Report: Reporter in Chelsea flap suspended

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- NBC News has suspended a reporter for a comment about Chelsea Clinton's role in the presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y, a report said.

David Shuster issued an apology Friday for the remark he made Thursday on MSNBC, while discussing Chelsea Clinton's increasing participation in her mother's campaign for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.

"Doesn't it seem as if Chelsea is sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?" he said.

The comment sparked protests from the Clinton campaign, and Shuster offered an on-air apology Friday.

The Web site Media Matters for America said it had received an e-mail from NBC News President Steve Capus saying Shuster had been "suspended from appearing on all NBC News broadcasts, other than to make his apology."

"He has also extended an apology to the Clinton family," said the e-mail. "NBC News takes these matters seriously, and offers our sincere regrets to the Clintons for the remarks."

Howard Wolfson, the Clinton campaign's top spokesman, connected the Shuster comment to negative comments made previously by MSNBC's Chris Matthews, and suggested the campaign might boycott MSNBC candidate debates, The Washington Post reported Friday.

"At some point you have to question whether there is a pattern at this particular network," said Wolfson.