Dennis Kneale Freaks Out At "Dickweed" Blogger Critics In Epic Rant (VIDEO)

***UPDATED***

Via Gawker comes this fantastic rant from CNBC host Dennis Kneale in which he rails against his "cowardly," "dickweed" blogger critics who made fun of him for basically declaring that the recession is over. Kneale is offended that these "mean-spirited bloggers" would be "jeering" at his optimism from the "dark and cozy safety of their mothers' basements," and invites them to come on and hash it out with him. One of Kneale's critics from Annuity IQ takes him up on the offer and calls into the show, although he's not given much time by the host.

Kneale is not completely without sense of humor though. He acknowledges bloggers pegging him as "Beaker," from the Muppets, is "pretty funny." The whole thing is great, and you can just feel PR advisers everywhere cringing as Kneale picks a fight that he can't possibly win.

[WATCH] Rant starts at 1:48.

***UPDATE*** Annuity IQ, the blogger who had the courage to come on the show only to get ambushed by Kneale, responds here.

Zero Hedge, who Kneale said was "too tired" to come on the show, responds in detail here.

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Comments

[ctman47]

Does the truth hurt?

[OswegoKayaker]

Kneale is right -- the bloggers showed that they are total cowards -- made statements but were afraid to stand up when they were called out on them. A lot of them don't seem to be able to make a point without being nasty -- or maybe their blogger base is more about entertainment and they are rated by the boorish comments they make. But ask them to come up with specifics and actual data and they don't have the goods.

I have total respect for Nico Pitney who is live blogging about the Iran election. He could have taken the coward's way out because he is reporting about things that could make him a target, but he didn't. These guys aren't blogging about anything that could put them in any danger, but they have to keep their clubby secret IDs. I don't know Kneale and know that more and more people seem to be getting pink slips -- not that it means we aren't gaining on this mess. A friend of mine quit her job as a temp at the Post Office (a job she took when few people were buying cars at all) to go back to her job selling cars. She said, "Don't listen to anyone tells you, I know cars and when people start buying them -- things are definitely getting better." So maybe Kneale has it right.

[Abba422]

Hmm, Maybe it's because TV personalities are PAID, while for the most part, bloggers aren't, which is why they're not public figures...­.

Just a thought.

[Gewyne]

Maybe if you used your brain and investigated things yourselve you could learn things - I know its easier to sit back a let the little man in the box tell you what to think but seriosuly look beyond it.

In this case what would we find ? Well look here - the Hedgefund blog he refers to did not "pull out" of the interview - they were called and asked to participate on the same day - The Hedgefund offered various ideas and suggestions on how a interview could take place but Dennis Kneales representatives pulled out.

There are even copies of the emails sent on the blog - so who do I believe ? Rambling man on TV sponsored and paid to sale shares and bonds - or blog with email copies and links to facts that is not making money from GE.

[grateful4thedead]

oswego kayaker...­.it is the MESSAGE, not the messenger.

i would add that the blogger who did engage with Kneale got 46 seconds...­...please think about that.

as to anonymity.­...do you believe that madison, hamilton, and jay are cowards as well for calling themselves "Publius"? have you read their book?

[carsntrucks]

That blogger sounds like he's 16.

[nickels]

The recession is over...for the bankers and Wall St. types that Kneale loves so much. It is just the rest of the country that isn't seeing it and won't for a long time to come.

[rabiddog6708]

Bravo. The Wall Street crowd and bankers got theirs, so, to that group, the recession is over and the rest of us are caught in a jobless recovery.

[moreDumber]

Cage match! Right now Kneale! Let's go! You and Me!

[ZachWayne]

This is somewhat of a side issue: I'm not a producer but I believe the on-screen graphic that read, "Dennis calls out cowardly bloggers," should have put the word 'cowardly' in quotation marks. It is not entirely factual that the blogger critics were cowardly; however, it is an allegation Dennis made based on his opinion. This happens too often with cable news where on-screen graphics warp viewers' perceptions of the stories.

[egaeus]

This guy was basically dishonest. He claims to have wanted bloggers on his show to offer their rebuttals when in reality he resorts to the most cowardly tactic of all--using his power as an announcer to cut people off, to insult people and get the last word. He controls what goes on in the studio and he uses it against people who hurt his feelings on the Internet. I doubt he'll get many takers to talk to him in the future. Mike raises a legitimate point, but rather than refute it with evidence, this guy bails out of the discussion.

[sonnybrakes]

At one time I would watch CNBC and trusted them to at least support free-market economics, but when the free-market caved in on itself, due in part by bad business practices, they, CNBC, suspended their support for free-market economics and instead of letting a failed system collapse, supported the notion of having the tax payer bail them out.

I no longer CNBC because it is obvious to me that they are only there to help themselves.

[ptgkc]

I watch a lot of CNBC, and I honestly don't know how he has a job. He is the worst of the worst. He knows nothing about business or journalism. He is a permabull, like Kudlow, but without any brains to defend himself.

Other anchors actually have fun beating him up on the air. I sense he doesn't have many friends there and probably got the job through connections. He certainly is unqualified in every manor and I have emailed CNBC several times about it.

[unami]

“I signed a letter today asking him to step down,”

[CornSyrupAwareness]

The Wall Street turds need to get their story straight. Do they want us to take mortgages we can't afford to buy a house that will bankrupt us and the nation... or should we save money and live in the parent's basement?

[MikeDarooky]

Save money and live in the Basement! Do the right thing!

[Bobzmcishl]

CNBC is still acting like it's business as usual on Wall Street - their incompetence in covering the biggest financial scams in world history are breathtaking. Fox Business News is even worse if that is possible. They need to keep David Faber and dump the rest of that crew, especially Kudlow and Cramer.

[DSOTM]

He bases his theory on "Gut Feeling", now thats a man I would trust with my future.

[thinkingwomanmillstone]

It was a president who relied on his gut for eight years who got us into this mess in the first place. I guess there's no place for facts and real ideas anymore.

[bitterliberal]

Dennis Kneale's point about bloggers being anonymous while he faces his critics
head on is a good point.

I might add that being paid a salary might be adequate compensation for him
taking on some criticism via the web.

The main bloggers point that the issue with the economy is a credit problem
seems like a direct hit.
Alas anyone who has a Business show can only spin the truth that is acceptable
by advertisers and his network as well as the business community at large.

Lets face it the TV guy might already have a "conflict
of interest" in ginning up the economic forecast.
Many have seen the old tapes of Crammer pleading with his audience to buy
up Bear Stearns, that it was healthy wealthy and wise investment.
Not to say Crammer knew the opposite, the fact is over selling the economy by a
TV commentator is part of his job description. What else would they talk about on
a business show?

[InfinteShibumi]

What's in the water at CNBC?

[continentalshelf]

the same thing that's in my toilet bowl--a Reagan

[MikeDarooky]

What union are you in???