Tom Brokaw: Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann Have "Gone Too Far"

Tom Brokaw said Sunday at a panel in Denver that MSNBC hosts Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann have "gone too far" in their campaign reporting.

At the discussion, sponsored by the Joan Shorenstein Center on Press, Politics, and Public Policy, Brokaw chided his colleagues:

"I think Keith has gone too far. I think Chris has gone too far," the veteran NBC newsman said at a forum sponsored by Harvard's Shorenstein press center. But Brokaw said that they are "commentators" and "not the only voices" on MSNBC and that viewers could sort it out.

In June, Brokaw slammed the press drumbeat for Hillary Clinton's exit from the Democratic primary, calling it "inappropriate" and "commentary disguised as reporting." Also in June, Brokaw scolded Olbermann on air for suggesting that Clinton was attempting to "shoehorn" her way into the press coverage, saying, "I think that's unfair, Keith."

Comments

[moralmajority]

I am a huge MSNBC fan I've been watching it since 2001 or so, I also watch Fox News, I watch fox news because I am always interested in what the other side is thinking I watch everything from those 3 idiots at fox and friends to Britt Hume show.....
MSNBC has 3 Idiots on in the morning as well.
I guess they figure people in the morning are somehow stupider?
Let's think about who watches TV in the morning and you will come to the conclusion that both of these shows think someone is stupid.
I respect Matthews and believe that he is probably the most moderate of all the people @ MSNBC, he asks fair questions of the right and the left, Hardball is probably my favorite now.
I also Like Chris Wallace from fox and believe he is also moderate.
I watch TIVO whatever Olbermann I enjoy is opinion on everything from BUSH to current events to all the funny stuff in-between
I simultaneously watch Bill as well. While I don't really like the self-ritch­ous-pompou­s-kook I do like to see him dig a deeper hole for himself.
I guess what I'm trying to say is for every black there is a white for every up there is a down, for every ying there is a yang.
Watching fox news does not mean I believe in everything they say as
Watching MSNBC does not mean I agree with everything they say

[RJII]

Retire Brokav.

The time of soft questions and soft answers by network new stations are gone.

Your weak unique coverage style allowed politicians to give bs answers, lie and steer us from the truth for decades. Your lme cover of Bush and Iraq war proves my case. Cable news is hard hitting, get over it old man.

[2Nice]

You know what? I'm just about SICK & TIRED of the games played in the name of politics. I dont usually do this but I cant take anymore. Firing Matthews and Olberman? Give me a break! As if O'Reily did a fantastic job of being objective, trying to be an unbiased journalist! I know that's Fox, so lets turn our attention to MSNBC. Lets talk about Joe "Scare"borough. I absolutely will not watch MSNBC because of his face and his sidekicks! He is so for McCain that he even tried to boost H Clinton during the primaries just to bash Obama! And the co-host? Does she EVEN have an opinion? She simply mimicks everything Joe believes. Do I need to continue? Lets take about Pat Buchanan! "Leave her (Palin) alone!" Why in the world would we need to leave her alone? She runs her mouth about things she knows NOTHING about and then cries sexism to hide behind. Can you say REVERSE SEXISM? The Re'thug"licans use that as a cover to allow false attacks on Obama. Somebody please tell me you can see what is happening here. Either someone just got paid to get this two guys off the air or the ones doing the firing need to be fired. What happened to free speech? Oh, Im sorry. Money trumphs that. I forgot. And to the person who said America deserves what they get if we let more republican nitwits in office, I could not have said it better.

[1-4TRUTH]

Who's bidding is Tom Brokaw doing? This question truely must be asked... Why does a captain of mainstream (reporting ?) open a door for those whom attack and attempt to silence the Truth on a regular basis? I imagine that the sorts of Murdoch and Rove are well pleased with Brokaw's initiative.
With so much on the line, in this particular place in time, I can't help but to ask why?... If Brokaw's motivation was honest... Why Olbermann and not also the O'Reillys and Hannitys of his profession?

[frenchbulldog]

Brokaw is neither interesting or objective. Gregory follows in his footsteps as boring and biased.

Keith is always on point, constantly learns, meets his critics head on and asks tough questions. He also is helping the ratings.

So who gets increased visiblity? Brokaw and Gregory.

Write [e-mail] and ask why. I've also suggested that Keith be named as the permanent chair of Meet the Press. The way things are going, Brokaw is paving the way for Gregory - this would be a disaster!

[neurologymatters]

Tom Brokaw is a journalist, and is not supposed to show his preference for either party. Mr. Brokaw is no longer following those high standards and needs to watch his shows for the blatant bias. It was obvious when Mr. Brokaw was in charge of NBC Nightly News his disdain for President Clinton and Senator Clinton. When Senator Biden was on Meet the Press, Tom Brokaw was rude. Senator Biden handled the uncalled for statements graciously. One case was Mr. Brokaw's statement Senator Biden had been public about his religion. Senator Biden corrected Brokaw he had kept it a private matter, yet still answered the questions from Brokaw.

MSNBC needs to step up to the plate with real journalists who care about the important issues that both parties should be addressing. If the parties don't, call them on it. If you can't do your job, resign.

[annieR]

Tom Brokaw has gone too far. Immediately following Obama's acceptance speech, Brokaw's first comment was to call the people in the stadium "besotted." No one has called him on it. Brokaw is right-leaning (look at his treatment of Nancy Pelosi on recent "Meet the Press," contradicting her with no opportunity for rebuttal.) He says Democrats have to take it easy on John McCain. I get queasy when I think of Brokaw moderating one of the presidential debates. He will not be fair. He thinks he and John McCain are icons. I have a newsflash for hero worshippers. John McCain is alive, and my husband is dead of an Agent Orange disease.

[WAY2HOT]

Im a fox viewer but i love seeing olberman stick his foot in his mouth. He finally makes his own show, the worst of the show??

He's been fired from Fox News, ESPN, and now the political side of NBC. What's next??

Instead of whining about security i guess he has something new to whine about now.

I agree with the other poster who said that Olberman is in love with Olberman.... That's so true and so obvious.

[scinla]

He'll find a home or be kept on at NBC because they've made the decision to back the DNC. Therefore telling the world that they are no longer a news organization. They have a small but loyal viewership and the execs must think they're making enough money to survive. Soooo many people are fed up with this media they're jumping ship to other sources.

My favorite is pushDC.com because I pay them to deliver my opinions to my senators, congress, etc. and it's cheap. This site (HP) is another site that helps get the word out. I just can't help to think that no one is listening in Washington anymore. If you can't trust NBC, we really have problems. I also think CBS, CNN & ABC are the DNC tank. That leaves the RNC only FOX and talk radio.
That's bad for our country

SCINLA

[KarenJW]

Tom Brokaw needs to shut his frickin' mouth. He is in the tank for the Re"thug"licans and everything is fine in his demented, evil mind until someone speaks the TRUTH about his brainwashed party! America deserves just what it gets if we Americans do not take a stand and deliver ourselves from this curse of the republican government!

[Louis462]

Right on KarenJW! When does this old...Brokejaw retire and who appointed him moderator of the world?

[LeFier]

I'm a 60 year old man, who may be called a "political junkie". I remember sitting with the folks as a kid during the 1960 political season, and that's how I became interested. Through the years I have seen the "power elite" take control of each election process and control it to their own ends. You must realize that this is what is happening at the present time. The only voice that will be able to speak is Fox, with their bias and misconceptions. This is what the powers want, and that is why John McCain will be the next president. Right wing bias will sustain on Fox during this political time because that is what the "power elite" want. I have seen this far to many times. Tom Brokow is a tool, and that's why I shall now watch PBS, Cspan, or the BBC. I am so sad this is happening again.

[JR49]

MSNBC with Gregory and Brokaw is becoming McDrill cheerleader...

[vgirl1]

Tom Brokow has some nerve criticizing Matthews and Olbermann and then offering a pandering response to Sarah Palin's acceptance speech. Palin's speech was obviously filled with lies and half truths that any reporter or layman could easily discover /follow-up on on the internet . Moreover, she was condescending to significant portions of the electorate (particularly those community organizers who spend countless hours at low pay or as volunteers to help other Americans get closer to the American dream). Here are but a few of tPalin's lies/ half truths:

Against the The Bridge to No Where (Only after Washington canned the project but even then Palin didn't give back the money already given to Alaska for the Bridge)

Shunned Earmarks (actually she pushed for and got $27M of such earmarks while mayor of Wasilla)

Selling the former Govenor's Plane on e-bay (she actually sold it to one of her supporters through a broker at a loss of about $.6M to the state ).

Yet Tom Brokaw called her speech winning and engaging. Is this independent and objective when one knows the facts are blatantly wrong. If Mr. Brokaw did not know it then, he knows it now. Yet he has not taken back his original praise of the speech.

I suggest Mr. Brokaw has gone too far and, indeed, has even crossed the line of complicity.

[kj11]

Agreed. On Meet the Press (Aug 31) Gov Pawlenty said Palin had more experience than Obama---he completely ignored his work as a state senator---and Brokaw did not correct him.

Palin's speech was full of distortion.

Let's face it---this is a takeover of the media.

Goodbye free press...it's off to join the circus.

[KarenJW]

What do we expect from the re"thug"lican freaks?

[Angela Chen Shui]

and Brokaw did not correct him. "

Yep! I noticed that too.

Most MSM gingerly ask tough questions and do not insist that questions are answered directly. Spewing talking points is taken too many times as responses to questions and not called for what it is: distraction and lying.

Thank God for Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow and most times, Chris Matthews although Chris apologised earlier for insisting that Repub surrogate answer his questions when she evaded doing so three times.

[JR49]

Right Wingnuts starting to win. Today idiot Gregory pronounced McDrill the winner of first presidential debate...I am disgusted by MSNBC now.

[rblackbird]

These two are fools. Matthews confessed on his program that he had had to stop drinking, but he does not seem to have dealt well with his underlying emotional problems. His explosive anger and screaming suggest that he is headed for a breakdown. Matthews, meanwhile, disgusts Olbermann, and the latter tries to cover up some of Matthews gaffs. However, his ego has overcome his own judgement. Trying to keep Brokaw and Murphy out shows how threatened he is by anyone who can express a different opinion or by anyone, such as Brokaw, who has the professional standing to criticize him for his own vicious and abysmal commentary.

[KarenJW]

He is a professional because he is a re"thug"li­can???????­??????? Then that makes both of you idiots!

[piper1233]

MSNBC needs to revisit Tommy No Tunes contract. Why is it that all you have to have is a sour face, grey hair, and a mellow low tone voice to be ordained a serious front line newsman. This Clown needs to step back. If it wasn't for Olbermann, Channel 23 would be erased from my remote. I can take or leave Chris Matthews, but Tommy could walk by me in the streets without inspiring a second glance out of curiousity.

[KarenJW]

HEAR,HEAR!

[piper1233]

I've learned one thing without watching much of tommy bad tunes. He can't polish the shoes of Tim Russert. I've heard his name prominently mention forever, thats right I'm not a big news person. This guy has absolutely no news objectivity, it is clear where his sympathy lies the minute he opens his month. Another empty suit who has built up a good reputation.

[KarenJW]

Brokaw is colorless, baised and boring and his voice is soporific.­..........­...ZZZZZZZ­ZZZZZZZZZZ­ZZZZZZ.