Tumulty responds to Olbermann's "worst person" bronze and Media Matters
On the April 12 edition of MSNBC's Countdown, host Keith Olbermann awarded Time magazine national political correspondent Karen Tumulty the "bronze" in his nightly "Worst Person in the World" segment for, as Media Matters for America documented, suggesting in a posting on Time's weblog Swampland "that Senator [Hillary Rodham] Clinton's [D-NY] condemnation of Don Imus and support for the Rutgers women's basketball team there on her website was curiously placed," as Olbermann put it. Continuing, he said: "Quoting Tumulty, 'Hmmm, and right next to that respect for Rutgers, "Send a Message" link on her website, is a big red one that says "CONTRIBUTE." Sisterhood is powerful.' " Olbermann added: "Except that the big red contribute button is always in the same spot on that web page and most other presidential candidates have identical big red contribute buttons on their sites too."
As blogger Atrios (Media Matters senior fellow Duncan Black) has noted, Tumulty has since responded to Olbermann, Media Matters, and others' criticism of her blog post in an update on Swampland, titled "The Worst Person in the World: Me, I'm Told." She stated that her previous post "had stirred up some dust from the folks at Media Matters" and caused Olbermann to cite her post, but added: "Of course I know that "CONTRIBUTE" button is a permanent fixture on Clinton's website. Every campaign (and, for that matter, every charitable organization) that maintains a website seems to have one. And that was sort of my point. More and more, we all go to campaign websites to get information about the candidates." Tumulty did not note in her original post that Clinton's "CONTRIBUTE" button was "a permanent fixture" on her campaign's website nor that other campaigns also have such permanent buttons on their websites.
From the April 12 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann:
OLBERMANN: On a thin day, even a good person can win the bronze. Karen Tumulty of Time magazine, posting on the magazine's political blog, noting that Senator Clinton's condemnation of Don Imus and support for Rutgers and the women's basketball team there on her website was curiously placed. Quoting Tumulty, "Hmmm, and right next to that respect for Rutgers, "Send a Message" link on her website, is a big red one that says "CONTRIBUTE." Sisterhood is powerful," unquote. Expect that the big red contribute button is always in the same spot on that web page and most other presidential candidates have identical big red contribute buttons on their sites too.
Sorry, Karen...
You were not KO's "...Worst Person in the World..."
You came in third.
Better luck next time.
I know - and the myriad of media/political/newsmakers in the world breathe a collective sigh of relief every night when they don't make Keith's heart-stopping "Worst Person" list.....
Careful, Tom... you may make this list here soon :)
Got to show the nightly hate from Olbermann
Wow MSNBC a network that hung out Imus after allowing him to say his "racist hate" for 10 years , now lets Olbermann speak his hate nightly toward people he disagrees with , political hack that he is. He was so outraged last night about Imus yet remained quiet for years while Imus was on the network. The man has no courage.
I dumped O'Reilly for Keith last November.
But I'm done with Olbermann. What a wimp. I'd rather watch a blowhard pompous ass than a chicken sh#t.
A Bill-O fan? Tell me again how eating cupcakes gets you pregnant, and how illegal immigration causes children to die in fires and teens to get killed by drunk drivers.
peghen...KO takes what people say and do and comments on the absurdity or inanity of the remarks or deed. He does not "make things up".And it is a far far cry from "hate"
There are a few prominent offenders that appear multiple times that he clearly has disdain for. But again he doesn't put the words in their mouths. The segment is actually clever, and obviously has got under the skin of those who are use to out shouting, cutting mikes, getting free passes for misrepresenting facts, and other such deeds.
As far as Imus- KO did speak to the situation after MSNBC fired him, and did share that he could not comment on Imus until he had been fired, but he had added his voice of those in the NBC and MSNBC employees that Imus has crossed the line.
If you watched "Countdown' at all over a period of time, you would realize that KO does indeed show courage and integrity when it comes to speaking his mind.
MONSTERMASH,
Obviously, you actually listen to what KO says, unlike some of the above who seem to get their evaluations of him from such stellar sources as The Savage Weiner, Hannity, etc.
Courage is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose. Olbermann is certainly selective in his outrage, just like his counterparts on the Right. At least he's had the courage to point out the myriad lies of the Bush Administration when most MSM talking heads are too busy kissing King George's arse.
As you probably know Keith has three slots for the "worse Person in the World" segment- so I can imagine it's difficult given the depth and breadth of choices- to have people everyone would agree with.
What I agree with in his choices- is that you can always clearly see what it is that the person is getting a "worst" shout out about. There's really no ambiguity.
And it could be someone completely unknown, it could be himself, ( yes he has given himself the award) or it could be one of the many talking heads that clearly violate truth and decency with their own words and deeds.
The Time reporter was obviously trying to make the connection with Senator Clinton speaking out against the sexist and racist comments of Imus to her contributor button, which as KO pointed out has always been on her site and in the same place. That's distortion on the reporter's part. And a very cheap shot.
Yeah, it's obvious that KO was under some kind of gag order not to cal out Imus from MSNBC, which is unfortunate, but not unusual..Media Matters has certainly documented the Imus shows bad behavior, and it certainly looked like he was going to go off the rails, for awhile now. I'm not surprised with what he said , I am pleasantly surprised that the "powers that be" have finally woken up.
Please don't credit the Corporate Media honchos with any attack of conscience: what actually moved them, was seizure of an opportunity to get rid of an expensive mouthpiece who either could not or would not promote all the Corporate agenda; and old, to boot.
I'm reasonably sure they have waiting in the wings many more faithful messengers for their lies, younger, better looking, more hip, and, mostly, cheaper per lie than Imus ever was.
I am just waiting for Savage to call me VERMIN...so I cannot comment on Olbermann. BUT
Peghen 1428..I guess you are happy that IMUS has been stopped, RIGHT? How many more years does Olbermann have? And how does this particular HATE from Olbermann compare to what Imus said? Or do you now equate everyones hate as the same, ala O'Rielly, Limbaugh etc....just leave Savage out of it until he calls me VERMIN. I revel in verminese chiding
I have come to realize that many right wingers have no idea of the meaning of the word 'hate.'
Please--WHAT HATE ?
Tumulty is a member of the lazy media, whose mindset is that Hillary Is Coniving (and McCain's a Straight-Talker, etc.). They must find stuff that fits that current, Wash., DC beltway way-of-thinking. She found what she figured was another scrap of damning evidence and then delivered her Hillary-bashing snark. Job done. Now however she doesn't like it at all when called-out about it. Too bad.
Dave, I hope this doesn't cause you to rethink your position but I agree with you aout the lazy media. Good descriptor.
Sorry, but *I* disagree: "lazy media" is not what afflicts us. Rather, it is the LYING media which brings us to grief. And, not merely the handful of egregious cases brought to our attention by MMFA - it is the entire purpose of Corporate Media, to LIE to us.
Yes, I agree. The corporate media is designed to lie to keep the status quo. That is, keep the treasure and power in the hands of the "elite" and keep the middle class clueless. The formula works for the rightys who do not seem to mind being misinformed.
For a writer, Ms. T, you seem to be "curiously" incapable of making your point clear. If you knew what KO pointed out to you, then exactly what did you mean when you said that the placement was "curious"?
Somehow, I think KO got your point--loud and clear--the first time, and he's called you on it. If you want credibility and respect, instead of being defensive, do a better job going forward.
I think what she's saying is "I singled out Clinton- and that was my point, that there was no reason to single her out"
huh?
Do you think Tumulty is hoping to get an award for most appearances on MMFA? She seems to be in the running.
I don't buy it! It's pretty clear that she was implying that HRC was pandering for the scrilla.
Tumulty: "Of course I know that "CONTRIBUTE" button is a permanent fixture on Clinton's website. Every campaign (and, for that matter, every charitable organization) that maintains a website seems to have one. And that was sort of my point. More and more, we all go to campaign websites to get information about the candidates."
I call B.S. Tumulty's original comments CLEARLY meant to imply that Hillary Clinton and ONLY Hillary was doing something sinister. Her subsequent attempt to claim that her point was that all candidates have web sites and they all raise money rings hollow because in her original claim she named just ONE candidate.
Her comment reminds me of the "04 prez debate when bush (lowercase intentional) started to conflate Saddam Hussien and 9/11. Kerry called him out on it, reminding everyone that he did not attack the WTC. bush (still intentional) petulantly replied"I know Saddam Hussien didn't attack the World Trade Center. I know that". Then he continues to repeatedly conflate the two.