MSNBC's Brewer Hits Breitbart for Appearing at Political Fundraiser, But She's Done the Same

On Monday's News Live, MSNBC's Contessa Brewer expressed incredulity at the revelation that journalist Andrew Breitbart will be appearing at a Republican fundraiser. "I mean, really? Is he going to be a good fund-raiser for the Republicans?"

Reporter Richard Wolffe lectured, "Because if he is that much of a political activist that he is raising money for the RNC, then he is not quite the journalist he describes himself as."

Yet, those exact words could be put to Brewer. On July 24 [1], she was the featured guest at a fundraiser in Kentucky for gay rights. This despite the fact that the anchor has also reported on gay rights for MSNBC. On the July 12 News Live, she wondered why American politicians weren't "taking a stand" on ending Don't Ask, Don't tell.

Brewer lectured, "Why aren't more American leaders itching for a fight on gay rights?" Wouldn't this be the type of journalistic contradiction that Brewer and Wolffe were complaining about?

At Saturday's event [2], which took place in Kentucky, Brewer asserted, "I've never taken a public stand on a controversial issue. Gay rights are civil rights. Gay rights are human rights and given the invitation to speak, I could not, in good conscience, remain silent."

This neatly matches the lobbying Brewer did on July 12, this time as a supposedly objective journalist: "It is a civil rights issue...Is it time for our American leaders to stand up for what's right and no matter what public opinion polls say to have the leadership and the courage to take a stand on it?"

A transcript of the July 26 segment, which aired at 12:33pm EDT, follows:

CONTESSA BREWER: Hey, I gotta ask you, something we just found out from NBC News that the RNC has a fund-raiser next month and scheduled to speak at this Republican fund-raiser, Andrew Breitbart, whose website was called into question here about the Shirley Sherrod edited video before. I mean, really? Is he going to be a good fund-raiser for the Republicans?

MSNBC GRAPHIC: Breaking News: Andrew Breitbart to Speak at Republican Fundraiser

RICHARD WOLFFE: Well, he may well serve a purpose for them in terms of rallying the base and raising money. But, it should at least raise questions about his role in terms of putting information in the mainstream media and how his, quote-un-quote, "news" is reported. Because, if he is that much of a political activist that he is raising money for the RNC, than he is not quite the journalist he describes himself as.