Olbermann Rips AP Reporter's Analysis Of Obama Speech (VIDEO)

In an unusually heated attack on a veteran political reporter by a cable news host, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann laced into the Associated Press's Charles Babington an hour after Barack Obama had concluded his speech in Denver on Thursday night.

With rare exception, nearly all of the top commentators and reporters on the three cable news networks had hailed Obama's speech as something new and powerful, and filled with specifics, and predicted it would have a positive effect on his chances vs. John McCain. This hallelujah chorus included conservatives such as Bill Kristol and Pat Buchanan and the longtime Republican David Gergen, as well as Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams. Buchanan called it the best and most important political convention speech he had ever heard, going back 48 years.

Keep reading

or

WATCH OLBERMANN'S CRITICISM:

Comments

[johnnyjust]

There's no question that Obama can read a speech.

But when he's off script it's painful. Porky Pig with a mouthful of peanut butter makes more sense.

[cluelessinSD]

hater

[lizr]

this guy RonFournier is a McCain supporter and does not acknowledge his conflict of interest.

Shameful beyond belief.

[Andman0121]

yyyyyyeah whatever you say conservative troll. ANYWAY, I thought the speech was very down to earth and presidential. He gets it.

[Spud777]

republican troll

[drspaceman]

Obama is painful to listen to without a script? John McCain can barely read from a teleprompter. And G.W. has been an embarrassment to watch for the last 8 years. His speaking style has been the butt of jokes on the late night talk shows continually. Leno's and Letterman's writers are going to miss Bush very much. So jj, get a clue.

[OhCmon]

It would be difficult to joke about Obama for them. Do you see what's happening to Babington???

He made a comment that went against the "mainstream" view of the speech, and he is getting blasted!

I guess Letterman and Conan will have sit in silence for fear of their careers. Don't go against the mainstream media, you will not be able to work in this country. Wow...

People can say anything they want until they say something Olberman doesn't agree with, watch out! His blood pressure has to be sky-high. I pray for his health.

[incorporealhaunt]

are you kidding me? what is it that you guys have against Olbermann? all he did was give his honest opinion about Babington's bogus analysis. you need to lay off Olbermann and focus on the true cancers to cable news like Hannity and O'Reilly.

[Mattie]

that's the problem he is no different than Hannity and O'Reilly, it's supposed to be news, not his honest opinion. His opinion isn't everyones. When he is doing his commentary, he can say what he wants, when he is anchoring a news program, his opinion isn't necessary, nor is it appropriate. He is a big talking head, I don't need his opinion, I need facts and I can form MY own conclusion. I don't need Keith or Oprah to tell me how to vote.

[teapartydude]

The AP is now the new FauxNews.

The CEO of that newswire is chummy w/Karl Rover.

Screw AP! Go w/McClatchey newspapers!

[ZimboChick]

Rock on Keith! Say to the haters....­repeat after me...."HI HATER" and wave wildly

[cricket]

i dont find it a scathing attack on babington. keith was quite calm. keith there are lot of people give stupid analyses, just they don't need your attention. just ignore them.

[Fleming13]

Hey people let's agree on one thing if we may. The guys on tv reporting and the guys in the press all have opinions they truly feel strongly about. Gone are the days of non biased reporting in the media. We now live in a world where personal opinion is ok to be expressed openly regardless to whom it may offend. We are great because of disagreements and opinions right everyone? I just personally have a hard time saying the last eight years were great for America. Bush did good things during his presidency but he made crucial errors also. The errors were so crucial they overshadow much of the good he has done. Think about this guy's, McCain voted with this man over 90% of the time as we all know now. What makes one beleive McCain doesn't share the same views of a president with the ability to make crucial errors as bush has done. I mean just saying you're different doesn't do it for me. We know the Palin selection was for the Hilary voters mainly, right? Let's once more agree on that point please if we may. I want something different don't you? Let's get past the analysis of non important issues like what reporters are saying and get down to what matters. No more of what we know is the same. Thank you, and God be with you all!

[saun8934]

Go KO you rock!!!!!

[carlsonloggie]

I like Keith Olbermann, but he got it wrong this time. Charles Babington's piece in the Washington Post does not read like KO says. For example, after mentioning that Obama touched lightly over many of the issues, giving few details, Babington says the following: "Even if Obama had talked for three hours, of course, he could not have detailed enough proposals to quiet all his critics." The article then quoted Arizona Governor Napolitano:

"'What he should not do is what he will be criticized for not doing: Give a detailed policy speech. This is not the place for that.' She said Republicans will criticize him no matter what. They will argue that his lofty speeches lack substance and details, she said, and a detailed speech that scrimps on soaring rhetoric will prove 'he has lost his gift. ...They will try to Catch-22 his speech,' Napolitano said."

And then Babington summed up the article this way: "Obama seemed to say, Bring it on, we're sticking to our theme: McCain equals Bush."

Babington's article seems awfully fair and reasonable to be an attack piece. Perhaps KO (and the rest of you) should actually read it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/28/AR2008082804342_pf.html

[fredfuller]

Most people do not want to hear the truth. That's why Obama has been vilified by McCain, a.k.a. McBush, and any conservative with a pulse. KO speaks the truth as much as possible, an act of blasphemy from the GOP point of view. Truth is the Bush administration has taken our country to the dark side of humanity and is proud of it. It will take Obama and many more like-minded presidents to right the wrong and shed light on us again. Reagan took us to the dark side, too, and it wasn't until Bill Clinton that light shown again in our country. Elect McCain and we will remain on the dark side. His administration will be the McBush administration with GW occupying the Lincoln suite and Chaney topping Palin. They are evil men, this Bush administration, and McCain will only perpetuate it. I am not being literal, but I am deadly serious.

[randyroofwalker]

Simply state - Keith Rocks!!!!!

[residentalien-hv]

and in who's pocket are you in? Rush's maybe???

[NonKoolAidDrinker]

Olbermann is awful. I can't understand how anyone can watch him. He is in the pocket of the left wing, thats for sure.

[residentalien-hv]

And in who's pocket might you be in?

[Jon Raymond - Huffpost Blogger]

and who's pocket might you be in?

[NonKoolAidDrinker]

Not the same pocket Olbermann is in. I'm sure his liberal masters call in every morning with the day's script. Let's see...Bash Bush, Bash McCain, Exalt Obama as the 2nd coming, Commercial, Bash Bush, Bash McCain, Exalt Obama as the 2nd coming, Commercial, Exalt Obama again as the 2nd coming, Bash Bush, Bash McCain. I think that covers it, don't you?

[S1m0n]

Pocket? The left wing doesn't have anything as bourgeois as pockets! We have lunchbuckets and toolboxes, not pockets.

[Mattie]

you're saying that there are no wealthy democrats, LOL funny!

[patmancando]

THe elitist of the left have plenty of pockets.

[lizr]

LOL- must be hard since your govt has been in the pocket of rt wing oil merchants for years, to look at the wave of change that is coming at you.

[Mattie]

TVNewser is reporting that MSNBC was in last place again. I used to watch, but Keith's ego and opinions became to much. They will remain in last place, people capable of independent thought won't tune in to watch Keith tell them how to think.

[dickiebow2003]

Look out - Obama has his own "John Edwards" scandal getting ready to break in the news anyday now. Reports are that Barack is going to have Keith Olbermann's baby - Chris Matthews will then demand a parternity test claiming that he is really the father!

[residentalien-hv]

Same as last time..., do you expect to be taken for an adult, or do you think this is funny?

[Tortork]

The Republicans do that every election year. The Country is in all kind of trouble, and Republicans are giving jokes and laughing it.

[JHancock]

Their ticket is a joke.

Sarah Palin - A moose in the headlights.

[americanalien]

I wonder whose Baby Sean Hannity is having. I heard it's the old man's but Mann Coulter said no way, I'm the baby's daddy.

[Midol]

I'm assuming that McSame doesn't have his own scandal for which he called his greatest failure. McSame was getting a marraige certificate with Cindy even before he divorced his first wife. Becareful about throwing rocks when you live in a glass house. For all of the democrats problems i.e. Clinton & Edwards, they are both still with their wives working it through. Not like Newt and McCain who divorced their wives at a time when both woman were still recovering from illnesses in the hospital. Maybe the GOP needs to be taught a thing or two about family values.

[Mattie]

you act like divorce is a rare thing, that only really bad people get divorced. I think it's over 50% now, and most of those divorces probably involve a third person. I myself will be married 27 years, but I don't think getting divorced makes you a bad person. I won't vote for McCain for many reason, but that sure isn't one of them. Where's the scandal there, unless you are condemning millions of other people, including many prominent Democrats.

[Kwaayesnama]

Do you remember when John McCain went to Maine to consult with Bubba Bush about his VP Choice? I would bet that Bubba told him to choose the brilliant Governor from Alaska. Why? Because that grantees a loss for McCain. Who would run in four years? JEBB BUSH?!?!

[JHancock]

There will never be another bush elected to the office of dog catcher let alone anything else. Even the rightwing nutjobs have been soured by juniors idiocy.

Sarah Palin - A moose in the headlights.

[BARRY08]

KEITH YOU ARE OUR HERO.....N­OT MCCAIN KIND OF HERO

A 'REAL' HERO

GOD BLESS YOU AND RACHEL, GOD BLESES AMERICA

[americanalien]

I agree 100%, Keith Olbermann is an American Hero. A real hero unlike John McSame who is milking his POW status for political gain. Keith always looks out for the average guy. He will not allow the right lunatic fringe to trample on our civil liberties. May the good Lord continue to bless him.

[The Humanitarian]

Olberman has the credibility and gravitas of a flea.

(...get the voice a little lower Keith, you might convince another of the mentally challenged that what you're saying is ....true.)

As for Rachel, she needs to Butch up a bit, don't ya think?

[knerd]

Explain, specifically, how voice tone and gender relate to the political opinion and analysis of the Associated Press?