Anatomy of a misquote: Update…
ICN is hearing that tonight on Countdown a correction on the Assad/Bin Laden Giuliani misquote will be given and Keith Olbermann will apologize.
Update: Broadcasting & Cable’s John Eggerton has more…
Keith Olbermann plans to apologize Friday night on his MSNBC show for criticisms he leveled at Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani based on a mishearing of a Giuliani quote from a campaign speech.
That’s according to an MSNBC spokeswoman, who said Olbermann would air the correction and apologize on his Friday-night show.
I’m shocked. Of course, it comes days after the fact, and on the least watched night of the week. Of that, I am not surprised at all.
Comment by bigred — November 2, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
Oh come on…This thing only blew up yesterday as far as Countdown is concerned. It took the AP two days to post their own correction. You have to allow for some delay on these things.
Comment by Spud — November 2, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
I’m glad he’s doing it, maybe he will also apologize to Malkin for his racially charged comments, and then actually REPORT on the phantom Chinese donors of Hillary Clinton as reported in the LA Times. (Perhaps I’m asking for too much–I have a feeling the Giuliani apology will be insincere and full a snark.)
Comment by Obama in 08! — November 2, 2007 @ 5:58 pm
Yes, but KO had to have known immediately after the show when the switchboards and email chutes lit up like a Chinese New Year. It would have been nice if he had actually listened to the quote at the time he showed it.
Comment by Jim Rucker — November 2, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
I’m glad he’s apologizing, but that doesn’t change the fact that someone at Countdown is responsible for some seriously shoddy reporting. The real question is this: if Keith could redo the segment knowing that the quote was inaccurate, would he change anything?
Comment by Caufield — November 2, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
I am shocked that the worst TV anchor we have is apologizing. That is not going to change the public perception of this kook. I see no hope for this potty-mouthed nut.
Comment by RGL — November 2, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
And MSNBC thinks KO is a good choice to moderate a debate??
Comment by Jim — November 2, 2007 @ 7:26 pm
It shouldn’t have taken 2 days…he watched the damn clip and Rudy clearly didn’t say what KO and Zsa Zsa accused him of saying…and anybody want to lay odds that the apology will be as smartass as KO is?
Comment by mlong — November 2, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
I’ll be interested to see if it’s an “I apologize, but…”
I also wonder if he can do an apology without mentioning O’Reilly. Anyone want to bet? Taking all bets… tell your friends… all bets.
Comment by ImNotBlue — November 2, 2007 @ 8:17 pm
Here’s an ideal KO the new “Murrow”…since your’ll suppose to be a “newsman” why don’t you as a “newsman” invite Rudy on your show and “interview’ him as a “newsman” you should atlest try to interview “all” the major players running for President instead of just the Dems….and also maybe have some class an apologize to him in person.
Comment by mlong — November 2, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
So all of you folks who know exactly what happens on Countdown any given night actually watch him even though you can’t stand him? I don’t care for the man or the show so don’t watch.Can’t imagine sitting through a program I don’t like hosted by a commentator I don’t like .
Comment by myview — November 2, 2007 @ 8:42 pm
OK, so did make the apology?
Comment by Missy — November 2, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
So will he be apologizing for all the nasty things he’s said about women in the past on his show while he’s at it?
Comment by Alison — November 2, 2007 @ 9:24 pm
HEY Keith. Don’t let the Facts get in the way of the TRUTH!
Comment by SHANE — November 2, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
“OK, so did make the apology?”
After bashing Rudy with his WPITW awards he went on to give the half ass apology we were all expecting.
Comment by mlong — November 2, 2007 @ 9:58 pm
mlong, that is disturbing. Sounds like he was equivocating. Instead of coming right out and admitting his mistake, he has to bury it in with more Rudy bashing. He has no character whatsoever.
Comment by Missy — November 2, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
Come on Spud. If I’m not mistaken, the AP corrected the story Wednesday…in Olbermann’s own words, 21 hours after the segment with Arianna happened.
So they had 3 hours before airtime Wednesday to apologize. They didn’t.
They had all day Thursday to apologize. They didn’t.
And Friday’s “apology” speaks for itself.
And as you said, someone on the Countdown staff clearly didn’t bother to listen closely enough to the clip to hear him say “Assad”. Or did they, and run with the story anyway?
I’m sorry, but I guarantee more than one staff member watched that clip before it aired. It’s pretty clear he said “Assad”. It’s inexcusable, and so was Friday’s “apology”.
Comment by bigred — November 2, 2007 @ 11:54 pm
Friday is the least viewed night of the week. Not an accident that’s when he gave his half-hearted “apology”.
Comment by Alison — November 3, 2007 @ 10:37 am
The “apology” does not address the main issue:
KO used the AP as a source without acknowledgment, but he did show the recording of what Rudy said. Therefore, I do not see how he can claim anything against AP: He was pretending to use the video as his source.
And, I do not see what relevance there is to how long it took AP to correct their mistake, nor is there any “confusion” nor should KO have apologized for the AP.
Comment by Missouri Show Me — November 3, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
I don’t recall that any other news agencies have alerted the media when they planned to issue a retraction. That’s unusual.
Comment by Goldfish — November 3, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
Hey Goldfish - news agencies ARE the ‘the media.’ They have to ‘alert’ themselves?
And retractions aren’t ‘planned’… they are issued immediately upon being spotted.
And this moron was reading the correct copy, as the same correct copy was appearing on screen at the time of his ‘error.’ And they all come from one source copy. This guy is a clown-girl.
Comment by zelke — November 7, 2007 @ 5:16 pm