Martin Bashir Resigns From MSNBC

Sarah Palin has gotten her scalp. Martin Bashir today announced his resignation from MSNBC. Mediaite has his statement:

After making an on-air apology, I asked for permission to take some additional time out around the Thanksgiving holiday. Upon further reflection, and after meeting with the President of MSNBC, I have tendered my resignation. It is my sincere hope that all of my colleagues, at this special network, will be allowed to focus on the issues that matter without the distraction of myself or my ill-judged comments. I deeply regret what was said, will endeavor to work hard at making constructive contributions in the future and will always have a deep appreciation for our viewers – who are the smartest, most compassionate and discerning of all television audiences. I would also wish to express deepest gratitude to my immediate colleagues, and our contributors, all of whom have given so much of themselves to our broadcast.

MSNBC, which had been mum about Bashir's recent absence other than to say he was on vacation, has issued a brief statement from president Phil Griffin: "Martin Bashir resigned today, effective immediately. I understand his decision and I thank him for three great years with MSNBC. Martin is a good man and respected colleague – we wish him only the best."

Cartwheels are ensuing on Breitbart, Twitchy, and other Tea Party sites which have been demanding Bashir's firing for several weeks.

Palin Accepts Martin Bashir's Apology

Palin was on Fox News Sunday this morning where she said that she accepts the apology of MSNBC host Martin Bashir. Then she went on with her usual Mama Grizzly routine.

“As for the networks condoning those type of statements—because there’s been no punishment of a fella who said these words—that’s hypocrisy, that’s a given, though, when a conservative woman says something that they take offense, they usually just kind of poo-poo it, laugh it off as no big deal,” Palin said. “As for personally taking shots—everybody in life takes shots. You have a decision in life when you take a shot: are you going to become bitter or better? In a case like this: I don’t have to accept his words, his vile, evil comments, they don’t have to affect me. I move on and charge forth.”

“However, if Mr. Bashir, or anybody else in this media elite bubble that they put themselves in were to attack someone who is defenseless, like a vulnerable child, who does not have that podium, that microphone that god has blessed me to be able to express my opinion, if they don’t have that type of platform to defend themselves—well, if you want to see a Mama Grizzly get riled up and slap that person down, then you come after that vulnerable child,” Palin said. “In this case, he didn’t come after a vulnerable child. I can defend myself.”

Breitbart Headline Of The Day

Palin is really milking this one.

Palin PAC Writes To MSNBC: Why Haven't You Disciplined Martin Bashir?

"We would now like to know what disciplinary measures you are taking about Martin Bashir’s appalling statement on his MSNBC show last Friday that someone should defecate and/or urinate in Governor Palin’s mouth because she used the word 'slavery' to describe the burden the federal debt will have on future generations of Americans. You fired Don Imus for offensive language in describing the Rutgers University Women’s Basketball team, you suspended Alec Baldwin, and yet nothing has happened to Mr. Bashir. Are we to assume then, that disciplinary procedures at your network take place based on the target of the remarks rather than the remarks themselves?

"Last week, MNSBC suspended Alec Baldwin's show, Up With Alec Baldwin, for two weeks after Baldwin was caught on camera using anti-gay slurs at a photographer on the streets of New York. Mr. Baldwin’s anti-gay slur was not uttered while he was on the air on your network, but Mr. Bashir’s violent rhetoric was. Americans deserve to know that your network doesn’t condone violent and hateful rhetoric directed at anyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or political persuasion." - Sarah PAC, in a letter sent to the presidents of NBC News and MSNBC.

Martin Bashir Apologizes To Sarah Palin

On Friday, MSNBC host Martin Bashir suggested that Sarah Palin, who had compared slavery to the national debt, would never truly understand slavery unless she too had someone shit and piss in her mouth, as was done to some slaves. Right wing sites went ballistic and there were many calls for MSNBC to fire Bashir. Today he apologized. An excerpt:

Last Friday, on this broadcast, I made some comments which were deeply offensive and directed at Governor Sarah Palin. I wanted to take this opportunity to say sorry to Mrs. Palin and to also offer an unreserved apology to her friends and family, her supporters, our viewers, and anyone who may have heard what I said. My words were wholly unacceptable. They were neither accurate, nor fair. They were unworthy of anyone who would claim to have an interest in politics. And they have brought shame upon my friends and colleagues at this network, none of whom were responsible for the things that I said.

The full apology is below.

More Controversy For MSNBC

As you can see by the headlines above, all of Teabagistan is in an uproar tonight after MSNBC host Martin Bashir mocked Sarah Palin's comparison of the national debt to slavery. After frankly cataloging some of the vile abuses that slaves suffered under one well-known slave owner, Bashir suggested that Palin could never understand really understand slavery without the same being done to her. Here's the clip. Did he go too far?

Martin Bashir Vs Larry Klayman

Start at around the 4:00 mark.