‘You Don’t Get to Tell Other People What Racism Is’: Conservative Pundit Sparks Fireworks on MSNBC
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‘This Is Not Racism’ Insists Conservative Matt Schlapp
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Plays the Victim Card
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Calls Mount on Twitter for MSNBC to Ban Schlapp
Conservative pundit Matt Schlapp is a frequent commentator on MSNBC. While the network rarely mentions it, Schlapp is also head of the organization that hosts the annual CPAC convention, where far right wing conservatives and Republicans come together and freely trash liberals and Democrats.Â
Schlapp’s commentary on White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s Tuesday attack on reporter April Ryan drew the ire of Dr. Jason Johnson, a professor of political science and the politics editor for The Root.Â
Spicer treated Ryan, a well-respected journalist, like a child, at one point scolding her for shaking her head, despite outright lying to her during the Tuesday press briefing while accusing her of not reporting the facts. His treatment of Ryan was so offensive Hillary Clinton in a Tuesday evening speech came to her defense.
MSNBC’s Chris Jansing played a clip of Spicer talking with another far right wing conservative, Hugh Hewitt, who frequently appears on MSNBC also. “To suggest somehow that because of her race or her gender that she’d be treated differently is, I think, frankly, demeaning to her,” Spicer said of Ryan.
Johnson responded, saying, “I don’t believe him. I think it was offensive. I think it was inappropriate. I think it was racist. I think it was sexist.â€
He also recounted examples of the Trump administration, including Spicer on another occassion, treating people of color disrespectfully.
Schlapp, not surprisingly, didn’t appreciate Ryan’s questioning of Spicer, even though that literally is her job. He labeled it “too feisty.”Â
He also insisted Spicer’s treatment of Ryan is “not racism.”
Johnson replied, “You don’t get to tell other people what racism is!â€
“You don’t either!†was Schlapp’s response.
“You don’t experience it!†Johnson reminded him.
A veritable verbal “fight” broke out, with Jansing forced to repeatedly urge them to calm down.
“This is the exact kind of aggression and lack of respect that we’re talking about,†Johnson observed.
Schlapp then pulled the victim card.
“I think our country’s in a bad place because people like me are constantly shouted down for being racist, misogynist, hate his person, hate that person.”
Matt Schlapp: “This is not racism”@DrJasonJohnson: “You don’t get to tell other people what racism is…you don’t experience it” pic.twitter.com/WDp8miDtBs
— Leanne Naramore (@LeanneNaramore) March 29, 2017
Minutes later, Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart, also an MSNBC contributor, posted this to Twitter:
Matt Schlapp swears Steve Bannon doesn’t believe “alt-right” means what it means. https://t.co/OJFFnwgw9T pic.twitter.com/5kY597Eoq5
— Jonathan Capehart (@CapehartJ) March 29, 2017
On Twitter, there are many calls for Schlapp t be banned from returning to MSNBC, and rightly so.
Matt #Schlapp has ALWAYS been a #douchebag especially to nonrepublicans. He’s a nasty tool of @GOP @MSNBC needs to stop booking him https://t.co/4584DPjpL4
— NotMyPresident (@carolealana) March 29, 2017
@ChrisJansing Jason Johnson is right – he has to call out bigotry – Matt Schlapp is a clueless HACK. Stop putting him on @MSNBC
— Kirsten Rota (@MrsRota1) March 29, 2017
can we call a moratorium on white guys – esp conservative ones – lecturing black ppl on what racism is? https://t.co/NWhwVirgWy
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) March 29, 2017
@mschlapp I do not understand why “liberal biased media” keeps putting pieces of shit on air like Mike Schlapp. @MSNBC #PurePropaganda
— Brian Brigham (@UnwantedLiberal) March 29, 2017
@MSNBC Matt Schlapp unpleasant to watch, wants to create a show, not serious, truthful. Stop inviting. Will boycott.
— marymargaret (@marymargaret528) March 29, 2017
@MSNBC when Matt Schlapp tells a black man that he knows what racism is and is like, I draw the line. Please remove.
— marymargaret (@marymargaret528) March 29, 2017
what matt schlapp did to jason johnson on @msnbc perfectly illustrates the pervasive filth that led to #seanspicer mistreating #aprilryan
— J. McCavendish (@limitlesskait) March 29, 2017
sorry @MSNBC I can’t watch anymore if your gonna have Matt Schlapp and his #GOP BS on your air.
— cubs in 7 (@bleacherbum54) March 29, 2017
@MSNBC @NBCNews I’m not watching psychos & liars- Matt Schlapp,really?! #Resist
— Marie Ramsey (@Scairp114) March 29, 2017
@MSNBC take Matt Schlapp off tv. He is a waste of time and racist. So tired of white men shaking their heads at matters of race.
— Matt (@DormobileBus) March 29, 2017
.@MSNBC You guys need to get rid of Schlapp. NOW.
— Aggie Bee (@AgsBee) March 29, 2017
@CapehartJ That. Was. Incredible. Schlapp should never make an appearance on #MSNBC again. He’s rude AF ðŸ˜
— NastierTheBetter✊🼠(@anidomi1) March 29, 2017
@MSNBC I’ll stop watching you if you have RW nutjobs like Matt Schlapp on ur programs. U help them push Trump’s destructive agenda on US!!!!
— Pam G. (@Megson310) March 29, 2017
Matt Schlapp on MSNBC a few min ago showed the world how conservatives choose to behave & treat others with whom they disagree. No respect.
— Jody Chambers (@JodieChambersMA) March 29, 2017
Matt Schlapp is a fucking blowhard. Don’t put him on the air. He just lies. @msnbc
— Brian C. Bock (@BrianCBock) March 29, 2017
@MSNBC Keep booking liars. Matt Schlapp CLICK
NOT WATCHING THIS— DaleWillResist (@awelab1956) March 29, 2017
@MSNBC you put Matt Schlapp on tv I instantly change the channel
— Calvin Schlotfeldt (@CalvinSchlo13) March 29, 2017
@MSNBC: stop booking Matt Schlapp. He is rude to and dismissive of your women journalists. If I see him I will change the channel to @CNN
— Valerie Dougherty (@ValerieDougher7) March 29, 2017
@MSNBC Matt Schlapp is trumps number one Lackey in media. He is so full of crap I bet his eyes are brown.
— Jamieloathestrump (@IrwinJames327) March 29, 2017
Please take Matt Schlapp off MSNBC. My BS meter is pegging.
— The Avenger (@Avemger_1) March 29, 2017
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