What to do with shithole?

Saw this tweet on a friend's feed, and of course it inspired me to start the usual navel-gazing thread here.

 

The “president” said it. Report it.

This is where we are.

 

I’d bet most newspapers (Times notwithstanding) edited the word, but I think the seal has been broken. You will see more unedited instances of every curse word except the F-bomb going forward.

 

This would be the publisher of the Post-Gazette:

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette publisher hangs on Donald Trump’s jet in a ‘more than memorable’ experience

 

I thought we moved past that when the Post published Cheney telling Leahy to go fuck homself.

 

Doesn't matter who said it. You don't run it. You either print those things all the time or you don't.

 

I find the conundrum that broadcasters faced last night more intriguing than newspaper publishers.

NBC was apparently the only over-the-air network to use the president's words in full: Trump calls Haiti and African countries 'shithole' nations

I'm curious how their affiliates handled that, and whether any complaints will be forthcoming to the FCC.

 

The President of the United States said it. ... About certain countries. ... In regards to our immigration policy. ... In which people from those countries are here or are trying to come here. ...

Print it.

 

Incorrect. In this regard, quotes are not unlike photographs. If the quote is so powerful and so moving that it will have a great impact on the population, you must run it.

 

The word, and its use by the president in a flagrant act of anti-diplomacy, is the news. You run it.

I wouldn't put it in the headline, myself, but in text? Oh, you bet.

I will note that CNN had the word in four places on its homepage this afternoon.