Chuck Todd to Jeremy Scahill: "That was a cheap shot...you sullied my reputation"

[Becky72]

As you know, Jeremy Scahill called Chuck Todd on his past comment to the effect that the debate on torture investigations was just "cable catnip" not worth wasting time on. Now reports surfaced of a post-show exchange between Todd and Scahill. The latter told the Huffington POst:

Right as we walked off stage, he said to me "that was a cheap shot." I said "what are you talking about?" and he said "you know it." I then said that I monitor msm coverage very closely and asked him what was not true that I said on the show. He then replied: "that's not the point. You sullied my reputation on TV."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/23/jeremy-scahill-slams-chuc_n_266702.html

Glen Greenwald said about this (update #1):

Media stars are so unaccustomed to being held accountable for the impact of their behavior -- especially when they're on television -- that they consider it a grievous assault on their entitlement when it happens.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/08/23/joe_klein/index.html

[havocmom]

1. Explains the whole problem: They think reputation is more important than truth

Yep, that explains it all at the root.

[Skidmore]

4. Reputation is money....money from lucrative contracts to support

lavish lifestyles.

[Octafish]

63. ''Integrity is for paupers.''

Is how one famous GE correspondent allegedly put it.

[blm]

21. Yep - they are slaves to their own egos and their master's agenda. Truth isn't part of the equation.

At all.

[roguevalley]

57. waa waa chuckie baby. eat it.

[UrbScotty]

59. I miss Walter Cronkite even more now

[WeDidIt]

2. So now journalism is all about maintaining a public personae

like a politician.

[lonestarnot]

7. No, just maintaining a lavish lifestyle.

[Kalyke]

9. Most journalists make slave wages, fwiw.

The people who bring you your local news make about $20,000 to $25,000 to start - lower than teacher pay.

I had to give up that "lavish" lifestyle when I divorced so that I could afford to feed my son.

:eyes:

[lonestarnot]

12. And Chuck Todd?

Not! 25K Not!

[Bluenorthwest]

14. That is similar to my field. But that just shows how much a guy like

Chuck has to fear. He's got the golden goose, and if it fails him, it is hard to replace. He makes millions of dollars a year.
Many in my field are also frozen in mediocrity and slime in order to maintain their fortunate positions, although most are honorable people simply trying to make an almost impossible living. Guys like Chuck are utterly terrified of losing their high perches.

[havocmom]

8. 'Twas Edward R. Murrow that wept in this case,

instead of Jesus

[alsame]

3. LOL that Chuck thinks he has a good rep. I saw the Maher show and

Scahill was absolutely correct...too bad for Chuck if he can't handle the truth.

[eleny]

5. Chuck was in over his head Friday night

Sparring with Scahill on this topic is foolhardy.

I also thought the contrast between the two was interesting. Scahill appears sharp, wiry and street smart. Todd sounded soft and doughy in the head.

[Parker CA]

44. Doughy in the head. That's a great way to put it. He definitely couldn't handle the matchup with

Scahill to save his life. He was destroyed with facts.

[justinaforjustice]

56. Todd Overhead Since Leaving Election Statistics.

Chuck Todd is an abysmal political reporter/commentator, so he really didn't have a good reputation to lose. Scahills'
"cable catnip" comment was totally accurate, as Todd had just tried to pass off Blackwater's anti-Muslim assassination mercenaries as "something we've always done", as if that made it all OK.

[alstephenson]

62. I couldn't agree more. He's in WAY over his head.

He should have stuck to the pretty electoral maps.

[Voice for Peace]

6. boohoo.. scahill called out the whole panel, imo nt

[gratuitous]

10. How DARE Scahill? The absolute worst

Imagine quoting poor Chuckie's words back to him! What kind of a man is Jeremy Scahill, that he could stoop so low? I'm glad Chuckie regained his composure in time to whine to Scahill about his "cheap" shot.

[rurallib]

11. Todd should thank Scahill, assess his situation and resolve to become

a real reporter. He could use Scahill as a model.

[eleny]

16. Chuck Todd could even take a lesson from Bob Woodward's appearance with Matthews on Sunday

The panel was discussing newspapers and journalism. Woodward asserted that what we don't get from journalism in newspapers we'll get from books.

When people with tv power like Todd turn their backs on uncovering critical issues like torture, when they decide it's catnip and not news, then Scahill and others of his dedicated ilk will provide it. Softies like Todd better think twice before presuming they can take on those who do the work that toughens an individual.

[asjr]

Wasn't there a movie about an

evil doll named Chuckie?

[eleny]

34. Yeah, and he keeps coming back

:wow:

[Orsino]

13. Standard reponse to right-wingers:

You stop telling lies about us, and we'll stop telling the truth about you.

[RaleighNCDUer]

15. Let me see if I got this right - Chuck Todd said that

'the debate on torture investigations was just "cable catnip" not worth wasting time on', and Scahill mentioned that statement, whereupon Todd accused Scahill of sullying his reputation?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

As if just saying it in the first place hadn't done that already.

[berni_mccoy]

17. Truth Hurts, Doesn't it Chuck? Being force to look in the mirror can sting sometimes.

[AzDar]

18. Chuck's new moniker: Sully Todd

Yeah, I like that.

[endarkenment]

19. Scahill: standing almost alone speaking the truth. nt.

[waiting]

20. Jeremy Scahill has actual integrity

and Chuck Todd is a mouth piece with no integrity. he likes seeing his own face on tv and enjoys the sense of self importance it gives him. Scahill actually cares about what he is reporting to us. He is doing it to raise awareness and is pissed that the media is giving these guys a free pass to abuse our system. Todd is now a part of the abusive system, not a fair reporter of the facts.

[jotsy]

22. Welcome to Democratic Underground!

[barbtries]

23. really

who cares if it's true or not, you said it and now i'm crying NO FAIR

boo fucking hoo

[rucky]

24. Someone remind Chuck Todd that when he goes on TV...

he's being recorded.

[malaise]

25. I watched the on-air comment

It was beautiful. Go Jeremy - expose the hacks!!

[dem629]

26. I think it's odd that anyone takes either side here.

Chuck Tood is a lightweight, kind of a goofball, and very superficial in his reporting.

Jeremy Scahill is a morose, humorless, hand-wringing guy who takes himself VERY seriously.

Who would want to be around either of them?

[cliffordu]

28. I dig the truth. Scahill can be quite witty, in a bleached bone dry sort of way....

I'd hang with him in a minute.

Todd reminds me of a low level supervisor in some second rate insurance business.

To call torture investigations catnip is beyond the pale.

Scumsuckers like Todd are almost as bad as Beck. They are cut from the same self-aggrandizing bloated "frame the debate" shit stained cloth.

[dem629]

36. That's cool. We just look at this differently. No big deal.

[endarkenment]

30. wtf?

Todd is the typical 21st century media newsertainment stooge and Scahill is an actual investigative journalist, author of real books on actual important topics, a throwback to an earlier era when journalists thought that their job was to get at the truth.

Scahill, almost alone, has pushed the issue of private mercenary organizations, their role in Iraq and Afghanistan, their connections with Republican Party operatives, their connections with fundamentalist theocrats, and their intertwining with intelligence services. He has been out there on the ground in Iraq, in Yugoslavia and elsewhere looking into stuff people in power don't want looked at. And Todd? He's schmoozed his way to the top of the tv talkathon.

And you think this is a tweedle-dum tweedle-dee pox on both their houses situation? How sad for you.

[dem629]

35. Wow. What are you, Scahill's PR team?

I just don't get the infatuation with media types.

Why do you take this personally?

[Becky72]

38. Your criticism of Scahill was an ad-hominem attack

You told us how much you don't like the guy personally; but you did not address what matters: The content of his work. Do you like his relentless pursuit of justice against Blackwater?

[endarkenment]

40. I guess I think this issue, mercenary organizations and their political connections

is important. As I said, it is just sad for you that you do not see the difference between a committed passionate investigative journalist and a media buffoon.

[annabanana]

45. Why do you label Scahill a "media type"?

Just because you saw him on TV? He's worn out the shoe leather kiddo.

[jonnyblitz]

48. don't worry, Scahill will be hated here the next time he calls out

Obama on something. Scahill is very critical of the Obama administration.

[endarkenment]

52. So am I, on the same issues.

This isn't about what side Scahill is on, it is about the absurdity of equating both Scahill and Todd as 'media types'. One of these two is light as a feather, the other is an actual journalist.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

41. Their personalities are not the issue - the content of their reporting is

In the case of Todd, he doesn't feel it's necessary to report on torture investigations. He's no journalist. In the case of Scahill, he brings loads of content to the table. I don't care what either one of them is like in private. I care about how they behave as professionals. Todd is no professional while Scahill is a total professional.

[Uncle Joe]

50. True journalism is serious business, and I'm glad someone is taking the profession seriously.

Your criticism of someone being serious reminds me of the run up to the selection of 2000, when similar charges were leveled against Al Gore; "he was stiff, dull, and boring, taking him self way too seriously."

At that time the vast majority of the corporate media; which were and still are lightweight, thought the Presidency should be based on a subjective popularity contest as well, the slogan "Who would you rather have a beer with?" became a legitimate corporate media promoted determinant to fill the most powerful job in the land.

This kind of inane, stupidity by our so called "fourth estate", free press helped in keeping the race close enough for Bush; to steal, of course his administration became quickly drunk on power, corruption and cronyism, betraying our nation's intelligence service on several different levels, ignoring national security threats prior to 9/11, manipulating threats after-wards for political purposes, raping the Constitution, illegally wire-tapping the American People, firing U.S. Attorneys that didn't actively work to dis-empower the American Peoples' ability to vote, waging wars based on lies, weakening the nation's military by empowering leech like for profit mercenaries, abandoning an American City to drown while he partied, exploding the national debt while giving tax breaks to the most wealthy, etc. etc.

I believe it's way past time for serious journalism. Too many people have already died, become homeless and faced financial ruin, because the corporate media as an institution believed as apparently you do that "leisure should rule."

[omega minimo]

51. Yeah, investigating murderous mercenaries is "morose, humorless, hand-wringing"

"serious" business. :evilfrown: Who do you think you're kidding?

[alstephenson]

64. Um, his subject matter is pretty morose, humorless and VERY serious.

I found him very refreshing - a journalist that takes his job seriously.

[ashling]

27. Duel, duel !!!!!

Hey Chucky, maybe Zell Miller is available as a second.

may I suggest erroneous and misleading poll numbers at ten paces

:rofl:

[zonkers]

29. Well they can toss that shit to the curb. There's a new sheriff in town.

[FlyByNight]

31. Good for Mr. Scahill

Chuck Todd is an insular, beltway hack.

:thumbsup:

[Are_grits_groceries]

32. Gotta have a rep first Chuckie. nt

[Arkana]

33. Stick to numbers, Chuckles.

You were more credible that way--not to mention better at it.

Your political analysis is nothing short of tone-deaf.

[dgibby]

37. Chuckles is lying.

Everybody knows it's impossible to sully his rep. He's already done that to himself.

[ConnorMarc]

39. I Saw This Live As Well

Scahill seemed to have blood in his eyes.

And Todd took offense to being called out. He was visibily upset and lashed out almost immediately. I noticed Maher seemed to have picked up on it, but he didn't say or do anything, he just sat back and watched it unfold.

LOL!!

Didn't he listen to Capleton when he said that the TRUTH shouldn't be an OFFENSE?

As if the fact that Chuckie made a fool of himself for getting so upset about the truth, he had to continue it off air?

No Chuckie, you don't do that. You just lost major credibility points in my book.

Bad Chuckie...bad!


P.S. - I notice no response from dem629 concerning his appreciation for Scahill telling the truth about Blackwater.

[annabanana]

42. "Sullied" his REPUTATION!!??

Todd boy doesn't stray far from the beltway much, does he?

[Parker CA]

43. Scahill freakin rocked on that show! Destroyed Toadie and called him out on the facts, telling him

in response to Toadie's comment of "well you have your story line..." "It's the truth."

Chuck deserves to get tossed around. Maybe it will encourage him to report with a more critical eye. Maybe not.

[ConnorMarc]

46. HaHaHA! Yeah, I Saw That "Well You Have Your Storyline" BS...

That Todd spewed after he got taken to the woodshed.

What a bitch move.

I'm watching Scahill on MSNBC now, conversing with Contessa.

[Fleshdancer]

47. No one held a gun to Todd's head and told him to choose this profession

Todd wants to continue getting away with saying whatever opinion pops in his head as a political analyst, but enjoy the recognition of a full fledged reporter. He can't have it both ways and when he tries, people like Scahill will continue to call him on his BS.

Off topic: How freakin' hot was Scahill during this exchange?

[omega minimo]

49. Chuck Todd sullied his own reputation on the show.

His responses and body language clearly confirmed "Media stars are so unaccustomed to being held accountable for the impact of their behavior -- especially when they're on television -- that they consider it a grievous assault on their entitlement when it happens."


It's like watching a bunch of big dumb babies sit around in diapers saying Goo Goo Gah Gah and a smart baby that can talk and wipe his own ass shows up -- they don't know what to DO!!!

[stranger81]

53. Chuck Todd sullies his own reputation by refusing to do real journalism.

Scahill gave Todd exactly what he deserves -- these issues are not a f&*$ing joke, and they deserve to be taken seriously.

[johnfunk]

54. Call the WAAAAAHmbulance for Cheez E. Chuck!

And thank you, Jeremy Scahill, for some quality PWNage! :rofl:

[stranger81]

55. Everyone seemed genuinely angry during this episode (except Leno)

Scahill & Todd angry at each other over whether cable news should be Cronkite or Inside Edition, and Maher peeved at Leno for insinuating he receives dollar blow jobs. Good times.

[BlueIdaho]

58. Its about time someone took Fuckles down a peg or two

What a pompous ass wipe that strutting windbag is!


edit = typo

[EFerrari]

60. I didn't think it was possible to damage Todd's rep. n/t

[librechik]

61. Get out the fainting couch--Miss Todd has the vapors!

didn't she know she was playing in the Big League?

[flyarm]

65. Fuck Chuck Todd...I hold him just as responsible for the sexual abuse of children in Iraq!

He and his cohorts are all responsible for witholding this info from the American people!

They use our air waves for free..we the people allow it so they will tell the fucking truth..it is part and parcel of our constitution..and when they abdicate their responsibility to the American people ..they are complicit in the crimes!

Fuck You Todd and Fuck MSNBC!..they have been on my child block for over a year now and they will remain so!

[sattahipdeep]

66. Jeremy Scahill has the courage to go after the bastards.

Jay Leno, also a guest on Maher's show, praised Scahill for his
work on Blackwater but joked that it may be putting his life in
danger. "Why are you still alive? Are you paranoid?" said Leno



Jeremy Scahill :applause: :patriot: