Olbermann Retracts "Fox-Twa" on Glenn Beck

In the wake of the Van Jones resignation, an aggrieved Keith Olbermann took to the pages of DailyKos and issued a call to commence what amounted to an online witch hunt of Fox News Infotainer Glenn Beck, who had been a leading voice in hounding Jones.

"Find everything you can about Glenn Beck, Stu Burguiere, and Roger Ailes," urged Olbermann. Something about this struck New York Times "Media Decoder" columnist David Carr as being, well...deeply wrong:

It all makes some of us at Decoder a bit uncomfortable. While Mr. Beck may be serving as a proxy for the party of opposition, his targets are members of the administration, a rugged game to be sure, but not one that attempts to investigate journalists and commentators for having contrary opinions. What might Mr. Olbermann do if someone digs up dirt on his intended targets, who, like him, work in the infotainment industry and have been elected by no one? Once the game of oppo research on the press begins, it's hard to tell where it might stop, no?

It now seems that cooler heads have prevailed, and that Olbermann will no longer seek to rake muck on Beck and his cohorts at Fox News. He officially stood down last night on Countdown:

"Do I really want to be like Glenn Beck? Do I really want to be like Fox News or the New York Post? I don't mean I'd stop calling any of them out for their inanities... What could we possibility find out that would be more humiliating to Glenn Beck, more embarrassing to Glenn Beck, more destructive about Glenn Beck, than this one fact: he's Glenn Beck."

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I think this is definitely for the best. Carr is right to have been queasy about Olbermann's original call for dirt, and I think that Olbermann was poised to learn a very difficult lesson of the "act in haste, repent in leisure" variety. Olbermann is clearly still irked at the extent to which "oppo research" has been waged on him but drawing the line at not escalating the practice is what the bigger man does in this situation. Best to stick to the actual content that Beck presents on teevee every week. It provides ample material for media critics -- trust me on this.

To be frank, I had my doubts that Olbermann's original mission could have been pulled off in the practical sense. I'm not sure how he would have gathered information on Beck and Ailes. I imagine an email inbox somewhere overflowing with letters purporting to contain scoops. Who would have managed this information? Surely MSNBC would not have assigned an actual reporter to cull through hundreds of missives. How would Olbermann have followed up on rumors? What resources would MSNBC have committed to the task? I imagined that ultimately, this task would fall to some poor MSNBC intern and that thought made me very sad inside!

I have no campaign to muckrake Glenn Beck's personal life for blog posts but, nonetheless, I still get emails from people who purport to have dirt on Beck. And my experience has been that a lot of it is disgusting and wrongheaded stuff that I don't believe for a minute is true and would feel shameful for reporting. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to leaf through hundreds of similar emails. I imagine it would be depressing.

Carr is right. The practice of digging up oppo on elected officials is a "rugged game." But given Beck's propensity for providing a nation of critics ample grist, there's no reason to make the game of critiquing him sordid or difficult or needlessly base. Olbermann is right to step back from the brink here. Ultimately, what he was proposing on DailyKos was a dirty job that no one had to do.

RELATED:
David Carr Changes Keith Olbermann's Mind About Glenn Beck [Mediaite]

PREVIOUSLY, on the HUFFINGTON POST
Jimmy Fallon Squashes The Beef Between Keith Olbermann And Glenn Beck (VIDEO)

*"FOX-TWA" brought to you by Mediaite's Tommy Christopher.

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Comments

[Cambridge9]

I'm glad he withdrew his challenge. Keith is much better than that. The folks he calls out will eventually implode without help. Only problem is they currently have a large following - but they too will eventually wake up.

[3ddan24]

Keith Olbermann does not tell the whole truth!!

[mblakney]

Does Rush Limburger
What about Sean "Slight of Mouth" Hannity
Are you serious - Glen "The Fool" Beck
YOU LIE !!!!!
Beware of those who wrap themselves in the American Flag with one hand and wave the Constitution in the other (Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Levine, Hannity, Cunningham, Beck, ect.......­..........­), for they are the destroyers of the Nation.
Afraid of Change. Afraid of losing control. Oh yes, cowards all.

They are the False Patriots and the Haters of Democracy.

Forward America!!!

[Cambridge9]

Keith and Rachel BOTH research the subject matter BEFORE they discuss it. Which is more than can be said of the talking heads on Fixed Noise.

[cybexg]

But still much more truth than any Fox or Rush commentary.

[janvoght]

i agree, that turning the info-tainment mentality retaliation game on the infantile tactics of the arguably unbalanced Glen Beck, would accomplish more for the opposition than show the support for the President of the United States of America, which Keith Olbermann is always seeking. My educated guess is that Keith's displeasure is probably rooted in the lack of any reasonable discounting of people like Glen, from what might be considered balanced characters of the Right, which continually seeks to damage any progress the Democrats can and will accomplish. their incessant denial that their own party is broken beyond any capability to lead or win an election, only allows them to retort with lies, hypocricy, blaming, bullying (bring loaded semi-auto weapons to president's speeches), threats, and other tactics, all devoid of reasonable solutions for America's serious issues. Shame on those that should be speaking out, and discouraging the vitriolic style of the obviously unbalanced, and instead choosing to sit quietly, in case some of the tactics of the Glen Beck's of the world, might work and in turn make their work to win back the "power and access to money" easier than re-building the Republican party, which is what would stand to benefit America most, since a 2 party system is essential to a strong America.

[Luv2Purple]

What do we know of the story/rumor that glen beck raped and killed a young woman in North Carolina in 1990?

[shamu21]

Who's keith overman? i don't think our cable system carries him. what channel is he on?

[JohnnyTexas01]

Not doing so well in the raitings are we Olberman? How about more facts and less snitty twit act. Dude you are a non issue. Just look at your numbers...

CABLE NEWS RACE
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009

FOXNEWS O'REILLY 4,039,000
FOXNEWS HANNITY 3,451,000
FOXNEWS BECK 3,421,000
FOXNEWS GRETA 2,785,000
FOXNEWS BAIER 2,273,000
FOXNEWS SHEP SMITH 2,201,000
MSNBC OLBERMANN 1,395,000
MSNBC MADDOW 1,369,000
CNN KING 1,355,000
CNN COOPER 1,086,000

[Hair ShirT]

This showing ratings to back up legitimacy is getting tired. It only proves there are way more lunatics watching the one station that tows their propaganda than the many who are actually reporting news. Your stats mean nothing. Does the best selling song mean it is the "best" song? Does the best selling movie mean it is the "best" movie? Many times it shows just how bad and ignorant the general population is. Ratings DO NOT equate to truth!

[julietdraven]

that and the fact that Murcdoch gives this channel away for free. We don't get cnn and msnbc unles we pay for it. This is the reason that the ratings are higher and nothing more. People can't afford 20 more dollars to pay for premium channels. once again thanks to corperate america and making it impossible to afford to live.

[3ddan24]

Keith Olbermann SUCKS!!!

[mblakney]

HATER!!!!

[Kevin Ehsani]

shouldnt the shows on cnn and headline news be considered a non-issue since olbermann has better ratings than them? nice logic, buddy. and olbermann has better ratings than every show except on fox news. so how is that considered so bad all of a sudden? by the way, olbermann gives more facts than fox news does as a whole. think about that.

[cybexg]

Lol...I noticed you didn't post the demographics of the viewing population­s...Here's a clue...the better educated and more afluent are NOT watching Fox.

[cabbate]

so im an attorney and i worked with this girl, also an attorney, who had a male friend that ran an escort service. this guy apparently video taped beck having sex with two prostitutes. according to her beck is dressed in leather. its supposedly some s&m type thing. havent seen the video, but am thinking of trying to get in contact with her to see if i can get it, again if it really exists. but have no reason to believe it doesnt bc its a reliable source and this was way before beck went totally nuts.

[Saltbread]

He should run for Congress if it's true. And lawyers should learn to write.

[amir rahim]

Fox-Twa... ha ha...now this is the funny that SNL has been lacking for a decade.

[Toxictort]

I find it ironic that the same people who think that the POTUS was born in Kenya still choose to get their "news" from Faux network, itself owned by a "ferner" who got his citizenship only so that he could appease the FCC and make his filthy lucre in th US. It's also disheartening to see the effect that Faux news has had on Americans in the last 20 or so years. News has become a thing of the past. It can pick and choose whether or not to cover the President's speeches, thereby giving their commentators amply opportunity to pick and choose phrases out of context and feed their frenzied masses. It's troubling that a recent study found that Faux is considered to be the only source of news for the majority of the population of most of the Southern states. It's also a telling tale that GB wants there to be a freeze on the nation's IQ. If it continued to rise, his viewership would fade away. Faux and GB rely on the w!ng nvts for their support. Sadly it shows Americans in a very very sad light to the rest of the world.

[shamu21]

America is the envy of all the world. We have long been hated around the world for 2 reasons. 1) Envy over our free market success and its resulting wealth. 2) Dictators deflecting their inevitable failure outside their craphole excuses for countries.
We always have been hated and we always will be hated no matter how deep O bows to our enemies.

[julietdraven]

ya resulting wealth in the hands of about a dozen families

[Cambridge9]

Then why are the Swedes known as the happiest and least stressed people in the world. And Sweden is an admitted Socialist country.

And why is the USA #37 in health care and has a lower lifespan than most major industrial countries? And why is China doing so well whthout paying their CEOs exhorbitant salaries.

[Cambridge9]

I arrived in this country 50 years ago because it was a country where people saw opportunity. And yes, we have been hated around the world for the past few years because of our ARROGANCE. Who did that?

I'll give you a hint. "If you are not with us you are against us"! Get it?

[jackbutler5555]

Maybe there's stuff about Glenn Beck that Glenn Beck has not himself already revealed, thereby shrewdly defusing any attempt to assassinate his character. Beck is Beck. Merely broadcasting excerpts from his show is damaging enough. MSNBC does a pretty good job of doing just that.

[Thirdparty123]

It's sad how much hate and vitriol there is for a cable news TV pundit. He's there to give his opinion and if it doesn't match yours, so what? Olberman and others are there to give the alternative viewpoint, so what is the threat? It's not like if he tells untruths that the other networks won't call him on it.

[quivera-man]

I understand and agree with the moral (more importantly legal ) implications of Olbermann not being involved in a media-vs-media witch hunt. And I understandand fully support the reporter's ethical duty to be factual. However it seems to me the moral high ground often taken by LIBERAL or left-leaning (not just main-stream) reporters is often a smoke-screen to avoid confrontation. As common-sense man points out, it appears right-wing commentators do not have a problem dishing it out to their liberal counterparts in media (not just government) or does Murdoch simply have billions stashed in a legal defense fund? I'm with common-sense man - does the left have a deserved reputation for taking it lying down?

[ComonSenseMan]

Yes... Good Olbermann.... We need to stay above the fray that way every time any Faux Newz Zombie points to Keith and says in defense of O'Reilly or any of them "Olbermann does it too!" we can continue to point out that in fact he does not!

However I would totally support any other with a pulpit large enough to be seen who would like to take the charge and I'm sure we can offer many others to support them as well. I'll say this if anybody does take the fight to the FOX NEWZIES I will buy a copy of every book you write for every gift I give holidays and birthdays! We'll keep you in business!

Michael Moore should do a Fox next... he might actually get Bill O to give him a shiner THAT WOULD BE GOOD DOCUMENTARY!

[shamu21]

Yeah, anti-capitalist Michael Moore is laughing all the way to the bank.

[ComonSenseMan]

Thats called free enterprise and that is what is great about this country. Hording all the wealth for a small board of directors and share holders is exactly what the Creators of the USA wrote the constitution to get away from!

[terribyte]

Moore was beat to the punch, although Murdoch's antics merit at least two documentaries.
"Outfoxed:Rupert Murdoch's war on Journalism"
http://www.outfoxed.org/
This one's a bit dated, but well worth watching.

[ComonSenseMan]

Thanks! I'll check it out!

[DestinationsUnknown]

Med D - NEVER PAID FOR

Rob Seniors- but you know best - right GOP

YOU PASSED MED D and DID NOT PAY FOR IT

RESTRICT NEGOTIATIONS-

Where is the FREE MARKET?

Where is that 8 BILLION in CASH - UNACCOUNTED FOR- in IRAQ?

[4midable]

What is most worrisome about Glenn Beck is that his followers believe is inane tear-soaked drivel to be true.

[DavidClaiborne]

Millions of people believe the drivel in the Bible or the Koran to be true, but we don't go about burning those books just because we know they're full of nonsense.

We must seek only to educate, not to silence. It's scary, and it's tough... but like the author said, we have to remain "the bigger man," so to speak.

[Proud2BIndy]

Sadly, the "bigger man" has throughout history perished at the hands of the "smaller man" so many times (see Socrates, MLK, JFK, Jesus, etc., etc., etc...) that merely being the "bigger man" is not enough.

I'm sure all those black victims of lynching by the likes of Glenn Beck and his dullard, lick-spittle audience were the "bigger men" and yet it didn't serve them one iota, did it?

[RedRedRed325]

Was Van Jones not of questionable character?

Is ACORN not corrupt?

Please tell me what is false?

[LCLA]

Van Jones is an admirable character, just not politically correct enough to survive holding an official position.

In ACORN's long, admirable history like any large organization (eg Republican party), it has some corrupt employees. The only reason ACORN is taking such big hits lately is that they have served the black community and work to help the poor and historically disenfranchised in our society. They have helped enroll a lot of black voters, and the racists among us are outraged that this contributed to the election of a black man to the Presidency of the USA. This is considered by racists to be absolutely uppity.

Many are so enraged that they are advocating for the violent overthrow of the United States. Isn't that the same thing that got so many people in trouble in the 1950's during the Communist witch hunts of Senator Joe McCarthy? How ironic that so many lives were ruined because of those political affiliations, but those who have these terrorist websites calling for violent overthrow of the US so far have not faced any legal sanction. Even Congresswoman Michelle Bachman is one of those on record as advocating for violent overthrow.
I'm not in favor of a new witchhunt against these violent radicals, but after the recent witchhunts conducted by Bush/Cheney's "Patriot" Act and the Homeland Security, I have no doubt that if the tables were turned, they would be going after us. Time for some equal protection and enforcement of the law!

[shamu21]

Don't like Beck, don't watch Beck.

[BuckCarson]

Well so much for myself. For a couple of years I tried to find this Olbermann guy on cable... I only recently realized that I'd passed him by because I thought the show was the comedy channel.

[BuckCarson]

I have started to watch him. I watch him much like I would the National Geographic Channel. Here's a guy worth millions and can't seem to deal with the ratings plunge. Medical students specializing in Psychiatry could learn a lot from the show as well.

[pakaal]

Those psych students could learn even more from someone who replies to their own posts. The phrase "psychotic break" comes to mind.

[KarateKid]

Hey, _dumbass, what makes you think we care a whit what YOU _RetardedRighties think?

[BuckCarson]

Because this entire website is dedicated to that subject.

[centsable]

Funny I did the same thing with FAUX NOISE>except I thought it was a soap opera,

[julietdraven]

wow thats funny and ironic Thats what I call the fox channel.