Olbermann awarded Beck "Worst Person" for saying he "feel[s]" like asking first Muslim congressman to "prove to me that you are not working with our enemies"

On the November 15 edition of MSNBC's Countdown, host Keith Olbermann named Glenn Beck winner of his nightly "Worst Person in the World" segment for, as Media Matters for America documented, declaring to Rep.-elect Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first Muslim elected to Congress: "[Y]ou are a Democrat. You are saying, 'Let's cut and run.' And I have to tell you, what I feel like saying is, 'Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies."

Olbermann previously bestowed the "Worst Person" award upon Beck for calling anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan "a pretty big prostitute," as Media Matters noted. Beck also received "the bronze" in Olbermann's "Worst Person" segment for asserting, in response to a New York Times report on a Treasury Department program designed to track terrorists' international financial transactions: "Can you imagine The New York Times coming out and saying, 'Hey, the ovens aren't so bad,' back in World War II. Can you imagine that?" Beck continued: "I don't know. Sure, there are some Jews in there, but I bet they might make some good pizzas in there, too. The New York Times is just -- I don't get it. I don't understand it."

From the November 15 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann:

OLBERMANN: But our winner, conservative commentator Glenn Beck. Interviewing Congressman-elect Keith Ellison of Minnesota, who will become the first man of the Muslim faith to serve in the House, Beck actually said this to Ellison: quote, "No offense, and I know Muslims. I like Muslims. With that being said, you are a Democrat. You are saying, 'Let's cut and run.' And I have to tell you, what I feel like saying is, 'Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.' " Hey, Glenn, you divisive fearmonger. How 'bout you prove to us that you're not working with our enemies? Glenn Beck, today's "Worst Person in the World."

—A.I.