Keith Olbermann Praises "Naive" Chris Matthews, Compares "The View" To A Blender, Challenges Bill O'Reilly To Arm Wrestling Match

Keith Olbermann, whose MSNBC contract was renewed for four more years yesterday — at an estimated $7.5 million per year (or $30 million over four years) — spoke to TVNewser's Gail Shister about Chris Matthews, women in cable, and what it's like to be on "The View" (watch his appearance here).

On Chris Matthews
Olbermann — who explained to "The View" that he does not vote, said he would vote for Chris Matthews if he runs for Senate in Pennsylvania (no matter that he is not a Pennsylvania resident):

"I would definitely suspend my symbolism and vote for him....I like Chris. I think he approaches his job like a public servant. He has a genuinely naive 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' commitment to making good things happen in this country."

On "The View"

Olbermann said visiting "The View" is like "sitting in a blender for 10 minutes, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. Five people were asking me questions at the same time."

He called Barbara Walters "just a delight" and reminisced fondly of his boozy lunch with Whoopi Goldberg in 1999, when she was hosting "Hollywood Squares"

On women in cable
Olbermann praised colleague Rachel Maddow: "Given the lack of success of women as anchors in prime time, it may not be far from true [that Rachel Maddow is the Queen of Cable, as Stephen Colbert suggests]. There are only two: Greta [van Susteren of Fox News Channel] and Rachel. It's been made more difficult for women, mostly through the actions of men."

As Shister notes, he notably leaves out his 8PM competition on CNN, Campbell Brown, who he has recently started referencing on his program.

On Bill O'Reilly
Olbermann challenged Bill O'Reilly to an arm wrestling match, and is sure that he would win:

"He'd never do it, because every time we're in the same place, he keeps himself 25 feet away, but I'm ready to go. I do yoga, work out three times a week. I think I could take him if it comes to that."

Read the whole interview here.

Comments

[Tomasekbride]

I don't believe he doesn't vote. I'm sure he does. He'd HAVE to vote against Bush, right?

[SunshineDaydream]

well, he was still doing sports in 2000, so i would assume so. not sure about the 2004 election, though.

[puffthedragon]

I was wondering the same thing, maybe he said he doesnt vote so when asked he doesnt have to
get into who he voted for.

[USA1776]

Chris Matthews for Congress!

[puffthedragon]

Is this true.. I am from PA and this is this first I have heard of it .. Spector's term is up in 2010

[ZTB]

Keith is the voice of millions, who don't have the ability to reach out like he can....
that alone, makes him worth every single penny he is paid.........
even if he doesn't vote.

[Tunghoy]

If you add the salaries of all the right-wing blowhards -- Hannity, Bill-O, Coulter, Limbaugh, Savage, Liddy, et al -- you could probably pay for half the bank bailout.

So with just a small handful of progressives -- Olbermann and the lesser-paid Maddow, Matthews, Schultz, and, uh, that's about it -- the mainstream media are STILL paying much more to broadcast the right-wing POV.

Only 7 corporations own 90% of all the radio and TV broadcasters in America, and 75% of the opinion is right-wing. So I don't want to hear anybody complain about Olbermann's take.

[caremore]

you are correct.......they could probably pay for 1/2 the bailout!!!! He and Rachel are the only one's worth watching.......Chris barks too much and rudely interrupts. Joe S. must go.

[SunshineDaydream]

i can only handle msnbc from 8-10 pm. chris screams too much, and for some reason that i can't quite put my finger on i cannot stand david gregory or chuck todd. i have subscribed to a couple really good youtube channels, and if anything good is on it is posted within minutes.

that being said, watching the video of joe s. realizing what he had said on-air yesterday was high-larious, though.

[LKV]

Keith is the BOMB!!! 4 years is not enough!!!

[blondecuban]

Does he abstain from voting as a matter of principal, or because he wants to maintain himself unbiased? I can't judge until I know the answer.

[SunshineDaydream]

it is a symbolic gesture to show he is not in the tank for anyone

[PublicusOrator]

Surely You Jest !

[RobHughey]

On "The View" he mentioned something about journalistic impartiality or something of that sort. It's a symbolic choice rather than a principle of his.

I had to wrap my mind around that, but then I thought about the Primaries: by not voting for any particular candidate he could then apply the "I didn't vote for him or her, but I support this" kind of idea.

It's interesting. I think his being a Liberal in NY also makes this possible. I'm in GA, and I was very much aware that my vote for President and Senate was very much needed...

[bayarea000]

i am a great keith fan BUT to find out that he does NOT vote really makes me think less of him.
remember fla 2000? take a look at minn!!! how can you be proud that you don't vote????

[SunshineDaydream]

he lives in nyc, not florida. he isn't proud, he just stated as fact that he made the personal decision to not vote.

[Steph 66]

He also said if he "lived in Kansas" it would be different. Although I live in KS, and it really isn't different. McCain got 59% of the vote here, and that is less than Bush...

[llmitchellb]

Wheeeeeeew!
I am in the wrong business!

No, Keith deserves it. He can express what so many of us have been thinking during the barrage of Rush and the AM radio crazies. I'm thankful for Keith, even though I sometimes cringe when he gets a little too close to the edge (I don't want there to be any validation for the criticism he is a left Bill O)

[tiffanyjillian]

As an Afircan-American, and someone in the 18-30 age bracket, who has voted every election that I was legally of age to participate in, I was so proud to see so many people turn out in THIS election and VOTE. I love how passionate Keith is about progressive politics, but I, too, am more than a little disappointed to hear that he has no problem espousing certain beliefs every night on his show, but when it's time to cast his ballot, he stays home -- and no reason or excuse justifies that for me. Too many people fought, marched, and died for that right, and he of all people, should make sure his actions speak as loudly as his words.

[Eric8869]

I'd rather have African American voters stay home than vote against gay rights personally.

[shelsay]

their vote and voice should be nullified because you don't agree with it?

[tiffanyjillian]

Yes, that's very big of you to ask that those who disagree with you simply not express themselves at all... I wish that Prop 8 hadn't been passed, but I would never say that instead of everyone having the right to their lifestyle and/opinions that certain group of ppl should not have expressed their own -- or have I confused what you just said with what Prop 8 intends?

[OCKerouac]

The voters, their ethnicity, and their opinions are not the problem. The problem is the fact that voters were given an opportunity to vote at all on a proposition that is based entirely on civil rights.

This is a legal question, not a political one, and a lot of heartache, protesting, and angry ranting would have been avoided if the state supreme court would have quashed the proposal before it hit the ballot.

Make no mistake, Prop 8 WILL be overturned, as will any of the future propositions brought forward to trample on civil rights. This is not a voter issue, it's a question of the nation's courts accurately interpreting the Constitution, and when it comes to said document, it's pretty clear where it sides on equality...

Back to the original comment, I agree 100% I am very disappointed in Keith. There is no excuse to not vote, especially if you are going to continue televised punditry...

[tiffanyjillian]

Also it's a bit like scapegoating to blame Prop 8's passage on African-Americans when in reality it was Religious fundamentalism and the opposition's (those who wanted a No vote) lack of outreach in many communities that allowed an environment where it could be passed... But anyone who would say what u just said may be a little too close to the issue to look that deeply into it. What you said is just as hateful as my saying that I'd rather gays not vote at all -- for ANY reason.

[KickerBoard]

Prop 8 should have been defeated - but your bitterness overstates the problem as though it was racially-specific - which is misguided, given the dominant demographics in play. Scapegoating whole social groups? What's that called again? Oh yes - bigotry!

[PublicusOrator]

For the record the total vote in 08 was marginally higher than 04. Statisticaly there wasn't any increase.

[barackobama4prez]

if rush is worth 400 mil...keith is definitely worth 200 mil IMHO

[RedStateCenterLeft]

Like a great starting pitcher, the O-Mann deserves every penny he's getting.

As for the "naive" ref to Matthews, he's right, but that is what is cool about Chris. He really loves this country. You can see it. When he compliments a great speech with a line about a tingle up his leg, he's not being weird, just sincere. He thinks pols who stick their necks out for something fine are "just great."

God I wish we could all have his lack of cynicism!

[uvymopkq]

"would vote for Chris Matthews if he runs for Senate in Pennsylvania (no matter that he is not a Pennsylvania resident)"

Another member of ACORN. I bet Olbermann voted twice for Nadar.

[sinope]

Why would anyone perpetrate voter fraud for Nader?

[Americatortures]

Why would anyone vote for Nader???

[DebbieinPhx]

Keith Olbermann was the thinking person's one link to sanity over these past years. I consider him the Edward R. Murro of our times. Speaking truth to power takes cajones, big ones, and our boy Keith has got them. So let all the other naysayers whine and b*tch and mone. Keith gets the job done, he does so unblinkingly and he has proven he will NOT back down. Good for him. Cheers!

[aubrey8]

Matthews must feel really slighted. All these years at msnbc making maybe 1.5 mil a year and Olberman walks in for a couple years and blows the doors off the msnbc bank.

Maybe Chris should run for the senate.

[Americatortures]

Can you say...."RATINGS"???

[RJII]

can I borrow a million?