Olbermann named Fox's Gibson “Worst Person” for mocking Stewart's “heartfelt anguish” after 9-11


During the August 14 edition of MSNBC's Countdown, host Keith Olbermann named Fox News' John Gibson the “winner” of his nightly “Worst Person in the World” segment for, as Media Matters for America documented, mocking comedian and Daily Show host Jon Stewart's expression of grief in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Olbermann stated that Gibson “played a tape of comedian Jon Stewart's heartfelt anguish from September 20th, 2001, as a New Yorker who lived near the Trade Center, and Gibson and his producer mocked it. He called it Jon Stewart sobbing. That idiot sidekick called Stewart a, quote, 'phony.' ” Olbermann added: “Secondly, Gibby: Jon Stewart's expression of pain after 9-11 and yours, Gibby, and mine -- that was the unity. And no matter what kind of administration propagandist I think you are and how I'll mock you for it, I would never doubt the sincerity of your pain. You've got a lot of damn nerve doubting the sincerity of anybody else's.”

Gibson mocked Stewart during a discussion of Philadelphia Daily News columnist Stu Bykofsky's August 9 column, headlined “To save America, we need another 9/11.”

From the August 14 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann:

OLBERMANN: And our winner, John Gibson of Foxed News. In part of this insane discussion that America, quote, “needs,” unquote, another 9-11 to create national unity, Gibby played a tape of comedian Jon Stewart's heartfelt anguish from September 20th, 2001, as a New Yorker who lived near the Trade Center, and Gibson and his producer mocked it. He called it Jon Stewart sobbing. That idiot sidekick called Stewart a, quote, “phony.”

Firstly, to anybody who subscribes to the theory that this country needs another 9-11 with hundreds or thousands killed -- here's a funny thing. I don't see any of you suggesting you or your family should be its victims.

Secondly, Gibby: Jon Stewart's expression of pain after 9-11 and yours, Gibby, and mine -- that was the unity. And no matter what kind of administration propagandist I think you are and how I'll mock you for it, I would never doubt the sincerity of your pain. You've got a lot of damn nerve doubting the sincerity of anybody else's. John Gibson of Fox Noise, today's “Worst Person in the World.”