Giuliani Complains To MSNBC About Olbermann

[ariesgem]

NEW YORK - In an angry commentary on April 25, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann accused Rudolph Giuliani of using the language of
Osama bin Laden with "the same chilling nonchalance of the madman" to argue that Republicans would keep Americans safer than Democrats from terror.
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Eight days later, Olbermann hosted MSNBC's coverage of the first debate among Republican candidates for president.

Olbermann's popularity and evolving image as an idealogue has led NBC News to stretch traditional notions of journalistic objectivity. The danger for MSNBC is provoking the same anger among Republicans that Democrats feel toward Fox News Channel.

The Giuliani campaign privately expressed its concern to NBC News about Olbermann's role in the days leading up to last Thursday's debate.

snip.................

Unlike the Democrats who have made a point of standing up to Fox, there's been little public protest among Republicans about MSNBC's use of Olbermann at news events. That doesn't mean it has gone unnoticed. Graham said there's a real debate among conservatives over how to deal with him: should he be ignored or loudly criticized, knowing how effectively Olbermann has turned Bill O'Reilly's attacks into a badge of honor?

The Giuliani campaign would not publicly discuss what it thinks about Olbermann, or whether it had made those feelings known to NBC, a spokeswoman said.

But MSNBC spokesman Jeremy Gaines said a Giuliani campaign representative had called NBC News to complain about Olbermann being part of the debate telecast following his commentary. Olbermann was not told about the protest until after he came off the air Thursday, he said.

snip........................

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070506/ap_en_tv/ap_on_tv_olbermann_s_role_3??

[Donnachaidh]

1. oh BOO FREAKING HOO Rudy!

Keith reported EXACTLY what you said. Can't take the heat? :sarcasm:

[formercia]

58. and this guy says he's tough enough to be President....

he goes whiney at the first git go.

What a fucking wimp.

[Cha]

2. Damn straight! We need

some "liberal icons"!

And rudy 's just a whiner. He can say fucking outrageous lies but the little putz doesn't like to be called on it.

Call 'em on it Everytime, Keith!

[karlrschneider]

3. Where's my Stradivarius when I need it?

:nopity:

:evilgrin:

FOAD, Rudy

[Vexatious Ape]

4. Giuliani is turning out to be the biggest horses ass in the

whole race, and I thought McCain would hold that title. It's going to be a fun race with the likes of him involved but what a disaster if he actually won.

[DBoon]

7. Turning out to be?

I thought he always was one, and that if it were not for 9/11 thrusting the underserved mantle of "American Hero" on him, he would be just another jerk who managed to become a big city mayor.

[Vexatious Ape]

16. It's mind boggling how he became a "hero" on 911

As far as I could tell, all he did on that day was walk down the streets, directing traffic with a hankie over his mouth. Better than reading My Pet Goat, but what's so heroic about that?

[nealmhughes]

27. Oh, he also made sure that the firemen could not talk to EMS or the NYPD. . .

Hero, my ass! He is guilty of dereliction of duty. WTF could Rudy have done while we were wondering where my friend John's plane was inbound from Birmingham to Baltimore? Or when we were waiting for the phone lines to clear at my house up so we could get news from my room mate's father who had an appt. in the financial district that morning or my friend's brother who was in DC? Or my co-worker's cousin whose husband worked in WTC 2? Nothing at all.
Heroism is all the kids at the University of Alabama who spontaneously went down to the Arab/Egyptian/Palestinian owned gyro shops, falfafel stands and grocies to ensure the safety of their friends who worked there in the aftermath while the TV and radio spewed anti-Palestinian garbage over the air waves, damning people with not an iota of evidence.
Now those kids are heros. Rudy, on the other hand, a bystander, like everyone else in the city of New York and Washington.

[soothsayer]

28. he hired a GREAT PR firm / speechwriters. Very clever.

[Vexatious Ape]

30. It's sick how these political opportunists assholes used 911

to further their goals. Not to mention all those boatloads of money made by the well connected.

[Cabcere]

43. Oh, but EVERYONE did that after 9/11!

:sarcasm: That's actually the argument one of my Bush-supporting friends used to justify Giuliani's behavior. :banghead: I won't even go into what he said when I told him how the NYC firefighters feel about Giuliani... :puke:

[B Calm]

52. Not really.. Look at how they rewrote history for Reagan's legacy.

[BearSquirrel2]

21. Giuliani is dead meat ..

Yes, he commented that it would be "good" if the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. He also said it would be "good" if they didn't.

[sellitman]

5. I can't wait to hear KO's thoughts on this.

Something inside of me suspects that Rudy is about to have a new hole ripped you know where.

:popcorn:

[LostInAnomie]

6. What a bunch of fucking cry-babies

We have only one commentator on only one network that doesn't spew RW talking points like it was his job and those wimps start crying in fear.

And these are the "manly men" claiming that only they can defend the country from the big bad "terra-rists". What a joke.

[Cabcere]

42. You know what, we really ought to turn that argument back on them.

"If you can't deal with Olbermann, how can we expect you to handle the terrorists?" :evilgrin: Didn't one of the Repubs say something like that about the Democratic boycott of Fox News? Ahhh, sweet revenge. (Chances are they won't understand the irony, though. Bunch of morans.)

[Imagevision]

8. Rudy's days are numbered

[Old and In the Way]

9. If you think it's bad now Rudi...wait for the general election.

I don't think Rudi has got the temperament to run a national campaign. Way too thin skinned.

[rasputin1952]

10. Here we go, it's the "medias" fault...Guiliani can't figure out

that his own words are futile attempts at returning to the GOP staple...:scared: FEAR :scared:... just isn't going to work all of the time for the massive majority of Americans.

Screw Rudy, he was a Golddigger as Mayor, he's nothing more than that now...:nopity:

[rocktivity]

11. But Rudy is perfectly happy with TWEETY'S peformance, I suppose!

Unlike the Democrats who have made a point of standing up to Fox, there's been little public protest among Republicans about MSNBC's use of Olbermann at news events...(T)here's a real debate among conservatives over how to deal with him: should he be ignored or loudly criticized, knowing how effectively Olbermann has turned Bill O'Reilly's attacks into a badge of honor?

...Having Olbermann anchor — as he will continue, with Matthews, for big political nights throughout the campaign — is the MSNBC equivalent of Fox News Channel assigning the same duties to O'Reilly.

The Democrats "have made a POINT" of standing up to Fox? This reporter has a lot to learn about shilling for the Bush monarchy. He's implying that the Dems were JUSTIFIED in standing up to Fox--that's no way to serve at the pleasure of the president!

But seriously, folks, I can remember when editorial comments took place at the end of all news broadcasts. I can't remember anyone accusing Walter Cronkite of being too biased to anchor election coverage or presidential debates!

Keith's criticisms of Bill were "effective" because they targeted Bill's PROFESSIONAL actions--not his political ones--and because Keith was able to supported himself with FACTS, not more partisan rhetoric.

And Olbermann has NOT been anchoring--he's been CO-anchoring with with the right-leaning (NOT "centrist") Tweety, which gives at least the appearance of fairness and balance. All the networks should follow suit--pair up O'Rielly with a left-leaning "centrist" counterpart, and let them co-anchor away!

:headbang:
rocknation

[Lex]

12. Hey Rudy ever heard "the truth hurts?" Buck up, Terror Boy.

nt

[bunny planet]

13. This is exactly how Guiliani ran NYC before he anointed himself Saint Rudy,

after 9/11,like a complete bully who had to crush anybody who disagreed with him. No surprise here from this former New Yorker. This is what he does, and everyone in NYC government hated him, no correction, loathed him.

[Eurobabe]

14. Call Rudy a WAHHHHHHHHMBULANCE

[SoCalDem]

39. ask and ye shall receive

[rasputin1952]

40. LOL...that is funny stuff...

:D

[ariesgem]

49. LOL!

:rofl:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

15. I guess Olbermann won't be invited to Rudy's next spring fashion show either

And Rudy has some lovely dresses he hopes to make a big splash in. That'll teach him.

[Kurovski]

17. It isn't enough that 90% of the media laps at his hairy perinium,

but he has to go after Olbermann?

I hope Keith busts the mayor's Max-Factored chops every single day for as long as it takes.

Bring on NY firefighters to talk about Rudy.

[pacalo]

18. Let's see, we've got a "news network" that is blatantly biased

and whose practice is to broadcast any lie as truth to defend those who hired them to protect them & to lift them up in the eyes of the common people. It takes a lot of lying to do that. And, yes, I've come to believe that the neocons put Faux News in place so that when the neocons' golden opportunity to run the government came along (BushCo), Faux News could protect & massage their corrupt agenda. Why in the hell would any Democratic party candidate want to participate in a presidential debate moderated by the neocon network Faux News? Duh.

Then we have Keith Olbermann, an articulate man of integrity -- who simply points out the neocons' outrageousness: lies, deceit, neglect, greed; the list of adjectives for these monsters is endless.

Ghouliani is simply scared of having his true colors revealed.

[Sparkly]

19. "stretch traditional notions of journalistic objectivity"

Oh, that's rich! Does Tucker Carlson represent "journalistic objectivity?" How about Joe Scarborough, Pat Buchanan, Kate O'Berne, and Glenn Beck? And the effort to draw a parallel between Olbermann's truth-telling and Faux News' disinformation -- THAT is a "stretch!"

[Blue Belle]

25. I know...

That sentence left a bad taste in my mouth too. I guess the definition of objectivity has changed.

[FVZA_Colonel]

20. Slipping in a bit of commentary?

"Fox has never done that, perhaps mindful of the immediate controversy that would result. Fox has tried to differentiate between its news operation and its prime-time opinion shows, even as its critics believe strongly that's bunk. In this case, MSNBC doesn't try to separate news and opinion people, even as it tries to separate news and opinion."

I wonder, if asked the question, what news network this writer prefers?

[WillyT]

22. BOO-FUCKING-HOO Rudy !!! Ya Big Baby !!!

[AZBlue]

23. That's funny! What a moran!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:rofl:

[Blue Belle]

24. I love how they will go after Olberman on his fact-based commentaries...

But they'll give ass-clowns like Glenn Beck, and Bill O'Reilly a pass on their propoganda based lies. God forbid the Republican candidates have a journalist at the debates that aren't going to lick their boots. What a travesty it is to have the voice of objectivity stand out in a chorus of ass-kissers. :eyes:

[Beaverhausen]

26. Rudy wants to be president, yet he can't handle a little criticism from one journalist?

Oh please - let him be the repuke nominee!!! He will absolutely implode during the election season. :rofl:

[K8-EEE]

29. He should be worried, about Free Republic, LOL!

They didn't like his abortion answer at the debate, LOL, seriously though it WAS INCREDIBLE LAME! Will the overturning of Roe v. Wade be a great day for America? "It'll be....OK..."

WTF, LOL, DIDN'T HE KNOW HE WOULD BE ASKED ABOUT THAT? Seriously I think even rabid forced pregnancy advocates would appreciate an honest "no" more than THAT!

[windy252]

31. I'm glad to see at least 1 reporter is becoming a headache

for the conservatives. Not surprisingly, it's the one doing his job.

[Clark2008]

32. Who do we go to if we want to complain about Guiliani?

:shrug:

[SoCalDem]

33. and yet it would have been "okay" for Faux to have held "debates"

when they trash dems 24/7?

[Berry Cool]

34. Sure.

Because it's OK if a Republican does it. :sarcasm:

[Pyrzqxgl]

35. I think its time we DU people let MSNBC know how much we appreciate Keith!

maybe lots of e-mails telling the powers that be that maybe the only reason we bother to watch their network is because of Keith's newscast, and Rudy can kiss our pa toot.

[Prophet 451]

46. Seconded

Email just been sent.

[kiteinthewind]

36. Way to go, KO! Keep up the good work. A true patriot, KO is!

:woohoo: :applause: :patriot: :applause: :woohoo:

[Rosemary2205]

37. No complaints about Scarborough?? I'm shocked I tell ya, shocked!! nt

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[progressoid]

41. Rudy Rudy Rudy. It's a bad sign when you're whining this early in the game.

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Prophet 451]

45. Tough shit Rudy

Olberman is about the only liberal pundit out there and he's still milder than Coulter, O'Lielly or Hannity have been for years. The Dems have put up with shrill, venemous tirades for years from a whole pantheon of pundits. Now the liberals get one pundit of their own, who's still more restrained than your lot and you're seriously talking about turning the whole party apparatus on him?

The late Molly Ivins once said that people might get worked up about things like equal rights, truth and justice but if you ever want to see a real knock-down, drag-out, take-no-prisoners bloodbath, try taking away a priveledge that one group has enjoyed for a while. That's exactly what Rudy is doing. His party has had things all their own way, had the entire landscape tilted to their advantage for years and now there's the tiniest chance it might become more even, he's pissed about it.

[Ediacara]

47. There's a huge difference between Olbermann and Fox

Olbermann is just one guy in a team of political journalists that run across the political spectrum (Olbermann, Matthews, Scarborough, Carlson). Fox "News" on the other hand, is made up entirely of conservatives with only one centrist voice who's job is little more than being yelled at by Hannity.

[Canuckistanian]

48. I hate to say this, but....

As loathsome as Giuliani is, he has a valid point.

To have a person such as KO, who had blasted Giuliani just the week before, as a host of the Republican debate is a little.... unfair.

Hosts, moderators and journalists should be independent, impartial and non-judgmental. That said, KO is a great commentator, an opinion editorialist par excellence and a critic without parallel.

But the two should not mix. I know, I know, that ship has long since sailed. But impartiality must at LEAST be paid lip service.

Olberman had NO business being a host in a partisan debate. How much do you think we'd scream at having O'Reilly as the moderator for the Dem debates? Or Scarborough? Or (shiver) Hannity?

It's long past time that opinion and reportage have a clear, hard, indelible line drawn between them.

[maine_raptor]

53. You Damn Canucks are always being so polite.

:rofl:

I'm afraid, my friend, that that particular bullmoose has left the swamp.

The time is long past, in the history of American Media, where purely objective reporting is the norm (not that it every really was).

But you are right, if this were a Dem debate, and if it were on Faux, if BillO were the moderator, then we bloody well yell your collective heads off.

But the venue of which Mz. Rudy is a bitchin' about was Keith's role as co-anchor, not moderator.

It is incumbent upon the moderator to try to be impartial as best he/she can. The co-anchor's role has no such restriction.

Therefore, Mr? Giuliani's objections are nothing more than PMS* Bullshit.


*Post-Mayoralty Syndrome

[EFerrari]

55. They put him on so we would watch. It was a business decision

not a political one, imho.

And, if Rudy can't handle Olbermann, how is he going to manage the Axis of Evil, lol? :)

[Lord Helmet]

50. Waaaaaaaaaaaa

[B Calm]

51. It's okay for Rudy to criticize democrats, but not fair when Olbermann

returns his criticism. The more they scream about Olbermann, more people who will tune in to see what all the hoopala is about..

[Little Star]

54. Poor widdle Rudy!!! hahaha

[cyberpj]

56. Olbermann is ONE MAN against FOX NETWORK plus all the right wing hate radio out there.

The truth has very few public spokespeople.

Olbermann
Moyers
Maher

Who else?

[truebrit71]

57. Rudy's whining about KO's fact-based commentary on his fear-mongering?

Colour me surprised... :eyes:

Hmmm, the self-anointed 'tough guy' can't handle the truth? Boy is he in for a rough raid on the trail...

Rudy, go back to cheating on your wives and STFU...