MSNBC suspends journalist for using foul language about Obama

MSNBC suspended journalist Mark Halperin after Halperin used strongly worded language to criticize President Obama’s performance at Wednesday’s press conference.

“Mark Halperin’s comments this morning were completely inappropriate and unacceptable. We apologize to the President, The White House and all of our viewers,” the network said in a statement. “We strive for a high level of discourse and comments like these have no place on our air. Therefore, Mark will be suspended indefinitely from his role as an analyst.”

{mosads}In the MSNBC statement Halperin repeated his earlier apology and agreed with the channel’s decision.
 
“I completely agree with everything in MSNBC’s statement about my remark. I believe that the step they are taking in response is totally appropriate,” he said. “Again, I want to offer a heartfelt and profound apology to the President, to my MSNBC colleagues, and to the viewers. My remark was unacceptable, and I deeply regret it.”

During a spot on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Thursday, Halperin, the co-author of “Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime” was asked by host Joe Scarborough what he thought of the president’s strong criticism of Republicans during Wednesday’s press conference.

“I thought he was kind of a d*ck yesterday,” Halperin said.

Soon after, while still on the air, Halperin apologized.

A few hours later MSNBC announced that Halperin had been “suspended indefinitely.”

Halperin’s comments and the fallout came a day after Obama castigated Republicans for refusing to agree to increase taxes on the wealthy, as well as rebutting arguments by some Republicans that the Aug. 2 deadline for raising the debt ceiling was not real.