Keith Olbermann: Most People In News Are Not Smart Enough For Analysis

Keith Olbermann sat down with David Letterman last night and slammed the members of the news business, saying, "Most of us in news are not smart enough to figure out what's going on. We may pretend that we're good enough to do that. But in fact, when we look you in the eye, in the camera, we're really just making it up."

Keith and Dave also joked about his size, with Dave calling him an "enormous man" and Keith saying, "Um, thank you?"

Watch:

From CBS, 4/23

Comments

[dadw5boys]

What has happened to those who were smart enough to figure out what is important and what is not as news?????

[Utopia]

That is not only a laughable comment but so out of touch with reality it is scary you to think you have a mind and are pretending to use it. Since when has FAUX News ever been able to counter anhy false claims made by KO or anyone else on MSNBC. All they do is wail and cry "they're lying liberals" but then have nothing to back up the claim "they lie".

[connorin]

www.olbermannwatch.com counters KO's lies, out of context statements, and omissions on a nearly daily basis...BTW, they even link you to proof of the lies and mischaracterizations

[hoopesaz]

I don't think Utopia really wanted you to ANSWER that question. It's like revealing that Santa Clause isn't real.

[steamboat]

Keith, after saying Hillary needed to be beaten in a room, you have absolutely no credibility. Take your gastapo thinking somewhere else. And read the FIRST AMENDMENT of the US Constitution. People have a right to their views without you wanting them beaten. You are a hypocrite and big phony.

[Brinkman]

That isn't what he was saying at all and he issued a clarification the following night.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/25/olbermann-responds-to-sklar/

[batspaul]

Olbermann never said that, Steam. He was summarizing the point of view that the person speaking to him was presenting. Granted, the phrase was insensitive. But, you know, "If you can't stand the heat..."

Now I hate violence, and can't even stand to watch boxing on TV. But Mrs. Clinton is determined to prove her toughness, reminiscing about her hunting days, knocking back shots of whiskey with the boys, and characterizing her opponent as too weak to withstand the Republican attack machine. Every other sentence out of Hillary Clinton's mouth lately is, "I'm a fighter." She compares herself to Rocky Balboa. So please don't demand that, because of her sex, everyone BUT her will be a metaphoric punching bag.

This double standard is so bogus. If this phrase had been used about any of the male candidates, no one would have said a word. Senator Clinton deserves to be treated like any other candidate, and she and her supporters are quite vocal when they feel that's not the case. (which, in their opinion, seems to be all the time). You do Senator Clinton and feminism a disservice by expecting the discussion of her candidacy to be bowdlerized because of her gender.

[richsmith]

Jesus, I'm glad Olbermann is on our side. He would be a huge asset to the dark side, kind of like Sapphire carrying water for the neocons, fascists, and the right wing in general.

[vandegrasse]

You mean from Amos and Andy?

[hwebb54]

This coming from a guy who compared Hillary to David Duke for something Geraldine Ferraro said. He has no credibility.

[richsmith]

Were you not listing to this conversation? Olbermann humbly used the "pluralis majestatus" in his reference to the media. "We have met the enemy and they is us".

[SlappHappy]

Keith is sore from bending over and taking it from Barry Obama. Herr AsshOlbermann is a clown and should be taken off the air.

[chromodynamics]

The only thing that's making SlappHappy sore is no one is bending him over a few times.

[stevietheman]

Of course, reich-wing-moonbats and supporters of the failed candidacy of Hillaryious don't like the truthteller Olbermann. No surprises there!

[connorin]

Correct why would someone who like or sympathized with either HRC or ANY republican enjoy Keith who tears down anything not pro-Obama.

[writeaway]

Olbermann finally got something right. Most people in news are not smart enought to do analysis. That includes you KO.

[Eldamon]

You gotta love Keith, he gives it to you straight. I don't know how he keeps a thought though, over the continuous clanking noises coming from his huge solid brass nads.

[THISTLE]

Olbermann has become a joke, he is on his knees for Obama, and in the process he looks
like nothing more than a hack/flack. He is pompous overbearing, and those "creppy" voices he
goes into are really pathetic. He desperately tries to pretend to be a serious "journalist," and
then goes into these "creppy voices," where he plays the part of "characters." And he calls himself
a "newsman".

[richsmith]

Does calling him a joke imply that you laugh mirthfully - are you capable of laughing mirthfully in your dark world of bent ideology - when you listen to this banter with Letterman or you are just generally amused by his rich, colorful commentary on the state of the world.

[CommonSenseRules]

This guy is such a joke! The only reason he is on TV is because NBC has gone all the way left and they have bought into everything liberal.

There are so many examples of him being biased, you can not list them all. But here are a few. First off, he has the SAME people every night on, and they agree with everything he says. I have NEVER seen a differing POV on his show, not once and I watch regularly (if only to get my comic relief for the night). Second, he is sooo in the tank for Obama. Last night for example, he ragged and ragged on Hillary (his favorite new target) and McCain and wrapped up his show with a segment on Obama (the only segment) that discussed Ambercrombie and Fitch t-shirts and product placement. Are you kidding me? With all of the stuff swirling around Obama and this is his only segment on him? Third, he rails against Fox News about being schills for the Republican Party, but he does the EXACT same thing for the Democratic Party ( mainly the hard left).

His whole show every night is the Huffington Post on cable. That's it. He is a complete joke and arrogant/condescending on top of it all.

[SenorBob]

Olbermann vs Hannity cage match! Who's with me?!?

[mamacat]

I would like his show better if he tried to be a little less sarcastic. Does he want to be a comedian or a news reporter? I appreciate that he isn't another spokesman for the Republican National Committee, but I also would like a little more news with my sarcasm.

The attacks on people like O'Reilly mean nothing to me, since I find that Bill is totally irrelevant. I don't listen to or watch people who so enjoy spewing the propaganda of hate, except when I'm being paid to do so. Thus, Keith's attacks on Bill amount to little more than unnecessary reminders that some people are able to make a living out of lies. I fail to see how any thinking being could be entertained by O'Reilly for more than a minute or two. Bill damages his own reputation everytime he opens his mouth, by showing the world how ridiculous he is. It is inevitable that in a country of 330 million, one percent would find him entertaining, but the other 99% are free to ignore him, which is what I am happy to do. Everytime Keith mentions Bill's name, it makes it harder for me to ignore him.

[JaundicedEye]

Unfortunately, in a country that has twice sent George W. Bush to the White House, the percentage of people who find O'Reilly entertaining (and worse, truthful) is much larger than 1%. A lot of Americans actually get their "news" from O'Reilly, Hannity, Hume, etc. Olbermann is doing us all a valuable service when he exposes their lies, and i want him to keep it up.

[connorin]

America needs Fox and their kind to expose the lies of KO and his MSM cronies

[connorin]

You are right! We don't need BOR pushing for the establishment of things like Megan's law in every state and its enforcement or the enforcement of any other child protection law. Gosh, that Bill guy gets under my skin every single time he attacks, Nambla, and judges who don't sentence child abusers and molesters and...oh wait...that's why I like Bill, because he constantly goes after those guys! And yet no one here seems to give him any credit for that. Who do you support...the child or the abuser?

[Tyrione]

Nothing like a Mass Communications major [from Cornell--talk about an insult when Cornell is known for it's Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, etc.,] talking about Analysis.

I am so sick of these morons who aren't engineers, mathematicians, physicists, etc.., attempting to edumucate the public on The Laws of Probability & Statistics.

These dips**ts wouldn't know the difference between Median/Mean let alone the difference between Poisson's Distribution vs. Binomial Distribution.

Boring to you folks out there, but indispensible to Systems Engineering.

[itsme23]

Let me be very straight forward here....when EVERY OTHER "JOURNAILIST" WAS TOO DAMN AFRAID TO ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS WAR THAT HAS NEEDLESSLY WAISTED OUR BLOOD AND TREASURE....KEITH WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE GUMPTION TO ASK WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON AND WHY!!!!! You can say whatever you want...but remember this....if not for Keith Olberman and his insistance on getting the truth about a lot of important situations instead of the bullcrap everyone else is feeding to all the ignorant sheep who eat it right up.....then you wouldn't have even half of the media outlets out there telling you what is REALLY going on...EVER!!!!! He is owed a huge debt of gratitude in this nation..and as a VETERAN I say THANK YOU SIR...for every jack ass on this post who knows not of what they speak!!!! This war is not a partisian thing guys...this is REAL...REAL KIDS are over there losing thier lives EVERY DAY....we are going bancrupt as a result and if you "CARE" as much as you claim...then you had better say thanks Keith for keeping them honest!

[w&cheneysuck]

LOVE KEITH AND LOVE your comments! Thanks!

[connorin]

Apparently you were not watching TV or reading newspapers/magazines/the internet...

KO has done nothing more than echo the same sentiments you could find numerous other places

[linaya]

I only agree with Keith's statement if he's including himself. He's more than sexist lately, he's abusive and I have stopped watching his show completely. Most women I know have done the same.

[ForeignCommenter]

You'll have to be more specific than that if you're going to say he's sexist and abusive. When was he sexist and/or abusive? Which segments, what did he say and when and to whom? I know he's loud and silly and all that, but sexist and abusive? I admit I don't watch all the segments and only started watching it recently (hey, I happen to like sillyness :) ), don't really get where you saw that.

[connorin]

they keep a running tab of offensive remarks on womens, jews, african americans, latinos, etc over at www.olbermannwatch.com

[THISTLE]

I no longer watch him either. His attacks on Senator Clinton are as sick as the ones from
Matthews slobbering mouth. And the fact that he is now on his knees to St. Obama non-stop
are outrageous. I always wondered how he could stand sitting next to Matthews, now he has
shown us - he is exactly like Matthews.

[CynAnne]

... Actually, linaya, Keith's attitude has changed in the last few weeks, and he's returned closer to the Olbermann I remember (and love), and I'm back to watching him twice a night (whenever possible). I get a kick out of Keith and Rachel Maddows improvising as they discuss the 'hijinks' that neocons are foisting onto the American people on a daily basis..! ;) ...

[nighttimelady]

Keith is 'da bomb' !!

He makes news fun and I like that !

[rjean]

ohhhhhhhh yeah...keith is a real fun news guy......SARCASM OFF...

he is the biggest JERK JERK JERK walking....

one more partisan IGNORANT HACK on the left