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

[wedgie]

Keith hits the nail right in the head, yet again.

YOU ROCK KEITH!

**

[Busterdawg]

Well, I gotta agree with Keith on this one, he certainly isn't qualified for MTP.

He's not really qualified for his current job. But maybe that's MSNBC's fault. If they would quit calling Countdown a "news show" and be honest about what it really is then Olbermann would be qualified for it. It's the "Keith Olbermann's Left Wing Political Opinion Show with Assorted Like Minded Sycophants".

[Thurber]

KO is the only great journalist left on American TV, in my opinion. Yeah he's often over the top, yeah he comes off a bit self-righteous. Those are all problems that have slowed what would have been a meteoric to a gradual rise to the top. That doesn't change the fact that the truth always wins, it just takes a bit longer. MTP should be so lucky, but KO, being a man of honor, would never seek, possibly not even accept that job under these circumstances.

That said I can't think of a single other journalist with the intellect or courage that Keith displays on any given night of the week.

[Busterdawg]

Olbermann is not a journalist. He is merely a commentator on the news, just like Bill O'Reilly.

He gives his opinion about political news stories. It is not journalism by any stretch. It's info- tainment.

[truthynesslover]

And faux news just figured out saddan DIDNT attack us on 9/11?

[Trill]

At our house, WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE KEITH OLBERMANN. Go Keith!

[LadyCat]

Ditto here Trill. Every night, we park in front of the tv with or without dinner to watch him.

[lincat]

Even though Keith can be self righteous and ridiculous in his commentaries; ( I wish he would stop, he would be much more effective) we need him what with Fox News all these years and their garbage. Now they've added Karl Rove and Lanny Davis to their cast. Countdown helped me a lot during the primaries; it was the only news shows I would watch because the whole primary process was stressful and It gave me some comfort. Although I will have to say that this show along with the others kept the story going even though Obama had clinched the nomination months ago.

[Witchitalineman]

"ridiculous in his commentaries..." I think not! Keith's right on target, thank you very much.

[kasinca]

Keith Olbermann may give opinions but he also has well supported news stories without the usual reichwingnuts screaming to drown out any opinion that doesn't support their crazy talking points. When Keith Olbermann gives his Special Comments, he is expressing what the majority of Americans feal about the thugs in the White House.

[Grulg]

Most Qualified? Tom Brokaw, of course. Longterm solution? How about Andrea Mitchell?

[pesfb]

Ugh! Ick!

[rucognizant]

Aaron Brown!

[strifeknot]

If replacing a mediocrity with yet another one is your idea of a suitable way to fill the chair, then Brokaw is certainly qualified.

[TAC]

"Most Qualified? Tom Brokaw, of course. Longterm solution? How about Andrea Mitchell?"

Is it only me and The Simpsons who notice how frequently drunk Tom is?

Andrea Mitchell? To quote another, "Ugh! Ick!"

[americanalien]

Keith Olbermann is a National Hero. He has more backbone than the entire Democratic Congress put together who just capitulated on the telecoms immunity bill. Keith never shy away from telling the truth even when it is most unpopular to do so. He is a fighter for average Americans and a savior of our constitution and civil liberties. Our democracy could not survive without him especially after the beating it took from the criminal Bush Regime. Those people criticizing Keith are simply jealous of him and his newfound stardom. The New York Post is probably the least credible newspaper in the world. If anything their slander upon my hero is a plus as no one will even bother to take seriously the excrement they serve up as journalism. The Post is the only looser in this. My hero Keith has grown significantly in stature.

Go Keith!! Keep on giving 'em hell!

[Busterdawg]

Olbermann is a National Hero? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Dots a gud von.

[Witchitalineman]

Busterdawg: HAHAHAHA. Go Keith!!!

[wedgie]

YES! He's a hero at our house! ABSOLUTELY!

Thanks, Keith!

**

[BarryChamplain]

Best candidate for MTP host (not necessarily D.C. Bureau Chief, although that's an interesting thought but not a necessity):

Bill Moyers.



Credibility, name recognition, gravitas, encyclopedic knowledge, BS Alarm in place.


(GE would never have it. And duck, because here come de trolls... :-)

[castlerider]

It's ridiculous that so many would think that Keith would vy for the job at MTP.

First of all, it's a hugely thankless position to be in.... Tim Russert easily and happily did the work of half a dozen people. Who in the world is going to step up and take that gorilla over... Nobody. And we all know it.
NBC needs to start from scratch, do its best to maintain Tim's rigorously high standard, and get it together and done every week. Huge, monstrously large shoes to fill.
Keith's fine where he is now. Why would he want to step in front of such a freight train as take over such a demanding post? He'd be out of his mind, and anyone who's seen him can tell he's much smarter then that.
That's why it was so idiotic for anyone to make such a claim. They haven't really watched him, or respected his well-deserved success.

.

[irv]

nbc will never ever allow an outsider to be the moderator of mtp. they need to control the info. coming out of that program & slant the questions to influence the public.

'o

[thecanadian]

Thank Goodness we have Keith - telling it like it is!

[Witchitalineman]

Go Keith!

[dezzertguy]

While I agree he is not qualified for the job, I do not beleive for a moment that he would not vie for it at any given time. Oblermann is the poster for ego. In his mind he can do anything and since his fans so warmly compliment him in his current work, he would feel enboldened to take on new tasks. I just wish these kind of guys would just tell it like it is.

[Witchitalineman]

Keith tells it like it is every night. Have you watched?

[dezzertguy]

I have a few times, and seen his work here. And true, he is a commentator not a newsperson but just seems he is so personal and nasty. I like facts over emotion.

[ProfessorDuh]

Nonsense. You have to have an ego to stand up to the fascist corporate-government propaganda axis in this country, and a lot of courage. Olbermann does tell it precisely "like it is." That's why he bothers you so much.

[castlerider]

Aww, you just feel bad because obviously the issues you have believd in have been proven wrong, and Keith has been frontline and center about putting so many wrong-headed people in their place.
It's not personal. Its not even business. He's just been telling the truth.
People are furious and absolutely will not put up with following a political agenda that lies.
It's a healthy change going through our society that really needs to happen. People should get a clue.
All pundits have an ego. Some are just more transparent, and more correct then others. That's why I like Keith. I believe it when he says that he wouldn't consider himself qualified, which does take some humility. Here, he'd rather tell the truth then ride his ego. More power to 'im.

[BarryChamplain]

So dezzertguy, you're saying that when KO says he's not "vying for" the job... he's LYING?

And why are you more credible than he is? Have we had the chance to evaluate your persona, every night?




KO is showbiz; two notches beyond Straight Newsman. Jon Stewart is a ribald and snarky COMEDIAN.

Meaning, it took two guys who are not Straight Newsmen to tell America what the News is.

Some might feel that's inappropriate. I say, whatever gets the job done.

[zona9]

Olbermann is so full of it. Of course he was jockying for the job. What he's doing on the tape is 1. Pretending to not want the job to blunt the fallout when he doesn't get it(and he won't. ever)2. Appear to be humble*cough*in the wake of the humiliation of not getting it and 3. To get his idiot fans(see DailyKoz)to loudly lobby in his favor for the job. Literally hours after Russert had died, DK had posted numerous disgusting diaries dancing on Russert's grave because they hated him and the fact he was fair to both Dem. and Repub. and because they were downright giddy over the prospect of Olbermann getting the gig. If anyone actually doubts how transparent Olbermann's bs is in this clip and really thinks he isn't dying for the job, go read the comments at DK that Olbermann made. He was actually trolling the comments at DK hours after Russert's death. Who does that? His so called dear friend has suddenly died and Keith is running home and reading what the Koskids are saying about him? Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, Keith only very gently tells the kids to stop trashing Russert. Why? Because Keith loved it. Seriously go over to DK and search the comments for Keith and you'll see his first instinct after Russert's death was to run home and read the comments at DK.

[edwcorey]

Oh, you must be the homunculus who lives inside Olbermann's brain and not only knows what he's thinking but tells him what to think and has just taken the opportunity to enlighten us. Thanks. How much does the job pay?

[SaltySaltillo]

Ah... How does your pop-psych description of the motives for Olber's behavior make him any different from any other human being - we all have egos, we all aspire to achive our best, and we all occasionally over reach and are humbled by our failures when we do so.

Further, the DailyKos - Olberman connection is ridiculous. If I recall, Olberman was on TV for about 4 hours straight on the day TR died. All regular programming on MSNBC was preempted that night. Second, I wonder why you have been trolling DailyKos if you hat it and the "idiot fans" who troll there so much?

[StephenJK]

I nominate Lester Holt, Tavis Smiley or Andrea Mitchell. My favorite at this point would be Mitchell.

[teddyquin]

I agree with your choices --and add a few posibilities, George Will,, David Gergen,, Gwen ifill, and Judy Woodruff?? It s very hard to think of anyone that can fill Russert's Chair.

[Forest]

MSNBC needs a reasoned voice, not more loud-mouth posturing and shouting as with Chris Mathews and Keith Olberman. The tide is turning and LOUD as in Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity, Rove, Noonan, Savage, Mathews and Olberman, is same ol', same ol'. How 'bout Phil Donahue?

[Uberbah]

I see you specialize in false equivilancy. If you aren't mad about the Bush Administrations incompetent fascism (Olbermann's specialty) then somethings wrong with you. I would rather have someone passionate and *right* than able to speak about stuff in a Very Serious Voice and be completely *wrong*: Cheney, Russert, Broder.

[irkthesmirk]

Phil Donahue would be an excellent choice! Much better than most of the talking heads listed in this thread. The only other JOURNALIST that I see mentioned is Bill Moyers. The rest of these people are all Washingtom Insiders who will, eventually, suffer the same fate of Tim Russert and Bob Woodward. That is, to maintain access to the power brokers in Washington, you have to provide them with a venue to spin the facts, even if it is in the form of seemingly "tough" questions. If NBC wants to consider a woman, I could definitely support Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!, another true journalist who isn't afraid to hold politicians feet to the fire.

[Deaninphilly]

agree completely. msnbc thought about ratings in the short term forgetting how many of these new voters won't be watching them again while pissing off their current viewers

[vocalist]

Gwen, Lester, Phil ot Judy.

[Sportswoman]

For the genius who used the oxymoron"cowardly liberal," let me point out that liberal, first of all, is a misused antonym of c onservative, It should be Progressive. Either one wants things to stay the course or move forward into the future. Who's scared now?

[JBoy]

How is "cowardly liberal" is an oxymoron? Here's a good "progressive" idea...how about shrinking government & entitlement programs, and "progressively" run away from the socialist trends in our government!

[JBoy]

So, "Progressives" want change, right? How about changing the trend of growing government & entitlement programs. Let's try shrinking government so that there's less regulation of our freedom.

[MemphisBuffalo]

I think ALF would be great.