Ad Mad

Here's the Cheerios ad you may have heard about, featuring the (continued) adventures of an interracial couple.



The ad isn't controversial, but the reaction of MSNBC has been.  Turns out someone there put up this twitter post:

Maybe the rightwing will hate it, but everyone else will go awww: the adorable new #Cheerios ad w/ biracial family.

This is truly ugly, and only the latest of a series of comments where someone at MSNBC simply assumes to be a member of the right is to be racist.

But as hateful as it is, I don't agree with MSNBC's response to the controversy.  The right was up in arms, and the channel apologized. Fine.  But then they fired the tweeter.  Here's the statement from MSNBC President Phil Griffin.

We immediately acknowledged it was offensive and wrong, apologized and deleted it. We have dismissed the person responsible for the tweet. I personally apologize to [RNC chairman] Mr. Priebus and to everyone offended. At MSNBC, we believe in passionate, strong debate about the issues, and we invite voices from all sides to participate. That will never change.

Look, people will occasionally make stupid comments--especially during "passionate" debate.  Every individual (and every channel) has to decide how far is too far, but it should take a lot to fire someone.  When you invite voices from all sides to participate in any debate, it's almost guaranteed some people will be offended.  That's when the talking should continue, and, most of the time, if you recognize and acknowledge you went too far, that should be enough.