TPM LiveWire
MSNBC Host Apologizes For Using Fake Palin Pics
Rachel Slajda | November 16, 2009, 10:53AM
MSNBC host Dylan Ratigan
Share
Send to a friend!
MSNBC anchor Dylan Ratigan apologized this morning for using fake photos of Sarah Palin last Friday in a segment about the former Alaska governor, and for not acknowledging their inauthenticity.
The pictures, which were widely circulated during last year's presidential campaign, show Palin's head photoshopped onto other women's bodies. In one, "Palin" is wearing an American flag bikini and holding a rifle; in the other, the faux Palin is wearing a tight black miniskirt.
"I want to apologize to Gov. Palin and all our viewers. On Friday, in a very misguided attempt to have some fun in advance of Palin's upcoming book, Going Rogue, our staff mistakenly used some clearly photoshopped images of Ms. Palin without any acknowledgment, and on behalf of the show I would like to say that this was completely unacceptable. We should have never used those photos in the first place," Ratigan said today. "I apologize."
He also said the staff has taken "measures to make sure it will never happen again."
In the segment, which explored "What it is about Palin that drives America wild," the miniskirt image appeared when Ratigan said "She's hot." The bikini image, juxtaposed with one of former Vice President Cheney holding a rifle, comes as Ratigan said, "She's not Bush."
Watch:
NewsBusters reported the misstep on Friday and demanded an apology.
The mistake comes on the heels of a Fox News incident that forced an apology from Sean Hannity. In that incident, Hannity used misleading photographs in a segment about Michele Bachmann's recent tea party on the Capitol steps, showing pictures from the better-attended 9/12 rally two months ago. Hannity didn't acknowledge that he was showing an entirely different event and, after he was called out by the Daily Show's Jon Stewart, he apologized on air.
Join the Conversation!
Leave a comment
Follow us!
Most Popular
- Colbert: 'Sarah Palin Is A F--king Retard' (VIDEO)
- Jon Stewart: Obama's Teleprompter Is No Match For Palin's 'Mavericky Notecard Hand-Scribbled Buzzwords' (VIDEO)
- Palin Advocates War With Iran After Apparently Misunderstanding Buchanan Column (VIDEO)
- Cheney, Ridge Pioneered Miranda Attack On Obama
- At A Whole New Level
- Gibbs Mocks Palin And Writes Shopping List On Hand (VIDEO)
- Cheney, Ridge Pioneered Miranda Attack On Obama
- What's the Deal with The Ryan Budget?
- Backhanded Compliment
- Is Ryan's Social Security Slashing Budget Like Contract With America?
- Gibbs Mocks Palin And Writes Shopping List On Hand (VIDEO)
- Palin Advocates War With Iran After Apparently Misunderstanding Buchanan Column (VIDEO)
- House GOP-ers: Start Over And We'll Come To The Table. White House: No.
- Bachmann: 'Wean Everybody Off' Social Security And Medicare
- Jon Stewart: Obama's Teleprompter Is No Match For Palin's 'Mavericky Notecard Hand-Scribbled Buzzwords' (VIDEO)
- Ben Nelson Helps GOP Block Obama NLRB Nominee
- Cheney, Ridge Pioneered Miranda Attack On Obama
- Allegations Against Leader Cause Turmoil In CA GOP
- MAY DAY
- Super Bowl Commercials Throw Women to the Wolves
TPM Stories Now Surging on Digg.com
TPM Top News
© 2009 TPM Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Dorn76
November 16, 2009 11:09 AM
Way to claim the high ground, MSNBC.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
masanf
November 16, 2009 11:42 AM in reply to Dorn76
Way to claim the high ground? I honestly hope that is sarcasm. The high ground would have been not using photos that were pointed out as fakes over a year ago.
Anyone claiming MSNBC is not every bit as partisan as Fox is a partisan hack himself.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Shii
November 16, 2009 11:44 AM in reply to masanf
It is sarcasm. You should check your detector.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Middle Road
November 16, 2009 12:42 PM in reply to masanf
MSNBC is as partisan as Fox? Really? Three hours of Scarborough in the morning tells me otherwise.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
hotspur
November 16, 2009 1:18 PM in reply to masanf
"Anyone claiming MSNBC is not every bit as partisan as Fox..."
Um, no. Fox used footage of a larger rally to falsely report on a rally they *wished* were larger. Their purpose was to dupe the public, Soviet-style. MSNBC, in a lame attempt to be amusing, used "photos that were pointed out as fakes over a year ago." Right: Everyone knows those photos are Internet fakes. No attempt was made to dupe anyone.
MSNBC = Fox? A false equivalence.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
lousgirl84
November 16, 2009 1:48 PM in reply to masanf
Spare us your indignation! At least they stepped up to the plate. MSNBC is not as partisan as Fox. Have you ever watched Morning Joe?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
rmichelson
November 16, 2009 12:14 PM in reply to Dorn76
Ratigan ought to be fired. This level of incompetence at a national news organization should be unacceptable. I don't need an apology. None of us need an apology. What we need is real news, real reporting.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
readerOfTeaLeaves
November 16, 2009 12:53 PM in reply to rmichelson
I can only conclude that you have not been paying attention to the news for the past few years.
In 2007, it would have taken $1.4 trillion to pay off all the mortgages in the subprime mess.
Instead, the US taxpayer is underwriting at least $14 trillion -- most of it going to banksters and insurance fraud (i.e., 'swaps' on derivatives).
And Ratigan is obviously a very smart guy.
Which is precisely the kind of person that this nation needs reporting on the nexis between economic corruption and the elected and appointed officials who enable it.
In media, I doubt that anyone reaches Ratigan's level without a fair amount of smarts, work ethic, and ego. It comes with the territory; why would that surprise you?
You expect fish to sprout feathers sometime soon?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
kenga
November 16, 2009 12:59 PM in reply to rmichelson
Well, in his defense, the man's job is to attract eyes which view the commercial advertisements that pay for everything that MSNBC does.
Controversy, like sex and violence, sells.
And now he's still talking, on TV, about that one program.
Maybe it's performance art - a representation of the typical non-apology apology and its corrosive influence on civil discourse within broadcast media.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Texar
November 16, 2009 4:51 PM in reply to rmichelson
Yeah, that old school journalism we all enjoyed during Cheney/Bush. That was the golden age of reportage, no doubt about it.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
readerOfTeaLeaves
November 16, 2009 12:47 PM in reply to Dorn76
You are evidently amused by your own sarcasm, which makes you 'too clever by half'.
Someone once advised me that if I ever needed to 'eat crow', it is a dish best served early while still warm. What Ratigan did here is what more in the media SHOULD do, but too often fail to do.
He admitted an error promptly, without making it a drama, and he **stuck to the facts**.
That is 'Leadership 101' and rather than insult Ratigan, you'd be wiser to watch and learn from what he's done here. It took guts and integrity.
I'm a huge fan of the program, and this only gives me more reason to respect what this show is trying to do: connect the dots between a completely corrupt corporatocracy and it's minions in elected offices.
Anyone else here who's never owned up to a mistake or a misjudgement is welcome to keep throwing stones at Ratigan. The people with smarts will learn from him.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Dorn76
November 16, 2009 1:09 PM in reply to readerOfTeaLeaves
All I'm saying is Sarah Palin caricatures herself just fine, without an assist from Ratigan.
Admitting ridiculous mistakes is what passes for Leadership?
And I'm glad to hear you like the show. You're a small group, but you exist. Kudos.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
readerOfTeaLeaves
November 16, 2009 1:53 PM in reply to Dorn76
I may be part of a small group.
Maybe 'size' isn't what matters as much as WHO is watching? All those in my network who are watching this program spend a lot of their time and energy on business-related decisions.
They require verifiable, reliable, in-depth information and solid analysis.
Does that make them a 'minority'?
I'm not claiming my acquaintance are 'typical', but all are people who have had to clean up some pretty unpleasant situations at one time or another. I doubt they'll be too bothered by the fact that "Morning Meeting" made a mistake; what will matter to them IMVHO is how quickly the show addresses it and moves on.
Because that's what these people have to do weekly.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Andreams
November 16, 2009 11:09 AM
Serious journalism seems to be a lost art. I'm so tired of mindless spouting on both sides.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
readerOfTeaLeaves
November 16, 2009 12:33 PM in reply to Andreams
I can only assume that you don't actually watch Ratigan's "Morning Meeting". The guests are generally well-informed and articulate, and Ratigan keeps the conversations focused, and on-task.
You're missing some excellent economic analysis and an invaluable perspective if you don't watch this show.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
NuttyProf
November 16, 2009 11:18 AM
Ratigan should stick to business reporting/ranting. Palin is overexposed.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
ondioline
November 16, 2009 11:50 AM in reply to NuttyProf
Or maybe he should just shut his trap. He seems to think he's so clever... "This wasn't capitalism... It was a cancer on capitalism!" "It's a money party, it's a money party!"
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
readerOfTeaLeaves
November 16, 2009 1:05 PM in reply to ondioline
I have to admit that this thread is genuinely fascinating.
I mostly conclude that whoever is writing the negative comments has very little experience in the corporate world, or in large institutions.
The people who don't get promoted and don't make a difference sit around and take pot-shots at those with enough guts and integrity to suck it up and do the right thing.
Businesses, over time, rise and fall on whether they can maintain trust, which is built on integrity.
Ratigan is a lesson in what people can accomplish if they are tough, honest, and can act even on unpleasant, embarrassing, depressing information where they have to admit to their mistakes.
Honestly, some of the commenters here should take him as a role model.
It's always easy to take accolades and claim credit.
Admitting mistakes -- publicly! -- is really tough, and companies and organizations go into long-term tailspin when they lack the confidence, vision, guts, and determination to do what Ratigan has done.
This is a life-lesson for those with enough curiosity and courage to recognize it.
We **all** make mistakes.
The people worth knowing are those big enough to learn from them.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Dorn76
November 16, 2009 1:10 PM in reply to readerOfTeaLeaves
You mostly make a shitload of assumptions.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
midnight rambler
November 16, 2009 1:45 PM in reply to readerOfTeaLeaves
Sorry, but this is BS. The people who get promoted in business are the ones who don't put up stupid racist/sexist cartoons on their cubicle in the first place, not the ones who do so and then apologize for them. The latter is essentially what Ratigan was doing here. It's not just an error, it's grossly stupid. It's not worth admiring him because he apologized for it, just because the jackasses at Faux wouldn't have even apologized for something like this.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
readerOfTeaLeaves
November 16, 2009 1:57 PM in reply to midnight rambler
I can honestly state that I have never met anyone who reached a position of responsibility without making a mistake or two along the way.
Some people learn from their mistakes.
Others keep making them.
Which is why watching humans can be so interesting.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
btbradley86
November 16, 2009 12:07 PM
Are there any NEWS channels anymore. Dont get me wrong, Im glad Ive got somewhere to here a liberal viewpoint, but sometimes I feel like a cop..."Just the facts please."
Poor Kronkite had to see it devolve into editorial page journalism.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
lousgirl84
November 16, 2009 1:52 PM in reply to btbradley86
Not in this country? Try the BBC
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
roxanne
November 16, 2009 12:14 PM
I don't watch MSNBC during the day. I'd suggest you all do the same.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
VivaAmerica!
November 16, 2009 12:35 PM
Uhm, didn't everyone alreadt know these were fake photos?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Darrius
November 16, 2009 1:27 PM in reply to VivaAmerica!
The photos may have been fake, but the mini-skirt picture is not misleading. I repeat, THE MINI-SKIRT PHOTO IS NOT MISLEADING.
Have you guys seen the November, 14, 2009 Newsweek cover. Sarah Palin is on the cover in short is running shoes...and she is flat-out HOT, pure and simple.
http://www.newsweek.com/
(pic is about halfway down on the left. It is a small pic)
She doesn't have any business being President of the USA, or or the PTA, for that matter. But a woman looking like that after having 4 or 5 babies is just impressive.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
lousgirl84
November 16, 2009 1:49 PM in reply to Darrius
There are a lot of hot women out there - who on top of being hot have brains. I guess if the neck down is all you care about, then have at it.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
readerOfTeaLeaves
November 16, 2009 2:03 PM in reply to lousgirl84
Bingo.
There are women who are 'hot' AND ALSO have brains.
Palin is very easily underestimated by the left.
But I don't think she has any real loyalty to the GOP of GHWB; she's something new in the sense that she did not align herself with the Ted Stevens Corruption Wing of the GOP.
But it's not quite clear what she truly is.
Making fun of her with Photoshopped images is only clouding us all from seeing what it is she really, genuinely portends for American political culture.
Here's hoping "Morning Meeting" can get away from the tabloid spectacle of her and get a better handle on who she associates with and what her actions mean. Because her 'hotness' makes her easy to misread.
And IMVHO it's women who see her more clearly than most men.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Dorn76
November 16, 2009 2:59 PM in reply to Darrius
Settle down.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
richard f
November 16, 2009 3:57 PM in reply to VivaAmerica!
I don't think so. The mini-skirt photo doesn't look obviously fake (unlike the bikini with gun photo). MSNBC shouldn't have used the photo without stating it was phony. Simple case. Ratigan was right to apologize and I would hope it doesn't happen again.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
hychka
November 16, 2009 2:43 PM
I understand, but haven't seen them, that there are better photoshopped pictures of Palin available for MSNBC to run with.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Beagle
November 16, 2009 3:04 PM
The over/under days it would take POX news to apologize for every lie, misinformation, and distortions... I would say about 10 days- 24 hours a day.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Fried Chicken Lover
November 16, 2009 4:16 PM
If people really thought that bikini picture was genuine then that says more about Sarah Palin than it does about MSNBC...
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?