The R/W "DORKING" of David Shuster

[blucaller]

cross posted at Daily Kos



Progressives don't usually take kindly to attempts by the far right wing, or even from the growing false equivalency gangs serving as their propellers, to ridicule our media heros.

We should like it even less when they kick them when they're down, or in a situation where they can't, for whatever reason, defend themselves.

But that's exactly what's happening to the "indefinitely suspended," contractually muzzled David Shuster.

Finally, this past week, Shuster could no longer hold his legendary tongue, and spoke out.

About Softball.


That's right. About softball.

He wasn't defending against charges that he cheated, or that he was secretly taking batting practice with Elena Kagan, or even that he was disloyally giving away his MSNBC softball teams catcher's signals to CNN's batters.

He was trying to rebut their attempts to totally dorkify him.

And in the only way, and on one of the very few subjects he still can, he was continuing his tradition of fighting back against their lies and distortions.

POLITICO, arguably somewhat less far to the right than many of the r/w blogs dumping on Shuster by carrying this all important breaking story, had this to say:
May 14, 2010

http://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/0510/Which_team_is_Shuster_on.html
Which team is Shuster on?]

David Shuster may be out of the anchor’s chair at MSNBC, but he is still playing for the network’s softball team, the Washington Examiner reports.

The story appears to shed some light on the mystery surrounding Shuster’s career, after his bosses benched him "indefinitely" following a New York Observer report that he had filmed a pilot for CNN.

The Examiner writes: "The weekend after Shuster was ‘suspended indefinitely,’ he told players on an opposing team (hint: one he considered playing on) about his suspension, saying he was on paid vacation for the remainder of his contract."

Inside Cable News notes that this state of affairs would make it very unlikely that Shuster would be returning to his old job.

But responding in an email, Shuster takes issue with the Examiner’s reporting on his alleged comments about being on paid leave: "I've never said any such thing to anybody in the media softball league. And the only conversations I've had about my status are with my agent, my immediate family, and my closest friends. None of them play or interact with anybody in the media softball league."

Note that, in line with his previous statements, he neither confirms nor denies the issue at stake. Calls to MSNBC’s press office are pending.

POLITICO's "reporters" are apt to have quite a wait on their steno-pad-encumbered hands.

David Shuster neither "confirms nor denies the issue at stake," because he has what amounts to a contractual gag order placed on him by the petty and "deeply, personally hurt" Phil Griffin. He is not even allowed to defend himself against false charges that he somehow violated an "exclusivity clause" because, calling the punitive Griffin's veracity into question in any way WOULD be a violation of his contract.

When Byron Yorks execrable rightwing rag, The DC Examiner, posted it's "exclusive" last week, it did not give a crap about the truth. In fact, the truth would have been of no use for their intended purpose, which was to ridicule and diminish a perceived political enemy at his most defenseless hour, in their fervent hope that he never returns to call them on the carpet again.

And it's working. I got about 7,370 hits for David Shuster "dork" in a cursory Google search

Have Phil Griffins attempts to obliterate any memory of David Shuster from MSNBC's core demographic's collective mind, and, for his personal reasons, try to destroy a fine newsman's career once and for all, also worked?

For those who relied on Shuster's work and depended on him to not let anyone get away with talking points and outright lies, who's memories may also be fading, here are a couple of sample YouTube Videos to remind us of what he brought to "cable-whipped," content-starved progressive viewers.

Hypocrisy Watch YouTube video


Teabagging Tax Day YouTube video

Are you watching MSNBC during the daytime these days? Many of us aren't.

What about weekends, when Shuster, the consumate utility man, was often brought in for major breaking stories?



Early this week, Phil Griffin, Steve Capus and Jeffery Zucker of NBC Universal, along with CNN President Jon Klein and Comcast CEO Brian Roberts will receive a hard copy of our cover letter for our Petition to BRING BACK DAVID SHUSTER, and 12 pages worth of select comments left by MSNBC viewers (as well as many now former viewers)who think Phil Griffin's petty personal vendetta has gone on long enough and is not only at the expense of Shuster.

Please, if you, too, miss David Shuster's brand of assertive journalism, and agree that his overly long "suspension" has been to the detriment of progressive daytime viewers of MSNBC, sign the petition, and if you're also a Face Book user, join us here.

[malaise]

1. I miss Shuster

GEM$NBC is crazy to bench him.

[blucaller]

2. MSNBC thinks we're so "cable-whipped"

we will put up with anything they do. This one was a bridge too far for a lot of us Punish David Shuster With His Own Show!

[KharmaTrain]

3. Bottom Line...Shuster Violated His Contract

He does not deny he did a demo for a CNN...MSNBC's chief competitor while still under a written contract with the network. It's insubordination and enough of a breach of his contract that we're not hearing Mr. Shuster say he's going to court or trying to get an early release from the contract. I question what the hell his agent was doing or if he was out of the loop on this one. It's the agent's job to do the shopping for his client...especially if he or the client think their contract won't be renewed or to play "free agent" and put feelers out to the competition. This is how its usually done...it's why they are paid the big bucks.

This has NOTHING to do with Mr. Shuster's talents and I truly hope to see him back on the cables in the future. That said, what he did was stupid and from what I've read he neither denies or justifies doing the CNN demo. He's not being gagged, he's being held to the terms of a contract he freely signed and must honor. If GE/NBC had breached, you would hope his agent would have been in court either forcing MSNBC to restore him or get a release. That hasn't happened. Had Shuster been officially fired without any explanation, I would join those who are critical of Griffin and GE/NBC, but I don't see where they have done David wrong and David isn't providing any justifications. I'm sure when his contract is terminated...either by agreement or time, we'll get more from David. In the meantime I hope there's some kind of early release in the works for him, I don't see him being able to work for this network any longer. I'm surprised he's still on their softball team.

Others have been "put on the shelf" this way. CNN fired Aaron Brown who was unable to do any other television work for the next two or three years (it's expired now) to prevent him from being hired by another network. It's the trade off one makes as a contract provides a guaranteed income and position (most of us never have such a luxuary)...and in return, you provide your services exclusively for the person you're contracted with.

David will be back...just not at MSNBC and it may be a few months.

[malaise]

4. True

:hi:

[blucaller]

5. You have not seen his contract and he'd have been summarily fired if he'd violated it

He did no work for compensation for a competitor, including his flight to NYC, nor did he film a pilot for future airing. He is represented by N.S. Bienstock, a highly reputable firm and Griffin has acknowledged David Shuster did NOT violate his contract..
The non-compete clauses you refer to are common, even industry standard, for "talent" at the level of a Keith Olbermann or an Aaron Brown, but utility players like Shuster often have loopholes that allow them to cast for other opportunities, when their contracts are coming to an end and the management has informed their agents or them that they have no future at the network.
This is about Phil Griffin's pettiness. He tried desperately to fire Shuster during the 08 primaries,over the "pimping" flap, but was stopped in his tracks by Russert.

[KharmaTrain]

6. If His Contract Was Breached, He Should Sue...

I don't know the provisions of his agreement, neither do you, but from the surface we are allowed to view, the fact his agent isn't in court forcing an early release says he must feel this suspension...and that's what it is...not a termination (David's still getting a full salary) is justified. The silence says volumes in this situation.

His appearance for a competitor is the issue, not the compensation. It's his direct contact with a competitor. In sports, we're seeing a similar deal with Lebron James. He's still under contract with Cleveland until July 1 and while he can give vague indications of what he'd like to do, he can't openly negotiate with a team until July 1. What David did was essentially show up at the gym and do a try out for a division rival. Again...if GE/NBC had pulled him without just cause, you would hope the esteemed agent would be forcing the network to "play him or release him".

[blucaller]

7. The "reports" are from right-leaning media outlets

there was no "appearance," and he is still in negotiations.

[monmouth]

8. Shuster should replace Gregory on MTP. I'd watch if that happened...n/t

[blucaller]

9. With Campbell Brown's announced departure from CNN

Shuster seems like the obvious choice and there's of agreement if commenters on HuffPo have anything to say about it