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

[Filegirl]

Ugh. Why does this have to be an all or nothing proposition? YES, there was sexism in some of the media coverage, as WELL AS racism. It seems though, that people are either arguing that sexism was the only reason that Hillary failed to capture the nomination, or that sexism does not exist at all. Can't we get some nuanced reporting, that looks at the sexism in the media, but also looks at Hillary's failures as a candidate?

[sheikwil]

I wouldn't call her the worst person in the world, because she has to get in line behind those loser at Fox news, but I as a women do not agree that the media was being sexist against Hillary Clinton. She wasn't crying sexism when the media for an entire year was kissing her behind and calling her the front runner, the definate shoe in as the DNC nominee, then as soon as she was clearly losing, and a few people said something about her whinning, then the entire News media was sexist. Give me a break. Katie is way off on this one. However I do think that Kathie truly wasn't given a chance on the evening news because she is a women, but it just isn't so when it comes to Hillary. She lost fair and square so they need to stop crying because Senator Obama's team, outsmarted the team she had and was more organized that her team, that's all it was, period.

[CommittedDem]

Keith has got to be kidding! Kool-Aid!! Look who's talking! Wow! Keith has completely lost it. This is almost becoming sad to see a man lose his mind before our very eyes.

[Chavez08]

Hey! Way to throw wedge issues into the race.

Did Rove personally thank Huffpo for all the controversial coverage?

[Chavez08]

The feminists are playing into the hands of Roves' flying monkeys.

News Flash! How much power do you think you'll gain with McCain as president?

Progressives need unity, Olbermann is ON YOUR SIDE. Get behind Obama and pick-up your fight after November.

[carmazon]

What is most telling and depressing is that now that Keith Olbermann has reached ( or exceeded) the deranged biased, bombastic and misogynist levels of Bill O'Reilly, he is finally beating O'Reilly in the ratings. Both seem to have missed the gene for self-reflection,and that seems a killer ap for success in cable news. It seems to sell on both sides of the political spectrum.

[k6007]

Is it sexism if KO thinks bo is, genuinely the better candidate of the three?

[GLHorton]

Olbermann: You need to count to ten and look for the beam in your own eye. I've been a big fan for a long time, but you should listen when women tell you that you praise and blame people in terms that imply that courage and competence are masculine qualities and cowards and airheads are girlish. If you don't realize that you do this, have somebody you respect who does not have a monetary motivation for telling you what you want to hear go over your copy and point out examples of your sexism. Resist the temptation to self righteous defensive bluster: If you don't intend to insult women, stop doing it. If you do intend it, if it is part of your Alpha Male King of the Broadcast Hill persona, don't be surprised if women (and men who do respect women) tune you out.

[ErnestineBass]

Ummmm...EXACTLY WHEN did Hillary or Katie display either courage or competence in the run up to, and the subsequent invasion of, Iraq?

[SCG]

Ah... That doesn't count with these dimbots, they dismiss a war vote as a minor disagreement that voters should just overlook. Clintons have been wheeling out excuses and blame since Iowa.

[PaceSetter]

"Progressive" white women have been trained to throw their support behind progressive white men for their entire lives. They finally felt they had found a home in the Hillary campaign. For the first time in their lives, many enjoyed the personal identification with a candidate on a level other than race or class. Hillary's gender allowed them the thrill of shared experience and history. Hillary's defeat and her failure to clinch the nomination has placed many in deep mourning. As such, they are hyper-reactive to any felt slight against their candidate, as they have internalized her struggle and empathize with her plight.

In light of Hillary's defeat, many of Hillary's supporters look at the two remaining viable candidates and identify with the one with whom they share the most experiences. With JSMC III they may not share gender, but they share race and in many cases age and class. In order to "settle" upon Barack, they have to overcome the triple whammy of gender, race and age. Many will not be able to do it and blame sexist slights for their decision.

This is the first time for baby boomers that being a rich, smart, successful, super-soccer-mom isn't getting them through the door. It hurts as they remember all too well how seriously they lorded the "generation gap" over their parents and grand parents all their lives.

[neetsie37]

Bravo, GL.

[Heidfeld]

Ahhhhh, well said. Logical, objective, thoughtful. I can now turn off my computer and relax knowing that there are still some decent people out there in the world.

Well done and well said.

[skeller]

Olbermann jumped the shark on Hillary a long time ago. Maybe he's trying to impress his girlfriend. But if he thinks Couric's comments were outrageous--as opposed to being perhaps incorrect--he has totally lost it. "Worst Person in the World" used to mean something. No more. Hope you're happy with your ratings, Keith, your credibility's out the window.

[MaxxEliot]

His credibility was out the window a long time ago. This man has turned into a Bill O'Reilly for the left.
He should go back to be a sportscaster and leave the reporting to real reporters...and the commentary to fair minded people...none of whom will be found in the current "talent" pool of people at MSNBC.

[candycane]

Olbermann doesn't like it much when he is called a "Sports Guy" even though thats what he really is.

[luckyoldson]

I generally like Olbermann, but in this case he's way off base. The coverage of Hillary, and I'm a Democrat and like her and Obama, was most certainly tinged with sexism. Between the constant harping on her pant suits, her laugh, her voice her hair, and of course...her cleavage...I don't know what else one could call it.

And if you think there wasn't sexism with Hillary, take a look at the polls out today relating to Obama-McCain and white men and women.

McCain is way ahead with either group...and if you don't think that has anything to do with racism...you're living in a fantasy world.

[letsgetsmart]

I have always said that I will happily support which ever dem comes out on top but Keith, I have cut back on the number of times that I tune into your show and the Daily show because you spend too much time beating up on dems. Get back to focusing your eyes on the republicans who are our real enemies. It's not like there isn't enough going on with them to fill your program space. You say time and again that the media gives McCain the soft glove treatment. Well there you are. Something to fill that dem beating space with and you knew it all along.

[rimofheaven]

I like Katie, but really, her comments were off base. Media was at times very gracious to senator Clinton. Don't forget, after lying on three seperate occasions about her experience in Bosnia, it was not the media that blew the whistle, but a comedian. Out of four witnesses: Hillary, Chelsea, Cheryl Crow, and Sinbad - only one stood and spoke the truth. Then the media was compelled to come forward and question senator Clinton. I know some Hillary supporters will get angry, and I understand that. "Oh, here we go again with the sniper fire story." However, at some point we have to stop, consider senator Clinton's words, silence, actions, inactions, throughout this campaign, and all of the scandals that have plagued her throughout her political career, and then we have to at least consider the possibility that she just might responsible for her own demise.Just a thought.

[joe757]

Sexism has been a factor in the race; racism even more so, but I object to Ms. Couric, acting as if somehow she is not apart of the very media she's talking about. If sexism played as big a role as she's now asserting, the she FAILED as a journalist to point this out when it could have had an impact. Maybe this is why she has the lowest rating of any other news program.

[gnostic19]

why didn't she do some good reporting on the supposed sexism issue during the campaign, instead of ranting about it after the fact.

[flyrod]

I keep hearing about charges of sexism and sexist coverage of Hillary Clinton - but what specifically was sexist about it? Please explain what in the mainstream media was sexist coverage. Surely sexism, *as well as racism*, was a factor with some voters. But what was it about the coverage that was sexist? She may have received more negative coverage early on, but that doesn't constitute sexism.

[williamg]

Flyrod, be careful. You are bound to be called a sexist for asking questions.

[robXdion]

They're sexist because she lost. Criticizing a woman on the merits or disagreeing with one is sexist and shows you hate all women. Didn't you know this?

[politricking]

Katie Couric is only projecting her own failures here.

There was sexism at play but to blame that as the downfall of Hillary Clinton is quite an overshot (remember she's human and actually made quite a few tactica mistakes and gross errors of judgement herself).

Katie Courics attempts to turn a hard news program into something softer was a disaster and that has nothing to do with her being a woman. It's just that the CBS Evening News isn't the Today Show. Leave the hard news alone please, there's so little of it as it is. I recommend the McNeil Lehrher News Hour on PBS. Not flashy I know, but informative and actual analysis is used.

Katie Couric should have been taking the president to task instead of taking tours with him and trying to make everything lighter when everything around really needs to be scrutinized.

[nlightenup]

Oh, and I had so hoped that Olbermann would turn out to me more than just a somewhat better-looking version of Chris Matthews.

Sigh.

[ratcityreprobate]

Agree.

[ScandalousCandice]

Every time I think of Katie Couric opening her big yapper, I think of that episode on Will and Grace where Jack yells at his icon Patti LuPone. "SHUT UP PATTI LUPONE!!! That is pretty much what I would say to Katie Couric. Maybe using her name, maybe using LuPone's name. I can't decide which would be funnier.

The good news is that no one is watching her and she is almost out of a job. Her ratings are terrible. She is only on this tirade to get attention because no one is watching her and because no one gave her a shot to moderate a debate.

[suzyku]

Katie Couric is a poor excuse for a "journalist". She's a lightweight who does NOT belong on CBS news or any other news! She's a bubble gummer. I will not forget her "gushing" over bush in her interview, I use the term interview lightly. I hope this finally puts her so low in the ratings they finally have to remove her completely. She's rediculous.