Halperin’s MSNBC suspension latest example of White House press tampering

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Daily Caller:

The promptness with which MSNBC management reacted to Mark Halperin’s ill-advised remarks on Thursday’s “Morning Joe” was remarkable, considering it took the same outlet nearly two days to suspend “The Ed Show” host Ed Schultz after he called conservative talker Laura Ingraham “a slut” on his radio show.

Halperin, a Time magazine editor-at-large, made his remarks at 6:08 a.m. ET, and NBC Universal issued a press release announcing Halperin’s suspension at 9:44 a.m. ET, within an hour of the end of the “Morning Joe” broadcast. The reason for the quick reaction could be because White House Press Secretary Jay Carney called MSNBC management.

“The comment that was made was inappropriate,” Carney at the daily press briefing. “It would be inappropriate to say that about either president of either party.”

“On behalf of the White House, I expressed that sentiment to executives at the network,” he said.

But this isn’t the first time Obama or someone from the administration has responded directly to criticism from the media on behalf of the president. Obama and Robert Gibbs, Carney’s predecessor, have sparred with the media, with varying degrees of success.

Jan. 24, 2009 – Early in his term, Obama in an address to congressional Republicans went straight after conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh. “You can’t just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done,” as reported then-New York Post reporter Charlie Hurt, in comments to Republicans leaders at a White House meeting to discuss his stimulus proposal.

Feb. 20, 2009 and Sept. 4, 2009 – Robert Gibbs took on CNBC floor reporter Rick Santelli, who many consider the father of the Tea Party, for his criticism of Obama policy proposals to push the economy toward recovery. ”It’s important for people who rant on cable television to be responsible and understand what it is they are talking about,” Gibbs said during a Feb. 20 press briefing. “I feel assured Mr. Santelli doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

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Red Eye's Take on the Halperin / Scarborough Affair!