Keith Olbermann To Do "Special Comment" About Hillary Clinton Tonight — First Time Targeting A Democrat

UPDATE, March 12, 2007: Well, he did it — and here it is.

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On last night's "Countdown," Keith Olbermann announced that tonight he'd be delivering another of his "Special Comments" — his impassioned, angry monologues fueled by outrage and usually addressed to President Bush and the Bush administration. Tonight, his special comment will be directed at Hillary Clinton — and, for the first time, his special comment will be directed exclusively at a Democrat.

Olbermann's special comments began on August 30, 2006 — in the ratings wilderness of late summer, pre-Labor Day limbo — in a fit of righteous anger at Donald Rumsfeld after he compared Iraq War critics to Nazi appeasers. Thanks to viral vid, the YouTube of the moment lived beyond the under-the-radar broadcast and flew through cyberspace, igniting righteous anger against the administration across cyberspace and racking up 100,000 views in a month. Now Olbermann's special comments regularly rack up views on YouTube in the hundreds of thousands, but remember, this was Sept. 2006 — the midterm elections were still two months away, the year anniversary of Katrina had just passed and the region that Bush had vowed to restore was barely improved, and new MSNBC general manager Dan Abrams had just started two months ago, and 100,000 views was a number MSNBC would definitely have been paying attention to. There was plenty of outrage to go around, and Olbermann had hit a nerve — and found an outlet — so off he went with four more special comments in September, three in October, four in November and on and on as the ratings climbed and climbed.

Always the target was the Bush administration in some form — usually the President ("Have you no decency, sir?" "I accuse you, Mr. Bush, of lying this country into war" "You're a fascist...What else is this but fascism?") though occasionally someone else in the GOP would get it for the latest nefarious move (see: Tom DeLay, Condi). In April 2007 the first presidential candidate was implicated: Rudy Giuliani, drawing Olbermann's ire for fearmongering about 9/11. The last special comment was last month about the FISA walkout; but tonight, for the first time and in the heart of the presidential campaign, it will be about Hillary Clinton, her campaign, and how Olbermann feels about exactly what cards she's been playing (hint: It has something to do with her not firing Geraldine Ferraro for her controversial statement saying that Barack Obama wouldn't have been as successful if he weren't black. Last night Olbermann called Ferraro's statement "clearly racist" and likening the Clinton campaign to South Africa under apartheid for not rejecting it and firing her. Okay, that's more than a hint.)

It's a significant moment, because it marks the first time a full-throated special comment will have been directed exclusively at a Democrat. Not just the Democrats, whom Olbermann accused along with the Republicans last May for failing to do anything to get the country out of Iraq, but one particular Democrat — a Democrat whom, incidentally, he did a special comment defending in July after the Defense Dept. sent her a letter accusing her of facilitating anti-U.S. propaganda by demanding to know whether the administration had conceived of an exit strategy from Iraq. He also defended her husband, Bill Clinton, in Sept. 2006 after his controversial interview with FNC's Chris Wallace. I wouldn't expect either of them to get much defending this time around — though something tells me this one will get a lot more than 100,000 views.

From Last Night's Show:
Olbermann: Ferraro Statement 'Clearly Racist: Are We in South Africa?' [Newsbusters]

Comments

[dhb4u]

Mr. Olberman.........Do you think that you may now want to make a comment about Obama. Here's is an idea, do a special comment on the pattern of poor choices in which Obama has made with the people that surround. Topic of discussion for You:

1. Obama's mentor and pastor for the past 20 years making racist and anti-american comments from the pulpit.

2. Obama's wife saying she never was proud to be an American until now. Of course, it has been said that she did not mean those words the way they came out. Strange though, they seem very similar to the type of rants we are now seeing from the Pastor.

3. A borderline illegal real estate deal with Revko who is now on trial.

To be unbiased, I think a special comment should now be done on this topic. If anything will help to sink the dem's chances in November, the above will be hard to overcome when trying to beat a republican candidate like McCaine. Does anybody really see a way that the dem's can beat McCaine in November?

[sklfcats]

Keith, go get Eliot's sloppy seconds and shut the heck up, dope..

[HopeObama08]

Dear Hopemongers,

The more I get to know Barack the more I like him. It's a shame that many people do not see the genius in him. I have always considered myself a citizen of the world and I believe Barack is not only an American citizen but also a citizen of the world. I've always perceived the USA as a microcosm of the world. One of his message I like is to end American Imperialist and Paternalist attitude and bring real positive LEADERSHIP. That's the real problem that many want to ignore because they are either ignorant or selfish. America has achieved so much and can achieve so much more with the American people's will and with political will. That's also why Education is critical, along with learning foreign languages and understand other people's culture and also be able to compete fairly. Especially here in the US.

Paradoxically, Barack talks about dreams a lot because he has a creative and constructive imagination, and on the other side he address real issues that concern America but also the world and suggest realistic solutions that would bring positive long term results for many in this planet. That's why he differs from the other politicians who just think about themselves and are power thirsty. He knows he is not perfect and ackowledged it on several occasions. That's why he is open to communicate and hear from everybody. That's real leadership. The truth can hurt sometimes but Barack is not afraid to expose it. That's why the big beneficiaries of the Washington system want to destroy him and fool people the same way Bush did. Luckily many people are no longer blind or short-sighted about the truth and deeply reflect on waht lays behind Barack's philosophy and sense of judgement. Some choose not to agree, some are simply not aware.That's why I believe should educate themselves, see the big picture before making any judgement.

To me, here is what Barack represents:

BARACK, THE BEST OF AMERICA
BARACK, THE BEST FOR AMERICA AND THE WORLD
BARACK, THE SOLUTION TO FIGHT THE ANTI-AMERICANISM AND TERRORISM EFFECTIVELY WITH A REAL SENSE OF JUSTICE.
BARACK, THE BEST THE MODEL OF HOW TO IMPROVE ONESELF.

OBAMA O8

[AxelDC]

Ferraro taught me a valuable history lesson this week. Now I understand how Ronald Reagan won Massachusetts and New York in 1984.

[oracle99]

Keith told it like it is......as always...one of the only truthful persons reporting the news, with the guts to be honest. Carl Rove used the fears of the evangelicals, and lower educated whites, to build them into an efffective base to elect Bush. Now Hillary is taking a page from his campaign manifesto to drum up support from the ultra conservative( another name for bigotted) wing of the Democratic Party. In doing so she has lost the black vote, a vote that she took for granted. She assumed that blacks would support her regardless of her race baiting, and divisive campaign tactics. This country needs to come together to end a costly war, restore our economy, fix our broken health care system and other challenges. Her agenda is only to return to the white house at any cost.

[TruEngineHearing]

I see Olbermann as a sideshow barker, willing to sell "Product A" as the Best Stuff Ever - until "Product B" offers a larger commission. He’s just another joker aiming for his $22 million and ready to suck whatever gets that job done.

When he starts doing his inane “And YOU sir” hat dance, he’s a sugar-shocked teenager demanding the car keys.

Isn't there something better on another channel? Uh... No.

[UrsulaU]

Dawn Davenport! Dont you ever sleep? Go to bed and stop flagging posts, what are you the deputy moderator. I have things to say**

[shag11]

Fucking Lefties in the media better get tough. Olbermann and the AirAmerica personnel are a bunch of wusses. This shit keeps up and the slime rightwingers will continue to wipe the floor with our asses.

[toosuper52]

Hooray Keith. Finally, a member of the media with the bravado to say what everyone else thinks. The Clintons are deceitful at best. I wouldn't trust either one of them as far as I could throw them. One need only look at their controversial past to see that there is truth in the old adage "where there is smoke, there is fire." Congratulations Keith. You should win an award! By the way, I am a registered Independent who is sick and tired of year after year after year after year of the same old swiftboating tactics. Barack Obama comes along with a refreshing notion that we don't need to play politics this way any more. His message has resonated throughout the entire country and I'm not an Obamaniac. I'm 56 years old and welcome his wisdom, brilliance, and focus on the issues that matter most.

[writeaway]

Where is Keith's outrage at Obama not distancing himself from his preacher's comments, "God Damn America" instead of God Bless American? Reverend Wright had some other rascist comments to make but Obama dismisses then as just the words of an old man from a different generation who will soon be retiring. Wright's comments were certainly a lot more disturbing than what Ms. Ferraro had to say. Come on Keith, at least be balanced in your "fervent" condemnation of rascist remarks. Your "sthick" has worn out its welcome with this former fan.

[blastocyst]

*[insert 'cricket' midi here]*

[dajay]

Oh Keith will never do a Special COmment on Barack Obama and his sweetheart of a pastor. You won't see that on MSNBC News or Keith's show. Because Keith is a big smuck who has no credibility as a journalist.

[Farfennugen]

I have been a Republican for years - I recently changed parties to support someone I believe will end the stagnation in Washington. I find Keith's remarks spot on. It is also refreshing that over half the democratic party is now seeing what the republicans have known for a very long time - that the Clintons can not be trusted. Please explain to me how can Hillary win when the Right absolutely hates her to a point they will hold their nose and vote for McCain and half her party is now seeing that the Clintons have always played dirty.

[elainebarili]

sure you were a republican...just like I was a democrat [wink,wink]. Oh, and how can anyone vote for a guy that goes to a church [for twenty yrs.] with the preacher being Rev. Jeremiah Wright? This Rev. Wright is a man filled with hate. He hates white america. Does anyone really think that Obama has a better chance at the White House than Hillary? I will vote for McCain, but if I have to live with a dem.Presid­ent.....pl­ease God let it be Hillary.

[Jaxyl]

Because we all know that being apart of something means that you believe it 100%.

Say, your an American...and America is lead by GWB who believes WMDs are in Iraq and that the terrorists are in our phone lines. Obviously you must believe that as well.

Hmm...see the fallacy within your argument? The part does not speak for the whole and the whole doesn't speak for the part. That's why we're humans...we're individuals.

[drab]

ah, and this "racist" thing that is coming out about hillary, but sometimes people take it to far. yes was what hilaries adviser say wrong? sure, it not in anyway reflected hilaries beliefs. lest not forget who interjected race into the situation? Obama, it started with the comment that a strong president was needed to get the equal rights amendment passed and to bring out real changes, that this comment somehow diminished Dr. king. come on, its the truth! do you think pasty old Nixon would pass something like that. and yes you do need a president who is strong, who will push it through congress and will sign it, that doesn't diminish the impact that king had. then bill Clinton was called racist for comparing the election in South Carolina to that of Jessie jackson, the truth is they were similar. the percentages were relatively the same, it did focus on the African American vote, and yes the winning candidate was black, all the truth, is it racist to tell the truth? then they were yelled at because they had the founder of BET talking about how they are not racist. they were criticized because he said that while the Clinton's were helping the African American community Obama was smoking pot in Chicago, something he admits to doing in his own book, are they again racist for telling the truth? i can definitely say this was the moment i shifted to the Clinton campaign, because there is are certainly racist people in the world and it isn't hillary

[Independent007]

Obama started the race baiting with a comment about his strength about passing legislation? YEAH RIGHT.
And you must believe in Santa Claus as well right?

[drab]

look, everyone is like oh! the country is divided, when will we fix it? news flash, you cant fix something that never broke. we have been a divided country since the Hamilton - Jefferson bank battle. you can only point tot 1 time after that we had a truely "united" country, which would be the era of good feelings under Monroe and Adams. whats more i don't want some sweeping unity, i want a democratic president and a democratic congress imposing democratic ideas. i could care less about republicans, they had enough time to ruin the country give democrats the chance to fix it

[DDF3]

Keith is so in the tank that he has lost all credibility. He's a horrible sexist which unfortunatley taints much fo what he says. Not nearly as clever or insgihtful as he clearly believes himself to be.

[vipersdad]

I hope Hillary herself reads the text of his comment and thinks long and hard about what he said. I agree with the overall theme of the "special comment," and while I think Mr. Olbermann tends toward being overly-dramatic at times, that does not diminish the content of his remarks.

By the way - while our "leadership" in Congress has been waffling, equivocating, and otherwise weakly caving in to the Bush Administrations tactics, Mr. Olbermann has been one of the strongest voices for people like me who thought they were voting for change in the 2006 election. To me, he is a lone voice in a vast progressive wilderness.

[Svenson]

Imagine this:

Obama is president. There is a crisis and Obama summon his advisors for a conference,

Chris Mathews, Rice, K Olberman, Al Sharpton, his spiritual leader, Jesse Jackson .. Ted Kennedy, Oprah, all gather around debating ,, the crisis .. imagine the vile and vitroul that will flow, the screaming and shouting,

Screaming and shouting, calling out the name of God, repeating the years of torture and abuse under the white men, and so on and so forth ..

qand then they decide on the answer....... what are they going to do ?




What a party!

[lcmartin]

Talk about racist and sexist. You win the prize, Svenson. Obama doesn't rely on Chris Matthews, who happens to be a McCain supporter, or Al Sharpton or Jessie Jackson. I don't think Oprah would get involved, but if she did, she could do a better job than Condi Rice. No doubt you are simply jealous because a black male is well educated, articulate, and principled. Oh wait, perhaps you don't understand the meaning of the words "articulate" or "principled". You sound like some of my racist cousins who live in TAlabama.

[AjicNYC]

lol omg THATS A GREAT IMAGE!!

[Meah]

Chris Matthews is a Republican, stooge. Along with Condyleeezza Rice. Why would Obama have them around.? Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson? Have you noticed that they are not real close to Obama? You are really very silly. Read about Obama's mother in the NYT this weekend. Probably not.
He is like her, doofus. Similar world views. Large and expansive and intelligent. Not small and pedantic like yours.