The Hazards of Live TV: #24,901
NewsBusters’ Mark Finkelstein writes about MSNBC’s David Shuster grilling a U.S. Congresswoman over why she didn’t know the name of the last dead soldier in her district. Only it turns out the soldier in question never lived in the Congresswoman’s district…
Update: Johnny Dollar has audio from The John Gibson radio show of Gibson interviewing Rep. Blackburn…
It now turns out that Army Private Jeremy Bohannon had not, contrary to Shuster’s claim, lived in Rep. Blackburn’s congressional district. As blogger Conservative Belle brought to NB’s attention, and as she has written about at her site, Private Bohannon lived in Bon Acqua, TN. Checking his nine-digit zip code reveals that he in fact lived in Tennessee District 8, represented by John Tanner, a Democrat.
I have now spoken with an aide in Rep. Blackburn’s office, who confirmed that Pvt. Bohannon had not lived in the congresswoman’s district.
A voicemail message left for Shuster inviting his comment had not been returned as of the time of posting this item.
A source informs me that MSNBC might be issuing a statement later today acknowledging its mistake. If so, we’ll bring it to our readers ASAP.
More inaccurate reporting from this slimeball. He was wrong about Rove, he was wrong about Denny Hastert, and now he totally sandbags a Congresswoman, which in itself was despicable…. but he was also completely wrong.
Anything short of an on-air apology, and admittance that their story was completely wrong, and perhaps even a suspension for Shuster shows MSNBC has zero credibility.
Comment by bigred — September 26, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
This guy also went crazy when Bush commuted Libby.
Comment by Lurker — September 26, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
MSNBC at their best. I hope Bathtub-boy names him worst person.
Comment by Tom P — September 26, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
They should make him anchor some more overnight news updates. That’s sure punishment enough for any reporter.
Comment by Nobody — September 26, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
Seems this should be more than an “oops” headline…thats OK Spud, we all know this is a family blog ;)
Comment by Obama in 08! — September 26, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
Wow. MSNBC is by far the sloppiest news network. Remember when they were fooled by a satire web site and reported that Bret Favre was running a dolphin fighting ring?
Does anyone actually check facts at MSNBC?
Comment by Buck — September 26, 2007 @ 6:56 pm
BigRed - I agree in regards to the inaccuracy and Schuster/MSNBC should issue an apology, but I don’t see how this was “sandbagging” the Congresswoman. The point that Schuster was making, despite the error in the name, was that she could not name the last soldier from her district who died in Iraq yet knew the MoveOn ad chapter and verse (what is more important…the war and its costs, or some newspaper ad?).
Perhaps no one from her district in service has died…that to me would be relevant. Beyond that, her preoccupation with this stupid ad (and it was insulting and stupid) is a good point.
As for the “sandbagging” being “despicable”…I don’t see the harm in calling out our elected officials. They aren’t sacred cows that command the utmost respect. Considering the amount of corruption and lack of performance on both sides of the isle, I think they should have their feet held the fire on a consistant basis.
Comment by FishOil — September 26, 2007 @ 6:56 pm
Did any one of us even have to read further to know that the U.S. Representative Shuster was going after was a Republican? When I saw Marsha Blackburn’s name, it was an “I knew it!” moment for me.
Fish Oil, maybe what you say is true, but Shuster has an obsession with trashing Republicans and the administration. He is almost RABID when he reports on anything that be amiss in “conservativeland”, and I’m sure the worst day of his life occurred when Karl Rove resigned, with indictments nowhere in sight.
MSNBC should DEFINITELY apologize and reprimand this rabid little brat! His emotions and politics have rendered him unable to objectively cover a story or interrogate a subject, so let’s find him a nice job parking cars somewhere.
Comment by Missy — September 26, 2007 @ 7:12 pm
Of course this was an effort to sandbag a Congresswomen who is Republican. Of course the information was inaccurate. Knowing how MSNBC operates, for these actions he will probably be rewarded with his own show like Olby.
Comment by lalo — September 26, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
If Schuster wasn’t KO’s lapdog he’d probably be getting a WPITW award,By the way has that indictment for Rove came in yet?..Schuster assured us it was coming.
Comment by mlong — September 26, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
Shuster gave an apology today on Tucker.
Comment by Aaron — September 26, 2007 @ 8:10 pm
Missy - I’m well aware of the fact that MSNBC leans left. Personally I like to mix my viewing so I get all sides.
Schuster has apparently apologized, as well he should have. But my contention remains - these are not sacred cows, they are our elected representatives and should be held to account when they are voting on condemning a dopey ad rather than debating the war and other pressing matters.
As for this incident, I think it’s accurate to say that most Democrats would not have been able to answer the same question. This is not about right and left…it’s about showing these members of Congress what’s important. But that’s just my opinion.
Comment by FishOil — September 26, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
Schuster learned at the feet of the master, Chrissy Matthews.
Missy, “RABID” is the perfect word to describe this little creep.
Comment by Cella — September 26, 2007 @ 10:30 pm
Nicely said, FishOil.
Yes, Shuster was wrong and he needed to apologize for this. I’m glad to read that he did indeed do that.
MSNBC certainly screwed this up. But let’s not kid ourselves that it’s just them. All the news networks get it wrong on occasion.
Not that long ago O’Reilly had to apologize on air for incorrectly attributing an anti-Semetic remark to a poster at Kos. Then Fox & Friends reported remarks as real news (ham sandwich incident) when in actuality, the remarks came from a fake news/parody website. The school officials incurred some really hateful email because of their report with the superintendent also receiving threatening phone calls at his home. My understanding is that F&F issued a retraction…as well they should have.
When the news networks get it wrong on air, apologize on air. It’s that simple.
Comment by STP — September 27, 2007 @ 10:21 am