MSNBC: Ed Schulz’s Sexist Slur

As a new generation of women enter media and politics, such comments dissuade women from exposing themselves to vile attacks, and perpetuate inequality in newsrooms and in congress.

[On The Media]

It’s no secret that several of MSNBC’s commentators and anchors have espoused some moderately sexist to severely misogynist views over the years. In 2008, we went after Chris Matthews’ derogatorycoverage of Hilary Clinton’s presidential race, resulting in MSNBC’s decision to demote him from the anchor chair of election coverage to become a strictly political commentator. One thing was clear: Matthews crossed the line too many times.

Then, that same year, David Shuster was suspended by the network for comments about Chelsea Clinton being “pimped out” by the Clinton campaign, using a prostitution metaphor.

Yet, the networks’ “progressive” male anchors and commentators aren’t learning their lessons. Just yesterday, Ed Schulz called incindiary right-wing talk show host Laura Ingraham, a “right-wing slut” and a “talk slut” on the air.

While conservative bloggers and watchdog organizations are highlighting Schultz’s remark,  the Women’s Media Center also calls on MSNBC to suspend Schultz for his comments, since they not only attack Ingraham, but all women. Ms. Ingraham is no friend to the Women’s Media Center, but a sexist and misogynist attack based on her gender and not her political views or comments is harmful to women in media, politics, and beyond.

Ingraham provides enough fodder for progressive criticism that such base attacks have no place in coverage. As a new generation of women enter media and politics, such comments dissuade women from exposing themselves to vile attacks, and perpetuate inequality in newsrooms and in congress.

Join us in telling MSNBC that Schultz’s comments are just as worthy of suspension as Shuster’s, and to send a message to their on-air personalities that sexism is harmful and unacceptable! Click here to tell send a letter to MSNBC’s leadership: http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-msnbc-to-suspend-ed-schultz-for-calling-extremist-host-a-right-wing-slutTo support our continued work on this issue, donate to the Women’s Media Center here: http://bit.ly/i6U6T1

“Speaking Truth To Empower.”

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