Olbermann "Special Comment" On Violent Rhetoric At McCain-Palin Rallies (VIDEO)

Tonight Keith Olbermann, on his show Countdown, offered a "Special Comment" on the violent rhetoric being heard at some McCain-Palin rallies.

[WATCH]

1:25 PM Eastern Time, today, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. During the warm-up act by a Red Meat Congressional Candidate aptly named Chris Hackett, Hackett mentions Obama and a Palin audience member shouts "Kill Him."

And Gov. Palin, as usual, does nothing about it says nothing to these thugs and psychos. She may not have heard this one. It is impossible to believe that by now she has not heard about the other ones. Her silence is deafening. Just as, Sen. McCain, you have done nothing when violence has been asserted. Correction. You have done one thing.

Asked why in real time you do not repudiate this hatefulness you act as if you are the victim. Speaking today to our NBC Station in Washington.

McCain: "Sure and I repudiated it as I have on several occasions. Unfortunately, Congressman John Lewis is an American hero who I admire who made the worst, most unacceptable statement a couple days ago that I have ever heard. He accused me and Sarah Palin of being involved in segregation, George Wallace and even made reference to a church bombing where children were killed. Senator Obama has not repudiated that statement. Senator Obama should do so immediately. Its the most outrageous thing that I have heard since in politics...it is disgraceful."

Disgraceful?

Obviously, Senator, you haven't heard your own speeches, and Gov. Palin's, and what people shout during them. And you haven't heard your state GOP Chair in Virginia, Jeffrey Frederick, giving talking points to 30 of your field-operatives heading out to canvass voters in Gainesville, Virginia. With a reporter present, telling them to try to forge a connection between Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden to emphasize bombings and terrorism. And you haven't heard those volunteers, your volunteers Sen. McCain, shout back "and he won't salute the flag" and "we don't even know where Sen. Obama was really born."

Sen. McCain, these people are speaking for you! And how dare you try to claim Congressman Lewis was linking you to Gov. George Wallace's segregation. He was linking you, aptly, to Gov. George Wallace's lynch-mob mentality.

"As public figures with the power to influence and persuade," said Congressman Lewis, "Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are playing with fire, and if they are not careful, that fire will consume us all."

Sen. McCain, your supporters, at your events, are calling Obama a terrorist and traitor and are calling for him to be killed. And yet you keep bringing back these same rabid Right Wing nuts to deliberately stir these crowds into frenzies. And then you take offense when somebody who remembers the violence in our political past, calls you on it. You, sir, are responsible for a phalanx of individuals who are shouting fire in a crowded theatre. There are some things to respect and honor about you, Sen. McCain.

But on this, you're not only a fraud, Senator but you are tacitly inciting lunatics to violence. If you want to again grand-stand and suspend your campaign here's your big chance. Suspend your campaign now, until you, or somebody else, gets some control over it and it ceases to be a clear and present danger to the peace of this nation.

Comments

[socal2195]

Here is the photo of the racist on a motorcycle for McCain/Palin. I couldn't sleep last night after seeing it.

http://www.motleybloggers.com/2008/10/call-of-wild-sarah-palin-and-john.html

[aloha43]

Way to go Keith! We need more people like you, Rachel Maddow, and of course Bill Maher!

Keep up the great work!

[ebanks84]

Yes, Bill Maher is another one that is on our side, the people.

[runequester]

Oh, yes, Bill Maher is on our side, alright, unless someone dares question 9/11; then all of a sudden, he is as establishment as they come.

[loax]

Thank God for Keith Olberman, and for Rachel Maddow! John kerry was fabulous on her show last night!

[CostaMesaJoe]

Keith is awesome.
Damn good SC last night.
McCain/Palin should be ashamed.
But, Republicans are incapable of that.

[CharlesJ]

Finally, someone with a set of Balls, Backbone, Guts or how ever you want to refer to it. Someone from the media that stands up and says, enough, this is stupid, your are wrong, you are the problem.
It amazes me that it took this long, but this man just gained a lot of respect in my book. I watched him last night and his words sent chills down my back. I hope the rest of the media follows suit and stands tall, as this is the most out of control, ugly and mean spirited campaign I have ever witnessed in my 36 years of voting.

[ofcoursejesusisblack]

May God bless Kieth Olberman in all his endeavors. Amen!

[justamazed]

Keith does not believe in God. Helaughs at those that do.

[PoliJunkie]

Did KO tell you this? Anyone who believes in God can pray for whomever they please, even if the other one doesn't. This is how faith is supposed to work.

[aloha43]

Maybe that's good.

[Rjmartinelli]

Keith has never spoken of his own religious beliefs and any time he's spoken about religion at all, he has been a staunch supporter of religious freedom and always speaks with respect.

Your lies, however, are atrocious.

[ebanks84]

Why you would say such a thing is beyond me. If you can't say something nice, shut the heck up. Nobody wants to hear you say more lies that you cannot prove.

[Horus45]

Idiot, that's a lie and you know it!
The depth that you morons go is truly despicable.
That's why your party is going to lose big time this year.

[JMcCoy]

Keith was right on the money with his comment. Why won't others call McCain on his crap?

[corsair1917]

Where are the GOP members of Congress? Why aren't they speaking out against this?

[MADASHEL]

That's why I love KO. He speaks the truth

[Tibagirl]

I wish he could say this to mccain's and palin's faces!!!!! i WOULD PAY $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ TO WATCH THAT!!!!!!!!

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

now do you see why I love this man so much?

[justathinker]

he needs to do these crazy rants from the bathtub.

[joshuahmcdonald]

This was awesome. We should all be outraged by the doublethink coming out of the McCain campaign..­.especiall­y on this issue. Senator McCain, you have been warned. If ANY violence ensues now the blood will be on your hands.

[billofgoods]

if Olbermann is such a force, why is he on the 15th rated cable network and only a blip on Huffpo? ...I saw about 10 seconds of it last night and between ht e"sirs" and spittle frothing from is mouth there was nothing.

[manofwar]

Msnbctv is only offered on the Premium Channels CNN & Fox come with Basic Cable that is why the ratings are so different many in an economic downfall can not afford Premium Cable Channels.

[justamazed]

Not where I live. and I am in a very poor state. Everyone has cable, so everyone gets it. Nice try. Did that come off KO's talking point page?

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

because people and like you and most of the oblivious constituents of this country CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!

[Taajq]

WHERE IS THE SECRET SERVICE REGARDING THESE THREATS, THIS SHOULD NOT SIMPLY BE MATTER OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS, WHAT OTHER TIME DID AMERICANS CALL OUT FOR A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TO BE KILLED DURING CAMPAIGN RALLIES!!!­!!!!!!!!!!

If you are a Obama supporter or just a decent American be outrage and demand some action now!