Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn Flustered by MSNBC Host 

Tennessee Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn got a dose of tough journalism tonight on Tucker Carlson's MSNBC show. Substitute host David Shuster did the honors:

Shuster: "Let's talk about the public trust. You represent, of course, a district in western Tennessee. What was the name of the last solider from your district who was killed in Iraq?"

Blackburn:"The name of the last soldier killed in Iraq uh - from my district I - I do not know his name ..."

Shuster: "Okay, his name was Jeremy Bohannon. He was killed August the 9th, 2007. How come you didn’t know the name?"

Blackburn: "I - I, you know, I - I do not know why I did not know the name..."

Shuster: "But you weren’t appreciative enough to know the name of this young man. He was 18 years old who was killed, and yet you can say chapter and verse about what’s going on with The New York Times and Move On.org." [snip] "Don’t you understand, the problems that a lot of people would have, that you’re so focused on an ad. When was the last time a New York Times ad ever killed somebody? I mean, here we have a war that took the life of an 18-year-old kid, Jeremy Bohannon, from your district, and you didn’t even know his name."

Maybe Blackburn forgot she wasn't on Fox.

See the video here.

Comments (38) RSS

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David Shuster ripped her an asshole and I am so glad he was sitting in for Tucker, who would not have put her in the hotseat, the way Shuster did. She is one lying hypocrite and her claims that she "works very closely with the families of the soldiers" is such a pack of stinking lies. She works so closely, she doesn't even know their names?? Marsha, Marsha, Marsha! You're eyes are brown....right??? Cause you are full of crap, lady. Thank God I live in Steve Cohen's district!!

Posted by rantboy on September 24, 2007 at 10:45 PM | Report this comment

Ms. Blackburn was exposed for the hypocrite she is. To her, it is OK for Rush Limbaugh to call Chuck Hagel "Senator Betrayal", but she goes apopletic when Moveon.org does the same to General Petraus... I hope she's voted out next term

Posted by Marsha Blackburn is a hypocrite on September 24, 2007 at 10:57 PM | Report this comment

When a correspondent's "hard-hitting" approach gets in the way of the news, everyone loses. It's more important to know if the New York Times acted inappropriately re: the MoveOn.org ad than it is to know if Marsha Blackburn knows the name of a Tennesse soldier recently killed in Iraq. To suggest otherwise is ridiculous. One can legitimately ask if a correspondent's grandstanding is used as a ploy to garner or retain viewers. Is CNBC more interested in informing the public about important issues or upping its viewership and resultant advertising revenue? I am not from Tennessee and I am not a Republican. I rely on the media for information, not entertainment. Mr. Shuster's demeanor was condescending, insulting and unprofessional, and he (and CNBC) should issue an apology to their viewers. I doubt they have the integrity or the balls to do so.

Posted by GeraldBostock on September 25, 2007 at 7:46 AM | Report this comment

I disagree. It demonstrates how out of touch she is with her constituents.

Posted by B on September 25, 2007 at 10:15 AM | Report this comment

Ms. Blackburn is the mouthpiece for a political party out of ideas. They cannot disagree with the message of the ad, so they attack the tone of the headline. What a pathetic joke. Not once does she say the ad is wrong. All she can do is whine. I am so SICK of political hacks like this lousy chick. The sooner she goes home the better! Tennessee deserves better than this loser.

Posted by Clint on September 25, 2007 at 11:31 AM | Report this comment

The interview in question occurred on "Tucker", which airs on MSNBC, not on CNBC. Obviously, the commenter above did not actually see the show in question, and I certainly question the claim of not being a Republican. Only a Republican could actually defend Marsha Blackburn's performance. She is an absolute embarrassment to the 7th Congressional district.

Posted by Lynne on September 25, 2007 at 11:35 AM | Report this comment

Pvt Jeremy Bohannon was from Bon Aqua which is in TN District 4...not 7...represented by Lincoln Davis (D). Additionally, not that it matters, but Pvt. Bohannon was killed on August 5th, not 9th. It's no wonder congressman Blackburn had no idea what Shuster was talking about, because he had all the facts wrong. Shuster only embarrassed himself by falsifying the facts and desecrating the memory of a brave fallen soldier.

Posted by Amoco on September 25, 2007 at 12:25 PM | Report this comment

That's not totally honest Amoco. Hickman county is divided-- half in the 4th, half in the 7th. Marsha certainly reps for Hickman Co. And the larger point is that she didn't know the answer she was asked. That's true even if the asker doesn't know that Hickman County is split down the middle.

Posted by Chris Davis on September 25, 2007 at 1:00 PM | Report this comment

So what you're saying is that Rep. Blackburn should be able to answer Shuster's misguided and half-cocked questions? Is this what passes for "tough journalism"?

Posted by Amoco on September 25, 2007 at 3:31 PM | Report this comment

What's misguided about the question? Chapter and verse, please. Or are you really going to take a guns don't kill people, ads kill people position?

Posted by Chris Davis on September 25, 2007 at 4:06 PM | Report this comment

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