Olbermann "Worst Person" awards: O'Reilly for French "boycott" misinformation, PBS NewsHour for Melanie Morgan
On the May 10 edition of MSNBC's Countdown, host Keith Olbermann named Fox News host Bill O'Reilly the "winner" in his nightly "Worst Person in the World" segment for repeatedly misrepresenting the purported effects of his boycott of France, which he called for in March 2003 because of France's opposition to the Iraq war. As Media Matters for America documented, on the May 7 edition of The O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly declared that "The Factor is lifting the boycott of France" due to the recent election of Nicolas Sarkozy as France's next president.
Media Matters has noted several of O'Reilly's falsehoods and exaggerations concerning his boycott, including his July 14, 2004, claim that "French exports to the USA have fallen by more than a billion dollars from 2001 to 2003," and his April 27, 2004, claim that "they've lost billions of dollars in France according to the Paris Business Review." During the May 10 broadcast, Olbermann cited Media Matters' evidence debunking O'Reilly's claims, saying: "A, it turns out Americans bought more goods during Bill-O's fantasy of world domination boycott, not less. And B, there is no publication called the Paris Business Review. Bill Orally, in any language, today's 'Worst Person in the World.' "
Also on May 10, Olbermann awarded the producers of PBS' The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer the "bronze" in the "Worst Person" segment for hosting Move America Forward (MAF) chairwoman and conservative radio host Melanie Morgan on the May 8 edition of NewsHour despite Morgan's history of spreading false, misleading, and unsubstantiated claims regarding the Iraq war, as Media Matters also documented. Olbermann said the producers of NewsHour were trying to "balance a discussion of the soldier's view of Iraq," and added: "This would be the first time the word 'balance' has ever been associated with Melanie Morgan."
As Media Matters has noted (here, here, here, and here), Olbermann frequently recognizes O'Reilly in his "Worst Person" segment.
From the May 10 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann:
OLBERMANN: First, time for Countdown's latest list of nominees for "Worst Person in the World." The bronze, the producers of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. Trying to balance a discussion of the soldier's view of Iraq, had our friend Jon Soltz from VoteVets.org on, and as his balance, anti-American San Francisco radio talker Melanie Morgan, the one who said George Soros helped the Nazis to promote his own career. This would be the first time the word "balance" has ever been associated with Melanie Morgan.
Our runners-up tonight, the Chemical Warfare Department, which left at least 130 vials full of toxic agents in the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, specifically in the area where tourists are told to go and search for crystals. A Boy Scout found one of the vials last week and had to be treated for exposure to an unknown yellowish liquid inside.
But the winner, Bill-O. With the presidential victory of the conservative Nicolas Sarkozy in France, Bill has now called off his famous boycott of France. You know, the one that the Almighty Gazoo of Fox Noise claimed crippled the French economy? "They lost billions of dollars in France, according to the Paris Business Review."
A, it turns out Americans bought more goods during Bill-O's fantasy of world domination boycott, not less. And B, there is no publication called the Paris Business Review. Bill Orally, in any language, today's "Worst Person in the World."
The other right-wing media mogul you should worry about
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i believe o'reilly was mistakenly thinking hot air was an export.
Slow newsday Friday I guess. Didn't we cover this ad nauseam a day or two ago?
What else do you expect? MMFA posts, Oldermann reads, Oldermann awards, MMFA posts Oldermann's awards. Reruns coming in the near future.
and don't forget O'Reilly adding fuel to the fire himself. he has turned himself from a fairly organised thought process into a mental case.
This is true, but Oldermann has proven irrelevant because of his ignoring the Imus controversy, Sharpton's incinderay rhetoric, Obama's misspeak. And MMFA highlites only those awards by Oldrmann that he takes from this website, which is selfserving at the least.
Incendiary, Oscar.
And while we are chastising those who spew incendiary hatred, why not include people like Bill-O and Ann Coulter and Rush and Michelle Malkin?
I know that none of their True Axis of Evil would dream of actually putting them in their real and proper place, but then, that's why a loving God in His Infinite Wisdom gives us the Internet, Media Matters, Alternet and other places where people who aren't controlled by The Corporate Empire can express our views.
Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.
Thanks for the spelling correction. I didn't include Bull OhReally?, RashL, CrazyAnnie, etal in my post because they are highlited week after week by MMFA (and Oldermann). Just pointing out that Oldermann is selective in his "outrage" in not awarding people like Imanas*, Sharpton, etal for their rhetoric. This is understandable from a partisan website such as MMFA, but should not be in awarding the "Worlds Worst, Worser, Worse" as those awards can easily cover all sides of the political spectrum.
"...Oldermann has proven irrelevant because of his ignoring..."
But does that make what Olbermann says about O'Reilly and others any less truthful? Also consider that O'Reilly and others that Olbermann regularly skewers never back down, show any remorse or apologize for anything they say, regardless how untruthful or out of bounds it is.
As long as these propagandists (b.o., hannity, coulter, dickie morris, malkin keep writting (people still send money to benny hen, pat robertson, tilton and jimmy swaggert) books and they sell, (I heard that couters books are made from recycled toilet paper) faux noos will put them on the air as pundits to spew forth talking points as to why evolution, global warming, life elsewhere in the universe are not true along with the reasons baby bush is the GREATEST PRESIDENT ever and that will ever be. I have been a salesman (also a professional artist) all my life and it is a known fact amongst us that: the masses are asses. 98% of the people are followers. I live in the grease,sugar and bleached white flour belt where multi sylabic words are forbiden. (W. Ky.) If you use them you are not understood and you will be perceived as trying show others how smart you are. You have to dumb down to fit in. baby bush is a role model for those folks. These are the b.o. and his ilk, sycophants. bible thumping interbread mongoloids. I came here from So. Calif. and feel like a fish out of water after 25 years. I sold my art to galleries all over the world but my neighbors thoughrt I was a drug dealer 'cause I was from Calif. Perception is everything. Epictetus once said: "it is impossible to teach somebody something they think they already know" Also, A "man" convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. World headquarters for the flat Earth society is 2 blocks from my house. The town is Providense. The world is full of 2 legged sheep waiting to be slaughtered by their shepherd. It is hard for me to believe baby bush got more than 2 votes considering he is a white knuckle sober alcoholic. Religion never sobered up anybody for long. Cocaine totally fried his brain. When we have a president like that, Right wing loons have a forum to squash the truth, distort reality, and lie without remorse because there are those that will believe it. Support retroactive birth control research. If baby bush's father had not been president he would be selling peanuts at the Tx Rangers stadium (still).
Oscar reads, Oscar bitches, Oscar is boring, wait for the reruns of Oscar...
Well you may not like Oscar's take on the topic of the Olbermann-MMfA alliance, but that doesn't mean it's incorrect. I don't quite understand why MMfA highlights Olbermann's Worst Person Awards, but it's their site and they can do as they please. Of course Oscar or anyone posting here should feel free to comment about it without being belittled for doing so.
I do not normally get a chance to watch Olbermann. This is a nice way to catch up. I, for one, appreciate it.
and we can feel free to comment on any posts on here.
I don't watch Olberman on a regular basis. What he's doing (as a member of the media) is pointing out the misinformation that is out there by other media outlets.
Make that conservative misinformation.
Conservative means "Conserving" rather than the wasteful practices espoused by those who call themselves that.
But worry not, Oscar... there are people like Bill -O and Douche Limpdog who are more than willing to report any misspoken word by a so-called "liberal"....
Even if it only exists in the wonderful Right Wing Fantasy Land.
Hey July Mom,
You said. . .
"I don't quite understand why MMfA highlights Olbermann's Worst Person Awards, . . "
Do you know of anyone, anywhere else that MMFA could highlight? I certainly haven't found anything quite so entertaining as Olbermann. I think it's the quality of those awards that make them worth highlighting.
Nah, Mr Bill keeps it alive.
He thrives on the mockery of Progressives, Liberals and Anarchists.
We're the only ones who are listening to him anymore, just so we can laugh at his really stupid ass.
Say, does anybody know where I can find that betting pool where you bet on the exact day, and on which exact issue, he finally loses his mind and gets carried off in restraints?
I'm predicting next thursday, on his third show of the day, on the issue of Alberto Gonzales.
Hey, it's just another outlet for MMFA to show the hypocrisy and outright lies and slander of the world of Neo Clowns.
I LOVE KO's WPITW awards. He does it with humor, intelligence and honesty. Can't get much better than that. Besides MMFA can't keep up with EVERYTHING every minute of the day, so a boost from KO can't hurt at all.
but... but...The Olbermann-MMfA alliance! (ominous music)
But don't forget that the International Liberal Conspiracy is ultimately controlled by George Soros. In fact Soros secretly controlled the French Government until O'Reilly lifted his boycott. Then there was no stemming the rising tide of freedom. From hereforth the French will designate July 14th O'Reilly Freedom Day. The importance of the storming of the Bastille pales by comparison. It will be celebrated by hoisting luffas up every flagpole in France and the donning of aluminum foil hats. Don't believe me? I read it in the Paris Business Review.
In fact, Soros created The Paris Business Review, but only released one issue, and only printed one copy of that issue, and sent it to BillO. The headline on that single copy?
Of course:
O'Reilly's Boycott Hurts Economy
No expense is too much to show O'Reilly for the fool he is.
Does anyone on the RADIO-right realize that George Soros gave money to Sarkozy. Hey, when O'reilly finds out, he will have a chart and it will ultimately end up, after 27 arrows, that Sarkozy is the same as Soros. The way I see it if you eliminate the K, you have Sarozy. Then the Y and you have Saroz. Sounds like Soros to me. Go get em Bill, I have it mapped out for you..and as a gift, you can keep the KY because you are going to need it.
Neat twist on the KY: I saw those being taken out of the name, but never imagined them as a proper name. Thanks!
I just mailed this to bill-o, as it is near to my heart. titled "let's boycott Ireland next":
"As I am sure you are well aware, the French Surrender Monkeys were not the only ones who refused to surrender to Herr Bush.
So also did the Republic of Ireland, and for the same reasons.
So I propose that you initiate a similar boycott against the Irish Republic.
I know, it would b personally distasteful for you, as it would for me as well.
I, like yourself, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and your esteemed Employer Rupert Murdoch, am of Irish descent.
Some of my Irish ancestors came to this country with Lord Baltimore in the 1600s, Lace Curtain Irish I believe they're called.
Some were Shanty Irish who came over to escape the Potato Famine exacerbated by the oppression of Our Trusted Allies the British, and whose immigration was opposed by the antecedents of some of the people your network defers to on matters of (especially Catholic) immigration.
That would, of course, be my personal objection to a Boycott of Ireland.
There is an Irish word, perhaps you are familiar with it? "Fedarin", and don't worry about the spelling, it's a Gaelic word spelled in English lettering.
It means basically "Bet ME, sucka".
Now, I have it on the highest of authority that I am just eat smooth up with Fedarin.
Some have said it is the most advanced case of Fedarin seen in all history.
Now here's my bet.
I bet neither you nor Messieurs Hannity, Limbaugh and Murdoch are actually going to call for such a boycott.
Not because you are Irish, but because you are Britisher Sucks, and I am certain that if we were all on the street in Belfast your lot would be betraying me to the British.
Also it is my firm belief that you chose to attack the French mainly because there are approximately 10 Irish Americans to every French American, so if you had gone after the Irish you would have a 10-fold increase in the chance of having your teeth kicked down your stupid smug throats.
Did I mention that I also have French-American ancestors and relatives?
You know that Battle of New Orleans so celebrated in Anglo Saxon American Mythology as being a great victory for Andrew Jackson?
One of my ancestors was a French "pirate" who, along with Jean LaFitte, kept the vast majority of your English friends from getting off their ships, therefore allowing Jackson and his Anglo Saxon Volunteers to actually survive the encounter.
Just thought you might want to know."
Not that I believe he would read the entire thing on his show anyway, it is, you know, more than two sentences and not very flattering to him.
But I figure it should also be recorded elsewhere, so if he edits it and mocks snippets of it somebody can "call' him on it.
It's already working, according to the Irish Business Review...
CONLEYT, I hope you realize that KY means Kentucky. Don't want to get on a slippery slope with the Bill lovers.
OF COURSE it does, Prince! What else could it mean, that O'Lielly would need.
(heh heh - KY -slippery slope- good stuff)
And maybe it went without mentioning that the term Boycott originated in Ireland.Very fitting.
Especially with KY
It never ceases to amaze me that some posters harp on about Keith's supposed liberal bias--I mean, O'Lielly insists that, just because of Olbermann, MSNBC is now 'far left.' Now, I'm from Canada, and for one, we haven't turned the word 'liberal' into something bad. Same goes for 'conservative.' Furthermore, Keith is no more 'far left' than any of the other so-called progressive media voices--like Bill Moyers, for example. I'd say by our definition, Keith is slightly left of centre on most points, but could easily be judged slightly conservative on others. And there is nothing wrong with either.
I personally like his WPITW segment. The mythical 'liberal bias' we keep hearing about is just that--a myth. I think the media is far more conservative than liberal, and if Keith is considered liberal, than fine. At least there is someone out there who has an alternative voice.
Well, now we have foreigners on this site making too much sense. The "Why is this here" crowd will never stand for that!
I know, and I really do love Republicans, especially when they start making up labels like Liberal or Conservative
When what they mean is Those Dangerous al Qa'eda Sympathizers Who Disagree With Us or The Only True Patriots In America Or The World.
That leaves us a huge field of people who desperately need education, which I for one gladly oblige, and a huge need for people to stand up and correct them when they say stupid stuff like we have some kind of legal or moral obligation to support anything they tell us to support, simply because Their Fuhrer says to do so.
That's what I love about Bill-O, he actually believes that his veiled threats against Those Who Oppose His Leader will for the first time in all of human history be a SUCCESSFUL policy.
He is good for a laugh or two AND as a Bad Example...
"See, if you don't learn real logical thought patterns, you'll wind up spewing hate on DumFox just like that dude"
There seems to be a conflict in Mr Bill's claims there.
One claim is that "a billion" dollars less and the next claim, for the same time frame, "billions" as in plural...
Is the guy incapable of doing math?
When you get two different sums it means you aren't adding things up correctly, and when one sum is actually TWICE or more as great as the other you definitely aren't doing the equations the same way twice.
Was he like a bookkeeper for Enron or something?
Media Matters does this to demonstrate that it's a success. Its purpose is to serve as a watchdog over the Vast Right Wing Echo Chamber, and it has indeed become acknowledged as a reliable source for corrective information. Witness O'Reilly's Jihad against it. As bomber pilots used to say during WWII--"You encounter the heaviest flak when you're right on target."
At least we know you won't condone anyone burning books, Mr Montag.
The PBS award is misgiven. After all FOX will put on liberals who can be made to look stupid. Why cant PBS put on reactionary who can be made to look stupid. They had a strong and competent countervoice on and Judy W. asked a good question of Ms. Morgan.
One of the signature symptoms of paranoia is grandiosity. In other words imagining that I am so important that, in most psychotic paranoids for instance, the CIA or FBI or some powerful agency is monitoring me through my teeth fillings or some such other way, belt buckle maybe. That Bill O'Rielly believes he could cause a boycott of France is a perfect example of paranoid grandiosity. He demonstrates many others of course--notably his rants about persecution and his laughable slaverings that Media Matters is "after" him. Bill O is a raving paranoid which I suppose isn't news to most of your readers but the "French Boycott" symptom to me stands out as a perfect example.