Olbermann named Beck "Worst Person" for propositioning woman on show
On the March 1 edition of MSNBC's Countdown, host Keith Olbermann named CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck the "winner" in his nightly "Worst Person in the World" segment for saying to US Weekly's Dina Sansing, "I've got some time and a camera. Why don't you stop by?" As Media Matters for America and the weblog Crooks and Liars documented, Beck's comment came during a discussion about reports that "racy photos" of American Idol contestant Antonella Barba had surfaced on the Internet. Of Beck's remarks, Olbermann said: "I'm sorry, I would have to see that to believe it." He then played the video of the exchange between Beck and Sansing.
As Media Matters for America documented (here, here, and here), during each of the first three episodes of his CNN Headline News program, Beck made suggestive comments to CNN Headline News anchor Erica Hill, who was then giving daily news updates during the show. Hill no longer appears on Beck's program.
ABC recently hired Beck as a "regular commentator" for Good Morning America, as Media Matters also noted.
From the March 1 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann:
OLBERMANN: But our winner, Glenn Beck of CNN Headline News. Talking about the latest naked photo scandal at American Idol, he asked a female guest to let him take nude photos of her. No, wait a minute. Not even he would do that. Ask a woman on television to pose nude for him, even hypothetically? I'm sorry, I'd have to see that to believe it. I'm sorry, Glenn. I don't know how this got in this list, I mean.
We have it on tape? Seriously? Dina Sansing, from US Weekly? All right, play it.
[begin video clip]
BECK: I don't think you have to be famous. I think you just work in the average, you know, in the average environment in America now, somebody would get a picture of you, and then it would be posted all around, and you -- it'll happen in your office.
SANSING: Yeah, possibly.
BECK: You don't think so?
SANSING: Well, it depends. You know, it depends --
BECK: Dina, I've got some time and a camera. Why don't you stop by? No? OK.
[end video clip]
OLBERMANN: Bravo, sir. I mean, not even Bill-O would do his sexual harassing on camera. Glenn Beck of CNN Headline News, today's "Worst Person in the World."
Olbermann is becoming as dopey on the left as those he's obsessed with on the right.
obsession n. 1.the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc.
In other words, one cannot be obsessed with multiple people.
If Keith divides his time firing across the bow of O'Reilly, Coulter, Beck, Savage, etc., this is not obesssion.
Tommy...
He's kicking right-wing ass....Night, after night, after night, after night.
Kicking right-wing ass.
Great job Keith.
Agree. As most of the world turns a blind eye, Olbermann and a few others (MMFA, Huffington, etc) continue to hammer these guys... with their own words! Come on. This is the big diff b/w the rightwing liars and leftwing 'loonz'. Happy hunting, Kieth.
Olbermann is not dopey.
Wow. Such insight and analysis of the segment posted.
You are the tops.
I am speechless.
Wrong.
Sunshine is the best disinfectant against the crap Beck spews out. Keep up the good fight, Keith!
has it occured to anyone that beck's fallen off the wagon? this would explain some of the more assinine comments he's made in recent memory, including this one.
once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.
Sorry, I have to disagree. Alcoholics are people with a disease and they should not be mocked. Would you mock Beck if he had Cancer? Be critical of the guy but do not make fun of his disease.
and maybe Keith getting his head stuck in the subway door is the cause of his insanity.
"and maybe Keith getting his head stuck in the subway door is the cause of his insanity."
In case you don't know what Leatherhelmet is saying: on the up-is-down/black-is-white Planet Wingnut, where he resides, it's perfectly fine and A-OK for Glenn Beck to proposition women on the air. But if you should bring the incident to the public's attention--like Olbermann has done-- then you must be "insane".
Sorry, but Media Matters and Olbermann come off looking like the Church Lady here.
But what the hay--their jog
We already are aware that right-wingers like you wholehearedly condone and endorse remarks like Beck's. It's all part of the right-wing philosophy. And we know you'd really prefer that his remarks were not publicized like Olbermann and Media Matters have done. Because it makes Beck look like the jacka$$ that he is.
Next time, tell us something we don't already know.
Too easy.
Church Ladies.
Too easy. MORON.
Olbermann and Media Matters came off looking like the Church Lady here.What? Funny?I like the Church Lady and I thought it was one of the better recurring characers that SNL ever developed.
I couldn't agree more, and the Church Lady would have been just as alarmed as some here. Others who would have made such a remark would be Leno, Obrien, Kimmel, Imus...silly and sophomoric, yes...too easy, yes---but something for Media Matters to hang its hat on?
Church Ladies.
So because SOME overweening moralizing, which is MUCH more prevelant on the right than the left, can be satirized then NO actions are uncouth enough to be called out? Yeah wingnut black/white Manichean thinking alright so simpleminded.
Moron
"..silly and sophomoric, yes.."
Lower-than-low standards. Here's a "silly" incident: Mark Foley can fiddle around with underage pages for years, and his Republican cohorts looked the other way. After all, they didn't want to act like "Church Ladies". Funny how oh so very tolerant the Wingnuts can be when it suits them.
This is SUCH a standard lefty response. Let's ignore the current situation and bring up something else to distract the discussion. "But mooom! Billy gets to stay up late!"
You sound like a child when you use this ploy. Stick to the topic. IT's too easy to pull out stupid past mistakes from either side of the aisle.
Actually that is a standard righty practice too. Ever hear the name Clinton brought up out of the clear blue sky with NOTHING to do with the subject? Man I wish I had a dollar....
Except if Beck did this in a work environment they both were employed in he would be fired.
It would be called sexual harassment.
Nothing about a church would be mentioned and for good reason.
Here are some of the examples of Beck and his contradictions. He rarely passes up an opportunity to profess his own faith and his teaching Sunday school, or reminisce about how these sorts of perverted things did not happen in the good old days or how depraved the media is in defiling America’s virgin ears. Then he goes and says something like this. He asks re. Ellison D. MN of being a terrorist sympathizer and accuses Cindy Shehan of being a big prostitute for opposing the Iraq war. Then he gets all sensitive and asks how the level of political discourse in this country has degenerated so much that Robert Kennedy called him a fascist for being skeptical of global warming. So Beck needs to pick a planet and live on it. Is he a Church Gentleman, Culture Warrior here to protect us from all things remotely obscene or is he a good time party guy who jokes about taking naked pictures of women other than his wife? Is he an irreverent over the top commentator who uses hyperbole to stimulate debate, or does he demand polite political discourse? Beck’s problem is that he demands more of those that he criticizes than he expects from himself.
it's perfectly fine and A-OK for Glenn Beck to proposition women on the air. But if you should bring the incident to the public's attention--like Olbermann has done-- then you must be "insane".
You tell him dave, propositioning woman should always be done in secret behind closed doors, like maybe the oval office for instance.
Fruitloop.
How about privatly and not in front of a national audience, MORON
Solon, do you HONESTLY believe that Beck was SINCERE when he made his statement? Do you REALLY think he was actually propositioning a guest and seriously asking to take some pictures?
IF you do, you are as loony as the right wing nuts that take every word of the bible literally.
(and is it possible for you to disagree with anyone on this board without insulting them?)
Did someone tell you that YOU were the message board moniter? I notice you often come in and attack me for MY insults that directly answer an insulting post. Notice that he ended HIS post by calling the other poster a fruitloop. I dont need your permission to return serve and I dont care beans what you think about it. I often answer reasoned posts without insults. I just answer insulting posts with insults. YOU like a typical rightwingnut dont care about the original insult but how dare us liberals treat rightwingers like they treat us. You are a hypocrite if you ONLY attack me for my ANSWERING insults yet never seem to take your rightwing peers to task for THEIRS. No I dont think it was a serious proposition, it was rude and obnoxious ridicule, what I did think was it was an ANSWER TO THE POST I WAS RESONDING TO. Its really not that complicated. Bottom line you dont get to tell me how to act and until you criticise the rightwingers for THEIR insults you have zero credibility criticising me for MINE
...do you HONESTLY believe that Beck was SINCERE when he made his statement? Do you REALLY think he was actually propositioning a guest and seriously asking to take some pictures?...by cann0nba11
He was kidding around. Did a horrible job of it though. She looked confused. He ended up stuttering.
Beck still thinks men & woman can kid around about this type of stuff. Actually they can, and do...IF they are already friends, and are able to differentiate between joking around & being serious.
Beck pulling this on the air with someone who obviously wasn't sure where he was going with his "joke" was just plain moronic on Beck's part.
Worst Person In The World? Nah...dumbest maybe.
I think thats a pretty fair synopsis of the situation Jeter
Good post.
Name-calling....
Can't Wingnuts, Inc. send over a more intelligent representative than you?
Wait, never mind. They can't.
"No, wait a minute. Not even he would do that. Ask a woman on television to pose nude for him, even hypothetically? I'm sorry, I'd have to see that to believe it. I'm sorry, Glenn. I don't know how this got in this list, I mean."
Hilarious! Well done, Keith.
Well done, Keith--IF yur trying to play the Church Lady. Matter of fact, there's a certain similarity.
We should all just accept this as more conservative humor. It's catching on too.
I for one am no longer going to try to imagine my wife, my daughter, my sister or my grand daughter squirming on national TV when some oily, drug addicted, born again slime merchant sexually harasses a professional woman because she agreed to appear on his show to discuss the issues of the day.
Thank God we have conservatives defending our women from the predators.
As there is a certain similarity between YOU and that nutty transmedium I saw chanelling Bozo the Clown
Hey Lemoc, if your comedy doesn't work the first time, try repeating it several times.
Churchlady wasn't even funny in the 90's. Lemoc needs to update his tired and unfunny analogies it seems.
On a separate note, Dina is one fine lady!
You're fired, sexist pig.
You're an irrelvant troll, moron
Wow. Glenn Beck is the new O'Reilly (but dumber).
That would mean that spinach is smarter than the two of them.
ewww that was creeeeepy! Glenn Beck was hired by whom? And still has a job on air because...?
Olbermann should NEVER comment on someone's dealings with the opposite sex
www.nypost.com/seven/10092006/gossip/pagesix/pagesix.htm
Makes Beck look like a saint. Oh yeah and the Beck comment was still just sarcasm.
This proves a couple of things.
1. That News Corp. must be feeling pretty indignant about Olberman pulling back the curtain and revealing that not only is the great and powerful voice of Oz is not just a fraud, but that he does not have any clothes. 2. That the New York Post’s journalistic standards have risen to the point of quoting an anonymous source from the prestigious internet and for that matter a jilted lovers web site. 3. The next time Savage, O’Reilly, Beck, Limbaugh or Morgan and company refer to MMFA as a smear web site compare their standards to your.Or that Olbermann is a hypocrite of epic standards, a common problem in prominent libs
Fine. Even given the outrageously thin sourcing of this story, I could conclude that Olberman is a jerk.
If you will concede that the New York Post and News Corp and anyone who would promote this sort of blatantly poorly sourced smear has no credibility.SR, it's obviously another rightwing smear campaign financed by Exxon.
I can show you a lotta websites where an endless line of skanky people say Olderman is a helluvaman.
SO....Exxon's after Olbermann? I'm sorry, is your tinfoil hat on too tight?
At least their not telling the terrorists about government programs to track their money transactions.
You mean like Bush did at least six times BEFORE the NYTimes article? The real question here is do you EVER know what you are talking about or is regurgitating rightwing talking points the highest level your brain function allows?
You are right it could not have occurred to the terrorists that we were tracking their money. Financial records are now and always have been accessible via subpoena. The point of these stories was that the Bush Administration was by-passing Judicial oversight. I don't think any terrorist organization was concerned with our subpoena power, but it may have been a little encouraging to them that we were willing to abandon our constitution in the name to convenience and that a significant portion of our population would support doing so. It was probably a little encouraging to them that we were willing to start down the road to becoming a Police State thanks to their threat.
You mean like abject stupidity being a common trait among conservatives. Of course there is a lot of astonishing ignorance among them too
Ouch. Keith gets a taste of his own medicine.
Maybe someone will name him "Worst bedperson in the World."
"Makes Beck look like a saint. Oh yeah and the Beck comment was still just sarcasm." --savagerocks
So you are equating apparently anonymous gossip with what we saw/heard Beck do with our own eyes and ears? That's a stretch if I ever saw one.
Exactly how is Olbermann a "hypocrite of epic standards" for something he "reportedly" did in his private life to downright sexual harassment by Benn Gleck (damn that spelling! :) ) on camera, on a 24 hour cable news channel? Or are you just being "sarcastic" savagerocks??
Because the Beck comment was an attempt at SARCASM. I've been dicussing this non-issue for 3 days. What Olberman (alegedlly) did was not done in jest. According to the lady's blog he's pretty much a sexual predator using his fame to bed chicks, though he (alegedlly) has some preformance issues. I'd say the fact that he accuses Beck of acting like a predator when he was clearly saying his comment in jest while Olbermann himself has ex-lovers charging him with ACTING like a predator himself(alegedlly) I'd say that puts him in pretty high class of hypocrite.
BTW is it alegedlly or alegedly? I honestly have no idea
Hey Weinerdog idolizer, I know you molest small furry animals, and I have a vermin problem in my barn why dont you come over and scare them all away. Hey dont be offended it was just sarcasm
I'm not offended, unlike many libs I have a sense of humor. But your comments add BRILLIANTLY to this debate. What are you in fourth grade? Contribute to the discussion or don't waste my time
I DID contribute, you just arent bright enough to GET the point. See sarcasm or not it can STILL be offensive and unwarranted DUH. Adult education look into it. Fourth grade level would probably be way to high better start at second grade
"Fourth grade level would probably be way TOO high..."
If you're going to make fun of someone's education you should probably try to use proper grammar. Proving once again that your are a MORON.
Your posts are so inane they arent worth doing any more than jotting off a quick riposte. I am touched by your concern but if a degenerative brain disorder takes my IQ down to only double what yours is I will immediatly commit supuku. You are one of the stupidest posters I have ever seen what is amusing is you actually THINK you are bright. Your capacity for self delusion is astonishing AND amusing
"I've been dicussing this non-issue for 3 days."
Laughable. If it was such a "non-issue", you wouldn't have devoted 72 hours (so far) to it. The more time you devote, the more we know this item is having an effect.
Yes, I've devoted SOOO much time to it. BTW I only blog at work, some people have LIVES.
I am sure that your employer appreciates the fact you find HIS time worth wasting on an internet message board but your personal time is much too valuable.
Savage, some other zombie already linked to the angry ex-lover tirades. I think that poster was a virgin too, so let me explain; If a woman talks trash about you for not calling her after sex, it means it was good.
If she's really mad that you didn't call her afterwards, and criticizes the man, it means it was really good.
You just wait til you have sex. If you do it right, it'll happen to you.
You just have to see the look on her face when he made the "offer" to see that his "sarcasem" landed with a thud.
Priceless.
This crowd is off its rocker. It's called humor... satire... comedy. try some common sense. Beck is a clown.. a joker. He covers serious topics and gets serious when needed. But with crap like the AI 'scandal' or Britney's bald head, he is poking fun. It's tongue in cheek. Do you HONESTLY think Beck was SERIOUSLY asking his guest to get together for a photo shoot? Do you REALLY think he was asking that? C'mon...lighten up MMFA. If you do you are just as the psychos on the right that interpret every word of the bible literally.
Olbermann should stick with sports... or at least come clean and admit he's a leftist promoter.
I've been trying to drive the point that the Beck comment was a failed attempt at humor since this non-story broke. Just because it wasn't funny doesn't mean he MEANT it. How fast would the divorce papers be at his desk if he was ACTUALLY propositioning women on the air? Thanks for bringing a sliver of sanity to this whole issue. This entire incident is being blown out of proportion.
Hey why dont you help Savagerockhead come over and molest all the small furry animals in my barn. Isnt sarcasm wonderful. It means you can get away with ANY repulsive behavior. Just say it was a joke.
Again, thank you for proving my point. Your insults are so over the top that they're not offensive.
OF COURSE THEY WERE. THAT IS THE POINT. Man, will you EVER graduate to higher brain function? Let me try to communicate on your level. Was sarcasm, was mean, offensive and insulting. They not mutally exclusive. Better find a five year old to explain it to you.
It's sad that someone with a handle that means "wise Athenian lawgiver and poet" has to revert to repeated name calling and other unnecessary tactics to get attention. You are obviously passionate about your beliefs, wouldn't it be to your advantage to take the high road once in a while? For someone that hates war you certainly like playing with the verbal flamethrower.
Who elected you message board protocol manager? Thats right no one did. Did he call me a moron just a few posts back? Why yes he did. I did you take HIM to task for that? Why no you didnt. I dont need your permission nor do I care the least what you think. Its sad that you think this pious schoolmarm scold persona is anything but pathetic which it is. I know what I am doing, it is my choice if someone wants to discuss things rationally I am there if they want to insult me, I am coming at them. What YOU think about that means less to me than the size of shoe Bozo the Clown was burried in. Get over yourself, you arent my boss you will NEVER tell me what to do. Until you take your rightwingnut peers to task like you continually take me to task for the VERY SAME THING. You have zero credibility on this subject. You are just like the rest of the cons here, you want the rightwing to have an exclusive franchise on personal attacks that just isnt going to happen.
"C'mon...lighten up MMFA."
Or else what? You'll continue to post idiotic comments?
Dave:
Beck is a fraud. And MM has shown that many many times.
KO made his nightly contribution to sanity by pointing out the absurdity and creepiness of Beck.
If you think MM should "lighten up"- why do you bother coming to this site?- or posting here?
Beck has his own site, he'd be happy to lure you into- along with the cabal of hatemongers making a ton of $ $$$$$$$$$$$$ off people's ignorance. They play to the lowest common demoninator.
Oh yeah, that beck such a comnmedian laughing all the way to the ban. Ha ha ha. Great insights on American Idol.
Agree with Dave/Chicago- CANONBA11- "Lighten up?"- See above!
I think you missed the point. It looks to me as if Dave were ridiculing Cannonballs inanity, not agreeing with him.
I take the time to sign-up for comments and this is all I get? What a rip.
Her reaction was beautiful, say no more.
A late response to savagerocks,
you might of had a point if you used the right word to describe what he was attempting, it was humor not sarcasm - in a creepo sexual harassment kind of way - and in poor taste I might add. Sarcasm is inherently demeaning and offensive to the person it targets. In other words sarcasm is a form of humor (yes!), but at the expense of the person it is directed at. I did notice that you changed your stance and now you say it was a "failed attempt at humor". I happen to agree with you. Kerry botched a joke about the troops, and was almost lynched publicly for it (and rightfully so I might add, he acts like a blithering idiot sometimes). Joe Biden had a botched compliment about Barack Obama and he was forced to apologize, and now Mr. Beck. Thats what happens, when you botch anything on camera (i.e. on national tv). As far as Olbermann, whether or not he performs poorly in bed, acts like a jerk to woman, uses his status and clout to get women (what a concept! ever think its the women who pursue him because of his status and clout!!), is generally a womanizer in his private sex life does not make him a hypocrite for calling Beck on his apparent lapse in judgement - border lining on sexual harassment - on national tv. As far as I can see, Olbermann has not and has never been sued for sexual harrassment and he is not married. Glenn Beck is married with children and he had better watch what he says to the "tarts" and attractive women that appear on his show or his wife just might fry his cahones in blistering hot oil!
The fact that Olberman is psycho is enough to make any comment of his worthless to whoever might hear it. I think most would find that his obsession with O'Reilly is predicated on jealousy of intellect and ratings of the show.
You MUST be kidding jealous of O'falafels intellect? Obermann is psycho? Wow, you really have lost all touch with reality havent you. The average seven year old has more intellectual capacity than Obullyboy. Opervert wouldnt make a decent boil on Olbermanns butt journalistically speaking. The fact the loves to be lied to brainwashed crowd is sizable and knows where to turn for their daily dose of koolaid doesnt make Owingnut a journalist just a jerk
SavageRocks: "... your are a MORON"
Your what is a moron?
I have two comments I'd like to share on this thread:
First, the Worst Person in the World piece is meant to point out the silly or distasteful antics that occur on a daily basis but often slip through the cracks and go unnoticed. I think of it as individual colors that when used together, paint a bigger picture. It is also done with a dash of humor. To me, these are obvious...to others I guess it is not so.
And secondly I'd like to say that we all NEED these kind of things brought to light. Some have argued that this was sarcastic humor and that Beck wasn't being serious. OK, noted. But even if that is true (and I'm skeptical) it's not a justification for it. Apparently to some there's a fuzzy line between being hypersensitive and being respectful and courteous. I just don't see it. The danger with this sort of behavior lays in mass exposure. You want to talk to your buddy at the bar this way, that's your business. But when you're on national TV? I don't think so. When you let something nasty that reaches the masses slide you risk it becoming acceptably behavior. We see it all the time. It's now somehow acceptable to have political leaders, religious leaders and people who operate under the guise of being informed to use trashy language and baseless accusations with no repercussion. The "f***t" story with Coulter is yet one more example of how low discourse has fallen. It's simply uncalled for, pure and simple. I've personally had enough of this kind of low-brow "intellect" flooding the airwaves. And I'm sick and tired of being labeled for demanding that people use decent language and respectful behavior when having conversations. When you speak like an educated person you not only show respect for other people but respect for yourself. If these people have college educations I for one would like to start seeing some evidence of it.