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

[pas1]

I would like to know why Mr. Brokaw when speaking about the candidates referred to them as Barack Obama and Senator McCain. They are BOTH senators and deserving of the same respect and title.

[Choicematters]

Interesting. I'll be watching to see if he continues doing that. If so, I will and others should, call him on the carpet for it.

[vegangoddess]

you noticed that too! That's what used to tick me off in the primaries because Hillary most often referred to Senator Obama as "BaracK" and he NEVER called her Hillary, it was always Senator Clinton.

[TrooAmerican]

Funny that Brokeyaw can insult and criticize his coworkers, but yet has nothing but praise for the worst news channel in history (FOX) its come to my attention in recent years that Borkow is a FIXED NEWS Manchurian candidate. Hes a spy. hes been working as a Repugnant for years undercover.
Someone pour hot coffee in his lap.

[aznurse]

sometimes Mr. Brokaw sounds garbled when he talks and he sounds cranky.

[jingles32]

What, no cautionary words for the Joe S car borough, for Pat Bu chanan and his never ending race ist tirades? You also, apparently, had no problem with the MSM early on in the primary season, as they all danced to the never ending MSM mantra, the "HC as inevitable" drumbeat.

[IconoclasticYouth]

Keith and Chris's programs are more a response to the constant torrent of right wing media that has engulfed the papers, local news, and national news. People constantly complain about the "liberal" media when these two are for the most part, THE liberal media. Maybe one of the reasons why they have been so critical of the right is because... well, whose been in power for the last 8 years? What ideology has taken the court system by storm via over politicizing the judges in our justice system? I'll admit that Keith and Chris go overboard sometimes, but then again, they have shows based on commentary, not headline news. The very nature of commentary news programs leads to a more bias approach. (Just like their buddies at fox, who have nothing but commentary for a station) I for one am glad there are a couple more liberal commentators just to give the other side of our increasingly one sided media.

[Fight4USA8]

Mr. Brokaw,

My professional advise to you:

1. Keith Olbermann, is the most intelligent, knowledgeable and unbiased (including you) individuals in the MSM.

2. When you disagree with your colleagues, you don't do it PUBLICLY, you do it PRIVATELY.

3. At the moment you are sitting on Tim Russert's sit, so please try to respect his professionalism.

[morbie5]

Olbermann unbiased? Are you kidding? Olbermann is a hack compared to Brokaw.

[Lizziewho]

I would like to see Huff Post forward these posts--even the ones who disagree w/ what I see as the majority of responders. I don't know how to reach him but I want to echo these comments and others that we'd like to see some better in-depth interviews by him if he is going to sit in for the Meet the Press and do other interviews this election cycle. We want to see some decent reporting and not these fluff stories the press is so fond of. This country is in deep trouble and the press is largely to blame for sitting wily-nily by. Hurray & Thank God for Olbermann AND Mathews and a plague on the house of most of the rest of the press.

[brerol]

Most unbiased? That was good for a good laugh. But you were correct to refer to Tim Russert as professional. Russert was tough on all who came on his show. Olberman on the other hand simply hates conservatives. And he makes no bones about it. Much like Limbaugh and his rants against liberals. That is fine if that is what you want to hear. But if one is seeking an objective insight into whatever issue of the day one would certainly not get it from Olberman.

[ojim]

I do not know an unbiased host on TV. At least KO serves as a counter force to the right cancer that owns Faux News and has infected CNN.

[catchdis]

no, olberman doesn't "hate" conservatives any more than jon stewart hates them . . . however he probably does hate HYPOCRISY and calls it out vehemently. this is quite unlike limbaugh who is himself a hypocrit who dissembles to suit his narcissistic needs.

olberman not only has insight about the issues of the day, he cops to any journalistic mistakes he makes and has even made himself, on more than one occasion, the "worst person in the world."

[1dogs2]

Brokaw, whose own Republican bias has been evident to me for years, has turned into a fussy old hall-monitor pain in the butt.

[vegangoddess]

I hope he doesn't take over Russert's spot, he's too combative and pissy, not a good replacement. Andrea Mitchell is better. She's hard hitting but more sensible and thoughtful than Brokaw.

[raskolnikov72]

Andrea mitchell is about as hard hitting as a wet noodle ... she's weak

[Oldbuck]

Well at least Obiermann,,Matthews had something to say Brokaw seem to be on drugs or something he would not say anything maybe MSNBC needs to drop Brokaw and Joe Scarborough

[NTO08]

Matthews and Olbermann do go too far...their shows should be labeled as opinion pieces and not news programs...In Keith's View of Chris' View would be more fair titles for their shows...then they could vent and who would care....

Keith was a great voice in opposition to Bush until he began to sound like just some angry, crazy nutjob...Lord knows there is much to nail Bush on, but Keith's attacks were not even rational at times.
Chris has also lost it when talking about Hillary...completely crazed, ridiculous hate that lacked any coherence or logic.

[MattThorn]

Brokaw aside, don't you think at least a pretense of objectivity might have been warranted? I don't know. Maybe they serve as a balance. But, sort of off topic here: Was it me, or was Matthews either a bit drunk or severely sleep deprived? Not only was his hair a mess, he seemed to have trouble putting together a coherent sentence, and kept coming back to the word "compact" without adequately explaining just what he meant. Olbermann's metaphor mixing was pretty amusing.

[acharles]

If only they were as fair as Faux News. Gimme a break. If the right has a station, then we need a station. The media controls the message. If the the government controls the message, they control us.

[gossamer]

As for sleep deprived, I wouldn't doubt it. As for his hair; have you ever been to the Rockies in August? breeeeeeeeezzzzzzzyyyyyy

[SEQUOIABISON]

With the exception of Keith Olbermann, every other cable news commentator or reporter seems to me to be right wing biased?

CNN with Glenn Beck is indicative of the mind-set of cable news executives, ever since Ted Turner sold the network it has moved to the extreme right.

Without the Internet it would be difficult to get the real facts.

[FogBelter]

Mr Brokaw ... I have a question sir.

On September 5, 1983 you became the solo anchor of "NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw"

The following is from Wiki:

"In 1986, Judges Robert Bork and Antonin Scalia of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit concluded that the Fairness Doctrine did apply to teletext but that the FCC was not required to apply it.[6] In a 1987 case, Meredith Corp. v. FCC, two other judges on the same court declared that Congress did not mandate the doctrine and the FCC did not have to continue to enforce it."

"In August 1987, the FCC abolished the doctrine by a 4-0 vote, in the Syracuse Peace Council decision, which was upheld by the Appeals Court for the D.C. Circuit in February 1989."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine

Mr Brokaw, as the anchor of "NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw" during the time the fate of the Fairness Doctrine was being determined ... how much air time did you and NBC devote to the story?

You see ... Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann's brand of journalism is an offshoot of the Fairness Doctrine's demise ... if there is truly something wrong with their brand of journalism.

Obviously, I don't expect an answer.

[NotBeatenYet]

Well put. Tom Brokaw should have shared his opinion years ago, when it might have made a difference. He is complicit in the demise of television network journalism.

[acountryboy]

Brokaw is so 1960s. Could some one clue this guy in that millions are fed up with Big News Corps. and their one-sided, conservative, right wing, biased and prejudiced coverage. NBC needs to put this guy in charge of assigning locker numbers in the Big News office tower. I can't believe how transparent his GOP preferences have become. Just listen to his Olympics ravings, his Obama critiques, his McCain praises. I resent his attempts to intimidate the modern opinion broadcasters. His senior status does not excuse his unwarranted public criticisms of other opinion journalists.
T. B. Your version of proper news reporting is no longer dominant. Today people want true information. We do not want hidden agendas copied into news papers and teleprompters by sycophantic news gatherers. We want opinions, pro and con, by serious, intelligent, and extremely well informed persons. The day is gone where stylists of hair, clothes, and makeup are of prime importance.

[NTO08]

There is nothing to apologize for for being 60s...if it wasn't for the anchors of his generation, this country would have been one really f---ed up place...he, Rather, Cronkite, Sevareid, Howard K. Smith and Huntley and Brinkley, through amazing reporting skills, chronicled a time that was one of the nation's most traumatic.

[jingles32]

Have you actually read any of Mr. Cronkite's commentary recently on the state of "journalism" in America, particularly televised news? He finds it pathetic, a FAR cry from its "60's" and earlier heydays. READ his words!

Walter Cron kite: "The Sarnoffs, the Goldensons, the Paleys, particularly of this world, understood that there was a responsibility in running these networks and these stations. This second and third generations have come along and they've come into an entertainment environment entirely without any appreciation at all, I think, about any sense of responsibility."

The full interview: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/smoke/interviews/cronkite2.html

And Mr. Brokaw's "performance" on MTP last Sunday, his "questioning" of Ms. Pelosi was shameful and embarrassing; his rudeness and patronizing tone, his editorializing after each of her responses; his condescension and "schooling" of his guest unprofessional and unacceptable.

[suuzie]

Brokaw gave himself away the other day while interviewing some republican surrogates when he asked a follow-up question, "what are WE going to do".

[sl26]

And last night after Hillary's speech, he couldn't bring himself to say anything positive about it or her. The best he could say was "she did what was expected of her".....and he called Rham Emanuel's delegation the "ILLINOIS MAFIA".

[GeorgeKaplan]

These two are acting like children... it's that kind of year.

[lissak]

Everyone on MSNBC is acting a little strange. Seriously, do you think the altitude could be affecting them? Or could it be alcohol and altitude? I heard the delegates were warned about that very thing.

[GeorgeKaplan]

Tonight was not a love feast between Chis and Keith... Rachel and Pat seem to be at one anthers throat. It's really a little bizarre. Still worth watching...

[NTO08]

I predict all of them will be off the air soon...people are tired of bickering anchors and distorted, biased reporting, whether it is on the left or right...

[poliscibabe]

Whatever is going on - what the H--LL was MSNBC thinking putting them outside with a Train for pete's sake!!!!