The idea that cable network MSNBC is liberally biased is certainly no stunning revelation. However, when one of its foremost liberal hosts, Keith Olbermann, admits it on the air, that is truly something to behold.
Such actually occurred Thursday evening, and was captured for posterity by Real Clear Politics' Blake Dvorak (h/t NBer SMGalbraith, video available here courtesy Olbermann Watch with thanks to NB reader Damien G.).
To set this up, Democrat presidential candidate John Edwards bought some advertising time on MSNBC Thursday evening to respond to President Bush's address to the nation concerning Iraq. After the ad finished, Olbermann disgracefully said the following:
I don't want to be diverted by talking about commercials in the middle of the show but, Rachel, why on earth did he buy that commercial? I don't think I'm saying anything unknown to the audience, I don't think he would have gotten a hard time from this particular network. Why on earth did we do it that way?
Fascinating, wouldn't you agree? After all, here was a highly-paid newscaster asking an Air America radio host why a Democrat presidential candidate would bother spending money advertising on his network when everyone knows how biased it is.
As Dvorak noted (emphasis added):
Here's Olbermann, as an anchor, saying that his network -- as opposed to his show, or himself, or his panel -- would not have given Edwards a "hard time." MSNBC leans left, of course, but you're not supposed to admit it, you're not supposed to say, "We give Democrats an easier time than Republicans."
Naturally, this isn't a surprise, coming from Olbermann. But are there any execs at MSNBC who are slightly upset that Olbermann just trashed their objectivity as a news network?
Apparently not, Blake.
*****Update: Allah accurately points out, "Imagine Olby’s reaction to O’Reilly saying the same thing here about a Republican candidate. He’d have to do a special two-hour episode of Countdown just to allot himself enough time for all the invective." How true!
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Maybe Costas is rubbing off on Olberman
September 15, 2007 - 12:01 ET by Lame CherryMaybe Olberman on Sunday Night Football is not such a bad thing in real men like Costas and John Madden are rubbing off on this girly boy.
In the first week Olberman said he was the biggest failure in the NFL and was razzed hard and now being on Matthews he lurched into the Truth. Perhaps all Olberman needs is to be around manly influences and he might turn things around with God's help.
Olberman though might just get fired after this week though for he will note that the Patriots are cheaters........and then he might just start revealing all the lying he does and all the pedophiles he knows at NBC.
Hey Bill Maher is calling his audience crazy.....so who knows the Truth might be rubbing off on numbers of liberals.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Admitting MSNBC is liberally
September 15, 2007 - 12:31 ET by LilyPearlAdmitting MSNBC is liberally biased may be the first true thing Keith Olbermann has ever said. Wonders never cease.
That coward Olberman,
September 15, 2007 - 14:17 ET by ConservativeRexThat coward Olberman, who cares about anything he says. All he did is state that he has a monkey's grip on the obvious. He STILL needs his ass kicked.
Costas, a real man?
September 15, 2007 - 13:14 ET by mattmYou learn something every day... ; )
Seriously though, I believe NBC is trying to legitimize Olbermanic by having him on Sunday Night Football. If they can do that, then he can more easily fool people into thinking that his Leftist political rants are actually objective news.
Whenever I see him, I flip the channel....
Not sure about Madden, but I
September 15, 2007 - 19:07 ET by RobElz7Not sure about Madden, but I thought Costas was a bleeding heart liberal.
Bob Costas isn't a bleeding
September 15, 2007 - 19:12 ET by fitzfongBob Costas isn't a bleeding heart liberal. He's a bed-wetting liberal.
I'm not sure which of the
September 15, 2007 - 12:12 ET by In ExcessI'm not sure which of the following is the most honest:
A. ''I don't think I'm saying anything unknown to the audience''
B. ''I don't think he would have gotten a hard time from this particular network''
C. ''Why on earth did WE do it that way?''
Rove is at it again
September 15, 2007 - 12:16 ET by Mica the MagnificentI know what's going on here.
Karl Rove secretly delivered through a third party a phony poll to the DNC. It showed that 89% of Americans want the MSM to admit they're biased and would watch more of the networks and increase their ratings if they did. This poll was faxed to the networks along with the daily dem talking points.
Karl will deny this.
Open mike
September 15, 2007 - 13:54 ET by ThisnThatSee what hapens when you leave the microphone open by mistake?
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Olbermann admits the
September 15, 2007 - 14:01 ET by SMGalbraithOlbermann admits the liberal bias of MSNBC?
Gee, I dunno.
This is the same person who said that Fox News is a greater threat to America than al-Qaeda and has done more damage than the Klu Klux Klan (yes, that al-Qaeda and that Klan).
Sorry Noel, I'm going to require a second source.
SMG
there's something in the water...
September 15, 2007 - 14:34 ET by rx4musicDid somebody sprinkle something in the water supply at MSNBC or is there a new flavor of Kool-Aid that the liberals are drinking? Maybe the new "Tangy Truth" flavor or something? I don't know which suprises me more, Olby and his comments or Maher and his assertions about the 9/11 conspiracy crowd...
"I used to be disgusted, but now, I try to be amused..."- E. Costello
New Revelations
September 15, 2007 - 14:51 ET by River CityOlberman's candid moment may have more to do with the times we are living in. Most libs feel Hillary will be the next president and the Congress will elect more dems in 2008. They feel the country is leaning more left than ever before. They have no fear in saying what is really going on. Why hide any more. You know it they know it. Lets all just bring it out in the open and talk about it. MSNBC, NY Times, CBS, etc. want everyone to know Hillary is their man and the democrats are their party.
“Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.” Ronald Reagan
Recognition of the problem
September 15, 2007 - 17:30 ET by fitzfongRecognition of the problem is the first step to treatment...
Olbejerk admits to liberal
September 15, 2007 - 21:33 ET by Conservative_in_mass.Olbejerk admits to liberal bias? Well it can only mean one thing to the leftoids: its Bush's fault.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown
Well it's a calculated flubb by blabber mouth
September 15, 2007 - 22:02 ET by SportPoliticsNow the word is out, don't spend your money, just appear for free on MSNBC, and blabbermouth will even hurl insults at anyone in the studios he has access to that objects or tries to stifle the new democratic money free adnews.
What were the dims saying about a fairness doctrine ?
Under their fairness doctrine, would the chickenlibdems be required to debate on Fox, instead of "boycotting" a Cable TV station ? I mean when you think about what they did, it really is amazing they got away with it.
As a political commentator ...
September 15, 2007 - 23:41 ET by tenthreeleader... Keith Olbermann is a heck of a sportscaster.
...as the nose on my face
September 16, 2007 - 05:19 ET by CatherwoodThis episode would also explain the ignominious demise of the Fairness Doctrine debate. The whining liberals backed off that one real fast. It's now as plain as the bulbous nose on Bill Clinton's face that the lib nets and lib cables, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, etc.) are totally dedicated to electing a dim president. They don't even try to appear objective anymore. The only problem is that they are really worried about Hillary as their candidate. They fear she's too devisive to win and they're right. The iffiness of her candidacy is one of the reasons the lib news is coming clean on their intentions. They cannot give Hillary the support she needs while at the same time trying to show impartiality. They need to fire all of their guns at once and they know it. I wonder of any of them will have the temerity to call for a more viable dim cadidate than the Ice Queen?
And in a follow up other
September 16, 2007 - 05:26 ET by Jack BauerAnd in a follow up other famous figures make shock revelations that we never suspected..
Olby's Not...
September 16, 2007 - 16:44 ET by Wildcatter1980...even worth commenting on. Jeeze Louise, he's on pathetic PMSNBC. More people watched O'Reilly than the last Democrat debate aired on that so-called news network.
Just my $0.02