MSNBC Folds To Pressure On Obermann and Matthews
This really pisses me off. Fox News can be biased, but MSNBC wants to make sure no one is biased on their show. MSNBC was seen by me as the counterpoint to Fox News.
Liberal Blogs Assail Anchor Changes
By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff WriterThe decision by MSNBC to yank Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews from anchor duty during live political events did not exactly send a thrill up the leg of liberal bloggers.
A number of them denounced the cable channel yesterday for making a change that had long been sought by NBC News veterans, saying MSNBC was caving into pressure from John McCain’s campaign and the right wing.
MSNBC President Phil Griffin denied that complaints from either Republicans or NBC journalists were a factor. He said he reached the decision after “talking to my guys, mainly Olbermann,” following the Republican convention. Olbermann and Matthews will remain as analysts during such major political events as the presidential debates.
“We came to the conclusion it was better not to restrain them” by making them wear “two hats,” Griffin said. “It’s not like we haven’t talked about this all along. What Keith can say on ‘Countdown’ and what Chris can say on ‘Hardball’ is a little different” than what they could tell viewers in the role of news anchors.
No outside pressure? BS. Fox News Anchors like Brit Hume make biased opinions all the time during news broadcasts like when Hume said of the democratic convention, that he was hoping for a rift between clinton and obama supporters.
In the liberal blogosphere, Olbermann — an occasional contributor to the Daily Kos site — is viewed as a heroic truth-teller who has now been undermined by network suits whose company is owned by General Electric.
General Electric would pay more in taxes if Obama is elected. Just one point to make.
The complaints grew louder when Olbermann praised the Democratic speeches by Obama and Hillary Clinton but likened GOP vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin to the obnoxious Reese Witherspoon character in the movie “Election.”
Here is where I did disagree with Obermann about Sarah Palin. She is much more like Sally Fields in the Flying Nun.
Larry Grossman, a former president of NBC News, said MSNBC has “been doing very well as the liberal antithesis to Fox, everyone knows that. But at some point standards and journalistic integrity have to take over.”
If only Fox News would take that and consider doing it there, then the MSNBC decision would be a good one.
Stumble it!
This is simply censoring of the press! Period, no agreement on making a conflict of interest compared to Fox News, who always make opinion part of “News”!
It was the comment that 911 should not be used for political purposes. Let us face the facts; Republicans can use lies and any, any political emotional device to campaign, but MSNBC can not?
McCain in showing the trade towers falling is an inappropriate use of “Scare Tactics” to mobilize the public. People’s relatives are dead and vaporized in that video. Do they have no respect at all just to get elected? How horrible, how outrageous to use that video to get elected to office!
How much more horrible for MSNBC to cave in to pressure, and take Doberman and Matthews off the political commentary. People should punish General Electric for what they have done. Oh By the way, the tax increase on General Electric from an Obama administration is definitely not part of their decision? Come on do you think we are that stupid and ignorant?
Comment by michael baker — September 9, 2008 @ 7:13 pm
Hey, time to bring out the big guns! How about Hillary for the Supreme Court? Couldn’t the Obama Campaign start talking about who they would appoint to the next opening on the bench? Bill or Hillary there would be awesome! Might even bring back those women who left camp this week. Hillary would also be great in the Cabinet…..let everybody know that she has not been discarded by Obama.
Comment by Jan Buffallo — September 10, 2008 @ 12:26 am
Hi Michael. I agree that GE’s bottom line has a lot to do with it.
Comment by Chris McElroy aka NameCritic — September 10, 2008 @ 2:03 am
Hi Jon. I agree that Obama should bring it up. It would be good to do about 2 weeks before the election. He could announce what Hillary would be doing at almost the last minute and it would work out great.
I think everyone knows that Hillary Clinton will be part of the administration and maybe Bill as well.
Comment by Chris McElroy aka NameCritic — September 10, 2008 @ 2:05 am
The both got what they deserved. Tim, up in heaven, has a very big smile on his face. Only Tim could have covered this election.
Frankly, I have wrote into ABC and MSNBC, GE that I have contacted all their advertising and will boycott all of their products because of their endorsement of such crap.
Tim deserved the job that MSNBC gave to Keith, and now, the proof is in the pudding!!!!
Comment by Iampoed — September 14, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
earth to Charlie: there’s no fool like an old fool!!!
Comment by Iampoed — September 14, 2008 @ 4:45 pm
I don’t have a problem with Chris Matthews, Oberman, O’Reilly, Hannity, Rush and the rest of the so-called pundits. The problem is how they are branded. They are not news reporters or investigative reporters or report anything. They tell you their spin on things and there is no news in that. They are the electronic opinion page of the network. They are all idealoges here for our entertainment (like Seinfeld) and to sell advertising for their networks otherwise they go off the air.
The morning shows are just as guilty. The Today Show or Good Morning America along with the others I simply cannot watch. The loaded questions or softball questions depending upon their liking yet they are branded like a news program.
Then there is “The View”….no comment.
Bill Maher and Jon Stewart (HBO & Comedy Central Networks) do it right. They present themselves and the format honestly and pull no punches. I think MSNBC in particular needs to re-think how they present themselves and they have taken modest steps in the right direction but the other networks need to do so also.
If I want news and analysis I go to the News Hour with Jim Lehrer (PBS). They report the headlines invite guests ask thoughtful questions (not gotcha questions) to glean all sides of the issue and there is no shouting or people talking over each other or talking over their guest after they have asked a question.
Civil conversation with passion is ok as long as it is without the crazy stuff. No need to make this personal. I don’t need anyone telling me how to think. Just give me the information and shut up…..(please)
Comment by Kirk Williams — September 17, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
Thank you Kirk. I think you made your point very well. I think Fox News is guiltier than even MSNBC because they don’t even have one real news person there at all.
Well, there are little 30 minute segments from time to time that show news about other things besides politics, but all of the ones on Fox that do cover politics are extremely biased.
MSNBC is guilty of it as well, but I think Morning Joe is pretty fair most of the time.
But now headline news is doing the same as fox. They have Glen Beck.
You were right on point though when you talk about the way they present themselves as if it were really news.
Comment by Chris McElroy aka NameCritic — September 17, 2008 @ 9:04 pm