About a year into MSNBC's strategy of refashioning itself into the network for Bush haters, some consequences are starting to emerge for the cable channel and its corporate parent NBC.
Internally, the lurch to the left has resulted in numerous outbreaks of hostility as the remains of the old guard fight to protect themselves and the token conservatives find themselves increasingly marginalized.
Some external consequences are emerging a well now. While apolitical liberals still haven't kicked their CNN habit (and likely won't), MSNBC's corporate leftism has antagonized conservatives. It showed last night here in St. Paul as conventioneers held up signs denouncing the network and began a derisive chant of "NBC! NBC!" when Alaska governor Sarah Palin took a pronounced swipe at the media in her vice presidential nominating speech.
"I've learned quickly, these past few days, that if you're not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone," Palin said in one of her biggest applause lines of the night.
Immediately thereafter, the audience started booing loudly and clapping. Within a second or so, various crowd members starting chanting out "NBC! NBC! NBC!" This quickly spread throughout the packed arena. Many conventioneers followed it up by pointing toward the MSNBC temporary studio inside the Xcel Energy Center, conveniently positioned next to the Arab television network Aljazeera by someone at the RNC.
After waiting for the boos to die down, Palin paused and delivered a retort:
"But here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion - I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country. Americans expect us to go to Washington for the right reasons, and not just to mingle with the right people."
Amusingly enough, MSNBC's biggest left-wingers Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews actually had discussed these lines in Palin's speech just hours before.
"Who those reporters and commentators might be she does not say, at least not in the excerpt. It will be interesting to see if they're named in that speech," Olbermann remarked to Matthews in highly defensive conversation between the two, NBC's Tom Brokaw, and Norah O'Donnell.
"There's no one I can think of, off the top of my head, who did what she is apparently complaining of tonight, but she will be doing the complaining herself."
Evidently the audience was a little smarter on that account.
Video:
—Matthew Sheffield is the creator of NewsBusters and its Executive Editor.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
GOP Protesters? On TELEVISION!?!?!?!?
September 4, 2008 - 11:07 ET by SchnikeysYES!
It looks like some GOPers are finally being more tactical in getting their message out and kneeing the American social culture's liberal establishment in the gonads like they should. It's about effin' time, and I hope they keep it up.
I'm certainly bookmarking this.
------------------------------------------------------------
"My morality is your morality."
What would the signs have said?
September 4, 2008 - 11:18 ET by JeffC...What would the signs have said if Olberwomann were brave enough to show up in St. Paul
Keith's Kool-Aid for sale
... and worse, of course.
As for the NBC chant during Governor Palin's speech--on her radio show this morning, Laura Ingraham claims that she started it. She sat 8 rows behind the Palin family at the speech.
TRUE OR FALSE...
September 4, 2008 - 18:37 ET by TheSterOlby refused to goto the RNC because he feared for his "safety"??
I believe I read it on http://www.olbermannwatch.com/ .
Help me out...THAT IS A GREAT SITE FOR ALL OLBY NEWS!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.
BATH-TUB-BOY...
September 4, 2008 - 20:24 ET by danybhoyThe rumor about Olbermann not being here in th TwinCities was about his safety. But I don't buy it, he stayed away in part to cover Hurricane Gustov, & the hope on the left was that this would be as bad or worse as Katrina. He wanted Gustov to be the real story, & his spin was going to be that the evil conservatives in the GOP having their convention & all the parties that celabrate all things Republican. He bet wrong.
Also, he would have leave Manhattan, & there is really nothing that people of his ilk west of the Hudson River. Olby is part of 2 groups in this thought, he is of an elitist northeastern political/media culture that believes that the world sucks outside of their little part of it. As part of the sports media ( baseball in particular, his real sport of choice)when he worked at ESPN & FoxSports, if it's not about the RedSox & Yankees, it does'nt matter. The rest of the country does'nt matter to the Northeastern Elites.
"...it's still We The People, Right?" Megadeth
Olbermann doesnt know who
September 4, 2008 - 11:03 ET by GregEOlbermann doesnt know who she's talking about? LMAO!!!! "Dopey dohhhhhhhh!!"
Of course he doesn't, he thinks he's objective and straight down the middle. LOL
duplicate
September 4, 2008 - 11:09 ET by GregEdelete
Palin!
September 4, 2008 - 11:17 ET by iveseenitallSar-ah, Sar-ah, Sar-ah! What a speech! You and Rudy rocked the house and beyond. I saw one of the jerks on the t.v. mock, "Elite media?--whatever that means". Therein lies the problem, no?
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
allow me to love
September 4, 2008 - 11:12 ET by JIMMY1660allow me to love America
GW's only mistake-not telling the story. Tell the story, loud and clear. Do not be a shrinking violet.
My teenage daughter burst
September 4, 2008 - 11:15 ET by SickofLibsMy teenage daughter burst out laughing when she walked past the TV and saw all those placards behind Matthews and Gregory, and them trying to ignore it. Matthews looked like he was about to throw up any second. The RNC probably prohibited them from setting up any kind of temporary background to block out all the action behind them. Payback time!
And the MSNBC booth right next to Aljazeera? Too funny!
NBC Fallout
September 4, 2008 - 11:19 ET by allanfNBC has also engraged a large wing of the Democratic Party, the Hilary camp. When push comes to shove, there probably won't be enough support in Congress to stop any regulatory retaliation against NBC.
They are playing with fire.
I don't want...
September 4, 2008 - 14:20 ET by 3strikesand neither should you, want regulatory retaliation against NBC, just as I don't want imposed fairness on Talk Radio.
I think McCain had it right the other day when he canceled an appearance on CNN. He basically said, "I don't mind criticism, that's what the media is supposed to do, but I am also not going to support those outlets who treat tabloid rumors as fact and also don't tell both sides of the story."
They will reap what they've sown.
I think it was KOed who said
September 4, 2008 - 11:20 ET by well99But were only doing our job.I guess he is right if his job is working for Obama and the DNC.
Denver
September 4, 2008 - 11:23 ET by buzzbeeIn Denver, they Had Bathtub Boy Olberdork and Chrissy Mathews up high on the second level of their set.
I now regret missing my chance to do a similar protest when they were here in Denver. I hope people see this on Newsbusters and increase the protest of A MESS NBC - The official network of the DNC. I want to see A MESS NBC have to move their set because this takes off today.
Drill here, Drill Now!
When the audience started
September 4, 2008 - 11:24 ET by bigtimerWhen the audience started chanting NBC! NBC! NBC! I LOVED it!!!
The msm has egg on their face ...from inch to inch...
...the poor sensitive talking heads are just besides themselves...
I have loved all of this...I had such a great time last night....
I, for one, want to thank the msm...they have made Sarah a folk heroine...she may just very well be the next Prez of the US...this is already going to be historic, because we are going to win, Hill wouldn't stand a chance against her in the next election, even if she thinks about it...heheheee
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Of Course They Don't See It
September 4, 2008 - 11:32 ET by rammingspeedOlbermann and Matthews were scratching their heads, wondering who Governor Palin was referring to while zinging certain members of the media. Go figure. But, if they were smart to know she was pointing at them, they'd be smart enough not to be blithering idiot liberals with worldviews of kindergarteners.
SGT.SCHULTZ...
September 4, 2008 - 12:02 ET by danybhoyrammingspeed,
I noticed that too. I watched a bit of the BS on MSNBC acting like they had no idea WHO Palin was pointing out. The only thing missing was someone saying"...I know, nothing, I see, nothing, I say, NOTHING...". I thought it was Sgt.Schultz.
"...it's still We The People, Right?" Megadeth
The image in my mind was
September 4, 2008 - 16:23 ET by BuffNBoneThe image in my mind was someone passing gas then looking around the room to deflect attention from themselves.
Lesson for you wannabe aviators out there, don't have sausage, green peppers, and onions as your flight lunch and fly over FL350.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
Move over, Lee Corso!
September 4, 2008 - 11:40 ET by Roger the ShrubberMove over, Lee Corso!
Sorry demedia
September 4, 2008 - 12:04 ET by acumenThere ain't enough barrels of ink in the whole universe to spin your way out of this popular Palin uprising. I guess that's what happens when you build your house on an empty suit.
I would suggest this is an excellent time for the better part of the establishment media prodigal sons to stop attacking Christian and Jewish conservatives and start embracing the pricipal of seeking forgiveness and correcting harmful behavior. I'm confident conservatives are ready to throw the fattened moose on the fire for most of you. However, Keith and Chris might have to spend a bit of reflection time while cloistered....for the common good.
Well, I watched all the
September 4, 2008 - 13:44 ET by ConservativeRexWell, I watched all the speeches on CSPAN because I can not stand all the talking heads. From any network, however, I can picture Matthews telling Brokaw."I got nothing"!
MSNBC's attacks on America
September 4, 2008 - 14:27 ET by AvitarShould General Electric continue to receive Government business given the dishonest treatment of the nation's issues on MSNBC? The import/export regulations for doing the kind of business that GE does are quite specific. Can GE be trusted when they claim that they will uphold the law?As for the NBC division, the virtual reality news reporting this year is simply the norm. In 1995 when Phil Gram was on the campaign to run for president, I saw a NBC report of a report that Phil Gram had ties to the Aryan Nation. My jaw dropped because Windy Gram the Senator's wife is of Korean ancestry. Jesse Jackson not being in a mixed marriage could get into the Aryan Nation before Phil Gram could.
My wish from yesterday was
September 4, 2008 - 14:42 ET by Chris NormanMy wish from yesterday was granted:
"Wouldn't it be lovely to see Republicans picket the MSM's booths and boxes - especially NBC/MSNBC? The media has declared war on Sarah Palin and Republicans, why try to be polite any longer..."
Thanks GOP
McNotObama '08
If she pointed her finger
September 4, 2008 - 14:56 ET by FoolicanIf she pointed her finger towards the booth and said, "I'm talking about you, Mr. Olbermann!", he would've engaged in a sputter-fest of epic proportions for about thirty minutes, until he would reply with a stoic "Well, the feeling's mutual, Miss Vice President!" Although it would be good for national television, I think that such namecalling would not be necessary.
And of course, Matthews would have to back him up with the following thoughtful statement:
Matthews: "Him? Keith? Biased? Mr. Olbermann? Keith Olbermann of MSNBC? Biased? HIM, biased, of all people? Keith Olbermann of Countdown on MSNBC, a biased individual? A biased news reporter? I don't think so, ah, I don't think that's the Keith Olbermann I know, Miss Palin. I'm sorry, but... I still don't get it! <laughs> I mean, biased? Him, of all people? I can't imagine it! I can't imagine it. Can you imagine it, Keith?"
Keith: "I can't imagine it, Chris."
Matthews: "How about you, Brian?"
Brian: "Huh?"
Matthews: "Me neither. Really. That comment was way out of line."
Instead, he played the
September 4, 2008 - 15:06 ET by Chris NormanInstead, he played the disingenuous smart aleck: "I don't know who she's referring to..." or something like that...
McNotObama '08
Who?
September 4, 2008 - 15:09 ET by FoolicanWho? Keith? Disingenuous? Disingenuous Mr. Olbermann? NO! Keith Olbermann is clever and concise.
MSNBC next to al Jazeera? Wow!
September 4, 2008 - 15:25 ET by BlondeWow, I've been w/o an internet connection for a few hours...and missed this.
Who says Republicans don't have a sense of humor!
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Blonde, let's not forget...
September 4, 2008 - 16:13 ET by goldenthroatThe "other half" of this equation - MS - Microsoft!
Maybe we also should do a little venting toward them! They're still 1/2 of the network sign!
As far as tonight's speech by the Maverick, let the games continue!
"The sun's not going down - the horizon's moving up!" - Firesign Theatre
That reminds me of something.
September 4, 2008 - 19:19 ET by cjbreischAlex Jones, 1972 - "I don't know anyone who voted for him." (speaking of Richard Nixon)
Keith Olbermann, 2008 - "There's no one I can think of, off the top of my head, who did what she
is apparently complaining of tonight, but she will be doing the
complaining herself"
I enjoy watching that clip
September 5, 2008 - 02:04 ET by well99I really wished that McCain and Palin would boycott any network that was bias.Also dont speak with newspapers like NYT and there minions.They should stick to local media and that is it.Fox caved into Obama.You can bet Obama planned it that way.You have to deal with them like little kids.You cant let them get away with these games.I am all for tough question of all the candidates no matter which party.Let just keep it fair.