As you know, our homegirl Karen has spent the past two afternoons filling in as host on Bashir Live at MSNBC. Fans hailed the choice. Some live-tweeted which was helpful to folks like me who were stuck at work. It provided a chance to take an occasional peek. Fortunately, I long ago set my DVR to record this show (and others) in case Karen might be on a panel. So I have spent two evenings watching my favorite commentator running two shows on her own and found her impressive. More than impressive. By mid-way through today’s show the word “expert” kept leaping into my mind.
Tweets during and after the first show on Thursday were largely encouraging. The “Finney Fans” were high-fiving her in all of their genius 140 or < character ways. When I came home from an extra-long day today to look at the Twitter feed, I saw something quite different. It looked like someone had taken a rake and knocked a wasp’s nest off of a tree branch. Negativity rained down like someone had opened a faucet. It may be that this Politico article had something to do with the gathering of the haters.
Democratic strategists as MSNBC anchors
By DYLAN BYERS|
3/22/12 3:55 PM EDT
MSNBC has no problem letting viewers know where its political ideologies lie, but I think it’s worth noting that Karen Finney, Democratic strategist and network contributor, is currently filling in as anchor on the Martin Bashir program.
Since I am not the resident “wingnut site snoop” (Jen holds that post), I do not know if there were other, similar articles or whether Byers simply shot around the interwebs like buckshot. Whatever it was, that swarm on her Twitter feed today came as a shock to me as well as to the many homegirls and homeboys who regularly visit there and encourage her efforts.
Somewhere along the line I saw the term “race-baiter” used. Really? Are they talking about this Karen Finney? Race-baiter? I can think of no term less appropriate.
I watched yesterday’s Bashir Live twice. I have watched today’s show only once, but is this the Karen Finney who has so angered so many? Seriously?
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As is her wont, she gave Rick Santorum credit for something well done. She is not a Santorum supporter, but she always gives credit where it is due. She asked an honest question on every decent person’s mind: “Where is Zimmerman?” It is a fair question. I just wonder what, in this segment, angered so many and where was the race-baiting?
In my book, Karen has done an extraordinary job over these two days and well deserves her own show. Her research is deep and broad, her views are circumspect, and her presentation is clear. She has a lot of charisma.
In the end what does an anchor do? It holds fast while the currents swirl around it. Karen held strong for two days while the tides built around her. She was genial, courteous, artful, and fair. I say. “Give her a forum of her own!” Five Stars, Karen. Wonderful! (Oh! Wait! the code won’t give stars. Well then I think you deserve diamonds!) ♦♦♦♦♦
Your humble wingnut snoop didn’t see any similar articles, but there were quite a few tweets where the term “race baiting” was used.
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Thank you for the research. Yes, I saw those tweets. They continue, and I am mystified as to what motivated that. It seems to me that people pick up these comments from each other and pass them on without having actually watched the show or heard her words.
It’s the same thing they did to Hillary in 2008. Without bothering to listen to her words, they commented – called names.
Like her former boss, Karen is brilliant, courteous, and honest. Her enemies take her questions and turn them into statements. They will not get away with that dishonesty around here.
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It’s hard to read a tweet and figure out exactly what’s on someone’s mind. Twitter doesn’t exactly give you much room to explain yourself.
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Right – which could be the reason they use it. They don’t HAVE to explain themselves. I have used “tweetlonger” – especially in defending Karen.
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