Martin Bashir quits MSNBC after Palin comments
Martin Bashir’s comments included him calling Sarah Palin “America’s resident dunce” and a “world class idiot”
British journalist Martin Bashir has resigned from U.S. news network MSNBC after he made on-air comments calling for someone to defecate in former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s mouth.
Bashir quit Wednesday after his Nov. 15 comments which included him calling Palin “America’s resident dunce” and a “world class idiot,” who was “scraping the barrel of her long deceased mind.”
He then suggested that her “rank ignorance” of the history of slavery made her an “outstanding candidate” for a dose of discipline from that era, when some slave owners would punish slaves by forcing another slave to defecate in their mouths.
Bashir announced his resignation on Wednesday, telling U.S. news website Mediaite that he had tendered his resignation.
“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,” he added.
MSNBC president Phil Griffin said in a released statement: “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.”
Palin responded Thursday by dismissing the attacks, saying she is “used to it.”
“At this point, I’m used to it. That’s kind of a sad state of affairs to have to admit that I am used to it,” Palin said on Fox News’s “Fox & Friends.”
