By Libby
To be fair to Hillary I suppose I should weigh in on Keith Olbermann's comments. Was he actually suggesting violence against Hillary in this clip that's making the rounds? Even given the tiny context here, I'd say no, but he clearly was implying she should be told to drop out of the race. What's not clear from that short a clip is whether he meant that as a personal opinion.
It sounds like it may have been part of larger conversation about what the choices are for the superdels in general. Which is not to say that it wasn't an extraordinarily poor choice of words. KO is a professional and should have known better than to use such loaded imagery. Being a former battered wife myself, I have to admit I felt a twinge of PTSD listening to it. Even those few words conjured up a small flood of long suppressed horrible memories.
I'm probably not the best person to pass judgement though. Even when he was everybody's hero, I didn't follow him closely. In fact, I think I've only watched his special comment feature live one time. I find his delivery grating and prefer to read the transcripts. Nonetheless, he should probably apologize. I expect it was just a thoughtless remark but given the charged atmosphere of this primary and the history of blatantly sexist remarks made by others in the media about Clinton -- read that especially Tweety -- it would be the civil thing to do.
And speaking of Tweety, how does this jerk still have a job? I don't see any way to view this remark about Obama as anything but purely racist. Besides, even when he's not dishing out sexist and racist stereotypes, his political commentary never rises above inane gossip. It's ridiculous to pretend he's a serious analyst. He's a disgrace to the industry and should be taken off the air.
Olbermann did apologise on Countdown tonight, at some length and quite graciously.
ReplyDeleteI watch him most evenings but, like you, I find his delivery of "Special Comments" to be rather pompous and grating, and I usually tune them out.
I also wish he would vary his guest list, ans his present list is beginning to seem a bit sycophantic.
I think he did the right thing by apologizing right away. I don't watch much teevee at all, mainly because my set got hit by lightning a year ago and the picture is so wiggly it makes you seasick, and I'd rather read my news besides so I don't know much about him really. But I did see him briefly during the TX primary coverage, during that horrible moment when the poor Obama supporter froze on camera and I thought he dispatched Tweety pretty well that night.
ReplyDeleteBut I have heard his guest list is pretty bad lately though. I think the problem is no matter how good they are when they start out, eventually they go along to get along with corporate.
all them become acts in a vaudeville show eventually with the same cast of characters around them to support their schtick -- plus thir sctick wears thin also -- but tweety is the worst -- he is just the Cindy Adams or Hedda Hopper of the political world
ReplyDeleteyour line
Besides, even when he's not dishing out sexist and racist stereotypes, his political commentary never rises above inane gossip. It's ridiculous to pretend he's a serious analyst. He's a disgrace to the industry and should be taken off the air.
hits the nail on the head --- and add to it is his grating and annoying and condescending laugh
His laugh is like nails on the blackboard, isn't it?
ReplyDelete