Beck Falsely Claims Olbermann Will ‘Never Admit He’s A Liberal’
Beck Falsely Claims Olbermann Will ‘Never Admit He’s A Liberal’
Last month, CNN’s Glenn Beck attacked MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann, calling him an “intolerant ideologue” whose ideas “smack of the same McCarthyism [Edward R.] Murrow fought so valiantly against.”
Yesterday on CNN’s Reliable Sources, Beck once again went after Olbermann: “I’m in the hot seat almost constantly because I’m doing an opinion show — but I am telling you I’m doing an opinion show. I am in the hot seat because I’m a conservative — but I’m telling you that I’m a conservative. It’s people like Keith Olbermann doing news shows, never will ever admit that he’s a liberal. He is a liberal and he’s also blending news and comment together. That is the great danger.” Watch it:
Beck is wrong. From a 6/9/05 Houston Chronicle profile:
A lot of my personal worldview is unmistakably sympathetic to things in a liberal playbook, but honest to God, I have been called a reactionary by some on the far left, a liberal by some on the far right and I’m insulted by both terms. My point of view is about delivering information and context. It has nothing to do with a political point of view.
While Olbermann admits that personally, he is liberal, he maintains that he focuses on criticizing those in power, which included President Clinton in 1998. I try to be “fair and honest and as accurate and as informed as possible, and allow my viewer to be the same way,” Olbermann told CSPAN last year.
On the other hand, Beck’s comments are more than just “conservative.” They are also, at times, racist, anti-gay, and sexist.
Transcript:
KURTZ: All right. Well, let me read you some comments from MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann. We’re going to play part of your on-air response and we’ll talk about it on the other side. Olbermann told “Rolling Stone” this month, he called you a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a very dangerously bigoted guy who’s selling himself as a pragmatic philosopher. I don’t think he sees his own bigotry. There’s something about him that suggests one night he will say something that costs him his career in television. And you addressed this question of making a career ending move on your show. Let’s watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BECK: If I’m going to be shut down for that, well, it will likely be because of an intolerant ideologue like Keith Olbermann. The very idea smacks of the same McCarthyism Murrow fought so valiantly against.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KURTZ: Now he wasn’t calling for you to be shut down. He said you might shut yourself down by saying something.
BECK: There’s a difference. There’s a difference here and I think this is what it is. We are in a very politically correct world and you can — if you’re honest about it, you can see that there is a different standard. I mean here I am. I’m in the hot seat almost constantly because I’m doing an opinion show but I am telling you I’m doing an opinion show. I am in the hot seat because I’m conservative, but I’m telling you that I’m a conservative. It’s people like Keith Olbermann doing news shows never will ever admit that he’s a liberal. He is a liberal and he’s also blending news and comment together. That is a great danger. But I would think that…
KURTZ: When he does his commentary, it says on the screen ’special comment.’
BECK: You’re only finding his commentary there in the special commentary? I mean come on.
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Amanda:
Where exactly did he admit he’s a liberal personally, when in fact he said ”
March 19th, 2007 at 11:39 amhonest to God, I have been called . . . a liberal by some on the far right and I’m insulted . . .”?
& I’ll never admit to being a fudgepacking bonersmugger.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:41 amEverytime I’ve watched Keith Olberman, I have consciously noted KO to be EXTREMELY “fair and honest and as accurate and as informed as possible,”……(sarcasm off....)
March 19th, 2007 at 11:41 amBeck has that Nixon ‘V’ for victory signal down pat.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:42 amBeck is in the hot seat because he’s a jerk and a bigot, not because he’s a “conservative.”
March 19th, 2007 at 11:43 amOlbermann is a sports announcer.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:46 amI feel ashamed. The trolls monitor this site more than I do.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:48 amI don’t watch Beck or CNN.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:49 amWho cares if he’s a liberal, as long as he’s fair and accurate? I wouldn’t care if Bill O or Sean Hannity were conservative if they were fair and accurate. In fact, I would appreciate a fair and accurate conservative for a differing viewpoint.
That’s the difference – Olbermann IS fair and accurate, the other two are NOT.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:50 amAnd you know what? It is the job of the media to check governments. Even ones they like. That makes the media liberal by nature. So screw Beck for making strawmen.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:51 amAh the trolls doth protest too much.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:51 amWhat was Beck doing on Reliable Sources? I’m glad I gave up on Reliable Sources a while ago.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:51 amIt’s not just a matter of conservative vs. liberal. Whatever Olbermann’s personal opinion, he has been pointing out the lies and hypocrisy from our government leaders. Pointing out lies and hypocrisy in our government should not automatically be labelled “liberal”. Just as criticizing the Iraq War should not automatically be labelled “liberal”. I would think that the Iraq War and the lies from our leaders should be criticized from a “conservative” point of view also.
Conservatives supposedly want less government spending and less involvement from government in people’s lives. So they should have plenty to criticize from that point of view, just as Olbermann does week after week. Olbermann’s doing the job that others should be doing also, including at CNN.
If Beck were a real conservative, he’d be going after the Bush administration for their spending and their invasions of personal privacy, rather than after Olbermann.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:52 amOlbermann is a sports announcer.
Comment by Patrick1
Any you’re an idiot!:D
March 19th, 2007 at 11:54 am“Olbermann is a sports announcer.” – - Geeze, not THIS again. And Ronnie Reagan was a ‘C’-list Hollywood actor after he was a sports announcer. Don’t be an imbecile, Patrick, if you can help it.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:54 amIf Liberal is the new label for Patriotic Americans that love the Constitution ,Bill of Rights, and principles this nation was founded upon, then I am one.
If Conservative is the new label for Imperialism, Crony Capitalism, Corruption and Global Tyranny, then Conservatism is my Mortal Enemy.
The Truth is that these labels mean nothing. The conflict is between Right and Wrong, not Left and Right.
I hope America can still tell the difference.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:54 amFritz:
I wouldn’t care if Olbermann was a liberal — as long as he’s fair and accurate — how I long for the days of OBJECTIVE news reporting. What Amanda failed to prove, however, was that “Beck Falsely Claims Olbermann Will ‘Never Admit He’s A Liberal’” — do you see that difference?
March 19th, 2007 at 11:55 amlw:
I am a real conservative, even though I am registered Independent.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:56 amComment by Smack:
“I hope America can still tell the difference”.
Clearly, about 30% of Americans can’t.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:57 amOlbermann is really a clown. He has the delusions of being Edward R. Morrow but he comes across more as the character from Anchorman. He takes most of his info from moonbat blogs and recycled MSNBC bits most of which turn out to be either flat lies or stunningly misleading.
Small wonder his ratings suck.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:57 amBeck reminds me of a person who sees someone else getting all of the attention and saying, “But what about ME?” Beck appears to want Keith O. to turn his laser sharp critique away from Bill O’Reilly and onto Beck’s opinions and “analysis.” Mr. Beck should be careful what he wishes for…
And if KO does ever decide to pay any attention to this cretin, which I decidedly hope that he won’t because it will give Mr. Beck even one iota of credibility, then I hope KO skewers GB with that withering critique that I have come to appreciate by KO on most matters.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:58 amAnd Limbaugh couldn’t even make it as a sports announcer because he was too much of an idiot.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:58 amBeck seems to say that there are either news or opinion shows. I guess we know which one he fits his show into…
March 19th, 2007 at 11:58 amIf you look up Intolerant Ideologue in the dictionary, there’s a picture of Glenn Beck next to it.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:59 am“A lot of my personal worldview is unmistakably sympathetic to things in a liberal playbook”
Not a clear-cut and concise statement like “I’m liberal”, but upon reading that statement, I can’t claim that I don’t know where his political leanings are.
It sure doesn’t make me think that he’s neutral.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:59 am#19 – “Small wonder his ratings suck.” Comment by Patrick1 — March 19, 2007 @ 11:57 am
Says the man who cannot tell us what his ratings are. . . . . .
March 19th, 2007 at 12:00 pmI see Patrick the inbred redneck Repuke is in here as usual.
Keith Olberman is a great news commentator and his ratings are going up. He just negotiated a big new contract. He is doing well.
Patrick is just another Repuke liar.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:00 pmPatrick ! So Keith was a sports announcer. what does that have to do with anything? Olbermann is fair and balance. Who listen to Beck he is a RIght Wing Nut.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:01 pmKeith Ulbermahn is a hypocrite of the highest order. He’s a Leftists hack for George Soreass. His show is a propaganda piece as he doen’t criticize Democrats and uses the same tactics he accuses others of.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:01 pmHe’s a hack!
Olbermann is a sports announcer.
Comment by Patrick1
Bush is a male cheerleader.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:02 pmBeck twists the truth, just like them all. I quit watching news shows on corporate-owned television. That goes for FOX, CNN, NBC, ABC and CBS. I listen to AAR, M-F and read liberal news sites for factual info. If I want to hear a lot of hot wind, I’ll just fart out of my own ass.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:02 pmDavid:
Did you keep reading, though, where he said “honest to God, I have been called . . . a liberal by some on the far right and I’m insulted . . .â€? It sure doesn’t make me think that he’s a liberal.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:02 pmGlenn Beck has followed in Junkie Rush’s footsteps. Junkie Rush was an utter failure at radio…until Reagan killed the Fairness Doctrine and Junkie Rush found his format for success….reich wingnut hate radio.
Glenn Beck was also a failure in the media until he went reich wingnut. Now he’s spewing his hate on ABC and CNN.
Why do the corporate media love these hatemongers? Why can’t they put some civilized conservatives on? Or are there none left?
March 19th, 2007 at 12:02 pmDoes it matter whether he is liberal or not? It appears he is someone to be feared by the consumers of Kool Aid. Little patty one is out in force.
Jake, can you name a more objective reporter today? Please provide examples. The one that comes to mind is Cooper Anderson and that would be it in the main stream.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:03 pmObviously the Repuke trolls in here have never actually watched Olberman. He has bashed Dems on occasion when they deserved it.
But then they’re always talking out their asses anyway.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:04 pm“I am a real conservative”
So what does that mean to you? A label is just a label. I used to think I was one too. But things have gone so far out of whack, what I used to think of as a conservative position (keeping gov’t out of personal privacy) is now considered liberal. Now I consider myself a social libertarian and moderately liberal economically.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:04 pm#28- Check out those pom-poms. He must have borrowed them from La-La’s hope chest.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:05 pmWhen is Glenn Beck going to admit he’s a Reich Wingnut?
March 19th, 2007 at 12:05 pm…an ignore button would do wonders around here.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:06 pmConservatives hate it when Olbermann humilates and spanks them in public, which he does almost every night. Olbermann exposes the lies and hypocrisy of the Conservative agenda and it makes these guys pee in their pants. Conservative commentators, such as Glenn Beck, continue to lie to the American people and when they’re called out on it, they are exposed for the immoral idiots that that truly are.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:07 pmThat’s the difference – Olbermann IS fair and accurate, the other two are NOT.
Comment by Fritz
People dont want fair and accurate. People want to be entertained and listen what they want to hear.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:08 pmIt’s not the way you broke up with me, it’s the WAY you did it.
Uh huh.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:09 pmOf course, any news reporter or commentator with any brains would tend to agree with the liberal worldview. Facts have a liberal bias. Our policies work, conservative policies fail.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:09 pmLook’s like that “hot seat” must be gettin’…
…plenty HOT…
…Olberman’s got ‘em ALL…
…with “penile” envy…
…Keep those “negative” emails rolling…
…let CNN, and Fox Propaganda know that…
…we the people won’t tolerate racists, bigots, homophobes and inbred TRAITORS…
..like O’Lielly and Beck “the peckerwood”…
…on our airwaves…
March 19th, 2007 at 12:11 pmComment by Smack:
“…an ignore button would do wonders around here.”
Second that – if I wanted to hear the opinions of Rush, Hannity, O’Rielly, etc., I would listen to them directly.
I need some brain-bleach.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:11 pmDemocrat Soldier:
Last I checked, Olbermann’s highest rating for Countdown on MSNBC were 244,000 viewers age 25-54 from 8:45 – 9:00pm http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/6/103946/3551
hellinabucket:
I can’t think of ANY current true and objective journalists. Not like we used to have in this country once upon a time.
Tom:
I’ve watched Keith, thank you very much.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:11 pmBeck says: “He is a liberal and he’s also blending news and comment together. That is the great danger.”
Meaning, of course, that it’s a great danger when LIBERALS blend news and comment together. I don’t recall Beck ever criticizing Rush or O’Lielly or Hannity or, let’s see… oh yeah, GLENN BECK for “blending news and comment together”. It’s fine when they do it because, you see, they’re conservatives. They’re not “dangerous”. Oh, no.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:12 pmOlbermann, as the statement indicates from TP, states that he is not a liberal. But I think that does not address the central issue, which is why is there not a talk show host on the corporate airwaves who will admit that he actually is a liberal. With the Democrats having taken a majority in the House, what are the networks and cable shows so fearful of? The last liberal on the air that I can think of was Phil Donahue and he was dismissed because he had the temerity to actually oppose the war. If Fox “News” can have a whole network practically composed of die-hard conservatives, there should also be a network that is not afraid to admit that it has a liberal bias, to counterbalance the obvious right-wing tilt of Fox.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:13 pmlw:
I am a social AND economic conservative. You want me to list my views on every such issue?
March 19th, 2007 at 12:14 pmComment by Juan C:
March 19th, 2007 at 12:14 pm“People dont want fair and accurate. People want to be entertained and listen what they want to hear.”
Sadly, I think this is true for a LOT of people.
Social conservatism, is a political philosophy that supports what its adherents believe to be “traditional morality”. It is not opposed to social change per se: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_conservative
March 19th, 2007 at 12:17 pmErroll:
Thanks for admitting that Beck was not lying at least ; )
March 19th, 2007 at 12:17 pmwanna do something about glenn beck?
go to achorn.blogspot.com and join the wreck beck movement.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:18 pmOlbermann is really a clown….Small wonder his ratings suck.
Comment by Patrick1
You wish, ass-clown. How about sticking with subject here. The post is about another ass-clown, Glenn Beck.
You know about him—-just another admitted drug-using alcoholic. He must have fell off the wagon again, and, as he once said, using “Dr. Jack Daniels” to cope. Either that or his drug use continues to fog his once a Catholic but now converted Mormon brain.
His personal issues are cut from the same cloth as Limpbaugh’s and little georgie’s. No wonder you conservatives like him.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:18 pm#5 – And Rush Limpdick is a drug-addicted bigoted jerkwad.
And Bill O’Liely is a sex- crazed homophobe.
And George “Chimpy” Bush is an idiot who has lost all grasp of reality.
Do you know what the difference is between Keith and the three jerks I mentioned above. Keith knows how to admit that he has made a mistake.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:18 pmAnchorman’s dismal ratings.
March 15, 2007
Wednesday’s Numbers…
Cable News Daily Ratings for March 14, 2007
P2+ Total Day
FNC – 768,000 viewers
CNN – 493,000 viewers
MSNBC – 266,000 viewers
CNBC – 210,000 viewers
HLN – 235,000 viewers
P2+ Prime Time
FNC – 1,679,000 viewers
CNN – 796,000 viewers
MSNBC –462,000 viewers
CNBC- 118,000 viewers
HLN – 480,000 viewers
25-54 Total Day
FNC – 212,000 viewers
CNN – 165,000 viewers
MSNBC – 108,000 viewers
CNBC – 84,000 viewers
HLN – 111,000 viewers
25-54 Prime Time
FNC – 348,000 viewers
CNN – 236,000 viewers
MSNBC – 120,000 viewers
CNBC – 66,000 viewers
HLN – 196,000 viewers
Morning programs P2+ (25-54)
FOX & Friends – 719,000 viewers (291,000)
American Morning – 331,000 viewers (124,000)
Imus in the Morning– 326,000 viewers (136,000)
Robin & Co. – 180,000 viewers (90,000)
6PM – P2+ (25-54)
Special Report w/ Brit Hume- 1,117,000 viewers (258,000)
Lou Dobbs- 911,000 viewers (238,000)
Tucker Carlson- 158,000 viewers (64,000)
Mad Money- 212,000 viewers (73,000)
Prime News- 231,000 viewers (114,000)
7PM – P2+ (25-54)
FOX Report with Shepard Smith – 1,017,000 viewers (272,000)
Situation Room – 726,000 viewers (197,000)
Hardball – 321,000 viewers (113,000)
On the Money – 152,000 viewers (74,000)
Glenn Beck – 253,000 viewers (132,000)
8PM – P2+ (25-54)
March 19th, 2007 at 12:19 pmO’Reilly Factor – 2,242,000 viewers (467,000)
Paula Zahn– 500,000 viewers (154,000)
Countdown w/ Olbermann – 627,000 viewers (143,000)Fast Money – 167,000 viewers (95,000)
Nancy Grace – 662,000 viewers (245,000)
I’m so glad Glenn Beck got a chance to air his views. He almost never gets any air time on teevee or radio. Howie Klein did a service to our democracy, kinda like a blowjob.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:19 pm“David:
Did you keep reading, though, where he said “honest to God, I have been called . . . a liberal by some on the far right and I’m insulted . . .â€? It sure doesn’t make me think that he’s a liberal.”
Yeah, but if we take the whole sentence in context, I think he’s saying that he doesn’t consider himself to be far to either side of the political spectrum.
Interpreting the whole line like that, and then taking his earlier line about “being sympathetic” I get the overall impression that, while he doesn’t consider himself to be “out there”, but rather, left leaning, we do know where he stands, politically.
But I’d have to see the rest of the interview, to be honest. From what I know about Olbermann, I think that’s an ok assessment on the basis of this quotation.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:20 pmBeck ought to do an anniversary show on The Most Famous 100 People Who Have Had Thier Heads Buried Up Thier Sorry Asses. It would be a huge hit.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:21 pmOf course, any news reporter or commentator with any brains would tend to agree with the liberal worldview. Facts have a liberal bias. Our policies work, conservative policies fail.
Comment by And You Thought REAGAN Was Stupid
You’re kidding, right? Liberal policies work? Name a couple.
The fact is that liberal policies generally don’t work. They are mostly well-intentioned ideas that fail because they don’t take a realistic view of human behavior in response to policy changes.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:21 pmFunny how Glenn Beckerhead is accusing Olberman of doing all the things that he is doing, and his reich wingnut pals are doing, such as mixing news and commentary.
Beck also thinks Olbermann is going to commit a career-ending faux pas.
Beck should know all about that, he has committed several.
Unfortunately the corporate media no longer have any standards, so Beck continues to spew his hate on CNN and ABC.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:24 pmWell, David, you will have to discuss that with Erroll who agrees with me — and maybe you can answer his further question: “why is there not a talk show host on the corporate airwaves who will admit that he actually is a liberal. With the Democrats having taken a majority in the House, what are the networks and cable shows so fearful of?”
March 19th, 2007 at 12:25 pmSorry if anyone has said this already, but I don’t have time to read all the comments before I leave:
IT’S NOT KEITH OLBERMANN’S JOB TO STATE WHETHER OR NOT HE’S A LIBERAL.
Since Olbermann is about the only newscaster doing his job these days, I’d say the others ought to take a cue from him.
Later.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:26 pmTom3:
Perhaps you should read what you just wrote — how, exactly, can one commit SEVERAL career-ending faux pas and still be in the same career?
March 19th, 2007 at 12:27 pmLater, Mistress Z.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:28 pmI’ll admit that Ben Gleck is an idiot.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:29 pmPlease link me all the Olbermann news stories he did bashing the Lib. leadership in Congress.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:29 pmThe great danger is NOT blending news and commentary. The great danger is using the media to push propaganda, as FOX does. The great danger is believing “fairness” is giving equal and uncritical air time to both lies and the truth as if both viewpoints are legitimate…which all media does lately. The great disservice is telling blatant lies and distortions to the public and then denying it when busted…as Beck does. “It’s my opinion” or “I’m simply raising the questions” is not a defense for lying or spreading baseless smears.
It is people liek Beck and FOx and the corporate media who are willing to spread Republican lies to get higher rating and more money that are the great danger. NOT someone with liberal views who actually does what all journalists should be doing.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:31 pmComment by Jake
Anyone else find it hilarious that Jake completely misses the point of the story posted?
March 19th, 2007 at 12:31 pmThe fact is that liberal policies generally don’t work. They are mostly well-intentioned ideas that fail because they don’t take a realistic view of human behavior in response to policy changes.
Comment by Cynicon Implant
From what I have seen, liberal ideas usually do work and then the populous gets comfortable and then a conservative admin come sin and says that those ideas are wasting money and cut them down to almost nothing and look for bathtubs to drown them in and then point to them and say”see they aren’t working”. It’s the Conservative ideas that usually self-destruct due to their lack of insight.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:32 pm“I am a social AND economic conservative. You want me to list my views on every such issue?”
Not necessarily. I can tell you what being moderately liberal means to me though. It doesn’t mean I want “big government” as Republicans want to frame it. It means I believe we achieve an economy of scale when we share financial responsibility for our collective needs. Example: We don’t all have to build our own personal highways or educational systems. We share financial responsibility for them, because it’s more effective and efficient to do so. I don’t believe in “larger” or “smaller” government per se. I believe we should have efficient and effective government that makes the best possible decisions regarding our collective needs and shared responsibilities. Clearly, we do not currently have that – although the election of a Democratic Congress has been a small step towards reversing our wrong direction.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:33 pmJake the Repuke troll obviously didn’t read my last sentence.
Typical inbred illiterate redneck Repuke Chimpyloving moron. I bet he lives in a trailor, drinks way too much, and screws his cousin.
I clearly said that because the mainstream media no longer HAS any standards, Beck can commit several career ending screwups and NOT get fired. All of them can, Mann Coulter is another example.
The problem is the mainstream media are corporate and conservative and are part of the Repuke propaganda machine. They no longer have standards because they wouldn’t be able to put the Reich Wingnuts like Beck and Coulter on the air if they still adhered to their old standards.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:34 pmjake sez:
Amazingly intellectually dishonest, shakey Jake…even by your own deplorable standards.
Leave it to you to cherry-pick parts of a quote to try to prove your own idiotic assertions. Didn’t you think we’d wonder what the parts in the ellipses were???
In the interest of promoting more informed discussion, here is the full text of Olbermannn’s quote:
(ADDENDUM: I was just about to hit ‘Post – I agree’ when I did a last minute check, and noticed that the full text of the quote is actually in the head of the thread itself! Dear GOD, Jake…how stupid are you? )
March 19th, 2007 at 12:34 pmSocial Security is a liberal policy and it works pretty well. So is medicare/medicaid, etc.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:37 pmI used to be a lawyer, now I’m just a liar.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:41 pmRUC IN.. Da….. HOOOOOUSE>>>!!!!
March 19th, 2007 at 12:42 pmwhuttup playa-
shoutout to Jake, my favorite rebup-uh, i mean “Registered Independent”
whatsahappenin?
This all has the stench of “When did you stop beating your wife?” style of questioning. Beck is an opinion show so if you want to be told what your opinion should be watch Beck. Countdown goes into the subjects of the day and hold the officials own words up for scrutiny so if you want to be shown substance as one of the criteria for formulating your own opinion then watch Countdown. And if you want to totally shut your brain off just watch anything on Fox.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:44 pmTom3:
Thanks for the clarification.
TripMaster Monkey:
Perhaps you’d prefer to discuss that with Erroll — who agrees with me — and maybe you can answer his further question: “why is there not a talk show host on the corporate airwaves who will admit that he actually is a liberal. With the Democrats having taken a majority in the House, what are the networks and cable shows so fearful of?â€
March 19th, 2007 at 12:46 pm“Why is there not a talk show host on the corporate airwaves who will admit that he actually is a liberal.?”
Because the Neocon Corporate Media WON’T HIRE THEM, dumbass.
The liberals had to start their own networks to get on the air, like Air America Radio (which is still on the air) and other networks.
Meanwhile, Chimpy and his thugs invaded NPR and PBS and forced them to give equal time to neocon propaganda.
Go back to your trailer and start drinking, Jake. Your Repuke Bizarro World is falling apart. Repukes can’t handle the truth.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:51 pmI’m an Olberman fan and a raging extreme lefty and even I am not too impressed with Olberman’s quoted statement above. Really, TP, this is a bit of a misleading story. And who cares if he admits what his political leanings are? He probably considers himself more middle of the road than lefty, just that the right is SOOOO right nowadays, he’s having problems finding anything nice to say about them. Hahah. His show never purports to be the equivelent of, say, an NBC Nightly News that (supposedly) presents all sides of an issue. His show is just a countdown of what he thinks are the 10 top most interesting/strange/fun news stories of the day. And when he goes on a tirade, he’s always very clear that it is his opinion he is giving. In other words, he admits as much as Beck does.
But following Beck’s logic… O’Reilly thinks he’s mainstream. When is he going to admit he’s a right winger?
Must be a slow news day, TP. Whew! Either that or you were just writing something to stir up the trolls!!!
And to all the “Olberman is a sportscaster” posters.. Jeez, guys… YES he was a sportscaster. What the heck is your point? Glenn Beck used to be a top-40 radio DJ, SO WHAT? So somebody can only have one career in their entire lifetime? Since when?!
March 19th, 2007 at 12:52 pm“Well, David, you will have to discuss that with Erroll who agrees with me — and maybe you can answer his further question: “why is there not a talk show host on the corporate airwaves who will admit that he actually is a liberal. With the Democrats having taken a majority in the House, what are the networks and cable shows so fearful of?â€
I’d say that the networks are currently fearful of the term “liberal”, which, through determined work by people in popular culture (who are not liberals) over the last 20 years , has been given a bad connotation. The connotation doesn’t always have much to do with what liberals have done (we still get O’reilly talking about what Jane Fonda did over 30 years ago, for pete’s sake), but more from the fake liberal image of which conservatives in the media have instilled. The networks will happily air somebody who calls himself a conservative and be reluctant to air liberals, or, if they do have liberals, the liberals have to seem “moderate”.
The- often totally unthinking-Pavlovian reaction “Ooh! Liberal – bad!” has been so instilled in public discourse, so that people in public life have been afraid to proclaim themselves as liberal, and, until recently, people have been afraid to hire them. “Liberal” still has a negative connotation while people AREN’T afraid to call themselves “conservative”. The media is scared senseless of being said to have a liberal bias, so they overcompensate with commentators who call themselves conservative.
How many big name liberal pundits are out there in the mainsteam media compared to big name conservatives? I can think of maybe 6 liberal commentators who would call themselves liberal.
Heck, I can think of maybe only 8 politicians nationwide who proclaim themselves as liberal (many more actually are, but only the handful say the word) Compare this to the number of politicians who call themselves conservative.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:52 pmSocial Security is a liberal policy and it works pretty well. So is medicare/medicaid, etc.
Now that is funny.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:54 pmMmmm… Corporate consolidation and lack of regulation is delicious when you are rich and want to set your own agenda.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:54 pmwhiteyfresh:
I’m fine. How are you doing?
hellinabucket:
FYI, the simple answer (if it’s true of course) to “When did you stop beating your wife?†is “I never beat her.”
March 19th, 2007 at 12:55 pmTom3:
Go back to your trailer and start drinking, Jake. Your Repuke Bizarro World is falling apart. Repukes can’t handle the truth.
I was actually quoting Erroll (the liberal) above.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:57 pmI used to be a lawyer, now I’m just a liar.
Comment by valiant venus
Isn’t that an oxymoron?
March 19th, 2007 at 12:59 pmJake, you’re still Republiscum. Everybody here knows it.
Go back under your bridge, you troll.
March 19th, 2007 at 12:59 pmI can really see things are looking up. The trolls are about as convincing as Robert Novak and Bill Kristol in drag.
Nice sundress Jake.
March 19th, 2007 at 1:00 pmOlbermann is a sports announcer.
Comment by Patrick1 — March 19, 2007 @ 11:46 am
So was Ronald Reagan.
March 19th, 2007 at 1:02 pmAnd Bush is just ok with English.
March 19th, 2007 at 1:07 pmBECK: You’re only finding his commentary there in the special commentary? I mean come on.
WOOOOOOO, you sure smoked HIS ass!
Not.
Did you learn to debate from patrick1?
March 19th, 2007 at 1:11 pmReagan advanced, Olbermann has actually regressed from sports announcer to satirist.
March 19th, 2007 at 1:12 pmJust ignore this guy…..He is looking to improve his ratings…
March 19th, 2007 at 1:18 pmI can’t believe these crowing craniums are still trying to frame people with a bastardized version of the word liberal.
Cmon Beck stop with the Lakoffian crap already. We all know that a ‘conservative’ today, the 39%ers, is simply an apologist group of warmongers for the current culture of corruption. This administration is not conservative in any way shape or form.
Michael Savage, the rambling blow you up wacko, is more conservative, whos supposedly an independent, than you are. At least MS recognizes the culture of corruption and wont apologize for them.
why is there not a talk show host on the corporate airwaves who will admit that he actually is a liberal. With the Democrats having taken a majority in the House, what are the networks and cable shows so fearful of?
Define Liberal Jake, and not the Lakoffian Limbaugh version of the word. What is FECKS Snooze and CNN so fearful of that they have to airbrush everyone into a group? Are they afraid of free thinking Americans?
March 19th, 2007 at 1:19 pmReagan advanced, Olbermann has actually regressed from sports announcer to satirist.
Oh, Patrick1, you do realize why he satirizes so much. There is so much satire in the Repugnant Party. He doesn’t even have to write anything. You weirdos give him his gig. You must be so proud.
March 19th, 2007 at 1:21 pmReagan advanced, Olbermann has actually regressed from sports announcer to satirist.
Comment by Patrick1
Why did Reagan ‘cut and run’ from Beirut? Why are you afraid of a sports announcer? Why do you forget that Reagan was a cut and runner? Why does anyone get their opinions from a crowing cranium?
March 19th, 2007 at 1:21 pmFWIW, Olbermann did refer to himself as a “liberal” recently on the Dan Patrick show he cohosts for an hour each day on ESPN Radio. It was in reference to his fondness for child labor laws or something. He didn’t sound like he was joking when he said it, although there is a fair amount of snark in his back-and-forth with Patrick.
March 19th, 2007 at 1:23 pmI saw most of the interview with Beck & Kurtz and couldn’t help feeling like it was one big commercial for Beck. Both shows are on CNN and Kurtz was being more lame than usual.
By the way, what IS Kurtz’s purpose?
March 19th, 2007 at 1:25 pmYou know what I always wondered about Olberman — why would somebody with a speech impediment go into announcing as a profession?
Oh, and if he doesn’t think he is liberal he is in serious denial.
March 19th, 2007 at 1:26 pmShawn ~ just add an y to the end of his name and you’ll get it.
March 19th, 2007 at 1:27 pmI see the moonbats still hold that Soviet Union thing against Reagan.
Olbermann is a satirist for liberalism. Often when you watch him you can see he is reallly joking about the most extreme members of the moonbat left. It is pretty funny. Too bad his ratings are in the crapper, many are missing out on things funnier than Stewart and Colbert.
March 19th, 2007 at 1:27 pmBill Oreilly went to the liberal school of Kennedy Politics at liberal Harvard university, George went to liberal Harvard. Why doesn’t Beck airbush them into his liberal idiotology? Why is that Jake? Obama went to a school and was labeled for it, lets then label Oreilly and Bush as liberals?
March 19th, 2007 at 1:28 pmWhy doesn’t Limbaugh admit he’s a ‘liberal’? Only ‘liberals’ do drugs right? Didn’t Rush do drugs? Hollywood actors are all ‘liberals’ according to many ‘conservatives’, then isn’t Reagan a cut and run ‘liberal’?
Olbermann is a satirist for liberalism. Often when you watch him you can see he is reallly joking about the most extreme members of the moonbat left.
God created the moon, are you calling God and Jesus ‘moonbats’?
March 19th, 2007 at 1:30 pmToo bad his ratings are in the crapper, many are missing out on things funnier than Stewart and Colbert. -Patrick 1
Bush didn’t find Colbert very funny, why is that? If Bush doesn’t think Colbert was funny why don’t you find this conservative ‘Satirist’ funny
March 19th, 2007 at 1:32 pmOlbermann is a satirist for liberalism -P1
So then Beck is full of hot air? Why then did Beck lie about Olbermann being a liberal? Why doesn’t Beck know Olbermann is a satirist? Huh?
March 19th, 2007 at 1:34 pmI am sorry, Keith has argued in late night talk shows, on interviews in magazines that in no way shape or form is he a Liberal. Wow.
be a bit more honest thinkprogress.org
March 19th, 2007 at 1:35 pmOlbermann is progressive, beck regressive in nature.
March 19th, 2007 at 1:46 pmYou know what I always wondered about Olberman — why would somebody with a speech impediment go into announcing as a profession?
Oh, and if he doesn’t think he is liberal he is in serious denial.
Comment by Cynicon Implant
You know what I always wondered about Rush — why would anyone listen to a drug addict hypocrite who went deaf listening to his own BS?
March 19th, 2007 at 1:50 pm“I try to be “fair and honest and as accurate and as informed as possible, and allow my viewer to be the same way,†Olbermann told CSPAN last year.”
When I read this I had to laugh and actually am still laughing!! The former discredited sports announcer is of course as far left as you can go although he VERY RARELY admits it BUT I will agree that he DID do so a few years ago although this is the ONLY time he has ever come clean! To say that “It has nothing to do with a political point of view.” is another in a LONG series of downright Olby lies and to say that he criticizes anyone in power is another joke. The bottom line is that he blasts anyone Republican and praises any liberals. IF the Democrats regain power in 2008 his show will be over!
March 19th, 2007 at 1:50 pm…it was one big commercial for Beck. Both shows are on CNN …
Comment by Shawn — March 19, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
i can’t watch this stuff, so thanks for that observation…
all the networks do that pimping of their other shows… explains alot…
March 19th, 2007 at 1:51 pm99…you are thinking of some other newsman…Keith doesn’t have a speech impediment…you I-D-I-O-T.
March 19th, 2007 at 1:53 pmI’ve never in my life had a problem with people who are conservative in nature. But I depise right wing ideologues with a passion. I can tolerate some of the more goofy left wing extremists, but right wing extremists are dangerous people. The “right” is where racism, intolerance, bigotry is born. And today, the radical right proudly embraces torture, indescriminate killing, destroying the envirnment for greed, character assination, horrendous mendacity to achieve goals and criminal behavior to steal elections.
March 19th, 2007 at 2:00 pmI think a problem with conservatives and their attacks on Olbermann is that they tend to think we liberals are just like them: self-serving individuals who will put their concerns and that of their party before their country. The fact is, liberals are not like that. Sure, we support our people, our political leaders, but we also realize that the interest of country and the rule of law come first.
March 19th, 2007 at 2:00 pmFor example, we respect Bill Clinton, doesn’t mean we agree with him on everything and were behind him for everything he did during his presidency. The reich-wing however is lock step behind Bush and the Republican party no matter what, because criticizing their leaders would undermine the concerns of their party. Also, they can not stand to lose, and so if they have to be little lemmings and follow their leader over the cliff to prevent the other party from winning, then off the cliff they go.
They will defend what Coulter, what Beck, what O’Really say because they are on the same side. If their leaders said that all liberals are enemies of the state and should be rounded up, most would not only allow it, they would help out because it would mean victory for them. victory no matter what the cost.
However, you get someone like Olbermann making valid points and critisizing the administration, and they collectively crap themselves. They will claw over each other to declare that those like him are unAmerican, unpatriotic, and line up to prove themselves the true American who will isolate the non-conformer.
country western singer/composer, MEL TILLIS, also has a speech impediment, stuttering, his whole life but he has a huge careet…
many people with such problems find that the reading/singing/acting of scripted, orchestrated and/or rehearsed productions helps greatly…
but if that’s a “speech impediment” coming from olbermann’s mouth,
this country sure needs more of THAT…
he’s also in some good company… more here:
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jan2000/nf00119a.htm
(and might you be confusing keith with bill walton?)
March 19th, 2007 at 2:11 pm.
why should anybody care if somebody like Glenn Beck thinks somebody else is out of line or not.
we’ve been doing this crap for over 4 furshlugginer years now. the biggest meanest dogs in the junkyard howling and baying about THOSE dogs over THERE.
enough of this crap. at least Olberman is not fobbed off as a folksy apolitical middle of the road fun-seeker.
March 19th, 2007 at 2:12 pmPeople forget that most “liberals” are in fact conservative in their own lives and repect people who have differing views and defend peoples rights to decide what is right for them as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others.
I am a liberal who doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, doesnt use drugs, who doesnt think women should wear short skirts and no panties and is concerned about medias influence on young people. Believe it or not, I am a typical liberal in many senses, liberals are not god hating, gay loving, drug using. We do think that people are free to make their own responsible choices on those things, and if gays get married who cares, if it makes their lives happier who are we to deny anyone joy in this short time we have here on earth, especially when it doesnt take anything away from anyone.
March 19th, 2007 at 2:17 pmthere’s ONE mainstrem cable newshow with a robust left of center point of view. one is too many for those guys.
screw ‘em. who asked them? what credentials do they have to say who is and isn’t out of line? ’shock and awe’ spoiled them rotten. why does Glenn Beck even have a show? the lower Bush and the repubs go, the louder the Becks and the Malkins get calling everybody else names.
now, when they or someone like them acts like a hypocrite, there’s someone on t.v. who might CALL them a hypocrite. they can’t STAND that. they prefer a right wing “affirmative action” type situation which inflates the unpopular right wing point of view.
somebody is getting good numbers with the shoe on the other foot. good for him. I hope he wears this crybaby’s insults like a badge of honor.
March 19th, 2007 at 2:21 pmBeck may admit being a conservative, but will never admit to being a closet case bigot.
March 19th, 2007 at 2:24 pmYour kidding me…Keith Olbermann is a liberal…? Well isn’t that loud mouth Glenn Beck a hypocritical, right wing, neo-con Fascist.? I’ll take the liberal, Keith Olbermann!!
March 19th, 2007 at 2:28 pmOne should not need to be liberal to be outraged with what this administration and the Republican party has done to this country. They are raping this country and it is unconscionable to support them in the effort or sit back and do nothing. Only a true patriot would stand up and yell “enough!” Conservatives, it would seem, are only interested in wrapping themselves in the flag when it suits their purpose. They would turn around an burn the same flag rather than protect it if the former were more advantageous to them politically.
March 19th, 2007 at 2:37 pmOOHHH..coming from the mouth of a hypocritical right-wing neo-con, fascist, throwing rocks in a glass house ….Go join the military in Iraq, Beck, and wrap yourself in the American flag so that they, (the insurgents, Qaeda, Sunnis, Shia or who ever the hell we are fighting over there) will be sure to see you
March 19th, 2007 at 2:40 pmOlbermann’s rippin’ ‘em a new one every night of the week. No wonder they’re soiling themsleves. Hey Glenn Beck: Keep attacking Olbermann. It’s worked out GREAT for Bill Orally!
March 19th, 2007 at 2:57 pmIf Beck supports Bush, Beck is no conservative.
March 19th, 2007 at 3:08 pmGlenn Beck, Jeff Gannon, Bill O’Lielly, Scum Vannity, Pus Limphog, mAnn Coultergeist et al…
…ALL serve “at the pleasure of the preznit”- Bushiva…
…in EXACTLY the same way as Monica Lewinsky…
…and YES, I’ve got a problem with that…
March 19th, 2007 at 3:17 pm#9 - Fritz – Olbermann is about as fair and accurate as Hannity and O’Reilly.
March 19th, 2007 at 3:38 pmOlbermann claims no party affiliation. His reporting of the news is accurate.
The reichwingers hate him because he dares to speak truth and they are liars.
When Olbermann gives his commentaries, they are advertised as such: personal commentary.
The repugs do the same thing to the Daily Show – they accuse Stewart of mocking the prez and the repugs, when, if they watched the show, they would see that he is merely using their own foibles against them as he is an equal opportunity comedian — dems gets skewered as well.
It’s just that Bush gives comedians and commentators so much material.
March 19th, 2007 at 4:26 pmOlbermann is about as fair and accurate as Hannity and O’Reilly.
Comment by valiant venus
That statement means absolutely nothing coming from the biggest, fattest liar on this blog.
March 19th, 2007 at 4:48 pmGlenn Beck is a tiny-brained wiper of other people’s bottoms. He is one of the very few people that I cannot listen to for even a little while. He is just too stupid and can’t help opening his mouth and letting everyone know it. If I were a conservative (ghods forbid) I would be vigorously trying to get him removed from public view.
March 19th, 2007 at 5:52 pmGlen Beck, on his best day, is nowhere near the professional that Keith Olbermann is on his worst day. Beck transcends discription as a “news commentator” His “opinions” are pure shock and awe nonsense. He should go back to carrying coffee in real newsrooms and learn the news trade as it was intended. I dare say, the whole cable news business needs serious truth intervention. Keith Olbermann is fair to both parties when they are violating ethics and the law. It’s just that in the last six years, there’s a scandal a day to talk about. Beck would rather trash talk personalities than real issues, while America dissolves.. Glen Beck: A waste of my time.
March 19th, 2007 at 6:11 pmYep, those Clinton problems were covered by Keith ….
“In 1997, Olbermann left ESPN to host his own primetime show on MSNBC, The Big Show. The news-variety program covered three or four topics in a one-hour broadcast. Olbermann also occasionally hosted the weekend edition of NBC Nightly News, and, along with Hannah Storm, co-hosted NBC Sports’ pre-game coverage of the 1997 World Series.
When the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke in 1998, The Big Show morphed into White House in Crisis. Olbermann became frustrated as his show was consumed by the Lewinsky story. In 1998 he stated that his work at MSNBC would “make me ashamed, make me depressed, make me cry.” [5] He left MSNBC after 17 months to return to sportscasting…..Olbermann wrote a weekly column for Salon.com from July 2002 until being rehired by MSNBC in early 2003. On his return to MSNBC, he served as a substitute host on Nachman and as an anchor for the network’s coverage of the war in Iraq. His own show, Countdown, debuted shortly thereafter on March 31, 2003, in the 8 p.m. ET time slot – Wikipedia
So WHEN exactly was the “fair and balanced” Olbermann doing the national BASH-Clinton fest – at an online blog?? In his Cheerios???
March 19th, 2007 at 6:38 pmOlbermann rebelled and complained about MSNBC covering the Lewinsky story each and every day to the exclusion of other worthwhile news stories.
March 19th, 2007 at 7:23 pmBeck’s comments are more than just “conservative.†They are also, at times, racist, anti-gay, and sexist.
I thought these were the standards of Being a conservative.
What else wuld his commnets be.
March 19th, 2007 at 9:06 pmI’ve never heard Olberman, but I’m sure he’s just out trying to make a living like everyone else. I thought he was a sportscaster. LOL.
March 19th, 2007 at 9:08 pmOh for joy!!!
I couldn’t think of anyone better to represent conservatives.
Our work is done here. We can now clear the area as the conservative movement is about to explode.
beck is the voice of conservatives? … lol … oh for joy …
March 19th, 2007 at 9:57 pmThat DUNG-dit SHIT-FILLED Creep Glenn Beck
Is a GEEK with an Unsharpened Pencil-Neck
He’s SO FULL of HIS OWN SELF, and Yes
His SCUM—-SUCK is FULL OF the CESS
From the POOL into which he VOMITS His DRECK!!!!!
ROSES are RED
POPPIES are BLACK
If I HAD Yer UGLY FACE, Glenn Beck
I’D HAVE A HEART ATTACK!!!!!
Glen, Glen the Beck
Stole a Dealer’s Deck
When he opened that Deck
RAVENS did he Eyes OUT-PECK!!!!!
I Think That I Shall Never See
A Glenn Beck As Lovely as a Tree
Indeed, Unless That Tree Doth Fall and Die
I’ll be Unhappy Unless Its SOUL in HELL Do FRY!!!!!
Glenn Beck Picked a Peck of Pickled Peckers
ANS SHOVED THEM ALL UP HIS LOATHESOME ANUS!!!!!
Glenn Beck and Bill O’LIE-lly Went Up To The Hill
To Fetch a Pail of LYING SWIFT-BOAT SMEARS
Beck FELL DOWN and SMASHED HIS SKULL
And Bill CAME TUMBLING AFTER!!!!!
Glenn Beck SAT ON A WALL
Glenn Beck HAD A GREAT FALL
All CHIMPya’s Horses
And All CHIMPya’s Men
COULDN’T PUT Glenn Beck’s ROTTEN HEAD BACK TOGETHER AGAIN!!!!!
HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH!!!!!
March 19th, 2007 at 10:19 pm‘He is a liberal and he’s also blending news and comment together.’
Funny Glenn. Because that is EXACTLY what you do you bloody moron. Every single day. Day in and day out.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:43 pm