Media Matters, more than free speech

MSNBC is Media Matters’ bitch.

MediaMatters.org is the liberal media watchdog that calls out the nation’s press (mainly, TV journalists) who present information with an erroneous conservative spin or, even, things that just kind of offend them. When they complain about shenanigans on Fox News Channel, Bill O’Reilly goes on the air and, spittle flying, decries the group as a “far-left hate organization,” and that’s that. Fox News Channel doesn’t issue corrections, because Fox News Channel never makes mistakes.

MSNBC – well, that’s a different story:

* On Don Imus’ radio show, aired mornings on MSNBC, Imus makes his idiotic remark calling the Rutgers’ womens basketball team “nappy headed ho’s.” Media Matters complains. MSNBC axes Imus, and CBS radio soon follows suit. (Eventually, Imus returns to the airwaves, but not to MSNBC.)

* Chris Matthews kvetches and kvetches and kvetches about Hillary Clinton and, in one grandiosely condescending gesture, pinches her on her cheek while she’s on the campaign trail. Media Matters complains. Chris Matthews apologizes on-air the very same day.

* MSNBC’s pinch-hitter David Shuster, filling in as host on “Tucker” (though at this point, even Tucker Carlson himself is guest-hosting “Tucker”), tried yesterday to make a (not very) funny when he asks a guest if Chelsea Clinton is “being pimped out in some sort of weird way.” Media Matters complains. Shuster apologizes, but MSNBC suspended him today anyway.

MSNBC wants to be colorful and provocative and borderline irresponsible like Fox News, but Media Matters (and MSNBC’s occasional moral compass) won’t let it. Hey, guys: What’s wrong with just covering the campaign and leaving the juvenile jokes to the late-night comics? But, also: Hey, Media Matters: What’s wrong with the First Amendment?