Alec Baldwin sticks up for fellow MSNBC outcast Martin Bashir

Just hours after it was announced that MSNBC host Martin Bashir was leaving the cable news network in the wake of his criticism of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, fellow MSNBC outcast Alec Baldwin jumped to his defense.

Bashir, who drew heaps of criticism over his remarks which took Palin to task for her comments comparing the national debt to slavery and suggested a slavery-like scatological punishment for her, apologized for his remarks and subsequently resigned from the network.

Baldwin, whose own departure from MSNBC came in the wake of homophobic remarks he made on a paparazzi video, took to Twitter on Wednesday to give vent to his frustrations.

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In a series of tweets, Baldwin said, “I’m sorry to learn that @MartinBashir is out at MSNBC. Bashir created great television. Broadcasters on certain networks are called upon to offer analysis of events and public policy, day in, day out. Often with tremendous aggression and scalding language. If, over the course of hundreds of hours on the air, they commit a foul..... Then it’s like high-sticking in hockey or a late hit in the NFL. Throw a flag. But to end someone’s job? I wish @MartinBashir the best of luck. Some of these cable venues really are Off-Off Television. And their need for a reliable, even forced, homogeneity is more apparent than ever. Whatever side of the political aisle they line up on.�

The next day, Baldwin followed up with, “You can disapprove of Bashir’s single remark and still acknowledge his talent.�

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Baldwin’s Friday night talk show, “Up Late With Alec Baldwin,� aired just five episodes on MSNBC to low ratings before Baldwin and the network parted ways. Bashir had been with the network since 2010.

In a statement on Wednesday, Bashir said, “I deeply regret what was said, will endeavor to work hard at making constructive contributions in the future and will always have a deep appreciation for our viewers -- who are the smartest, most compassionate and discerning of all television audiences.�

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