Can Keith Olbermann be fair and balanced?
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- July
- 23
An interesting column by Howard Kurtz this morning in the Washington Post raises a interesting question: Since MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann is known as a passionately partisan host (see his latest anti-Bush commentary here, where he calls for the president’s impeachment), and since he’ll be moderating a Democratic debate later this summer, is it fair to ask, can Olbermann be tough enough on the candidates?
Olbermann tells Kurtz his debate moderation will resemble his work co-anchoring previous election events, i.e. he’ll be fair.
I realize the far right understands that the pitchmen it turns to in lieu of newscasters could not be trusted to leave their commentary at home, and treat an actual news event as such, but fortunately I’m a journalist who does periodic commentary, and not a snake-oil salesman pretending to be an analyst or newsman.
Satisfied?
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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on Monday, July 23rd, 2007 at 4:17 pm by Suburbarazzi.
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Lmfao xD
You asked if I'm satisfied with Olbermann's reply. The answer is Yes. It's not really so difficult if you're a journalist who focuses on LISTENING to people and OBTAINING INFORMATION, as opposed to talking and characterizing information. That is why I'm sure Olbermann will do a fine job moderating the debate.
Can anyone name the number of wars that "journalist" Keith has covered? Anyone? That would be zero. Can anyone name the number of disaster zones that Olbermann has been to? Hurricane Katrina? No. The tsunami in SE Asia? That would be a no too. Has he ever covered any hurricane or war period? Again, a big fat no. "Journalist" Keith Olbermann has never stepped foot out of this country to cover a story period. Ever. Does Olbermann present stories on his "news" program that offer opinions from any other side except the far left? No again. But "journalist" Keith insists that it's others who aren't real journalists and that he's perfectly capable of being…...fair and balanced. Which is why his show is so totally to the left that Cindy Sheehan probably doesn't watch it because it's too looney tunes. Perhaps that's why Olbermann is now a coveted "voice" on programs such as "The Simpsons and Family Guy." He's more at home in the cartoon world because he is a cartoon figure, someone who PRETENDS to be a journalist but doesn't want to do the heavy-lifting being a journalist really requires.
WR, you ask, "Does Olbermann present stories on his 'news' program that offer opinions from any other side except the far left?" Again, the answer is Yes: criticism of the Bush administration doesn't constitute a "side" to anyone but a Bush partisan. Facts don't have a "side," and to anyone but a Bush partisan, the facts regarding this administration's failures speak for themselves. Moreover, there's no rule of journalism that an anchor must have visited the scene of a war or natural distaster to report a story correctly. You're confusing the anchor's role with that of a correspondent. The object of news shows is to transmit accurate information to the public. That's what Olbermann strives to do, and from my observation over the past 3 years, he succeeds in the great majority of cases. I see no reason to doubt that he'll see the Aug. 7 debate as an opportunity to ask the candidates incisive questions and, as befits a moderator, use their answers to delve deeper into how they plan to solve the country's problems.
Dorrie,
You are a complete and utter loon. If you think that Olbermann is objective and fair, you need to seek immediate professional help.