Keith Olbermann Names Katie Couric "Worst Person In The World"

On Wednesday night's "Coundtown," Keith Olbermann blasted Couric for her comments on the sexist coverage of Hillary Clinton and her remark that NBC News' Lee Cowan should "find another line of work" if he couldn't remain objective about Barack Obama.

Olbermann called Couric's allegations of sexism "a bit Kool Aid-ish," charged Couric with misunderstanding Cowan's comment, and praised Cowan's objective reporting and his ability to separate the hype from the news.

"It is sad that Ms. Couric could not have emulated [Cowan] and separated the hype from the news in her own promulgation of the nonsense that Senator Clinton was a victim of pronounced sexism."

Related: Rachel Sklar reacts: "To sit there on MSNBC and say that it's nonsense is a bit rich, considering that some of the higher-profile episodes of embarrassing sexist-or-perceived-as-sexist commentary has come from that network." [ETP]

Comments

[Angelus2007]

While I don't agree with Couric, I think Hillary was treated fairly (I am a Hillary supporter), but calling someone who is speaking their mind the worst person in the world is a bit unfair. I don't like Olbermann, he is MSNBC's Bill O'Reilly. He has bashed Hillary for months (I never thought his comments or dislike of Hillary was sexist) so it is no surprise that bashed someone who supported Hillary. Couric is making her opininion known, let her, and be done with it.

Olbermann, you were a great sportscaster, but I don't care for your news. You burn your bridges so badly that you can't even do 1 episode of Sportscenter during the 25th renuion, while Craig Kilborn(better actor than sportscaster) is invited back. That just shows a lack of personal restraint, you are as irrelevant at Bill O'Reilly, you are entertainment for those who have the same opinions as you, just like those who have O'Reillys opinions like him.

[mirza]

Olbermann is a mixed bag--some things are on point-others are way off the mark---however, he spoke out against Bush before his approval rating cratered and was one of the few MSM voices that did.

[anon004]

I think Couric could identify with Clinton because neither of them did/does a competent job (Hillary ran a bad campaign and Couric is a bad anchor). Neither of them wants to take responsibility for their own failures, so they cry, "Sexism." There is real sexism in this society, but its importance is diminished by every imcompetent woman who uses it as a justification for her failures and to assuage her own ego. Betty Friedan must be spinning in her grave.

[Lemeritus]

I'm not a fan of Couric's. In fact, I never watch her newscast. I am a fan of Olbermann's; his show is akin to evening prayers. BUT! He's getting dangerously close to becoming a caricature of himself and his little bit of defensive bombast last night came perilously close to being self-serving noise. I doubt it was Lee Cowan's honor he sought to uphold, but his own.

[Docbcs]

I, too, am not a Couric fan, have seen her as a "news lightweight", but may have to reevaluate, in light of the fact that she took on an issue that many of us feel should be obvious. Sexism is the slur that remains unnamed, and therefore goes on ubiquitouly under the radar. Brava, Katie.

[robXdion]

Sexism is a slur that gets slung around (like racism) often without any verifiable proof and with the accuser often being a perpetrator too. See the sexist and female chauvinistic comments like: "testicular fortitude", "cajones", "vote for a woman", "I'm your girl", "It's time for a woman in the WH", "pick on a girl", etc.

[Meggie]

good job Keith. I'm sure that some of the things she listed as grievances against Hillary did happen out on the campaign trail. but, what women like Katie conveniently overlook is that those running for office, especially national office, DO get picked on, heckled, and harrassed. some of it is quite creative, too. but Katie and others who have ignored that this stuff goes on no matter who you are, and whine so loudly that in Hillary's case it was all only sexism, are setting women back another century. to quote Hillary quoting, "If you cant stand the heat, get out of the kitchen" I for one am truly sorry that the first woman who had a real shot at the White House was not stronger than Hillary, or at least did not whine about being picked on so much.

[sharonh]

For all the greed, corruption, bias, murder, false imprisonment, kidnap, torture; all the real news stories out there, Mr. Olbermann says Ms. Couric is the Worst Person in the World? He has never been, and never will be, a journalist and is, in fact, the demon in the press that we must fight, a propagandizer. Todays Worst Pretender to the Throne of Pop Journalism, KO.

[citadelgrrl05]

iti is satire get over yourself, at least he was the only one telling the truth when it mattered the most, yes he will even call at democrats, and that is the way it should be.

[sharonh]

Get over myself? What are you talking about? What is satire? People take this seriously. If you think he is a truthteller rather than a user of propangada that is being handed to him, you need to grow up.

[johnnygoodwud]

katie's next job, 'clean up on isle seven, katie, clean up on isle seven please.

[HDR]

No, she'll go away and pop up in about 9 months on the book circuit plugging her memoirs on how tough it was as a woman from cheerleading to the TODAY show (the major league of cheerleading), blah, blah , blah.

[1099]

She's going to be cleaning actual Islands? It's spelled "aisle". Why must the majority of people on this blog butcher the English language?

[Darthwave]

She should called out Cowan directly like that. I know she didn't mention his name but she left nothing to the imagination. Considering that guy's reporting on Obama was hardly biased it was probably a low blow for another reporter to do to another. This sexism charge is ridiculous. Obama had people out there with T shirts comparing him to a monkey and several of his campaign office's where vandalized with racist graffiti, but you don't hear him complaining about racism.

[Lemeritus]

"Obama had people out there with T shirts comparing him to a monkey..." And we renounce that, don't we? The T-shirt, the racism, the whole small and evil minded business of it.

But where's the outrage over the "Bros before Hos" T-shirt? Or the Hillary nutcrackers? Anyone? Someone?

Hillary Clinton lost because she ran a terrible campaign. But was sexism a factor for her just as racism is a factor for Obama? You bet! And I am daily amazed at how this issue (the issue, not the candidate) is dissed and dismissed here. And, ya know something else? (this is specifically for johnnygoodwud), if you've got a clean up on aisle seven, why don't you send the box boy to take care of it? or better yet, take care of it yourself!

[gocougs]

Couric should never have been given CBS's evening news. I can't take her seriously. Never could. She spent too much time on the morning show acting like a giddy 15 year old.

[robXdion]

Precisely. I thought I was the only one that saw that.

[1099]

You were. You're a brilliant human being for your keen analysis of morning tv.

[marymansour]

I so agree. She was hardly bearable on the Today Show.