Keith Olbermann Strikes Again
12 June 2008 10:53 am by Taylor Marsh
Katie Couric gets “worst person” last night. She was talking about a specific NBC news anchor. This is the quote to which she refers, as does Olbermann in the clip.
LEE COWAN, NBC NEWS: “You know, I think from the reporter’s point of view, it’s almost hard to remain objective, because it’s infectious energy. I think it sort of goes against your core to say that as a reporter, but…” – Lee Cowan
Mr. Olbermann takes it personally that Couric makes an assessment that even Cowan admitted was real. The Boys Club mentality of the MSNBC anchor is nakedly on view every time he talks about Clinton or women in general.
What Olbermann doesn’t get is that journalism is about being unbiased and undeterred by atmospherics in order to report. Cowan admits being somewhat seduced himself, to his credit, except that means he failed to do his job, even as good as he is. Olbermann can’t handle that truth. His anger last night at Couric once again revealed his own biases (and ego), as well as the inability to look at something very important in our media, of which Olbermann is a prime culprit. His venting at Couric says one thing. Me thinks Keith he is no Edward R. Murrow Olbermann doth protest too much.
Howard Kurtz covered the Cowan admission during the campaign on “Reliable Sources.”
KURTZ: The reporters covering Barack Obama in New Hampshire were struck
by the huge crowds he was drawing and the emotion he was generating, but did
they become star struck?NBC correspondent Lee Cowan raised the question in a video on the network’s
Web site.(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEE COWAN, NBC NEWS: You know, I think from the reporter’s point of view,
it’s almost hard to remain objective, because it’s infectious energy. I think
it sort of goes against your core to say that as a reporter, but…(END VIDEO CLIP)
KURTZ: Kate Snow, I give Lee Cowan credit for raising that issue. Is it hard
to remain objective in the face of this Obama phenomenon?SNOW: Well, you know, I don’t cover Obama, full disclosure. I cover Clinton.
And I’ve been to a couple of Obama events. And I will say the contrast between
his events and hers is striking.I mean, his events — he is like a rock star. You go to these events and
the crowds are enormous, there’s an energy in the room. And I have written
about that on our Web site. I wrote a piece once comparing and contrasting
just the style and this sort of presentation difference between the two of
them, so I can see his point….I mean, it’s easy to kind of get swept up in that, but, you know, I think we’re all — we’re trying to be good journalists here and we’re trying to cover these stories with fairness. And, you know, we have to do due diligence and be just as critical, look at them with just as critical eye as we would at any candidate, no matter how large their crowds are.
KURTZ: Obama was riding a huge media wave out of Iowa. Comparisons to JFK. He is an inspiring speaker, a man who can heal racial divisions. “Newsweek” this week says “Was he a media-created savior?”
So, my question is, is he benefiting, at least at the margins, from sympathetic coverage?
SMITH: Oh, absolutely. …
Now, I’m no fan of Katie Couric. But Olbermann’s review of Couric in “worst person” is beyond insulting. “A little Kool-aidish, but her opinion and she’s entitled to it,” is his response to any suggestion of sexism during the primary season. The man couldn’t be more clueless. Everyone’s got their own brand of Kool-Aid. Keith just takes his introveniously. Besides, ask any woman and she’ll tell you what Keith Olbermann refuses to admit. There are studies and experts to prove it.
Hey, but as I said in interviews just this week, not to sound too flip about a serious subject, but now that Obama’s the nominee, let the love fest continue… all the way to the White House. The trouble is the traditional press doesn’t act that way. They build you up to tear you down. That moment is coming, I assure you.
However, don’t think for a second we have forgotten the treatment Clinton received by the cable boys and beyond. I’ve been writing about the double standard with women on TV for years. It’s got nothing to do with Kool-Aid. If you’re a girl it’s reality.
