It was wrong for Shuster to use street slang in a news broadcast, but his use of the word reflects that in modern language, the expressions pimp or pimping are gradually being drained of their offensive, criminal connotation.

Its common for offensive words to evolve into a different, more benign meaning. How many politicians or journalist routinely use the expressions "pander" or "pandering"? A quick check of the OED reveals this definition:

• verb (pander to) gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire or habit).

• noun dated a pimp or procurer.

— ORIGIN from Pandare, a character in Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde who acts as a lovers’ go-between.

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