Last modified on May 31, 2011 by Brad Phillips

May 2011: The 5 Worst Video Media Disasters

If public figures are once again engaged in self-parody, self-hatred, and self-immolation, it can only mean one thing:

It’s time for May’s five worst video media disasters!

This month’s list proves why you shouldn’t call women “sluts,” why you shouldn’t speak before you have the facts, and why you shouldn’t storm off an interview just because you’re having a bad day.

With no further ado, here we go!

#5: Sarah Palin Still Can’t Name a Journalist: Seriously, Sarah Palin? You’ve had three years since your infamous Katie Couric interview, and you still can’t answer a softball question about journalism? Instead of drafting  speeches about blood libel, you might consider a remedial course on the basics.

#4: Guest Storms Off Fox News – For No Reason At All: Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg seemed completely thrown by his opposing guest, and it’s hard to understand why – the debate was an ordinary cable news shout fest. Instead of just making his point, Rosenberg told his opponent to “shut up.” And although he got roughly half of the talk time and was given the floor by the host, he ripped off his earpiece and walked off the set. (Video no longer available.)

#3: White House Blows Credibility on Bin Laden: When I originally watched U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor John Brennan speak to the media after Osama Bin Laden’s death, something bothered me about his body language.

His wandering eyes appeared to be searching for information he should have known by heart, suggesting to me that something was awry. It was. As an example, the Administration later retracted his story about Bin Laden using numerous women as “human shields.” And reports that Bin Laden was armed when killed also proved false.

President Obama’s decision to attack Bin Laden’s compound was the bravest and most daring call of his tenure. But his spokesperson’s inability to get basic facts right unnecessarily threatened his Administration’s credibility for all future disclosures about the raid.

#2: Ed Schultz Clls Talk Show Host a “Slut:” MNSBC host Ed Schultz called fellow talk show host Laura Ingraham a “right wing slut” on his radio show. MSNBC suspended him without pay for a week.

Laura Ingraham graciously accepted his apology. And in fairness to Mr. Schultz, he handled his infraction well by offering a sincere and heartfelt apology.

#1: Newt Gingrich Commits Campaign Suicide In Week One: Many conservatives like Congressman Paul Ryan’s budget plan, which aims to lower Medicare costs. So when fellow conservative and presidential aspirant Newt Gingrich dismissed Ryan’s plan as “right wing social engineering,” his new campaign quickly fell apart.

Afterwards, Mr. Gingrich tried to deny that he was speaking specifically about the Ryan plan (he was). But then came the fun part. His spokesperson issued one of the most dreadful PR statements in political history:

“The literati sent out their minions to do their bidding. Washington cannot tolerate threats from outsiders who might disrupt their comfortable world. The firefight started when the cowardly sensed weakness. They fired timidly at first, then the sheep not wanting to be dropped from the establishment’s cocktail party invite list unloaded their entire clip, firing without taking aim their distortions and falsehoods. Now they are left exposed by their bylines and handles. But surely they had killed him off. This is the way it always worked. A lesser person could not have survived the first few minutes of the onslaught. But out of the billowing smoke and dust of tweets and trivia emerged Gingrich, once again ready to lead those who won’t be intimated by the political elite and are ready to take on the challenges America faces.”

Gingrich is still in the race. But my odds of winning the Republican nomination are probably better.

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