Olbermann's Health Care "Special Comment" VIDEO: Whole Show Devoted To Health Reform

Keith Olbermann delivered an hour-long "Special Comment" tonight on the urgent need for health care reform. Drawing on his personal experiences with the system, especially the ordeal of when his father fell gravely ill and was hospitalized, Olbermann describes a decaying system that is failing to fulfill one of the most important priorities we have as a nation: taking care of our citizens.

Olbermann particularly targets the insurance companies, illustrating how their business models are more focused on making money than helping people, which leads to very perverse incentives. The insurance companies are concerned about profit, which is why they're fighting against health reform. Olbermann concludes, "The insurance companies are at war with America."

At the end of the show, Olbermann states that he is going to demonstrate his support for health care reform by donating money to support the establishment of free clinics in the capitol cities of each of the states of the six senators who are blocking reform.

WATCH:

Part 1

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Part 2

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Part 3

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Part 4

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Part 5

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Comments

[BarneyFrank1]

I saw this show - "Special" comment, what a joke. I heard there were 8 viewers that night.

[BOin08]

We care more than they do-why can't the neocons blockinh helathcare reforem understand that? Our tears tell the story and that's all they need to see. To hell with their fiscal responsibility- costs be damned. Our feelings need validation. Cry for us Keith, cry us a river.

[quidam56]

Thanks Keith !

No one knows until one experiences the status quo and I hope and pray Mr. Olbermann get's better and out of a nasty hospital facility festering and breeding MRSA ( methicilin resistant staphlycoccus aureaus ) My father ( thanks to what they deem, defend and support as "the acceptable standards of health care") in Tennessee and Virginia literally rotted to death after picking up MRSA in a filthy hospital, and they call it quality care ! He went in for a three day procedure that ended up being a ten month long nightmare. He walked into their facility, his feet rotted and his legs had to be amputated. I've tried to get answers but am rebuffed and ignored, from the hospital, to local government to state government and federal government. MRSA SHOULD NOT be in our homes and schools or killing children with a flu bug. It's been a frustrating five years but I do keep asking and prodding hopefully some day I will get facts instead of excuses, sent to another board or agency or no reply at all.

http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 ( see link for more info )

The very health care system we trust, believe and depend on to keep us healthy clean up their nasty hospitals and quit infesting our communities with a potentially deadly bacteria. Seven kids from Tennessee have died from "swine flu", what they aren't telling you is what is the underlying cause of these deaths, it's MRSA.

[trackerone]

Great videos. Keep up the fight.

[Chris1950]

Dear Keith, That was awsome - how could anyone have said it better. I wish we had a Winston Churchill on board now. I can't see how a country like ours is so controlled by private insurers. A single payer system is the only way to go - every paycheck contributing a % to "American Health Security" would solve the problem. All providers could then have negotiated rates and a single source for reimbursement. No more fighting with the "insurers". No more deductibles. The rest of the world frankly regards us as an inhumane society. Unfortunately they are right. Keep up the fight Keith - one of these days, we'll stop the needless suffering and deaths in this country. Thanks again very sincerely.

[Gregory Williams]

Good show but I wasn't moved until the end.

I'm all out of tears.They will get no more of my tears. What they will get is action.

It's like nothing registers on people until it touches them personally. Where is the compassion? The kind that pushes you to action b4 it hits you.

[poetrylark]

Keith makes some good points, but the biggest lesson in Health is that prevention is better than Cure.
His ailing father has kidney trouble.
Generally that and many other illnesses is because of dehydration.
It has only been in more recent times that people are drinking more water each day.
In the past a lot of people might have a few coffees each day plus some Alcohol, BUT not much in terms of pure clear water - which our bodies need to function well.
A teenager today, who drinks a lot of water each day, (preferably filtered water to remove chlorine and flouride etc ) and does not have too much white flour products like breads cakes, pasta asnd Pizza etc or much soft drinks (too much sugar) and exercises regularly - is likely to live to a good age illness free.
We poison our bodies with the wrong foods (not enough fruit and vegetables ) and don't drink enough water each day ( eight glasses each day is a good start ) and then when we become ill, we expect a medical pill or operation to make us well again.

Our health is in our own hands.

www.jimbernard.org

[CarmanK]

Madden on Salon called this commentary a "missed opportunity". I totally disagree. Keith was sincere, honest and above all real. He lost his mother not too long ago. And now his father is sick. He is a good son and I like the fact that MSNBC last him be with his mom and dad when they needed him. The hour with Keigh was meaningful and poignant. Keith declared the people's "revolution against insurance company abuse". Now we see the enemy of our democracy, an insurance industry that is not just allowed to make a profit, but one that has been permitted to "kill" in the name of commerce. Grayson likened the deaths of 45,000 americans each year from lack of health care -a holocaust. Just what is the WORD for such mass societal negligence???? What do we call it.??
I will donate to the free clinics and have signed the petition to urge Harry Reid to strip the chairmanships from any Democrat who votes against cloture, and against health care reform. They do no belong in positions of power in a time when the americans want " change in america".

[RileyMendez]

OMG! I always look forward to his Special Comments. This was the best ever! I was in tears many times. Mr. O helps to keep me sane in times like these. I really appreciate how he and his staff research everything and then report the truth. I was a fan when he was a sports guy on ESPN. I actually found him by accident on MSNBC, but quickly spread the news to all my like-minded friends. We now have our own Keith Olberman Fan Club. Yes, we are a bunch of old broads, but we love us some Keith. Keep up the good work! We really, really need you! And Rachal!

[nini7846]

Everyone should see this, Keith Olbermann was great. If anyone doubts why we need healthcare for everyone here in the United States need only watch this. It was heartfelt and real!

[Bloggerrogr]

Dear Keith;
You are the broadcaster I would have been if I had the intestinal fortitude to stay in the business. I just couldn't hack all the corporate bee ess. Your comment is/was one of the most riveting I have ever seen. There needs to be a special Emmy category for just this type of journalism; personal social commentary.
And seeing that picture of your dear father at the end brought tears to my eyes, literally. Like you, my love for my father was deep and abiding.
We owe this to our fellow Americans, friends. We MUST NOT let up in our pursuit of the highest ideals of our society; that all our fellow citizens have a basic human right to the best health care possible.

FWIW

[simplystunned]

Keith has saved my sanity 100 times over these past years. When I feel that no one gets it, and most on tv and where I live don't, he makes me feel less alone. I lost my beloved father-in-law this past year. He was worrying about going bankrupt while he was being treated for cancer. I watched different doctors/hospitals want to repeat tests he had 2 weeks prior. Keith's comments brought tears to my eyes several times. I'm willing to contribute to his cause of bringing free clinics to these Blue Dog states. We must overhaul our health care system. The insurance companies serve no purpose but to jeopardize us all.

[Martin Magee]

I am still stunned from watching Olbermann yesterday evening. I normally download it on podcast and listen to it on the way home. Yesterday, it happened I was able to watch it, and was just riveted. I felt tears many times, and recalled my own and that of other people's struggles with insurance and health care.

Olbermann has helped me say to myself many times that no, I am not insane. I am living in an insane time.

[linzy]

Truly great, After coming to like Mr. Olbermann, I now respect him. Eloquently expressed. It would be worth playing again, and agin until Congress gets it. Where do we donate to the free clinics? I love the idea of doing good by doing good. Will this organization accept the challenge of going to the key states? I think they ought to send a small team to Searchlight, NV, home of Harry Reid. It is dirt poor, hard scrabble living. Going to Reno, Vegas and Carson City would be great, but would love to see it hit Harry in his own (lliterally) back yard!

[Bloggerrogr]

If you want to donate to the free clinics, go to the "Countdown" website:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/

the links give you all the info you need.

Most importantly, PASS IT ON! We are in the homestretch and public awareness is turning in our favor. We can do this!

FWIW

[StillweRise]

Well done, Mr. Olbermann.. Well done.

An absolutely outstsanding commentary that blew the doors off of anything resembling a defense of the "pimps" of the healthcare system (INSURANCE COMPANIES), and their profiteering off of the pain and death of American citizens.

We know who is on our side. We know who isn't. KO put it out there for the world to see. The fact that this has been up on Huffpo since last night, and not a single "defender" has attempted to smear what he said speaks VOLUMES....

Keith, whatever the details of donating to the cause... I'm in.

[Bloggerrogr]

Please go to the "Countdown" website and follow the links.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/
You will be helping your fellow Americans. And thus you will be helping yourself.

Shalom

FWIW

[GrandmaBEE]

I watched and loved every minute of it. Couldn't have said it any better myself.

[Dakota Blev]

"HOW CAN WE NOT BE UNITED AGAINST DEATH " Love that!!!!