Morgan distorted Olbermann's criticism of her "bull's-eye"-on-Pelosi statement
On the December 1 edition of San Francisco radio station KSFO's The Lee Rodgers & Melanie Morgan Program, co-host Melanie Morgan asserted that Keith Olbermann, host of MSNBC's Countdown, "seems to have some sort of obsession about me" and claimed: "I'm on his show being discussed every week over something that I've said or not said." Morgan claimed that she "got[] in trouble" with Olbermann for mentioning what co-host Lee Rodgers referred to as "[Rep.] Nancy Pelosi's [D-CA] wide-eyed look" and observed of Olbermann: "I'd say he's just nuts. ... He's just totally bananas." Rodgers then added: "Don't discount the possibility that the guy is in heat for you."
In fact, as Media Matters for America and, subsequently, Olbermann, noted, Morgan did not just talk about "wide-eyed Nancy with the laughing eyes" on the November 14 edition of her program, Morgan also declared: "We've got a bull's-eye painted on her big, wide laughing eyes." On the November 22 edition of Countdown, that comment earned her the top position on Olbermann's nightly "Worst Person in the World" segment.
From the December 1 edition of The Lee Rodgers & Melanie Morgan Program:
RODGERS: Senator [Hillary Rodham] Clinton [D-NY], "The Hildabeast," has been holed up at her house in Chappaqua, New York, and hasn't appeared in public in over two weeks.
TOM BENNER (aka Officer Vic or OV, KSFO morning traffic reporter ): Well, she's had work done.
MORGAN: Oh-ho!
RODGERS: Now, well -- now, see there's OV jumping to a conclusion that would have escaped me.
MORGAN: Well, I was thinking perhaps she was just wanting to spend more time with Bill and Chelsea.
BENNER: Oh yeah, right.
RODGERS: Sure, sure, sure.
MORGAN: I gave her [inaudible] an explanation.
RODGERS: Well, we'll know, OV -- we'll know the next time she does make a public appearance --
BENNER: Hmm-mm.
RODGERS: -- if she has that Nancy Pelosi wide-eyed look.
BENNER: Hmm-mm.
MORGAN: Now, guys, I've gotten in trouble with Keith Olbermann from MSNBC for suggesting that. Now, I really suggest that --
RODGERS: Really?
MORGAN: -- you just watch yourselves because you don't want to get knocked in the --
RODGERS: Well, please, Keith Olbermann start something with me, please. Please!
BENNER: And with me, he'd probably spell the name wrong, but that's all right.
MORGAN: Yeah, that's all right. He's -- that guy has -- seems to have some sort of obsession about me. I'm on his show being discussed every week over something that I've said or not said.
RODGERS: You know what? I'd say that -- that's a sign he probably has the hots for you.
MORGAN: I'd say he's just nuts, that's what I think. He's just totally bananas.
RODGERS: Don't discount the possibility that the guy is in heat for you.
MORGAN: Ugh!
RODGERS: Otherwise, why would he get so upset, you know, in front of the 11 people who watch his silly little cable show or whatever it is.
MORGAN: Well, you know, that's the thing is that he -- he got totally offended because we discussed Nancy Pelosi's possible plastic surgery or lack thereof, and then he pulls out from the Internet one of the ugliest pictures ever of me, and says: "Well, Miss Morgan, if I were you, I wouldn't -- I wouldn't be talking about Nancy's plastic surgery," you know, and there's that picture of me --
RODGERS: Oh, God.
MORGAN: -- with 20 pounds heavier and you know looking pretty raggedy.
RODGERS: Oh, really?
MORGAN: Yeah, so he takes it to a real personal level. This is a guy who deals in the 'realm of ideas.'
RODGERS: He -- he a struck a nerve didn't he, Mel?
MORGAN: Ah, I could care less.
From the November 22 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann:
OLBERMANN: But our winner, the ridiculous radio yacker Melanie Morgan, having now twice suggested about Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi, quote, "We've got a bull's-eye painted on her big, wide laughing eyes." Given how we've all recently seen that some of the less rational members of the right-wing echo chamber take things like that literally, perhaps Ms. Morgan should consider her culpability if Pelosi is attacked or again threatened by the right.
She also made another reference to Pelosi and plastic surgery. And trust me, Ms. Morgan, the issue of personal appearance is not a battle you should want to join. Melanie Morgan: today's worst person in the world.
—A.I.
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