While MSNBC's Keith Olbermann can hardly contain his glee at smacking around Rush Limbaugh over the taken-out-of-context "phony soldier" remark, it's notable that Olbermann himself essentially smeared Gen. David Petreaus as a phony at best and a traitor at the worst well before the Iraq war commander ever gave his assessment before Congress.
Indeed, before MoveOn.org issued the infamously juvenile "Betray Us" ad, Olbermann's minions plastered "Will Petreaus Betray Us?" in on-screen graphics during his August 16 program. [See also YouTube video appended at bottom of post]
Chatting with guest and liberal journalist Jonathan Alter on that program, Olbermann trashed the Petreaus report as a "ghost-written" concoction of the Bush White House, bound to be replete with partisan spin. Alter agreed, saying Petreaus has always been a "political" general, although he backtracked a bit to also say Petreaus was a "straight-shooter."
While Olbermann consistently used his "Countdown" program in the weeks leading up to the Petreaus report/congressional testimony to bash the general and the progress of the war in Iraq, Olbermann simultaneously gave a platform to anti-war veterans active in VoteVets.org including senior advisor and former Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark as well as vice chairman Brandon Friedman, who also appeared on the August 16 program immediately after the "betray us" segment.
VoteVets, the same group attacking Limbaugh for the "phony soldiers" remarks has always opposed the troop surge and Petreaus strategy as an "escalation" of the war and insisted that, "if you support escalation, you don't support the troops."
Olbermann, content to surround himself with anti-war veterans who question the patriotism of any and all supporters of the troop surge (in and out of uniform), added one final swipe at Limbaugh when thanking VoteVets ad star Brian McGough for appearing on the October 3 "Countdown":
KEITH OLBERMANN, host: Brian McGough. A veteran of the Iraq war, a recipient of the Purple Heart. Great, thanks for your time. And once again, since Mr. Limbaugh will not say this, thank you for your service on behalf of all of us in this country, sir.
McGOUGH: Thank you very much, and thank you for having me on.
OLBERMANN: Our pleasure. And honor.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters















Editor at Large

Comments Policy
Why do you suppose the MSM
October 4, 2007 - 14:31 ET by TruthMongerWhy do you suppose the MSM must insist on lying like this everyday? Are they simply mistaken? Or is it diabolically deliberate?
A service of the new NB respect police
It's Psychology
October 4, 2007 - 15:14 ET by kdoliverTruth,
They know exactly what they are doing. Repeat the same thing over and over, and it becomes fact.
I am at DoD Agency and you should hear the outrade at Rush. They you explain the situation and people are perplexed. Some of these people are actually in uniform too.
http://thelazytriathlete.blogspot.com/
You corrected their
October 4, 2007 - 15:19 ET by TruthMongerYou corrected their misunderstanding then?
We really do need to confront this in a HUGE WAY somehow - the MSM is behaving in a criminal manner - a violation of the public trust...
Can NB perhaps help organize a MAJOR annual event in DC...?
Like Live Aid - call it "Free the Media" or something like that?
A service of the new NB respect police
Lawsuit
October 4, 2007 - 22:04 ET by ArcherBYou are correct. What we need is for Limbaugh, O'Reilly or anyone else who has been slandered by these guys to hire an enormous team of super-lawyers and start suing the sh*t out of everyone who has only told half of the story.
Lets say Limbaugh goes for it. First, he should start with media matters. Then move to each of the networks, with separate lawsuits for each and every person who "read" the news without doing so fairly. Then, and this is the big one, sue each and every congress person who signed on to condemning him. And don't sue for an appology either. I mean go for the throat! Sue for enough money to drive each and every one of these frauds into bankruptcy.
Personally, I see no reason why he could not win each and every one of these lawsuits, especially against the networks. They claim to carry the "news" and yet only seem to carry the part they want you to hear... Either way, you have an expectation that "news" programs are telling the truth, and they are not. They need to held accountable, and unfortunately, since they have a near monopoly, there is really no one but Fox to take them down. Fox can't do it alone.
Either way, this would get his story out if nothing else and might make life a bit easier for conservatives next time they want to try this crap!
If you hamper the war effort of one side, you automatically help out that of the other. --George Orwell
Moveon.org and Keith Olberman
October 5, 2007 - 06:41 ET by djm159I really would not give too much credence to anything Keith Olberman says on his show. Remember, only 86,000 people are watching it as opposed to 3,000,000,000+ watching O'Reilly and that amount and more listening to Limbaugh. The old adage applies here. If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there does it make a sound? Same with Olberman. He can talk and talk ad nauseam and if no one is listening, who cares what he says? The troublesome liars are Barak Obama, Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid and the 38 other democrats who signed the letter to Clear Channel demanding Limbaugh apologize for something the democrats interpreted erroneously and deliberately for political gain. Obama, Clinton and Reid did not sign the letter condemning moveon.org who portrayed General Petraus as a liar and a traitor. Mrs. Clinton called General Petraus a liar to his face yet none of the "we love the troops" democrats found that disingenuous. Keith Olberman can affect no change, no one is listening. The House and Senate can affect change as to what anyone can say. If your opinion is not their opinion keep your mouth shut - sounds a lot like the old soviet union, or more recently Saddam Hussein or president Ahmadinejad doesn't it?
I am sick to death
October 4, 2007 - 14:32 ET by derbalof the liberal's hypocrisy.
Amusing Anal Olberman
October 4, 2007 - 14:33 ET by Lame CherryKeith Olberman thanking a vet is like Keith Olberman saying a prayer before he eats every meal.........he only does he needs to make a poltical point it seems.
How many trips to Iraq and Afghanistan has Keith Olberman ever invested in spending literal time with United States soldiers?
In doing an online search I can not find Olberman's name associated with Iraq, Afghanistan or even visiting wounded soldiers in the hospital.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
again why the lies? what is
October 4, 2007 - 14:40 ET by TruthMongeragain why the lies? what is the strategy?
PS "anal obermann" is not terminology for respectful discourse
A service of the new NB respect police
Well, that may be one good
October 4, 2007 - 22:33 ET by motherbeltWell, that may be one good thing to come out of all of this. KO had to come out and say "thank you" to the vets. I'm just surprised he didn't have one come on the show in person, so he could say thanks and then hand him a check, on camera, and say "Here's another clinic for treating disabled vets."
KO the Dork
October 4, 2007 - 14:37 ET by connorinKO:"since Mr. Limbaugh will not say this, thank you for your service on behalf of all of us in this country"
--------------------------
And yet fromHRC's own startup, Mediamatters.org (http://mediamatters.org/items/200710020014?f=h_top)
in their transcript of Rush's show are these items:
McGough is "a valiant combat veteran" & "This man will always be a hero to this country with everyone."
But I guess KO is right, Rush never explicitly thanked him for his service
again why the lies? what is
October 4, 2007 - 14:39 ET by TruthMongeragain why the lies? what is the strategy?
PS "dork" is not a term for respectful discourse
A service of the new NB respect police
Ol' coward Olberman
October 5, 2007 - 00:35 ET by ConservativeRexOl' coward Olberman couldn't identify a real soldier with a stick diagram pointing him out. If Olby reports on ANYTHING he's taken it out of context.
There's a reason this sorry loser is on PMSNBC, he is just a no good nothing. I hope he brings his sorry ass over to Iraq and runs into my son. My son already ran a Newsweek fella off nearly in tears!!..LOL..cornered him and asked him sternly, "why they didn't report the truth back to America"..he told me the reporter actually ran away!..(well a few more things were said).. late footnote: PMSNBC is averageing 85K viewers per hour..in other words about what a monkey would get for dancing..lol
Keith Olberman ... phony
October 4, 2007 - 14:44 ET by drillanwrKeith Olberman ... phony reporter ... phony media personality ... and purveyor of phony humbleness ...
The only thing Olby is genuine at is hiding in "bath tubs" ...
BATH-TUB-BOY...
October 4, 2007 - 17:20 ET by danybhoyI'll tell you something that is not phony about BathTubBoy, if you go to thecablegame.blogspot.com, you would see how NBC's football ratings are going down from week to week. My problem is the numbers are barely readable because they are so small(the graphic showing the ratings book numbers, not BathTubBoy's numbers, not yet anyway)
If their numbers are to be believed, BathTubBoy is doing what I thought he would to NBC's Sunday Night football ratings. But his job is safe, he's gotta have some damn good info on his bosses in order to not get the sack. BTW, does anyone know how many copies of his book sold? I did'nt see him do 1 interview promoting it. O'Reilly, Ingraham, Matthews, & Coulter are everywhere. Where was BathTubBoy?
"Some of us are wise, some of us are otherwise" Mark Levin
Wow, I hadn't noticed/seen
October 4, 2007 - 14:54 ET by sarcasmoThat Olberloon had already used the "joke," but that fact alone should have told "Moveon.org" it wasn't funny or true. With its concentration on a general instead of on politicians, it's almost as if the far left is deliberately screwing-up, but I can't imagine why...
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
Sometimes self-mutilation
October 4, 2007 - 14:59 ET by drillanwrSometimes self-mutilation can be a high, I guess.
Somebody should tell the Soviet party that excessive piercings and tattoos might hurt a little less ... and be easier to hide behind.
Olberputz
October 4, 2007 - 15:17 ET by Tom in NCThis pondscum continues to be an abomination before the American people.With his far left rants and his kissing up to every leftist loon that comes down the pipe it is with little wonder that PMSNBC is always near the bottom in the cable news ratings. Even the weakest Conservative could out-debate this idiot on the issues and leave him babbling and drooling in a corner, but I guess that's the reason he never has conservatives on his show...Self-preservation!
Isn't it funny.
October 4, 2007 - 15:21 ET by Mr. KafirAll of a sudden the leftards are irate that the troops have been disparaged!!!! Do they think the conservatives have forgotten:
Really now. Who is disparaging America's warriors???
Hypocrisy, thy name is Democrat.
condemn Olbermann
October 4, 2007 - 15:40 ET by LilyPearlI guess we can expect Harry Reid to condemn Olbermann now. Somehow, I am not holding my breath.
The Wall Street Journal has
October 4, 2007 - 15:59 ET by Free ThinkerThe Wall Street Journal has an excellent editorial today that comments on the way the press and the left have sought to make our troops out to be victims deserving our pity instead of reporting on the valor and the great work these volunteers are doing under very difficult circumstances. Our troops should be honored, not portrayed as helpless victims to promote the causes of the left. Olbermann has in essence betrayed the very troops that are fighting to protect his right to spew his hateful anti-American rants.
Keith needs a woman, or a
October 4, 2007 - 16:03 ET by charlietexasKeith needs a woman, or a man...??maybe he needs an enima?? Hes a typical mean liberal nut job.....
He needs a
October 4, 2007 - 16:07 ET by drillanwrHe needs a straight-jacket.
In the words of Barney
October 4, 2007 - 16:54 ET by msh1973In the words of Barney Fife, "he's a nut".
A litany of lies from the Demorats.
October 4, 2007 - 16:29 ET by Conservative_in_mass."We support the troops, not the mission" Lie, you support neither. You would rather spit in the face of our military (like you did 35 years ago) than support them. Understanding our enemy, that's your priority.
"When we take contol of Congress we will bring the troops home." Lie, you have the power of the purse, you don't have the b**ls to use it. You also know the mission is not complete. Add the word coward to liar here.
"We are outraged at Limbaughs remarks" Lie. You know you are taking the statement out context. You know he is a supporter of the military. Again a lie. Your actions are nothing more than an attempt to stifle a voice opposed to your world view. Hitler would be proud of todays' Democrat party.
"We are for the children". Lie. You support groups like NAMBLA, encourage sexually explicit public parades in cities like S.F. and are unrelenting in pushing programs and laws designed to supplant parental responsibility for children with state oversight.
Slowly but surely, the bloggers and talk show community are exposing the Democrat party as the socialist organization that it is. The onion will continue to be peeled until all of the true rot of your intentions are exposed.
We will be watching you....
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown
And now Elizabeth Edwards........
October 4, 2007 - 16:35 ET by Prester John...is complaining about Limbaugh's draft deferment.
An Air America producer just sent over some transcript from an interview their Richard Greene (not our Richard Greene) conducted with Elizabeth Edwards, in which she questioned Rush Limbaugh's Vietnam exemption:
I don't believe that John
October 4, 2007 - 17:03 ET by msh1973I don't believe that John Edwards served either. Correct me if I am wrong. What is her point?
Her point...
October 4, 2007 - 17:22 ET by Prester John...is that Limbaugh is a hypocrite (unlike others like, say, Bill Clinton who actively dodged the draft) and that she wears the pants in the Edwards' family.
}}---> Lizzie Boredom
October 4, 2007 - 17:10 ET by Cool ArrowWhat if we should need a First Lady capable of putting together a health care package to save our children?
Since you brought up the health issue, Lizzie, I'm just wondrin' aloud.
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
Do the Edwards kids ask Daddy what he did in the war?
October 4, 2007 - 17:12 ET by drillanwrhttp://jre-whatsnottolike.com/category/personal/military-service/
Draft Lottery No. 178
Of course, Edwards himself hasn’t always been forthright about his own military record - or rather, lack thereof.
In April, NBC “Today Show” host Katie Couric asked him where he was during Vietnam. The exchange went like this:
COURIC: Your military service, before we go?
EDWARDS: I - I did not serve in the military.
COURIC: You had a high lottery number, is that right?
EDWARDS: I did, and I came after - after the time that they were actually drafting from the lottery, Katie. I’m 50 years old. And because at the time I came along and graduated from high school and then - and then went to college, I was not drafted. [END OF EXCERPT]
A high lottery number? Not exactly. Pulling number 178 in the February 1972 Selective Service lottery drawing, Edwards’ number was lower than more than half of those picked.
And what about the claim that he “came after the time that they were actually drafting from the lottery.”
That’s not strictly true either. The year Edwards became eligible for the draft, the military drafted 49,514 men, according to Selective Service records - tapping draftees who had lottery numbers as high as 95. The draft was abolished in July 1973.
But even that year, 646 young men born the same year as Edwards were inducted into the military.
Newsmax, 8/24/04
http://www.newsmax.c...
Thanks for the memories
October 4, 2007 - 21:44 ET by dervishI became eligible in 1974, and my lottery number, which I received in 1973, was 004. First, last, and only time I hit a lottery. (I signed up voluntarily four years later.)
I think this is called
October 4, 2007 - 17:55 ET by Free ThinkerI think this is called desperation. The Edwards may have finally realized they stand no chance of being nominated, much less elected.
What GEN Petraues can't say...
October 4, 2007 - 16:40 ET by rgoldIf you truly want to know about General David Petraeus, please indulge me…
In 1944 Nazi General Herman Ramcke was preparing to surrender to US General Charles Canham when Ramcke said “If I am to surrender to you I want to see your credentials”. General Canham turned and pointed to his Soldiers with rifles at the ready and said “These are my credentials!”
I had the distinct pleasure of serving under General Petraeus twice. He was my Division Commander during OIF 1 and currently he is my Commander as the Multi Forces Commander Iraq. Allow me to be his credentials. He absolutely exemplifies the attributes of a modern leader of warriors! He is a scholar (P.hd from Princeton), and committed combat leader (three deployments to Iraq since 2003). He displays absolute integrity and genuine character in his interactions with you. He knows that victory is attainable, but will be hard won. He has dedicated his entire adult life to service to our country.
When you look into his eyes at memorial ceremonies, as I have, you only glimpse the burden he is carrying. If he did not think victory was attainable, I have no doubt that he would not hesitate to say so.
Keith Olbermann is not in any way qualified label Genral Petraeus anything other than a true patriot! KO could not even begin to fathom what it would be like to walk a mile in his shoes!
Keith Olbermann is not in
October 4, 2007 - 17:01 ET by drillanwrKeith Olbermann is not in any way qualified label Genral Petraeus anything other than a true patriot!
He's not even qualified to lick the sweat off Gen. Petreaus's ---
Well, you know what I mean ...
Great quote by Gen. Canham!
Poor Keith, he is so full
October 4, 2007 - 17:01 ET by msh1973Poor Keith, he is so full of envy and strife.
There's a derth of bad news from Iraq....
October 4, 2007 - 17:36 ET by Prester John......so the Left has to go after Blackwater, Rush, Patreaus....
Oh, and I doubt Doberman has the slightest idea of what the word "honor" means.
Olbermann: The Troll of Cable News Television
October 4, 2007 - 18:02 ET by Chris NormanI'm usually the first one to condemn this attitude, but now I find myself advocating it: Olbermann is just taunting Rush and conservatives. Rush usually doesn't even mention him on his show. I think in this case, maybe we should try to show him that he's not even on the radar screen any longer. Besides, his audience is so small, that it's like trying to cover every outrageous comment some liberal says inside his own living room. I'm more concerned with the increasing outrageous bias on the major networks and other media. Their hostility towards Republicans has become so hateful and obvious, it's out of control...
it's our own fault this
October 4, 2007 - 18:03 ET by TruthMongerit's our own fault this whole thing started - moveon was only talking about the fake general petraus in the first place:(
A service of the new NB respect police
Olberman is the Troll of Cable News
October 4, 2007 - 18:07 ET by Chris NormanOlbermann pushes our buttons and we respond.
Olberman is the biggest phoney on TV
October 4, 2007 - 18:11 ET by c5thenHe makes Dan Rather look like a journalist.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Fred08.com
Like I said above:
October 4, 2007 - 18:16 ET by Chris NormanLike I said above: Olbermann is just like the trolls we see here, just a different medium.
And he's getting paid waaay
October 4, 2007 - 18:41 ET by drillanwrAnd he's getting paid waaay too much for it.
Taunters are still a dime a dozen in most public grade schools.
He reminds me of Phil
October 4, 2007 - 19:05 ET by Chris NormanHe reminds me of Phil Jackson, in the NBA, when he used to insult and taunt other teams and their cities in interviews, then sit back and watch them react. I couldn't stand him either.
The difference being
October 4, 2007 - 21:51 ET by dervishthat Jackson was a brave jerk; the people Phil taunted had the opportunity to meet him later, elbow-to-face. If it were possible to reach out and touch Olbie in a similar way, odds are he'd be a bit more polite.
The Big Lie in full effect
October 4, 2007 - 19:50 ET by ChriswelLIt's the Big Lie, repeat it often enough and more and more will begin to believe it.
You'll make Goebbels proud Herr Olbermann
-cs™
fyi it's october 3rd, nobody died when clinton lied
October 5, 2007 - 01:21 ET by lunaticcringeradiobut something happened in mogadishu somalia. and let us not forget kosovo yugoslavia either.
i lifted this from wikipedia
On October 3, 1993, Task Force Ranger, a U.S. Special Operations Forces composed mainly of Bravo Company 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D; better known as “Delta Force”) operators, and aviation support from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (“The Night Stalkers”), attempted to capture Aidid's foreign minister, Omar Salad Elmi, and his top political advisor, Mohamed Hassan Awale.[4] The plan was to fast rope
from hovering MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, capture the targets, and
load them onto a ground convoy for transport back to the U.S. compound.
Four Ranger chalks
commanded by Captain Steele, also inserted by helicopter, were to
provide a secure square perimeter on the four corners of the
operation's target building.
The ground extraction convoy was supposed to reach the captive
targets a few minutes after the beginning of the operation. However, it
ran into delays. Somali citizens and local militia formed barricades
along the streets of Mogadishu with rocks and burning tires, blocking
the convoy from reaching the Rangers and their captives. A five-ton
truck, part of the convoy, was struck by an RPG-7 rocket.
Other complications arose. A Ranger was seriously injured during the insertion. PFC Todd Blackburn fell while fast roping from a helicopter hovering 70 feet above the streets. Minutes later, a MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, Super Six One piloted by CW3 Cliff Wolcott, was shot down by a rocket propelled grenade.
There was confusion between the ground convoy and the assault team. The
assault team and the ground convoy waited for twenty minutes just out
of sight of each other, ready to move, but each under the impression
that they were to be first contacted by the other. During the wait, a
second Black Hawk helicopter, Super Six Four piloted by CW3 Michael Durant,
was downed. Most of the assault team went to the first crash site for a
rescue operation. Upon reaching the site, about 90 Rangers found
themselves under siege from heavy militia fire. Despite air support,
the Rangers were effectively trapped for the night.
At the second crash site, two Delta Force snipers, SFC Randy Shughart and MSG Gary Gordon,
were inserted by helicopter (at their own request, permission was
denied twice by Command but granted when they persisted and made a
third request) to protect the injured crew from the approaching mob.
Both snipers and three of the Black Hawk crewmen were later killed when
the site was overrun by Somali militiamen. The Black Hawk's pilot, CW3 Michael Durant, who was seriously injured in the crash, was taken hostage. For their actions, Shughart and Gordon were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Repeated attempts by the Somalis to mass forces and overrun the
American positions were neutralized by strafing and rocket attacks from
U.S. aircraft. Reinforcements from the U.S. 10th Mountain Division,
aided by Malaysian and Pakistani U.N. forces, arrived in the early
morning. No contingency planning or coordination with U.N. forces had
been arranged prior to the operation; consequently, the recovery of the
surrounded U.S. soldiers was significantly complicated and delayed.
The battle was over by October 4, 1993, at 6:30 AM. American forces were finally evacuated to the U.N. Pakistani base by the armored convoy and the “Mogadishu Mile.” In all, 18 U.S. soldiers died of wounds from the battle and another 79 were injured.
The True Story of Black Hawk Down is a reminder of the bravery and
determination of our armed forces and their creed and commitment to
never leave a man behind.
lunaticcringeradio
}}---> When Clinton lied
October 5, 2007 - 01:25 ET by Cool ArrowThanks for the remembrance.
All this while President William Jefferson Clinton was dealing stud under the table.
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
Truthmonger The MSM
October 5, 2007 - 04:03 ET by daveinbocaTruthmonger The MSM deliberately pursues lies or whatever advances the nihilist agenda that the ultra-left advocates at the moment. Perhaps you heard of the Columbia School of Journalism scandal earlier this year when dozens of CSoJ students were caught CHEATING ON AN OPEN-BOOK ETHICS EXAM!!!
This is the ethos of the journalist---to lie, cheat, or do whatever will get you ahead, and journalists get ahead by embroidering or skillfully advancing whatever the ultra-left line of the moment is advocating.
The game is so simple and dishonest that every quack and wannabe---impostors like former Broadway play critic Frank Rich or frauds like Economics perfesser Paul Krugman have achieved Op-Ed columns on the New York Times page of infamy. Places where careers for liars like Joe Wilson are spawned.
The most hilarious and loud-mouthed serial liar and funhouse mirror caricature of a commentator is a failed sports show host named Keith Olbermann. KO is so despised that he was not invited to the ESPN 25th anniversary celebrations, when all past anchors and commentators on sports came together to the Silver Anniversary of the ESPN Sports Channel's successful career.
KO is such a repulsive lying p.o.s. that Chris Berman, who went to high school with KO, no longer speaks to the ridiculous egomaniac serial liar that is KO. Berman is one of the nicest guys in TV, an ESPN exec from my Chicago parish told me.
The one person from ESPN who does stay in touch with KO is another sniveling moron, the odious Dan Patrick, who still does for NFL football broadcasting what KO does for political flimflammery---advance the boundaries of bad taste and dishonest commentary.
Olbermann and Patrick prove true the old adage that on-air anchoring is like a septic tank----the biggest chunks float to the top!
Meanwhile, those CSoJ students dream someday of being another Dana Priest or James Risen, lying or cheating their way to a Pulitzer Prize----awarded, of course, by the liars and cheats on the board of the CSoJ---the worst school of journalism in the USA, bar none.