Keith Olbermann Apologizes For RNC's Graphic 9/11 Tribute (VIDEO)

A visibly upset Keith Olbermann apologized to viewers Thursday night for the graphic 9/11 tribute played in the lead-up to John McCain's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention.

Olbermann said of the video:

"If at this late date, any television network had, of its own accord, shown that much video tape and that much graphic video tape of 9/11...it, we, would be rightly eviscerated at all quarters, perhaps by the Republican Party itself, for exploiting the memories of the dead, and perhaps even for trying to evoke that pain again. If you reacted to that video tape the way I did, I apologize. It is a subject of great pain, for many of us still, and it was probably not appropriate to be shown."

Watch Olbermann's reaction:

The graphic video in question (WARNING: MAY BE DIFFICULT TO WATCH):

Comments

[RabidRightRebel]

FEAR MONGERING IS EVEN BETTTER THAN HATE MONGERING!

All Republicans do anymore is spew hatred and sow the seeds of fear. They should be ashamed but they have no shame.

PS: Olbermann needs to tone down the theatrics as well.

[Appalled]

God bless you, Keith.

I feel exploited and used for having seen that video.

[ksjohnso]

Exploiting fear without concern for how it affects people is what the RNC is good at. Otherwise they would not stand a chance in hell

[dagiffy]

Fear-mongering was invented by the Democrats, don't ever forget that. It's juts that the Republicans can do anything the Democrats can do, only better.

[flydoghead]

I guess this answers the question, "How low will they go ? "

[dagiffy]

well, they went low enough to let those terrorists in this country, let them set up camp, let them train, let the economic go to hell and finally they left office with fully trained Alqaida cells on the East coast and an economy in total free-fall.

Oh wait, that was the last Democratic administration under Bill. Let me correct that...

well, they went low enough to have the middle east hate us enough to take our embassy hostage in Iran, and that we had what's known as Stagflation in this country. That's when we have rampant double digit unemployment at the same time as having rampant double digit inflation. That's how low they'll go.

Oh wait, that was the PREVIOUS Democratic administration, belonging to Carter.

Electing Obama will be the second term of Carter, we'll have the worst of Clinton and the worst of Carter. If you think Bush struggled with what Clinton left us, think how bad Gore would have done. You don't want someone as green as Obama in office. It's scary enough that he's one heartbeat away right now.

Just say NO! Elect McCain, the better of two bad choices!

[glesslib]

Along with Keith, I think that most of us know that 9/11 and the few months after it were the high point of Republican politics over the past eight years. After that, everything went down hill into war, loss of constitutional rights, and unending deficits. Of course they want us to remember 9/11...and forget everything since.

[blondbrain]

A totally useless war: Trillions of dollars.
American households in foreclosure: Millions of dollars
Fueling up a six-cylinder car: $60.00
Mccain's speech: zero dollars.

Hypocritical Republicans losing this election: PRICELESS!!!

OBAMA/BIDEN 2008!!!

[1099]

A totally useless war: Trillions of dollars. - DEBATABLE

American households in foreclosure: Millions of dollars - READ YOUR MORTGAGE AND DON'T BUT WHAT YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T AFFORD - PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Fueling up a six-cylinder car: $60.00 - that's steep!

Mccain's speech: zero dollars.

Hypocritical Republicans losing this election: You're dreaming

OBAMA/BIDEN 2008!!!

[WFV]

I didn't see this part of the convention, nor Keith's comments, so I went to the RNC website to see if I could find the video.

I have to say, now that I have seen it in its entirety, that it truly was pandering and fear mongering at its zenith. I find the comment about McC 'knowing how to win wars' particularly offensive.

Shameless.

[CammyV]

I was stunned and then, angry, at the use of the 911 footage. How dare they use this tragedy to strengthen their campaign? It's an insult to all of us who survived this horror, not just those who were in town when it happened, but those who were and are still traumatized by the attack. Thank you Keith, for putting this in perspective and slamming the McCain campaign for this unforgivable ploy.

[sufi66]

The GOP will do and say anything to get elected. This doesn't shock me, but re-electing the Republicans would.

Keith was right to apologize, but it is the Republicans who owe us an apology.

[ReadyNow]

We can't put 9/11 in the memory hole so people will forget that their is real evil in this world and people are really trying to kill us...

We are at war with Islamo Facists and we shouldn't forget it. Even Obama correctly stated we are at war with terror, Al Qaeda, taliban etc....

The video was a sober reminded of the fact that we remain a nation at war. Obama will continue to fight the war and invade Pakistan if neccesary

Go Obama

[mj11051]

Thank You Keith, for having some integrity because that video was a true scare tactic.

[byrdland49]

I am utterly and profoundly disgusted with the Republican Party, which seems to believe it has the exclusive right towards 9/11 mourning, and hence the right to manipulate the American public through repeated and graphic usage of those bitter memories. It's as if they believe that Democrats and Independents don't deserve to mourn as well...since apparently we are all godless anti-American terrorist appeasers.

This is beyond the pale.

[BonnieJW]

Keith, no one ever accused a republican of having a sense of decency. They've been climbing over dead bodies to get ahead for years.

[dagiffy]

For crying out loud, look behind the Clintons...you'll see a trail of bodies behind them, both literally and figuratively. If the GOP bothers you over this then the Clintons must make you sick to your stomach!