If Keith Olbermann can make a conscious decision to stay away from the Imus show,...

[Catherine Vincent]

Why didn't the Democrats that appeared on Imus show in the past do this? Keith realized way back in 1998 that Imus and his crew were nothing but a bunch of scumbags. John Kerry, Joe Libermann, Harold Ford, etc. etc. Is it because Imus was a friend and didn't want to hurt his feelings?


OLBERMANN: A brief preface to our third story on the COUNTDOWN, the suspension of Don Imus by this network and by CBS radio for his remarks last week about the Rutgers University women‘s basketball team. I may be mistaken about the exact date, but I don‘t believe I have appeared on his radio or television show program 1998. This has been a conscious decision, stemming from what I thought were inappropriate things he has said about various people.

It has also been a conscious decision not to try to publicize this stance. And to borrow the phrase of an ex-colleague, it‘s not my day to run the network. First, NBC announced tonight that the simulcast of Imus in the Morning would not appear here on MSNBC for two weeks, starting next Monday. Then CBS radio announced it would suspend the show outright for the same time span. That time drag, by the way, will permit maximum exposure for his charity radio-thon later this week. Here are the details from our correspondent Rehema Ellis.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18038830/

[medeak]

1. respected Olbermann so much last night

why is he the ONLY one to have made that decision which has always been an obvious one to me.

[karynnj]

2. For Ford, Kerry, Dodd ,Biden etc

Imus represented a way to easily reach an audience that they had few links to. When they were there they were able to easily control their message - much more easily tha on some of the more RW leaning shows. (For example, on their current book tour, Vierra was awful to both of the Kerrys especially Teresa, while Imus was competely controllable.) He also avoids this type of garbage when they are on.

I do think they will rethink whether in light of this they can appear. I know the issue of whether Kerry should be there comes up on the Kerry group nearly every time he is there - though he always gets his message across. My best guess is that the benefit of going on is now likely to be lower than the cost. You have to consider that Cheney went on Limbaugh where they called the SFRC Senators Stalinists.

Olberman has his own show. He is not a political candidate or a politician pushing issues. So, that comparison is apples to oranges.

[tularetom]

3. It's a beltway tradition - if you want to be in with the in crowd

you have go on imus's show and kiss his pasty wrinkled ass. I think the NBC news department is practically under orders to go on there, and a lot of dems somehow think its hip to appear on there. God only knows why. KO has once again show how much class he has.

[mzmolly]

4. A very bold commentary given Olbermann works for the same network.

:toast:

[kiahzero]

5. I think it's because he let them talk and talk.

Since there wasn't any liberal talk radio for a long time, Imus was pretty much the best / only way for Democrats to get their message out directly, rather than in soundbites.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/business/media/09carr.html

He is, to borrow one of the show’s metaphors, a lawn jockey to the establishment. Few politicians, big or small, pass up a chance to bump knees with Mr. Imus, in part because his show is one of the few places where they can talk seriously and at length about public issues. Senator John Kerry has stopped by. Senator John McCain is on frequently. And Senators Joseph I. Lieberman and Joseph R. Biden are part of a legion eager to sit in the guest chair.

[EST]

6. Irony abounds.

And then you have that neo-con idiot-Deforrest Soires (sp?) who was the douche bag who wanted to cancel the 2004 elections coming on referee and claiming that I'm-ass is a liberal.

We simply must destroy this incestuous relationship between on-air personalities, so-called journalists and political dingalings.

Keith Olbermann is the only class act currently hosting on the talking head warm stream media.

[earthside]

7. Let's Hope Tonight ...

... that Keith keeps this very minor, entertainment dust-up in perspective.

That is, it deserves about fifteen seconds of air time on Countdown.

Forty-three U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq already this month -- nothing some stupid radio talk entertainer has said means very much in relationship to that reality.