Joe Scarborough Stripper Comment, MSNBC, Jeri Thompson
JUST SAY NO JOE SHOW!
Scarborough's Nasty Jeri Jab Fueling Further Controversy
While defenders try to argue he's been taken out of context, Joe Scarborough's shameless attack on GOP presidential contender Fred Thompson's wife once again demonstrates why he's unfit to take Don Imus's place at MSNBC.
Given the low- rated cable network's dubious reputation, however, some might say the ex- conservative- turned jerky weirdo is perfect for their morning show!
Instead of going away, Joe's on- air suggestion that Jeri Thompson "works the pole" has fired up talk radio and the blogosphere.
Video of MSNBC's Joe Scarborough bantering on the cable news network Friday about whether Fred Thompson's wife "works the pole" is sparking criticism of Scarborough from the right, left and in between.
A spokesman for the news network said this afternoon, though, that the comment has been taken out of context and that it is "irresponsible" to suggest Scarborough was employing sexual innuendo. "Works the pole" could have been a reference to poles that some strippers use in their acts. MSNBC says it was a reference to an exercise routine that a growing number of women are performing.
Questions about the appropriateness of what Scarborough said have been raised by, among others, conservative blogger/commentator Michelle Malkin. She has posted the video clip here and says "Scarborough owes Thompson and his wife an apology."
The South Carolina politics blog Palmetto Scoop, which other bloggers are crediting for picking up on Scarborough's comment, says this could be another "Imus moment" for MSNBC. (That would be a reference to Don Imus.)
[excerpted]
The conservative Captain's Quarters is on the story too, and appears to have picked up on the sequence of events that MSNBC says put Scarborough's remark in context -- though Captain's Quarters' Ed Morrissey says it still doesn't excuse Scarborough completely.
He reports that one of his commenters says "the segment started off with the traffic and weather reporter, Tracy, talking about how she 'works the pole' for exercise to stay in shape. That topic continued for some time, and then Craig Crawford (contributing editor at CQ) came on, which is when Scarborough made this comment." (The banter: Scarborough asks Crawford, "Have you seen Fred Thompson's wife?" Crawford: "Oh yeah." Scarborough: "You think she works the pole?")
"That only mitigates it a little," Morrissey adds, "in that Scarborough may not have meant to insinuate that Jeri Thompson was a stripper, or worse. I'm still mystified why Scarborough thinks that Jeri's appearance requires some lecherous reference."
MSNBC spokesman Jeremy Gaines says that pretty much explains what happened. "A female triathlete had been discussing her exercise routine with Joe," he said, and that routine includes a stripper's pole. "That is the context in which the issue was discussed. To suggest otherwise is irresponsible." When asked whether Jeri Kehn Thompson is owed an apology, Gaines declined to comment further.
Yes, as there was no good reason to trash Thompson's wife on national television, Morrissey's right on the money. And in no way does the "context" get Scarborough off the hook, even for a moment.
So, is Joe a shoe- in for the former Imus slot? For a moment, let's pretend NBC actually cares about MSNBC's future while we take this quick trip down memory lane:
Joe has a history of sucking up to the mainstream media, to the point of doing a brainless "Is Bush An 'Idiot'?" segment on MSNBC's Scarborough Country. He followed it up with a silly HuffPo piece.
Especially fishy is Scarborough's past professional association with one of Air America Radio's founding boardmembers and hosts, infamous Florida trial lawyer Mike Papantonio. After Joe began to do "Pap's" bidding on MSNBC, he was scolded by the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz for the obvious breach of journalistic ethics.
In another infamous example, Scarborough allowed Franken to push kooky conspiracy theories involving Vice President Dick Cheney.
While MSNBC seems determined to go for broke with an unsuccessful cable talk lineup, isn't there somebody inside NBC with the good sense to look for somebody better than sleazy, jerky Joe Scarborough? The talent pool can't possibly be this shallow.
AS the election of 2008 approaches with its cast of contenders who bring unprecedented diversity to the quest for the White House, the voting public has been called on to ponder several questions: Is America ready for a woman to be president? What about a black man? A Mormon?
Now, with the possible candidacy of Fred D. Thompson, the grandfatherly actor and former Republican senator from Tennessee, whose second wife is almost a quarter-century his junior, comes a less palatable inquiry that is spurring debate in Internet chat rooms, on cable television and on talk radio: Is America ready for a president with a trophy wife?
Again, what does this have to do with Thompson's qualifications? And what exactly is the real issue with Jeri Kehn Thompson? Has anyone bothered to interview her? The press assumes she's a bimbo.
And more often than not, we've seen these anti- Fred and Jeri pieces written by women. Is this catty "journalism" at its worst?
To those of you who roll your eyes and groan when you hear people go on and on about the biased news media that injects its personal opinions into news stories and peppers them with assumptions that the writer more than “critics say” seems to hold, roll your eyes no longer.
The New York Times has a piece that makes you conclude: somewhere at that (once stellar) newspaper, an editor was asleep at the switch.
Joe, that's giving this overpriced rag far too much credit. More likely the editor found no objection to the writer declaring Jeri a "trophy wife".
If the mainstream media keeps this up, they may very well unite conservatives behind Thompson. Wouldn't the Grey Lady prefer a divided right?
FOR Boston- area talk radio updates, see our other site. New: why the potential end of Boston's race- based METCO busing system may be off- limits at some local talk stations.
Which matters more: where presidential candidates stand on the issues, or the physical appearance of the women standing next to them?
If you chose the latter, congrats, you're the target audience for a political silly season that's already underway, perhaps earlier than ever before.
With Fred Thompson jumping into the race, why bother determining how he would deal with frivolous issues such as Iraq, government spending, taxes or illegal immigration? It's far more important to dwell on his wife's age and measurements.
Late last week, your Radio Equalizer began to notice talk hosts spending airtime on this subject, but topping them all was this catty Sunday Boston Herald piece by WTKK / Boston libtalker Margery Eagan:
GOP wives are a pol’s breast friend: Front-runners get ample attention on the front lines
Does the heaving bosom play well among Bible Belt Republicans? Among New Hampshire primary voters?
How else to explain, as debate week begins, the bursting out all over by GOP front-runners’ wives? What’s with this ample - and aging - display of decolletage? Mrs. John McCain, 52, just gave Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren an at-home tour wearing this tight, bubble-gum-pink wraparound shirt cut to her sternum. Three inches of cleavage. Poor Greta, the consummate professional in blue blazer and yellow button-down, didn’t know where to look.
Meanwhile nearly half the pictures you see of Judy Nathan, aka Mrs. Giuliani, also 52, are very bosomy. Is this supposed to convince those wondering about Rudy - you know, after he bunked with the gay guys post divorce #2 - that he’s not just A Big Hetero but A Big Hetero Who Loves Big Hetero Breasts?
Flashed around the country Thursday was yet another full cleavage shot of Fred Thompson’s child wife looking almost as well-endowed as Alex Rodriguez’s stripper/pole-dancer girlfriend. “That was quite a dress,” said one GOP analyst, breathless.
Perhaps Fred’s wife “Jeri” - yes, with an “i” - helps Fred with AARP, Viagra-ed up men: “You still got it goin’, Fred, you dirty dog.”
Doubt it helps him with women. Let’s face it, we’re all thinking the same thing: Fred’s 64. He’s really drooping. She’s 40, and not. Next to her, he looks 110.
“You wouldn’t see any Bush boobs,” says my GOP guy.
Nor any Reagan, Carter, Nixon, Johnson or Kennedy boobs either. Why should you? Why should any would-be first lady, America’s mother, thrust herself upon a trusting nation?
The only wife of a GOP heavy-hitter who hasn’t practically bared her chest is Ann Romney, the best looking of them all, by the way, though I did once see her in a black leather jacket at a holiday party. Va-va-va-voom.
Happily, we’ve not seen any Democratic skin. Somebody told me Bess Truman once flashed the British ambassador in a darkened corner of the West Wing. I find that extremely hard to believe.
Glad to know Eagan's a confirmed Democrat based on the Frump Factor. Who cares if terrorists are plotting to blow up JFK, or if millions of illegals are invading the country?
No doubt she's thrilled to have Rosie O'Donnell in her camp.
Unfortunately, this is hardly an isolated incident. On some lefty blogs, Thompson is somehow guilty of being a hypocrite for marrying Jeri. If you can, try to follow this "logic" from Salon's Glenn Greenwald:
Social-Christian conservative Fred Thompson, who believes in traditional marriage (he's "pro-traditional-marriage"), is pictured below with his current wife -- 25 years younger than he, 4 years younger than his own daughter -- after the 2006 White House Correspondent's Dinner:
When explaining his profound and solemn opposition to same-sex marriages (he voted (a) for laws prohibiting same-sex marriages and (b) against laws banning discrimination against gays), Thompson said: "Marriage is between a man and a woman, and judges shouldn't be allowed to change that." According to The Politico's Mike Allen, this is what Thompson said earlier this year about his own life:
During a question-and-answer session with House members on April 18, Thompson was asked about his colorful dating history from 1985 to 2002, while he was divorced.
"I was single for a long time, and, yep, I chased a lot of women," Thompson replied, chuckling, according to an attendee who took notes. "And a lot of women chased me. And those that chased me tended to catch me."
The remark drew laughter from men and grins from women, according to witnesses.
It's always a great mystery how people who are on their second or third wives with children from each marriage can stand up with a straight face and proclaim themselves to be believers in "traditional marriage" and -- far worse -- to insist that the laws be structured so as to allow and endorse their own highly untraditional and un-Christian marriages while prohibiting other citizens from entering their own. And it's even more of a mystery that individuals such as Thompson are able to spout (though, with vigor, personally contravene in their own conduct) such platitudes and still be taken seriously.
First, we don't know the real cause of Thompson's first divorce, do we? So how do we know whether he's guilty of un- Christian- like behavior?
Beyond that, how is a marriage between a 65- year- old man and 40- year- old woman immoral? Where does any Christian faith condemn such a union? This is truly absurd.
It's pretty early in the game for such silly rhetoric, don't you think? If this is any indication, get ready for a very nasty presidential contest, especially from the angry left.
Joe Scarborough Stripper Comment Response, MSNBC, Blogs
ON THE ATTACK
Nutty 'Morning Joe' Blames Blogs For Jeri Thompson Flap
Already in hot water over a nasty reference to GOP presidential contender Fred Thompson's wife, MSNBC's Joe Scarborough has dug an even deeper hole for himself by lashing out against the bloggers who reported the story.
And before anybody decides this issue can be put to rest, please see the final paragraphs of this post.
Led by The Palmetto Scoop, sites including this one have been taking Scarborough to task for suggesting that Jeri Thompson might be a stripper, a charge he now denies. Rather than apologize, Don Imus's morning show heir apparent has chosen to ridicule blogospheric opponents.
Hey 'Morning Joe', is it that hard to say you're sorry?
Here at the Radio Equalizer, we've been blasting Joe for years, see this post for background.
Palmetto Scoop has published this partial transcript of today's ill- considered tirade:
SCARBOROUGH: Last week — and I’ll just briefly say this — last week we had a person that worked for WFAN where we did the show on Thursday and Friday talking — she is a try athlete, there a dangerous crowd — all muscle in great shape and she was talking about this exercise routine that she did and went on and on about it.
RIDLEY: Pilates?
SCARBOROUGH: Not exactly pilates –
RIDLEY: Yoga?
SCARBOROUGH: She was doing the — I’m not going to tell you exactly what it is but — this exercise routine. It’s very — it’s clean. Housewives — she said I do a certain thing — housewives across America are doing it to stay fit. And Craig Crawford came on and I asked him whether Senator Thompson — because i know Senator Thompson, known him for a long time and I like the guy an awful lot. I got to tell you a Senator Thompson joke in a second. And also my best friend in Florida knows his wife and Senator Thompson. So she is a very attractive and I said “I wonder if she exercises this way.” And so the blogs twisted my words; wretched them from their context. I know this shocks you. I know this shocks you.
RIDLEY: Are you telling me that there are some folks who aren’t real journalists –
SCARBOROUGH: That sit in their basement –
RIDLEY: That sit in their basement and remove a portion of what you say and use it?
SCARBOROUGH: You know, the thing is. What is so interesting about this is other people — one person writes something and they don’t tell the truth about what happened. And then everybody else, instead of looking the transcript, copies what the other person did.
This shows a complete lack of judgment on the part of Joe Scarborough because morning talk shows are all about spontaneity and repartee. He has now shown that when he makes a mistake, he doesn’t recognize fully the mistake he has made. He won’t apologize. And he won’t level with viewers about exactly what he has said.
He has compounded his problem. He has made it worse. Joe does great at 9 p.m. in a restricted format where there is usually a script. By not correcting this problem right away, he is showing he is not ready for prime morning time talk. Everyone makes a mistake. It’s how you correct it or not correct it, that’s the test. And he has failed it.
In addition,Newsbusters actually received a protest email from Scarborough himself! Click here to see their update.
Important: your Radio Equalizer has seen several bloggers indicate this is the flap's "final chapter". Because he is still the front- runner for MSNBC's morning drive slot, his track record should continue to remain in focus.
In both politics and the media, Joe has made it clear he's one of the bad guys and his hiring should be fought tooth and nail.
In particular, his past association with the GOP is damaging for conservatives which means that our opposition should be that much louder.
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Given the low- rated cable network's dubious reputation, however, some might say the ex- conservative- turned jerky weirdo is perfect for their morning show!
In a particularly good example of Joe's sloppy prep work, he was duped by an Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonater who appeared on Howard Stern's show and advocated blowing up the moon in order to eliminate female PMS. This post remains one of the Radio Equalizer's all- time most popular, based on Google searches.
Given the low- rated cable network's dubious reputation, however, some might say the ex- conservative- turned jerky weirdo is perfect for their morning show!
MSNBC spokesman Jeremy Gaines says that pretty much explains what happened. "A female triathlete had been discussing her exercise routine with Joe," he said, and that routine includes a stripper's pole. "That is the context in which the issue was discussed. To suggest otherwise is irresponsible." When asked whether Jeri Kehn Thompson is owed an apology, Gaines declined to comment further.
In a particularly good example of Joe's sloppy prep work, he was duped by an Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonater who appeared on Howard Stern's show and advocated blowing up the moon in order to eliminate female PMS. This post remains one of the Radio Equalizer's all- time most popular, based on Google searches.
