The Clinton campaign’s gone on the attack against MSNBC for its latest bit of misogyny in the form of on-air comments made by David Shuster. I’m 100% supportive of Clinton in this instance. Not only has MSNBC developed a pattern in its sexism - with the he-man swooner Chris Matthews as its chief offender - but it is just one of a number of MSM outlets that has gone way over the line of hateful commentary driven by anti-woman sentiment.

This isn’t about politically correct language or extremist feminism or political bias. This is about hate speech. This is about vile behavior that has no place in mainstream media. And before MSNBC responded to its critics, Melissa McEwan cited this and numerous examples of how far overboard it’s become.

Even Barack Obama should step up to the plate and denounce it because he’s been adding a few not-so-subtle sexist comments of his own. I am personally appalled by all of it, and I don’t have to be an endorser of Clinton to recognize and denounce it angrily.

Beyond the apology Shuster will provide, I hear he’s suspended from further participation in political commentary at MSNBC. Some say it’s a firing offense and I think they may be right. But since I don’t always agree that careers should be ended for cluelessness, I can accept the alternative of dismissing him from commentary till after the November election. A temporary suspension is not enough.

one of the things that has always pissed me off about MSM and rightist critiques of both Clintons is it’s rarely been about merited criticism on this or that issue that affects Americans. It’s always about gender, their sex lives, homophobia, conspiracy theories and wild, unsubstantiated rumors. And as a result, even Democrats who are critical of DLC policies both Clintons have championed, or of NAFTa, or their actual performance on critical issues feel compelled to defend the Clintons from these stupid, baseless and hateful attacks.

The MSM and rightists actually help consolidate support for the Clintons instead of weakening them in any way.

And they still are too stupid to see it, thinking their own critics must be wild-eyed hippie liberals. Christ, even most moderates can feel the obvious burn of blatant sexism. How can conservatives be so utterly stupid? See the death threats against the Dixie Chicks for other recent examples. Or just read the comments from people - including some Obama supporters, wherever this topic is raised. Dumb, dumb, dumber and dumbest.

Will Keith Olbermann denounce his own peers to demonstrate MSNBC has one voice of reason left? Will Obama stand up and say his call for change includes an effort to eliminate Clinton’s gender as germane to her worthiness as a candidate? I call on both to do so. This is a very important issue that should not be treated as a distraction to ‘bigger’ issues.

Not only is hate speech against women a huge issue for the majority demographic in this country - women - but I should think a majority of the men in this country should be capable of recognizing it as such and denouncing it as teh Ugly as it is. Maybe I’m a dreamer to believe a majority can smell an obvious skunk. But I continue to believe that everyone can evolve. And should.

Also read: Digby. Or Digby Wednesday and especially yesterday. And then read Jane Hamsher who puts percentages on the replies she got from commenters.