Bonnie Erbe

Giving Keith Olbermann a Worst Persons Assist

August 15, 2008 RSS Feed Print

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I didn't set out to make Fox News Channel's Gregg Jarrett one of Keith Olbermann's "Worst Persons in the World" when I appeared with Jarrett last Saturday, but I suppose I could have seen it coming.

What happened was a clash between what we want to talk about and what we should talk about—news that's vitally important and news that's entertaining. In my exchange with Jarrett, as in so much of journalism these days, infotainment won out.

I'd been told in advance that Jarrett would ask me about the impact of John Edwards's moment of disgrace on the Democrats' political prospects, and I answered truthfully: It's a distraction, albeit a compelling one. Soon, America would get over its fascination with John Edwards's predicament and focus on things that really matter, like the Russian tanks that were, at that very moment, rolling through Georgia. Maybe, I suggested, someone would ask both John McCain and Barack Obama if the Russians' invasion might make them re-think their previous support for Georgia's inclusion in NATO. After all, if the parties' presumptive nominees had gotten their way, the United States might have been, at that moment, on the verge of nuclear war; conversely, maybe if Georgia had been admitted to NATO, it might have deterred Russia and avoided a lot of bloodshed.

Jarrett's response? "You know, um, but getting back to Edwards..."

Jarrett isn't the only reporter who gave John Edwards more time than the United States' relationship with the former Soviet Union, and there's no doubt his questions were a lot more interesting to more viewers than the implications of Georgia's application to join NATO. If Jarrett deserved to be named one of the "Worst Persons in the World," he's got a lot of good company.

But with Americans telling pollsters, pundits, and anybody else who'll listen that they want more discussion of substantive issues, maybe we can move on from discussions of flag pins, preachers, and biker rallies—yes, and adulterous ex-candidates—and move on to something really important. Time is running out.

Tags:: Keith Olbermann,; media,; Fox Broadcasting Co.

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Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews are good journalist and they ask from questions that we the American people deserve an answer. I enough watching these (2) men shows every evening. And I am very disappointed in MSNBC, for the unjust decision. FoxNews got some house cleaning to do themselves. Shan Hannity has it bad, talking over everyone including Alan. I can imagine the stress Alan is under having to associate himself with Shan Hannity. He is very disrespectful, to others and his co-worker. His points and views aren't what the American people want from FoxNews. We need journalists and reporters honesty while reporting news through their cast. When I heard this about Mr. Olbermann and Mr. Matthews, my heart sinked because I can honestly say they are men because of their behavior on national television. This reminded me of JESUS, he was killed for telling people the truth. I'd rather hear the truth than to be lied to, that why I watch CNN & MSNBC News the most, and I can't say that for FoxNews with Shan Hannity and Bill O'Rielly, show. They can be really cruel while discussing blacks, hispanics, asians, both women and men, etc; Until Sarah Palin came along as John McCain's RVP pick.To me and some of my co-workers, they are reminded of (WHITE MEN VIEWS IN THE 50's and 60's). And we all in America know how the (white men treated the blacks and other races and gender. The American people can't go forward with people like them that keeps the rope in the hand gripped to pull us back there during these times of our country era. It is sad that the things that need to focus on that are looked over, because of who they are, or who they know, or how much money they are worth. That's why our country (USA) have some "HEAVY SINS" on them. There are some people refuse to make a change in our country. That man (Barack Obama) is running for President. And would you believe that people hate him because he is black, intelligent, clean cutt, family man etc; What is wrong with the "PEOPLE & OUR GOVERNMENT". We thought the country is for "JUSTICE FOR ALL". So look around and help us out by telling the AMERICAN PEOPLE, how you as white people really feel about us. Because I am biracial just like Obama and I have a common story just like him and others. A white man raped my black mother in 1962 and that was the moment I was concieved. Am I supposed to hate white men? No I don't, I suppose to forgive my father for raping my mother and concieving me. Since John McCain said, (QUOTE) when a child is concieved is when life begans for that child. He forgot one one thing how they are concieved can cause a lot of hardship, anger, bitterness etc; Because we as bi-racial children catch hell in this country. Majority of white people don't acknowledge us. All blacks don't acknowledge us either. So where do we go from this point. I am like Obama (QUOTE), ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. We are sick of this unjust country, and this unjust war our former president bush has lead us in without cause

Fonda Kaye of MS 3:39PM September 15, 2008

Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews are good journalist and they ask from questions that we the American people deserve an answer. I enough watching these (2) men shows every evening. And I am very disappointed in MSNBC, for the unjust decision. FoxNews got some house cleaning to do themselves. Shan Hannity has it bad, talking over everyone including Alan. I can imagine the stress Alan is under having to associate himself with Shan Hannity. He is very disrespectful, to others and his co-worker. His points and views aren't what the American people want from FoxNews. We need journalists and reporters honesty while reporting news through their cast. When I heard this about Mr. Olbermann and Mr. Matthews, my heart sinked because I can honestly say they are men because of their behavior on national television. This reminded me of JESUS, he was killed for telling people the truth. I'd rather hear the truth than to be lied to, that why I watch CNN & MSNBC News the most, and I can't say that for FoxNews with Shan Hannity and Bill O'Rielly, show. They can be really cruel while discussing blacks, hispanics, asians, both women and men, etc; Until Sarah Palin came along as John McCain's RVP pick.To me and some of my co-workers, they are reminded of (WHITE MEN VIEWS IN THE 50's and 60's). And we all in America know how the (white men treated the blacks and other races and gender. The American people can't go forward with people like them that keeps the rope in the hand gripped to pull us back there during these times of our country era. It is sad that the things that need to focus on that are looked over, because of who they are, or who they know, or how much money they are worth. That's why our country (USA) have some "HEAVY SINS" on them. There are some people refuse to make a change in our country. That man (Barack Obama) is running for President. And would you believe that people hate him because he is black, intelligent, clean cutt, family man etc; What is wrong with the "PEOPLE & OUR GOVERNMENT". We thought the country is for "JUSTICE FOR ALL". So look around and help us out by telling the AMERICAN PEOPLE, how you as white people really feel about us. Because I am biracial just like Obama and I have a common story just like him and others. A white man raped my black mother in 1962 and that was the moment I was concieved. Am I supposed to hate white men? No I don't, I suppose to forgive my father for raping my mother and concieving me. Since John McCain said, (QUOTE) when a child is concieved is when life begans for that child. He forgot one one thing how they are concieved can cause a lot of hardship, anger, bitterness etc; Because we as bi-racial children catch hell in this country. Majority of white people don't acknowledge us. All blacks don't acknowledge us either. So where do we go from this point. I am like Obama (QUOTE), ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. We are sick of this unjust country, and this unjust war our former president bush has lead us in without cause

Fonda Kaye of MS 3:38PM September 15, 2008

I have a question for any broadcast journalists out there and, slightly modified, for print journalists:
To what extent does the reporter, e.g. Jarrett, control the interview? Is he given instructions from the producer on what topics to cover? Either explicitly or implicitly? (You know, we all know in a working environment that we get better rewards if the boss agrees with our work product/ position/ opinion.)
Can a reporter such as Jarrett, when interviewing live, add topics to the agenda or delete or minimize some topics?
I didn't see the specific interview; I NEVER watch Olbermann, so
I reserve judgment on the protocol issues. I have to agree, however, with Bonnie that the "news" media is engaged in a "dumbing down" of the public for the sake of drving up ratings.
The Russian invasion of Georgia is light years more important than Edwards' extramarital affair
(See "Stakes in Georgia Pierce the Sky" at www.thenationalintelligence.com)
But many more people will stay tuned to hear new juicy details from Edwards' tryst than to hear factual analysis of Russian aggression or implications for energy supplies.

mignon evans of LA 3:06PM August 23, 2008

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