Olbermann to Matthews: "[E]specially you" should "[d]istance yourself as far as you can from" the word "bitch"
SUMMARY: During MSNBC's coverage of the Democratic presidential primaries, referring to Tina Fey's statement on the February 23 edition of Saturday Night Live that " 'bitch' is the new black," Chris Matthews asked: "Dare we repeat what Tina Fey said was the new black?" Keith Olbermann responded: "There's another word that begins with the same letter as 'black' does. Let's distance ourselves -- especially you. Distance yourself as far as you can from that."
During MSNBC's March 5 coverage of the March 4 Democratic presidential primaries and caucus, NBC News anchor Brian Williams and MSNBC hosts Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann discussed Sen. Hillary Clinton's March 1 appearance on NBC's Saturday Night Live. Referring to former SNL head writer Tina Fey's statement on the February 23 edition of SNL that " 'bitch' is the new black," Matthews asked: "Dare we repeat what Tina Fey said was the new black?" Olbermann responded: "There's another word that begins with the same letter as "black" does. Let's distance ourselves -- especially you. Distance yourself as far as you can from that." Matthews said, "No, anyone I think would be fair, from that regard."
On the January 17 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, Matthews addressed the firestorm sparked by his comment about Clinton that "the reason she's a U.S. senator, the reason she's a candidate for president, the reason she may be a front-runner is her husband messed around. That's how she got to be senator from New York. We keep forgetting it. She didn't win there on her merit." Matthews said of the comments that it was not "fair" of him "to imply that Hillary's whole career depended on being a victim of an unfaithful husband."
Media Matters for America has noted that, while Matthews has an extensive history of attacking Clinton, his sexist commentary has hardly been limited to her. Additionally, a Media Matters review of Matthews' MSNBC commentary found that, in particular, Matthews frequently comments on the physical appearances of his female guests and of other women on his program.
From MSNBC's March 5 coverage of the Democratic presidential primaries and caucus:
WILLIAMS: Senator Clinton -- who had been invited on before, by the way, and had turned down previously this season a Saturday Night Live appearance -- accepted and came on when she needed the bump this past week for Ohio. So, just throwing it out there like red meat.
OLBERMANN: Yeah, with that Will guy --
MATTHEWS: Dare we repeat what Tina Fey said was the new black?
OLBERMANN: There's another word that begins with the same letter as "black" does. Let's distance ourselves -- especially you. Distance yourself as far as you can from that.
MATTHEWS: No, anyone I think would be fair, from that regard. But I thought it was interesting that Tina Fey and [Saturday Night Live cast member] Amy Poehler did offer something of a help to her.
Mathews is kind of a "the new black."
Actually, Chris Matthews is the new stupid. :-)
the button was stuck, my bad.
You are not sure what I am talking about? Let me refresh your memory...
"Tucker would be one of Keith Olbermans Worst Persons in the World. But of course since he works for MSNBC, Olby ignores this."
"Now why is Matthews not going to be named Worst Person in the World for This? is it because Matthews works at MSNBC and Olbermann is never critical of his own network"
"If Matthews worked for FOX this would be the top story on Countdown with We hate FOX."
Sue, you have commended Olbermann on two occasions that I can recall (Schuster and Coulter), and it does you credit, but you also get the credit for these.
Again, what do I have to do with this thread?
Olbermann is no hero. He's just as bad.
Tonight he tried to claim, in an interview with Richard Wolfe, that Hillary won Texas because of the Limbaugh crossover Republican vote.
That was a lie. The Repub vote broke for Obama-- he got more R votes. So why does Olbermann engage in this kind of intellectual dishonesty?
They're all a problem over there at MSNBC. Olbermann even condemned SNL for their sketch last week; he claimed it was inappropriate (!)
I was a huge Olbermann fan, but his anti-Hillary snideries (a new word for y'all) and death knell drumbeat to her campaign have sent me over to spend more time on CNN for a little more 'balanced' coverage.
Last night Olbermann went on and on about Hillary's campaign and then summed it and all her arguments up as all a bunch of "nonsense". NONSENSE!!? And this is journalism? Is he on the Obama payroll or just another misogynist? (rhetorical questions answer themselves...)
After listening to these 2 childish sophomoric boobs last night take every chance they could to make sarcastic or snide remarks about Clinton or her campaign, I finally switched over to FOX. Wow, what a nice relief to find grownups over there not smearing either Democratic candidate. Yeah you read that correctly.
Olbermann really has no room to be giving shots to Matthews. They both acted like idiots.
Jeter
I actually liked Olbermann last night and that as you know is hard for me sometimes, he did bring some humor and I liked his bell, when he said he was going to ring it for fries.
I did watch some of FOX , and I thought they had the best coverage and that is VERY hard for me to say. he seemed not to have anyone with big egos and stuck with the story. I was disapointed in CNN with Bennett on its panel.
Sue,
I agree Olbermann did occasionally bring humor to the situation, & I've no problem with him, or anyone giving Matthews a shot...Lord know Matthews has acted like a jerk throughout the primaries, BUT Keith often took shots at Hillary & her campaign which I didn't think were warranted. It's obvious he's rooting for Obama, which is his prerogative, but he ought to be professional enough to keep that under wraps, considering how he is so critical of others that display any partisanship.
It is funny. Olbermann anchoring MSNBC's election night coverage is like Hannity or O'Reilly doing it at Fox, and can you imagine the outrage here if that were to happen?
I prefer CNN, they have by far the most diverse panel of commentators.
I prefer CNN, they have by far the most diverse panel of commentators.
I agree with you, I have given up on MSNBC with Matthews and Olbermann and the hate they fly. Yuck.
Tommy,
I think Hume and Wallace are as bad as KO, but that's just my two cents :).
It is funny. Olbermann anchoring MSNBC's election night coverage is like Hannity or O'Reilly doing it at Fox, and can you imagine the outrage here if that were to happen?
Exactly Tommy! I put Keith-boy in the same catagory as those two.
I usually watch MSNBC because despite the annoying Olbermann-Matthews co-hosting they usually have a good panel available on election nights. And sometimes Tom Brokaw, one of the last of the truly professionals shows up.
I'll have to check out CNN next primary night.
It is funny. Olbermann anchoring MSNBC's election night coverage is like Hannity or O'Reilly doing it at Fox, and can you imagine the outrage here if that were to happen?
Correct, Olbermanns humor aside last night, MSNBC has a big credibility problem with its coverage. The use of these two does not help.
I too found CNN to be the most professional and mature. "Sophomoric" is a perfect adjective for the MSNBC team of Olberman-Matthews - let me add "shamefully" ahead of that. I won't watch Fox based simply on principle.:)
FOX had the best, fairest coverage (I can't believe I'm saying that.) They even had a great interview with Rasmussen and a Dem poll-ist-- no Repubs in sight.
MSNBC is shameful. They have obviously made a business decision to go after the Obama demographic for advertising and ratings, and they don't care how bad it looks-- even to the point of Olbermann feigning indignancy at SNL's devastating sketch last week.
I too found CNN to be the most professional and mature
You only say that because you have a crush on Anderson Cooper. :0)
As likely as I am to continue to do it, it's really trivial to distinguish the cable news outlets any more. They may not smell the same, but IT'S ALL CRAP.
Believe it or not, FOX has had the best, most fair and balanced coverage, of the Democratic primary.
Anyone else notice the bizarre moment this morning on Fox and Friends, when they were interviewing Hillary, with Karl Rove sitting right there on the couch? I wonder if she knew it?
Of course she knew it, she is using FOX.
Karl Rove has actually been very entertaining on FOX. The man is a hack but he has a future as an entertainer.
"...but he has a future as an entertainer."
It must be in pornography, then, because of his vast experience in screwing the American public. ;>)
"The man is a hack but he has a future as an entertainer."
I believe he has a future as inmate #99085457.
Thomp,
Brilliant sarcasm, I hope.
No, the wisdom around here is that Fox is illegitimate. So no Democrats darken their doorsteps because that only gives them legitimacy.
Oh wait, Hillary was on there this morning, apparently.
Never mind......
Hi Tommy,
Even though I do think Fox is illegitimate as a news organization, I really hope that Hillary and Obama spend some time there. I think Obama or one of his stronger representatives should go on Hannity's show with a list of lies Hannity has proffered and tick them off one at a time. Of course, this person should be in studio with access to either a tape recorder or have video footage of Hannity lying. If the person isn't in studio, Hannity would control the whole thing, but this needs to be done. He needs to do the same thing to O'Reilly as well.
If Hillary and Obama confront the lies correctly, they may actually win some people over.
I'm imagining Obama on Hannity's show.
Question #1 - Have you renounced your muslim heritage?
Question #2 - Is you wife really not proud to be an American?
Question #3 - Do you really believe that "hope" can be a weapon against those who want to kill us?
I've said it before, Hannity's show is an act - he does it to be "provocative" a la Coulter for ratings and book sales. It's just sad that so many people believe what he says.
I agree, Fog. I just want him or his rep to be in studio so he/she can't be shouted down.
Really? You mean like Laura Ingraham's credibility?
I love the part where she tries to equate her show with "values."
Oh, and when she calls the poor woman an idiot, and her producer throws in "big, stinky, long-haired liberal."
And this was yesterday.
I'll see your Laura Ingraham & raise you one Chris Matthews [I won't bother linking to his numerous outrageous remarks, or I'd be here all day]
;-)
I think Matthews has become smearmonger number 1.
Jeter,
Please tell me you're kidding! When MSNBC puts sends a disgraced, under indictment former Senator out to a college as a representative of its station (DeLay at Ohio U.), I might agree with you. When MSNBC puts the Democratic equivalent (IF there was one) of Karl Rove as a "neutral" analyst, I might agree with you. When MSNBC puts on the Democratic equivalent of Frank Luntz as a "neutral" pollster, I might agree with you.
Fox, if anything, has become much, much more slanted than ever before. Its sickening.
Some moldy oldie sightings recently on Fox News:
Tom DeLay
Rick Santorum
George Allen
And as long as Hillary's in the race, toe-suckin' Dick Morris.
Fox embraces failure, corruption, criminality, and disgrace with a bravado that is beyond belief.
The present tone of Political discourse on the continuing Democratic Primary election process, as it appears in the "media", and most notably in the televised "media"...
...is presently so worthless and foolish and insubstantial, that it seems it couldn't possibly be any worse. It's as though it were at an insubstantial extreme, and a worthless and foolish low limit.
Imagine for a moment what the "media" might actually be discussing, in a Primary election process that is seeing record-breaking voter turnout for Democrats versus Republicans (2 to 1 in Ohio, and most other States! Nearly 3 to 1 in Texas... WOW!), spelling most likely a Democrat as the next President and Commander in Chief (most likely a woman or a man of African heritage in that Office, according to the extraordinary numbers of the millions of American People participating in the Democratic Primaries).
Imagine healthcare (heath insurance, universal or mandated or whatever) being discussed by the "media" in this election season...
Imagine California's (and 17 other State's) fight against Bush's EPA, to raise emissions standards in their States, and imagine the "media" asking the candidates where they stand in that fight (it's the most serious environmental fight being presently fought, and a fight the next Presidenty will inherit, and could end with a single Executive Order... sounds very pertinent to this election, doesn't it?)...
Imagine the "media" discussing Iraq in tis election... imagine that!
Instead, its all witch and Hussein (the middle name, not the invasion excuse) and Farrakhan and Muslim and "as far as I know" crap, dominating the "media" discourse on the present Primary process.
Is it going to be this bad, all the way into November?
If so, then this summer might be better spent following Major League Baseball, than following the presidential campaigns...
Maybe that's the whole point to this worthless "media" discourse, to diffuse and scatter the American People as much as possible, and put out the fire of their interesr, in electing our next President.
As an Obama supporter and someone who appreciates all the Olbermann does to support our side, I have to say that MMFA is pretty hypocritical to pretent that Olbermann is not one of the most partisan talkshow hosts on cable.
Just because you like the guy does not change the facts. And I hope I'm not the only honest person here who will simply admit the truth.
"I have to say that MMFA is pretty hypocritical to pretent that Olbermann is not one of the most partisan talkshow hosts on cable."
Show me. Don't just make the claim, show me. From a journalistic standpoint, Olbermann's fairly neutral, comparatively. He is slightly to the left, but he at least maintains an air of objectivity.
And him going after the Bush administration is not partisan hackery, it's just common sense.
Gimme a break.
Here's an example. Tonight he tried to claim in an interview with Richard Wolfe that Hillary won Texas because of the Republican crossover vote.
A big lie-- the R vote banked to Obama-- he got more R votes. Olbermann completely ignored this.
What do you call that? I call it bias.
I've pretty well had it with Chris Matthews nowadays, the guy is an overbearing, rude lout with an increasing duty cycle. He obviously believes that everyone is hanging on his (very important!) injection, which seems to be a pretty lame comment much of the time. I've noticed that he even slobbers at time, he's so caught up in his own bullcrap.
I'm fully expecting that inflated head of his to explode one of these days. No wonder Olbermann can't stand him.
All Olbermann does on his show all night is attack Hillary.
Keith said tonight:
Hillary is running a negative/dirty campaign.
And as an example of Hillary's dirty campaigning Keith pulls out her commercial he claims is "fear mongering."
He ask Richard Wolffe did the negative ads win her the states last night.
Implying that's the only reason she won.
He also mentioned a story of Hillary's plane going through very rocky turbulence and everybody was panicking but Hillary was asleep. Then Keith gave us that "do you get my hidden joke, in there?" Meaning if Hillary is sleeping through a rough plan ride, image what she'll do in a rough presidential moment.
He doesn't even touch Obama.
Is this Keith's job to try to sway the public to vote for Obama?
Hopefully Media Matters will go after Olbermann for his daily attacks on Hillary.
Last night he claimed that Hillary was "sliming" Obama, ridiculed her "3 AM" commercial by altering it to include a "ghost-busters" segment, and twice alluded to Bill Clinton's sex life (well, Jonathan Alter did it once).
We don't need FoxNews-like coverage of ANY Democrat on Countdown, and MediaMatters would have had a post about this sort of thing had it been Beck or O'Reilly, rather than Olbermann.
Go Obama!!!