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

[UrsaMajority]

I give props to Olbermann for being one of the first to call out fellow journalists for taking Bush press releases as "News" and running with them.

Yeah, he's a bit of a clown, sometimes, but it's not like I rely on him for all my news.

One point that should be made clear -- his criticism of Couric for mentioning sexist coverage of Clinton was purely an aside. As all the teaser comments leading up to that segment made clear, his focus was Couric's conclusion that Cowan admitted that he had succumbed to the lure of the Obama frenzy, when Cowan had stated only that he recognized the danger for all journalists covering the campaign and had made sure that he himself did not allow the seductive side of the campaign to slip into his coverage - and Couric had presented no evidence that his coverage indeed was biased.

[DesertZ]

Keith Olbermann has turned into the" Bill O" of the Left! MSNBC needs to give him a "time out".

[adamnation]

Give 'em hell KO!

[PrinceHal]

One thing about Keith: When he's wrong, he's way wrong, just like he's way right when he's right -- way righter than anybody else in TV news.

But it's his style to be a scold, and that's what he was, pure and simple, in venting outrage against Katie Couric. I listened hard to what he had to say about Katie and Lee Cowan (who?) and I honestly couldn't make head or tail out of what the Couric blast was all about. I was so aggravated by it, I yelled obscenities at the screen. That didn't work, as usual.

But Keith Olbermann, Hillary mania and all, remains the one real spokesman we have on the left-hand side of the page. And 95 percent of the time, he's a Godsend.

But sometimes he's just a pain in the ass who ought to think harder before he puts his first reactions out there with typhoon force. This was one such occasion. I'm expecting another overwrought outburst in tonight's promised "Special Comment." But who knows before you actually hear it? In short, Keith is great, but he ain't perfect.

[jerseywolf]

I'm probably to the left of Olbermann. I agree with some of his positions, but feel that he is often sanctimonious, obnoxious, and unhelpful to the cause. I stopped watching him a while ago. For a sane, progressive viewpoint, I go to Bill Moyers, Amy Goodman, Juan Gonzales, Democracy Now!, Free Speech Radio News, etc.

[obamajusrocks]

I am fast becoming a fan of Olbermann's. He has knack for getting into the heart of the matter in an incisive and humuorous way.

Keep it up Keith - esp exposing the BS when it hits the fan

[Johnnn]

Olbermann is the most boneheaded anything on TV. His worst-person schtick is garbage.

[stevietheman]

I guess the truth is painful, eh?

[mhoiles]

Good Lord! I used to think Olbermann was totally hot! Not anymore, this guy HATES chicks! What is is problem? .... never mind, I now understand - no gravitas. p

[boombox]

hates chicks? what about broads?

[Lemeritus]

Bingo!

[stevietheman]

No. He just hates chicks who lie. Anyone who lies, for that matter.

[FindlayDemocrat]

My Grandmother and I watch Countdown every night together. We love it! With Fox "News" and their hatred and depersonalization of Democrats, it's nice to have someone on our side for a change. BTW, my Grandmother thinks Hillary supporters' claims of extreme sexism have no merit whatsoever! She told me in no uncertain terms (as grandmothers do) "They're all just mad because Hillary lost!"

[sammy cole]

Aside from Couric and her Worst Person in the world status yesterday.......she is wrong wrong wrong. There was little sexism during the primaries. Hillary did not run her campaign as Woman for Women. She's never been a spokesperson or advocate ...for women, .......as far as I know. She doesn't bake cookies and she's not Tammy Wynet.....according to her. Go figure.

[sxm342]

I watched Olbermann for a few years and really enjoyed when it was Countdown followed by Scarborough Country. Ever since the primaries have started Olbermann has been insufferable and MSNBC has moved further to the left than Fox News has moved to the right.

[JeanPaulSatire]

Yes, MSNBC has moved farther to the left than Faux Noise moved to the right, but that's ONLY because there was no more room on the right for Faux Noise to move TO.

[JKZANG]

sxm342 - you expressed my feelings 100%. Chris Matthews and Keith have both been so sexist and so against Hillary I'm not watching their shows anymore. The best thing about NBC now is Brian Williams......at least he has remained unbiased! Isn't that the way news should be reported?

[ornovscot]

To the extent that Hillary Clinton's campaign has been affected by sexist tendencies in the media, as easily one could say that Barack Obama's campaign has been affected by racist tendencies in the media and in the Clinton campaign.


For someone (Senator Clinton) who comes from a wealthy family and for someone who has had educational and social benefits most persons never know in their lifetimes, I should say that Senator Clinton has been treated rather well, overall, and has enjoyed a plethora of advantages.


That she did not secure the nomination is more a reflection on how she has behaved and how her campaign has conducted itself during the past several months.


Had she enjoyed more support, her campaign would not have the debt it has.

[olivia]

Keith spoke out with the truth when he was, literally, the ONLY ONE with the courage to do it.

[AmazingChicken]

Right on O. I think it's funny there's a sudden 'backlash' at KO on this. No, really. It shows people are afraid....very afraid.....BWAAAHHAAAHAAAAAAA....... Also, noted KOs non-dramatic inflection when announcing that she was 'the worst person in the world.' I don't think he liked doing it, do you? Balls on him for doing the right thing, and shame on Katie for not researching her comments better before airing them.

[akennedy]

I agree

[wutzhappn]

The only one? With the exception of all the other biased, in-the-tank-for Obama broadcasters on CNN and MSNBC....

[Woodn88s]

Keith may get a little too enthusiastic at time, but I for one give him his props
He's the only person in the media who has balls enough to constantly point out the total Bull S**t that constantly spews from anything Rupert Murdochs wallet touches.
I pray for the day when Fox and every other news network is held accountable for what they feed the population.
I for one am tired of having to wade through the BS to find the truth...................A good start though is to do what I have done. Anything.................and I do mean anything that has the word FOX attached to it is turned off immediately in my house.

[KOisGod]

You won't find the truth on that hole in your wall called a TEE VEE.

You'll find it here, and in books.

[alltwisty]

I'm actually not so sure about here.

[Quilter]

Hillary seemed to bask in sexism and sexist language when it suited her...She was the one who championed being most able to take the heat in the kitchen...She was the one who even threw the kitchen sink! All the while standing stood strong with testicular fortitude!

[littlepuffycloud]

I agree Couric's remark about Lee Cowan was stupid. Anyone that watched him knows he was impartial and I never heard him say anything negative or sexist about Senator Clinton. Why didn't she jump on Chris Matthews instead of Cowan? Couric is such a lightweight. Her 'anchoring' CBS news is in the tank; she should go back to morning banter where she belongs.

[Troubledgoodangel]

KATIE COURIC SEEMS A NICE PERSON TO ME!

[AMJordan]

So?