Martin Bashir Resigns From MSNBC After Disgusting Slam on Sarah Palin
Martin Bashir resigned from MSNBC Wednesday after making controversial and offensive comments about former Governor Sarah Palin several weeks ago. The host suggested that the former Vice Presidential candidate should be subjected to one of the most foul slave punishments- one slave would defecate in the other's mouth.
Martin Bashir resignation came after a two week vacation around Thanksgiving. Although the host apologized for his comments on-air in a following show, MSNBC took no immediate disciplinary action. As public pressure mounted, Bashir met with network president Phil Griffin, and shortly after decided to resign.
"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 of my ill-judged comments," Bashir said in a statement.
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"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," he added.
Griffin called Bashir a "good man and [a] respected colleague" in his own statement confirming the resignation.
Bashir's vitriolic statements came Nov. 15 after Palin compared the U.S. national debt to slavery. The host called her an "idiot" and a "dunce" and brought up the harsh treatment of slave owner Thomas Thistlewood, who created a punishment called "Derby's dose" which involved one slave defecating in another's mouth.
"When Ms. Palin invokes slavery, she doesn't just prove her rank ignorance. She confirms if anyone truly qualified for a dose of discipline from Thomas Thistlewood, she would be the outstanding candidate," Bashir said.
After the uproar and condemnation by the public, Palin called for MSNBC to discipline Bashir, but doubted anything would be done.
"That's hypocrisy," she told "Fox News Sunday" in November. "They usually just kind of pooh-pooh it, laugh it off. It's no big deal [to them]."
The British-born journalist had been at MSNBC since 2010 as a political commentator and substitute host. Before that he was known in the U.K. for interviews with Michael Jackson and Princess Diana.
Bashir's resignation comes after MSNBC parted ways with actor Alec Baldwin and his show on the network. When the actor got into a fight with paparazzi in November he was accused of using an anti-gay slur; MSNBC fired him shortly afterwards.
