? I think Mark Halperin’s a dick, and if I ever get my own MSNBC show I want to be able to characterize him as such. But now I won’t be able to, because that dick Mark Halperin has dicked it all up for the rest of us.
Yes, “slur” suggests “racial slur.” The man’s comment was “vulgar.” To start, I don’t think anybody on a news channel should use that kind of language. As far as MSNBC’s integrity, the fellow they let go used to list “the worst people in the wold,” and has an anchorwoman that smirks thinly veiled insults when the topic isn’t one she takes personally. MSNBC isn’t a news channel – it’s a channel that wants to push the happy button on the target audience, just like Fox News.
And, most disrespected President? That has to be George W. Bush.
Hardly a punishment for calling the president a dick. Who’s the last president we had that was better than obama
Doesn’t matter. Regardless of one’s opinion of the President’s service, this kind of reaction to a criticism of that service is no better than what FOX has done for years.
Liberals, Democrats, progressives or whatever like labels you’d care to apply, do NOT need another version of FOX. NO ONE needs another FOX.
Liberals have always done well enough sticking to the facts and the record. No need to add this kind of garbage to the arsenal. leave it to those who have nothing else going for them – like Conservatives.
“Who’s the last president we had that was better than obama”
Ummm, all of them? Even that idiot Jimmy Carter didn’t screw us this badly.
When that nut threw his shoes at Bush this same group thought it was funny, this is the 4th “dick” MSNBC has suspended.
Really? All this controversy because one guy called another guy a “dick” on television? What is the big deal? I’m not a Republican or a Democrat and I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with his comments. This just another example of the over sensitivities of today. If Halparin feels Obama seemed kind of a dick last night, shouldn’t he be free to say so? It’s not like he called Obama the n-word or something equally offensive.
Wrong in every way. If it was P.Bush then i wonder if the reporter would get his own show? Back to rt for my news.
Sometimes the truth hurts.
This is inexcusable, an absurd suspension.
I never, ever, EVER miss Rachel Maddow, I recognize Fox News for the putrid trash it is, and I know the Tea Party (and most of its “leaders”) are largely made up of ignorant fools too unsophisticated and poorly educated to recognize how they’re being duped by powerful “astro-turf” special interests. Most of the loudest “civilian” members have been tricked into acting against their own best interests, and those of their families, their neighbors and their communities.
All that said, a suspension for THIS? At worst, I could imagine a back-office scolding for use of the obviously mild vulgarity “dick.” But that’s at the extreme,and requires taking into account the time of day for the broadcast. Beyond that – agree with Halperin’s assessment or disagree – this “punishment” is so far over the top that it should be humiliating to MSNBC.
They now owe HIM an apology.
But calling female candidates a “whore” on MSNBC merits only a slap on the wrist.
I knew it was coming, Morning Joe entire show is based on president obama, they are so jealous of the man. prior to president obama i never watched the talk shows or were interested in politics (i always vote); but some republican americans are not very smart people and the president is showing them up. as a dem. i am sick of them all Rachel, especially ed, lawrence, and cenk joe is full of himself, mikia is a joke, but she might be the best of the bunch. if you all can recall “moses are pharoah”. you think we are in bad shape here in america, vote for a republican and you will get what the resisedents of republican states are getting when they voted in those governors. it is not about skin color, it is classism. how were the black folks enslaved for 400 years; history does repeat itself.
Um if you are going to accuse other people of “not being smart” maybe you should learn how to spell.
charlie, apparently you knew what i meant, I am not in class,summer break. perhaps i should have said small minded.
I hate to disappoint you Linda Rose, but the states in the worst financial shape, like New York and California have been controlled by liberal Democrats (left-wingers) for decades. And the European countries that are near economic collapse have been led by socialists (left-wingers).
Socialism/liberalism doesn’t work. The ideology must suppress human ambition in order to succeed. Eventually, there is not enough money to take from the “producers” and you end up with a populace of parasites. If we don’t correct course in 2012 the country will certainly be well on track towards Greece’s fate.
My prediction: The Republican candidate for President wins in a landslide greater than Ronald Reagan’s defeat of Jimmy Carter, with coat tails that sweep Republicans into majorities in both houses of congress. “You can take that to the bank and cash the check!”
Aaron, wait and see, president obama will be re-elected. new york and california were under the control of republicans at thier worst, remember. it is not about republicans and democrats; i would vote republican if i liked the candidate.
Rose, we vote on principle and like but like is dangerous , stay on break Aaron was right.
What’s funny is, we all hear words like that and worse on The Daily Show and laugh at them. I thought his comment was hilarious actually (I didn’t agree with it at all as I thought the President’s press conference was really good, but it was funny nonetheless).
Perhaps MSNBC should make a nightly show where people can call others “dicks,” “douchebags,” and “jackasses.” Lots of young people would tune in for that. And after all, those would be the most appropriate ways to describe many of the politicians in Washington today.
It’s pretty sad when a man who works for Time Magazine can’t find better words to express himself on TV. I think Morning Joe, and other shows like it, invite this type of casual chit chat and then they run from it in shock when it happens.
What happened to truth to power as in Steven Colbert’s asinine roast of the previous president and national press club dinner ??
Personally, I don’t care if a media personality insults the president. What I do care about is a media personality insulting the intelligence of their viewers. I don’t need a well-credentialed analyst to tell me if the president is a dick or not, I can figure that out. I want to know more about what makes him a dick (or not a dick).
As an aside, I think Obama should, through his press secretary, issue the following statement:
Mr. Halperin; The president accepts your apology, though that doesn’t make you any less of a dick.
Perfect and simply all the reaction that’s needed.
But of course people will blather on and keep this nothing going.
All these Washington hacks want to be John Stewart. It drives them crazy that he doesn’t have to follow their rules.
Halperin got what he deserved. What gets me is the reason he called the President a dick, he had the nerve to stand up to the Republicans who’s been giving him shit from day one. It’s ok to be called a liar during the State of Union, which has never happened to any white president in history, but when you call out the people who are trying to undermine the country for politic gain suddenly you’re a dick. All you dicks trying to defend Halperin obviously don’t like Obama. This president can’t win, he doesn’t get credit when he kills Bin laden (according to the repugs)or when he shows some balls, suddenly he’s uppity.
Rafael, you got to remember, this president is not the first tricky dick
(you did forget didn’t you?)
Halperin was being restrained AND kind given the damage this clown has done to our country. Socialism is a great idea until you run out of other people’s money