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Clinton threatens to pull out over Chelsea 'PIMP' claims
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February 9, 2008 -- WASHINGTON - Hillary Rodham Clinton threatened yesterday to pull out of an upcoming debate hosted by MSNBC after one of its correspondents said on air that daughter Chelsea was being "pimped out" by the campaign to win votes.
"I, at this point, can't envi sion a scenario where we could continue to engage in debates on that network, given the comments that were made," said Clinton's spokesman, Howard Wolfson, calling the comment "beneath contempt."
Correspondent David Shuster made the remark Thursday night as he and others were discussing on air how Chelsea Clinton, 27, is taking an increasingly active role in the campaign.
"Doesn't it seem as if Chelsea is sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?" Shuster said.
Chelsea's efforts on behalf of her mother have been generally well-received, and MSNBC scrambled to patch things up in hopes of salvaging the debates, which have proven enormously lucrative for the networks that host them.
"NBC News takes these matters seriously, and offers our sincere regrets to the Clintons for the remarks," MSNBC spokesman Jeremy Gaines said, adding the network was hopeful the debate would take place as planned.
Clinton and Barack Obama had agreed to participate in an MSNBC debate Feb. 26 in Ohio, which holds its primary on March 4.
Shuster was suspended. He offered an on-air apology last night.
"I used a phrase that was inappropriate," Shuster said, adding that "all Americans should be proud of Chelsea Clinton" and pay credit to the way Hillary and Bill Clinton raised her.
Shuster told The Associated Press he had tried to reach Chelsea Clinton to apologize.
Bill Burton, a spokesman for Obama, called Shuster's comments "deplorable."
MSNBC executives said yesterday that they had also apologized to Clinton aides and had attempted to reach other campaign officials to apologize.
Wolfson, talking to reporters in the early afternoon, said he was not aware of any such apologies.
"I think that the comment is disgusting. It's beneath contempt," he said. "And it's the kind of thing that should never be said on a national news network."
Clinton supporter Ellen Malcolm, president of EMILY's List, which supports pro-choice female candidates, was equally outraged and sent a scathing letter to the head of MSNBC.
"The halfhearted apology by Mr. Shuster this morning fails to even acknowledge the insulting nature of his comments," she wrote.
"Your tolerance for this behavior speaks volumes about the corporate culture of MSNBC."
Wolfson noted that just last month another MSNBC personality, Chris Matthews, apologized for saying the reason Clinton was elected senator was because the nation felt sorry for her after Bill Clinton had sexual liaisons with Monica Lewinsky.
"She didn't win there on her merits," Matthews said.
Wolfson saw a connection.
"I think at some point you really have to question whether or not there is a pattern here at this particular network where you have comments being made and then apologies given," he said.
"Is there something that folks are encouraged to do or not do?"
[link to www.nypost.com]
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