During the October 17 edition of MSNBC's Countdown, host Keith Olbermann named right-wing pundit Ann Coulter the “winner” in his nightly “Worst Person in the World” segment following her October 15 appearance on The Michael Medved Show, which Media Matters for America noted. Olbermann characterized her remarks as “clarifying” the comments about “perfecting the Jews” that she made on the October 8 edition of CNBC's The Big Idea. Olbermann stated: “Now, it's Michael Medved making the mistake of having put her on the air, where she says, quote, 'Jews don't accept the New Testament, so, you know, as long as we're playing this new sport of ”he who is offended first wins," if anyone's going to be offended by anyone else's religion, the Jews believe that my savior, a Jew, was a raving lunatic, and you don't see me sniffling and crying.' " Olbermann continued: " 'The Jews believe that my savior was a raving lunatic,' she says. And bonus points for saying, 'and you don't see me sniffling and crying.' All we see you doing is sniffling and crying."
Additionally, during the October 16 edition of Countdown, Olbermann awarded Fox News host Bill O'Reilly the “bronze” in his “Worst Person” segment for claiming not to care about Coulter's comments about “perfect[ing]” Jews, as Media Matters also noted. Olbermann said: “After Ann Coulter's anti-Semitic remarks, a Fox Noise executive told the LA Times his network would 'not rule out having her on as a guest again,' but if she did appear, 'she would be pressed about her statements.' ” Olbermann continued: “Fixed News first appearance, Bill-O, about the perfecting the Jews remarks: 'I don't even care, to tell you the truth.' Coultergeist: 'Either do I. You brought it up, and I'm not explaining myself.' Bill-O: 'No, I had to bring it up because of other things.' ”
Also during the October 16 program, Olbermann named syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh the “runner-up” for claiming that “he once threatened a reporter,” as Media Matters documented.
From the October 17 edition MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann:
OLBERMANN: But our winner, Coultergeist, actually clarifying her anti-Semitic remarks about perfecting the Jews, as in making it even more clear that she is an anti-Semite. Now, it's Michael Medved making the mistake of having put her on the air, where she says, quote, “Jews don't accept the New Testament, so, you know, as long as we're playing this new sport of 'he who is offended first wins,' if anyone's going to be offended by anyone else's religion, the Jews believe that my savior, a Jew, was a raving lunatic, and you don't see me sniffling and crying.”
“The Jews believe that my savior was a raving lunatic,” she says. And bonus points for saying, “and you don't see me sniffling and crying.” All we see you doing is sniffling and crying. Coultergeist -- today's Worst Person in the World.
From the October 16 edition Countdown with Keith Olbermann:
OLBERMANN: The bronze to Bill-O: After Ann Coulter's anti-Semitic remarks, a Fox Noise executive told the LA Times his network would “not rule out having her on as a guest again,” but if she did appear, “she would be pressed about her statements.” Fixed appearance -- Fixed News first appearance, Bill-O, about the perfecting the Jews remarks: “I don't even care, to tell you the truth.” Coultergeist: “Either do I. You brought it up, and I'm not explaining myself.”
Bill-O: “No, I had to bring it up because of other things.”
Ooh, somebody made Bill-O eat broccoli -- and nice job of pressing her too, Bill.
Our runner-up: comedian Rush Limbaugh, who has now merrily explained to the sheep the disturbing story of how he once threatened a reporter who was writing what was apparently going to be a negative profile of him for a magazine; “We found out who was writing it and made a couple of phone calls to the person writing it. And we said, 'You know what? We're going to find out where your kids go to school. We're going to find out who you knocked up in high school. We're going to find out what drugs you used. We're going to find out where you go to drink and do. We're going to find out how you paid for your house. We're going to do -- we're going to do exact -- we're going to say that, you know what? You are no different than Al Goldstein. You both masturbate."
Sheez, another Bill-O reference -- and wait, “We're going to find out what drugs he used”? Looking for mutual areas of interest, Rush?