Will NBC’s Sex Scandals Force Dems to Cancel MSNBC Debate?

October 19th, 2019 4:00 PM

The headline over at NBC News was succinct: 

MSNBC, Washington Post to co-host November Democratic presidential debate 
Eight candidates appear to have qualified so far for the matchup in Georgia next month.

The NBC story reported this:

MSNBC and The Washington Post will co-host the fifth Democratic presidential primary debate in Georgia next month, MSNBC announced Tuesday.

The debate will take place in prime time on Nov. 20, and will air live on MSNBC and Radio One. It will also stream on MSNBC.com and the Post's website, as well as across mobile devices via NBC News and the Post's mobile apps and Urban One's digital platforms.

…An unofficial survey by NBC News shows eight candidates appear to have qualified already — former Vice President Joe Biden, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, California Sen. Kamala Harris, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, billionaire Tom Steyer, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and entrepreneur Andrew Yang.

Former Housing Secretary Julián Castro, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke all appear to have reached the donor requirement, but have not met the polling requirements.

To be clearly understood, the Democratic National Committee accepted an offer from NBC to co-sponsor a Democratic debate with the Post. And a minimum of eight Democrats have agreed to participate with the possibility of another three reaching the polling requirements in time.

Now. What else is sharing the headlines? Here are but a sample.

Business Insider: “Ronan Farrow and NBC: a timeline of the 2-year conflict between the Pulitzer-winning journalist and the network accused of trying to kill his Harvey Weinstein exposé.” 

HuffPost: “How Top NBC Executives Quashed The Bombshell Harvey Weinstein Story: Reporter Ronan Farrow ultimately took the piece to The New Yorker after facing months of opposition at his home network.”     

Variety: “Ann Curry Warned NBC of Sex Harassment Claim Against Matt Lauer (Report).” 

NPR: “Matt Lauer Accused Of Rape In New Book; Former NBC Star Denies 'False Stories.’”   

The Washington Examiner: “NBC News chief Andy Lack was 'unrelenting' in pursuing female subordinates.” 

Fox News: Tom Brokaw accuser: Everybody at NBC News knew Matt Lauer was ‘dangerous.’” 

One could go on - and on and on - with the recent avalanche of stories like this about the personnel and work environment of NBC.

Now take a look at this story - a September, 2019 article in Elle magazine written by Senator Kamala Harris.  The headline: “Equal Justice Under Law? Prove It. Investigate Kavanaugh.”  

Harris writes:

Our society is littered with glaring examples of the rich and powerful facing minimal consequences for their actions – often until their secrets are unearthed and public outcry ensues. In some cases, the rich and powerful not only escape accountability altogether, but are handed even more power despite what they have done. 

…..If we want to live in a country where women are believed and given access to the justice they deserve, we must roll up our sleeves and get to work holding our leaders accountable—especially those who serve on the highest court in our land.

It can safely be said that NBC executives are among the “rich and powerful.” And note again that Harris made a point of saying this: 

In some cases, the rich and powerful not only escape accountability altogether, but are handed even more power despite what they have done.

Being the television network handed co-hosting duties for the Democratic presidential debate is the very definition of having power. In the case of NBC, awash in serious and multiple accusations of either quashing the Harvey Weinstein story or closing eyes to multiple accusations against their longtime morning host and their own chief executive, the network has been “handed even more power despite what they have done.

And Harris? Not a peep from her about MSNBC as the co-host of the next debate. Nor has there been the slightest move from the Democrat’s party chairman Tom Perez or any of Harris’s fellow candidates to remove MSNBC from its role as a co-host.

All of which is to say, that if someone in the world of Leftist State Media - the ally of the Democratic Party —  is accused of exactly what these very Democratic candidates insist is such a big deal, the very backbone of the Me Too movement, well…..silence. Total silence.

And for that matter, the rest of the media has gone dark on this subject. Only Tucker Carlson has raised the subject, and interestingly it was in an interview with ex-NBCer Megyn Kelly.  And in that interview Kelly called for an outside investigator to examine NBC’s actions. Do Democrats agree? Not a word.

So apparently the debate partnership between the Democratic Party and NBC will go on. With all invited candidates, including Kamala Harris participating.

And silent as church mice about NBC’s …er…problem.