Olbermann awarded National Review writer third "Worst Person" award; Limbaugh named "Worst Person" for still defending Michael J. Fox attacks

On the October 30 edition of MSNBC's Countdown, host Keith Olbermann awarded National Review writer Stephen Spruiell "the bronze" in his nightly "Worst Person in the World" segment for, as Media Matters for America documented, "[c]omplaining that I [Olbermann] too often refer to President Bush as 'Mr. Bush,' that it's my, quoting him, 'way of saying that Bush holds office illegitimately.' " Olbermann credited Media Matters for drawing attention to Spruiell's assertion, stating: "[I]t turns [out], and we thank the Media Matters website for this, so does Mr. Spruiell's boss. Writing in National Review since 2001, William F. Buckley himself has referred to the president as 'Mr. Bush' more than 150 times."

Additionally, Olbermann named nationally syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh "Worst Person" for "claiming that TV networks speeded up the video from the day he first called [actor] Michael J. Fox a faker." Olbermann added: "He also denies that he was mocking or making fun of Fox's symptoms of Parkinson's disease." As Media Matters noted, Limbaugh purported to have apologized for his comments about Fox, who has Parkinson's disease and appeared in a campaign ad for Missouri Democratic Senate candidate Claire McCaskill, yet continued to attack Fox and baselessly question the veracity of Fox's condition in the ad. Limbaugh frequents Olbermann's "Worst Person" segment and recently received runner-up for stating that "terrorists around the world, especially these in Iraq, are voting Democrat [sic] today," as Media Matters also noted.

From the October 30 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann:

OLBERMANN: The bronze to someone named Steven Spruiell of National Review. Complaining that I too often refer to President Bush as "Mr. Bush," that it's my, quoting him, "way of saying that Bush holds office illegitimately." In fact, Mr. Spruiell, it's my way as not referring to him as, quote, "Bush." I call him, quote, "Mr. Bush." And it turns out, and we thank the Media Matters website for this, so does Mr. Spruiell's boss. Writing in National Review since 2001, William F. Buckley himself has referred to the president as "Mr. Bush" more than 150 times.

Our runner-up, Congresswoman Jean Schmidt [R] of Ohio. She says she's not advocating it, but she believes, quote, "It's something we need to look at." What is it? Storing nuclear-waste shipments from around the world inside her own congressional district. She says this a week and a half before the people in the district will decide whether or not to send her back to Congress. She thinks it could create hundreds, maybe thousands of jobs. To say nothing of a nice, healthy green glow in the community 24 hours a day.

But our winner, comedian Rush Limbaugh, who is now claiming that TV networks speeded up the video from the day he first called Michael J. Fox a faker. He also denies that he was mocking or making fun of Fox's symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Well, just look at this again. And by the way, nut job, it is regular speed.

LIMBAUGH [video clip]: He is exaggerating the effects of the disease. He is moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act.

OLBERMANN: We didn't alter it; maybe we should have. Limbaugh actually says, quote, "It is absurd and ridiculous for them to make this charge that I would make fun of somebody in this circumstance."

I'm going to make a controversial suggestion here on behalf of mankind, I think. Rush, your lies used to be slightly entertaining, but no more. Please go back on the drugs.

Comedian Rush Limbaugh, today's "Worst Person in the World."

—A.I.