Keith Olbermann Slams Page Six, Denies Interest In "Meet The Press" Job, Admits He's Not Qualified

Keith Olbermann preempted Page Six's attack on Thursday's "Countdown" by previewing the gossip column's report, which ran Friday morning, that both he and Chris Matthews were jockeying for the "Meet the Press" moderator's chair (the report alleges that Olbermann has threatened to quit if he doesn't get the job and that Matthews was overheard, at Russert's memorial service, plotting his pitch to NBC executives).

Olbermann smacked down the Post report, explaining that Matthews was talking to "a Pennsylvania acquaintance" about a speech he was to give in Gettysburg, that Matthews does not want to be on any list of possible Russert successors, and that Olbermann "[doesn't] even consider [himself] qualified" for the position.

Watch (full comments below):

Keith Olbermann's full response to the Page Six item:

As we mourned Tim Russert yesterday in Washington, a Pennsylvania acquaintance of Chris' came up to him and said, 'You should be on the list to succeed him.' Chris said he didn't want to be on any such list. He changed the topic immediately. He asked this Pennsylvania man, who is not his agent — no agent would be crass enough to bring up such a topic now or there — for advice on a speech Chris is to give at Gettysburg, PA next week. What he should say. How he should approach it. The speech.

As for myself, not only have I never threatened to quit if I don't get Tim Russert's job. Not only have I not vied for it. Not only has the subject not even come up between me and anybody who will be involved in this sad task. Not only did the Post make this up. Not only is the very subject of Tim Russert's job not appropriate now, as anyone with a shadow of a heart would understand, but I don't even consider myself qualified for it.

Comments

[MORPHYNE]

OBITUARIES

MSNBC
KEITH DOBERMANN, a talented television sportscaster turned self-proclaimed political commentator
EXPLODED yesterday during one of his daily televised rants.
Tortured by anger, frustration and by a very dark and stormy inferiority complex
Keith Dobermann would eat three packs of cigarettes a day
would drink nothing but premium octane gasoline
and would sleep only a few fully awake and bitter hours a day.
OBSESSED by the always towering TV ratings of his implacable nemesis
a kind and gentle man by the name of Bill O'Reilly, over on Fox Television
Mr. Dobermann could no longer cope with life, competition and struggle
and reached a boiling point known as instant unabomber combustion.
Keith Dobermann leaves behind a wife who left him one day before their wedding
and two grown-up children who would not speak to him
since the day he screamed out that he hates them to death
and that they should all go to Hell.

For details go to http://www.morphyne.com

[tzip]

Brokaw never stood up to anyone he is not an interviewer he was expert an not being controversial. He is a poor choice to take over. Moyers is into navel gazing more then posing hard questions.

Russert transformed the media. He may not have been great but he did great work at a time where questioning the status quo was rare. He was fair and trusted by anyone who had the guts to come on with him. He may not have always asked enough questions but he stuck with what he asked and demanded an answer.

They need an excellent journalist with the presence and self-assurance to stand up to anyone. I doubt if that is KO. He might be able to do it but he would not be trusted at this point by conservatives. Chris Matthews might be able to do it. They will need to look long and hard.

[elr50]

You know this country is in trouble when we go to a Comedy show to get news (Daily Show) and a "news" network to see comedy (actually I see nothing funny on Faux News).

[Truthmeter]

Ever since Chris Mathew's leg hairs stood up during an Obama speech, he lost any credibility to impartial, and we all know Keith Obermann is totally incapable of being impartial...

[kylie]

Olbermann would do well in the position, but he does not feel qualified to want/seek the position.

Maybe O'Reilly started the rumors or some other FOX hack.

Don't see Olbermann sucking up to get the job. He is up front with his views.

The media is just exploitating Russert's death, still.

[themodernleader]

Meet the Press shoud be chaired by a fiercly independent reporter who understands and abides by the principle of the media as framed within the Constitution and who fiercely defends any encroachment upon the Constitution including the freedom of the the free flow of facts, knowledge and ideas. Additionally, questions must always be framed within the framework of the Preamble, Constitution and Bill of Rights. Happy talk and character questions should be left to trash news-entertainment programs, which are in great plenty.

[LadyCat]

See Fox Noise for prime examples.

[curioustorquemada]

If KO lands the Russert chair the MTP format will need to change. 99% of the guests KO interviews agree with him. NBC isn't stupid........................... Well,

[ObserverinVancouver]

Whatever else Keith's strengths and weaknesses are he has proven that ridicule is an deadly weapon. Until he came along, I had despaired of anyone on the left trying it. Katrina van den Heuvel is smart, well-informed, heart in the right place, etc., but I never belly-laughed listening to her. Same for others to numerous to mention.

[bentenrai]

NetWeasel,
Moyers would be overqualified for Tim Russert's job. That guy is at a completely different level.

[KHAAANNN]

You just know what the top executives at NBC (Nothing But Conservatives) are thinking right now;
(Not MSNBC, that is another matter)

1) Is Ann Coulter available to host? No? DAMN!
2) Hey, how about Karl Rove? He's at FOX now? DAMN!
3) Well, can we get Scooter Libby? No? How about Mark Penn! Yeah! Thats the ticket! What? Back to Lobbying? DAMN! Both of them???? DAMN!
4) Well, we may have to put an actual JOURNALIST in that chair. Yeah, I know, it's not what Cheney wants, but what can we do? All the good mouthpieces have been snapped up by FOX. damnit.

[popey1234]

KEITH OLBERMANN...........................AMERICA'S CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST. WHEN YOU SPEND YOUR ENTIRE LIFE TRYING TO DESTROY EVERYONE THAT YOU DISAGREE WITH, YOU WILL MAKE SOME ENEMIE ALONG THE WAY

[HaloGuy]

Anyone who has the courage to fight the flood, get up there and tell it like it is - despite threat of retribution from powerful figures - earns a huge amount of respect from this citizen. I wish there were more like him in the MSM.

[tylerwest]

He's a showboater like Rev Wright and Al Sharpton. He'll say or do anything to get ratings. He's more like a mocumentary news show - not real, thoughtful or informative - pure satire. Too bad he didnt have the heart attack instead of Russert.

[NetWeasel]

What NBC Should Do...

Have the equivalent of MTP auditions...guest host everyone who has been mentioned as a possibility of permanent host.

Moyers, Brokaw, Maddow, Mitchell, Gregory, and yes, even Olbermann. And all the others. If they do well (or well enough) bring them back for round two. And then three. If the final two or three are good enough, they could alternate/rotate the job.

The "audition" part is not revealed to the outside world, though.

For the next six months, Meet The Press would be different than before, and no one would be sure of what would happen on each individual show. It could be brilliant; it could be a train wreck.

Think of the ratings. That's what NBC wants, right?

Also consider this part:

Potential Guest: I need to be on MTP this Sunday.
MTP Producers: Certainly..no problem.
PG: So who's hosting?
MTP: We don't know yet. Good luck on Sunday!

[NetWeasel]

Consider the promos...

This week on Meet the Press:

John McCain's Campaign Manager.
Barack Obama's Campaign Manager.
Interviewed by this week's Meet The Press Guest Host.
Find out who on this Sunday's Meet The Press.

[anon004]

Sounds like what they did on House this season. Without Hugh Laurie, I don't think they could pull it off!

[PhDiva]

I love Keith. I do think he's qualified. He would need to tone done some of his subjective strategies, but I think he would do a terrific job of honoring Russert's legacy. Also, I love Keith. Wait, what was I saying.

[Dannydel]

Hang on.....Nobody but NOBODY could do what Keith does. We need him right where he is, to help keep the bastards honest. Also, having spent 21 years in Australia, I can tell you that Keiths 'Rupert' impression is 'spot on mate!' ("AARRRRGHH!")

[whatsthatsound]

Owned!

[zizyphus]

I wish Keith Olbermann would get the MTP job. Who else would be any better?

[redveg]

Rachel!!!

[mathme]

THat would be great.

[Mattie]

Don't you need to be a journalist to get the job

[ObserverinVancouver]

Being opinionated and being a journalist are not mutually exclusive. Keith is a journalist. A sports reporter has to give his/her audience the full story of what happened in the game with complete and accurate stats. Complete factual reporting - a transferable skill set. Compare him sometime to Chris Matthews when they're on together. It's a joke to think of Matthews as a journalist.

[tylerwest]

NO... you dont have to have any previous experience for any jobs in our country. The fact that Obama is the democratic nominee makes that abundantly clear. Nowadays, being
likeable, being able to tell people what they want to hear ... is all that's necessary for any job. I never went to med school, but worked as a volunteer in a hospital and everyone liked me, and I just got the position of chief surgeon at Mass General in Boston.

[LadyCat]

That's what disqualifies Bill O and all at Fixed Noise.

[CindyKay]

Kick Some A S S Keith !