I was quite taken by all the MSNBC hosts yesterday -- every one of them -- doing blunt, excoriating segments lambasting their bosses at NBC for the disastrous decision to hire Ronna Romney McDaniel to a contract for commentary.
Starting with Morning Joe making clear that they would not have Ms. McDaniel on their show, including Rachel Maddow telling the story about how the MSNBC president Rashida Jones (no, not the actress...) backed down from her initial support of the hiring decision to sending an internal memo stating pointedly that MSNBC has no plans to have McDaniel on the channel and making clear that the former RNC chair will not be contributing. A point that Maddow reiterated bluntly, saying "Ronna McDaniel will not be on MSNBC. Which she repeated to make it absolutely clear -- "Ronna McDaniel will not be on MSNBC. And I say that and give you that level of detail because there has been an effort since by other parts of the company to muddy that up in the press and make it seem like that’s not what happened at MSNBC." Maddow added, "The fact that Ms. McDaniel is on the payroll at NBC News, to me that is inexplicable. You wouldn't hire, like, a 'wise guy,' you wouldn't hire a 'made man,' like a mobster to work at a DA's office, right? You wouldn't hire a pickpocket to work as a TSA screener. And so I find the decision to put her on the payroll inexplicable and I hope they will reverse that decision." Lest my quoting Rachel Maddow obscure the point, every MSNBC host yesterday made the same point, from early through through The 11th Hour with Stephanie Rule. Of course, for the moment, McDaniel remains available to appear as a paid commentator on NBC, which has a much bigger audience than MSNBC. Though NBC has significantly less air time available. Rather than the 19 hours for MSNBC each weekday, NBC only has 30 minutes. And it's hard to see spots for McDaniel to fit on there very much. Though any time is too much. Of course, what would be the problematic Law of Unintended Consequences for Ms. McDaniel is if she has her NBC contract, cannot appear on any other network, and pretty much never -- or never -- gets on the air at NBC. Since "never" now appears to be the schedule for her at MSNBC. That said, even if she never gets on the air, it's a horrible look for NBC, just the mere act of giving Ronna Romney McDaniel a contract, since it sends a ghastly message to liars, fascist enablers and Insurrectionists at risk of indictment that you can be rewarded for your actions. And sends a terrible message to viewers about NBC commitment to tough, honest journalism. But at least not putting McDaniel on the air would be some solace. Greater solace would be if, indeed, NBC reverses its decision and parts ways with McDaniel. There has been a bit of pushback from some sources -- most of them Republican, though a few, surprisingly (and unfortunately) from a few new sources who seem to miss the point that for seven years Ronna Romney McDaniel has been excoriating them and supporting Trump who calls the "the enemy of the people." But what they all miss is the larger point -- This isn't about having "other voices" on the air. After all, MSNBC has a former RNC chair (just like McDaniel) under contract and even gave Michael Steele his own show. And has a former Republican White House Press Secretary under contract and gave Nicolle Wallace the only two-hour, single-host show on the network. And has a former Republican governor as a paid contributor, and Republican operatives paid as contributors. That's not the point -- The point is that for seven years, Ronna Romney McDaniel has enabled a fascist leader who attempted to overthrow the government and who herself is referenced in court indictments for pushing that effort to overthrow democracy by pressuring state officials not to certify the legal election and is at risk of indictment as a co-conspirator. So, again, great for every MSNBC host yesterday for pushing back on her hiring. For that reason. And more.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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