Clinton Camp Threatens to Boycott NBC

Clinton Camp Threatens to Boycott NBC Debates Because of Comments About Chelsea Being "Pimped Out"

February 08, 2008 2:09 PM - On a conference call Friday afternoon, Clinton campaign communications director Howard Wolfson suggested the campaign might boycott NBC debates given a "pattern" of comments made by MSNBC hosts.

Wolfson was referring to MSNBC's Chris Matthews, anchor of "Hardball," and David Shuster, a correspondent and fill-in anchor on the cable network.

Shuster on Thursday, suggesting it was "a little bit unseemly to me that Chelsea's out there calling up celebrities, saying support my mom, and she's apparently also calling these super delegates," asked, "doesn't it seem like Chelsea's sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?"

Wolfson called the comment "disgusting" and "beneath contempt...It’s the kind of thing that should never be said on a national news network."

He said that Clinton has participated in "a number of debates on that network. We had agreed yesterday to do a debate on that network. And I at this point can’t envision a scenario where we would continue to engage in debates on that network given the comments that were made and have been made."

Referencing Matthews' comments and subsequent on-air apology last month, Wolfson asked, "I think at some point you really have to question whether or not there is a pattern here at this particular network where you have comments being made and then apologies given."