Think Progress

Olbermann apologizes for implying ‘something untoward.’»

On his Wednesday night show, MSNBC host Keith Olbermann discussed the delegate math with Newsweek’s Howard Fineman. “Some adults somewhere in the Democratic party [need] to step in and stop this thing,” Fineman said, referring to super superdelegates. Olbermann responded, “Right. Somebody who can take [Hillary Clinton] into a room and only he comes out.” (Watch it here.) Eat The Press’ Rachel Sklar said that comment “can only mean one thing: Beating the crap out of Hillary Clinton, to the point where she is physically incapable of getting up and walking out.” Olbermann has since issued an apology and explanation to Sklar:

It is a metaphor. I apologize: the generic “he” gender could imply something untoward. It should’ve been “only the other comes out - from a political point of view.” You could’ve called for reaction first if your main motive had merely been criticism.

Greg Sargent writes, “Not to quibble with the great KO, but does he really call people for reaction before pillorying them as ‘The Worst Person In The World’?”

UPDATE: Olbermann issued a clarification tonight on Countdown, explaining that he was using a “pretty common metaphor.” He said he mixed up his pronoun usage, thereby inadvertently turning the metaphor into something “inappropriate.” And for that, “I apologize,” Olbermann said. Watch it:

Clinton projected to win PA primary.»

Fox News is reporting that Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) has won the Pennsylvania primary election. Neither CNN nor MSNBC have declared the contest yet.

O’Reilly redefines ‘fair and balanced’: Find people who hate both Democrats.»

Last night, Bill O’Reilly offered the newest definition of Fox News’s “Fair and Balanced” slogan: Bring on guests who hate both Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-IL). Following a segment with Karl Rove — who trashed Obama — O’Reilly introduced conservative pundit Dick Morris to trash Clinton:

O’REILLY: OK now, Karl Rove doesn’t really like Barack Obama as a political figure in this country. It’s obvious. And you really don’t like Hillary Clinton as a political figure in this country. So we figure we’d balance off the debate.

Watch it:

Of course, neither Rove nor Morris said anything about Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

Fox News anchor’s son asks why Hillary is ‘hitting the sauce.’»

During MSNBC’s Hardball today on the campus of Villanova University, a questioner asked John McCain why Hillary Clinton recently took a shot of whiskey. Asking a slanted question worthy of Fox News, the student said, “Do you think she’s finally resorted to hitting the sauce just because of some unfavorable polling?” Watch it:

Politico’s Jonathan Martin reports that the questioner was Peter Doocy, the son of Fox & Friends anchor Steve Doocy. Martin writes, “Peter Doocy…is a junior here and a spitting image of his father.” Spitting image in more ways than one it seems.

Cheney: Obama and Clinton are ‘wannabes.’»

In an interview with ABC News yesterday, Vice President Dick Cheney asserted that President Bush “carries the biggest burden” of the Iraq war and even compared staying the course in Iraq to the pardoning of President Nixon. But Cheney also took time out to insult Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) for “announc[ing] that the solution in Iraq is to withdraw,” calling them “wannabes.” Watch it:

McCain and Clinton’s passport files also breached.»

Yesterday, it was revealed that Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) passport files breached three times in the past three months. Today, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told “Sen. Hillary Clinton that the security of her passport file were breached in 2007.” In a State Department press briefing today, spokesman Sean McCormack said that Sen. John McCain’s passport info had also been accessed by one of the people who looked at Sen. Obama’s file.

Clinton wins Ohio primary.»

CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News are reporting that Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) has won the Ohio Democratic primary. Clinton also won the Rhode Island primary, and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) won Vermont.

UPDATE: The cable networks are now projecting that Clinton will also win the Texas primary.

McCain, Clinton win Florida primaries.»

CNN and AP announced that Sen. John McCain (R-FL) will win Florida’s Republican primary election. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) also won the state’s Democratic primary, although she “will receive no delegates to the national convention” because of the state’s “scheduling dispute with the national party.”

UPDATE: NBC News reports that Rudy Giuliani is set to drop out and will endorse McCain tomorrow.

Clinton wins Nevada caucuses.»

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) won today’s Democratic caucuses in Nevada, joining former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who won the GOP side.

UPDATE: The New York Times reports on the record turnout:

With 84 percent of the precincts reporting across the state, state party officials said more than 107,000 Nevada voters attended the caucuses. It is the third state in the row to achieve record-setting turnout in the Democratic presidential nominating fight, which party strategists believe is a referendum on the Bush administration and a strong call for a new direction in Washington.

Just 9,000 voters participated in the state’s 2004 Democratic caucus.

UPDATE II: Ari Melber at The Nation reports that Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) may take the most delegates from Nevada, despite receiving fewer votes.