Olbermann not on fire but catching heat?
Portfolio’s Jeff Bercovici blogs about Olbermann’s Playboy comments…
Comic exaggeration is part of Olbermann’s shtick — this is, after all, someone who names a new “Worst Person in the World” every night. But equating Fox News and Rupert Murdoch with racists and killers is neither funny nor particularly insightful. It’s shrill and unattractive, and reeks of the same blowhardism that Olbermann is usually the first to skewer. I know the O’Reilly feud has been great for Countdown’s ratings, but it’s time to ease up.
Thank God someone finally pointed out how idiotic this comment was! Olbermann ought to be made to apologize for it, but it just fits in with the theory I’ve long held, that he and O’Reilly have more in common than they do differences.
Comment by Alison — September 11, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
I agree Alison…beyond the chance that Olbermann was being facetious (which is highly doubtful), comparing Fox to the KKK is the exact same thing O’Reilly did with “the Daily Kos” and Olbermann took great exception to this on his show. For a long time now we have seen Olbermann doing the same things (playing loose with facts, for example) that he would routinely slam O’Reilly for.
Olbermann has become a guy who presents himself as speaking truth to power but at the same time is nothing more than a propagandist himself. He just comes at it from a different ideology.
That being said, I think he does speak the truth on occasion and will continue to tune into both shows, but Olbermann can no longer claim the higher ground on this stuff.
Comment by FishOil — September 11, 2007 @ 4:18 pm