In today's Tonya Harding Moment, just a week after complaining about Brit Hume's admission that he often used Media Research Center material when prepping for "Special Report" broadcasts, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann actually promoted an anti-Bill O'Reilly campaign started by the George Soros-funded ultra-liberal group ThinkProgress.
It appears that since Olbermann's "Countdown" continues to get trounced in the ratings night after night by "The O'Reilly Factor," his new strategy is: If you can't beat 'em, support an organization that is trying to get your competition's advertisers to end their sponsorship.
Amusingly, Olbermann even seemed proud of himself as he announced during Friday's "Worst Person" segment what most men would be ashamed of (video embedded below the fold):
Our winner, Billo the sad clown who just lost an advertiser. You could have just left it alone. You could have just said nothing when you got called out for addressing a rape victims' support fundraiser after at least twice blaming rape victims one of whom was murdered. But no, you had to go send your stalker producer to hunt down the managing editor of ThinkProgess.org Amanda Terkel to follow her for two hours while she was on vacation as she checked into a hotel on vacation, to ambush her. Tonight begins the comeuppance.
ThinkProgress.org contacted the sponsors of O’Reilly’s TV program, asking — not if they support his right-wing stances, his hypocrisy, his racism, his misogyny, his fact-optional approach — but if they could stomach him time after time stalking people who had dared to criticize him in print or online. And tonight, UPS has said enough. Its e-mail to ThinkProgress: "Thank you for sending an e-mail expressing concern about UPS advertising during the Bill O'Reilly show on Fox News. We do consider such comments as we consider ad placement decisions which involve a variety of news, entertainment and sports programming. At this time we have no plans to continue advertising during this show."
To paraphrase the famous phrase from church, Bill, here begineth the lesson. Bill "What can Brown do for you" O'Reilly, today's worst person in the world!
Wow! Tonya Harding would be so proud of you, Keith!
On the other hand, in a tough economy, what Olbermann accomplished Friday evening might be job security, for he certainly has positioned himself nicely as a "View" co-host once there's an opening.
Sure did look comfy sitting around that table back in November, didn't he?
Of course, this would only happen if he was replacing Elizabeth, for Keith typically refuses to be on stage with a conservative no matter how they're outnumbered!
Who cares...you go girl!
*****Update: As Olbermann disgracefully patted himself on the back concerning UPS's response to this campaign, other companies have expressed disgust...for the campaign!!! Emphasis added:
AT&T
UPDATE: Mr. Coe from AT&T called on 3/25/09 to complain about our automated email campaign, saying it is “harassment.” [...]AT&T continually evaluates our advertising efforts to make certain that we are reaching consumers in effective and meaningful ways. We also make every effort to ensure that the content of the programming on the stations and outlets on which we advertise is in keeping with our corporate values and philosophy.
– spokesman Michael Coe, 3/25/09
Ford
Thanks for the heads up. And while I agree with you about the rantings of the hopelessly pig-headed Mr. O’Reilly, recognize that I am just an innocent bystander in this email letter silliness. I work at Ford and support Ford, but have no idea how the decisions are made on where we advertise. Frankly, as a mainstream company, we advertise everywhere there are good ratings. That is not an endorsement of the show — that is recognition that people are watching the show. Don’t know why they watch that mindless ranting. But they watch in droves. Welcome to America, I guess.
Anyhow, the email campaign is just goofy. The 500 or so notes I am getting an hour are automatically deleted thanks to a simple program in Microsoft Outlook. Form letters are just annoying and easy to get rid of. So no real harm.
I saw the tapes of O’Reilly ambushing Hertzberg of the New Yorker a few month back. It demonstrated how moronic O’Reilly really is. I still read Hertzberg weekly in the New Yorker. And I never, ever watch Bill O’Reilly. Don’t know when he is on. Don’t care. And that’s how you get rid of a show, stop watching. When the ratings dive, the advertisers will leave. The network will kill it off. If we pull our advertising, others will simply pick up the empty spots, and happily so. The show will go on. Sadly.
I might suggest you consider another tactic though. The silly form letters are just annoying and easy to delete.
Best of luck. If I had more time, I’d visit ThinkProgress.org. Too busy trying to get Ford back on its feet though. That is important. What Bill O’Reilly does or says is not important.
– spokesman Mark Schirmer, 3/25/09, speaking for himself and not on behalf of the Ford Motor Company
I'm sure Olbermann will be informing his viewers about how others are responding to TP's pathetic strategy...not!
