Olbermann: Murdoch "Worst Person" For Using Fox News As Vendetta Machine (VIDEO)

Keith Olbermann named News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch "Worst Person in the World" Thursday night for his admission that Fox News decided to "retaliate" against MSNBC after what Mudoch characterized as "abuse."

Earlier this week, on News Corp's earnings call, Murdoch responded to a question about the broken MSNBC-Fox News truce by saying, "We didn't started this abuse, which we thought went way beyond. Finally, we had to allow people to retaliate. When they stop, we'll stop."

Olbermann argued that, in this response, Murdoch admitted that he uses News Corp media outlets to pursue personal vendettas. From the transcript:

Fairly straight-forward sounding statement, until you analyze it a little bit. Murdoch is claiming that his alleged news people at Fox, like Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reilly, did not decide to do stories about MSNBC or NBC or GE. He did. And he did not decide to do stories about MSNBC or NBC or GE because it was any news value to them. He decided to do them out of personal pique.

When O'Reilly spent hour after hour reporting fabricating stories about GE parts allegedly, possibly, maybe--well, I read some graffiti about it--in roadside bombs, he was not doing so because the story was true or Americans were in danger or just to fulfill any premise of journalism. He did it because Rupert Murdoch had agreed to, in Murdoch's own words, allow people to retaliate.

When O'Reilly a stalker producer to interrupt a GE business meeting, it wasn't reporting. It was, again to use Murdoch's term, abuse.

And most importantly, all of it, from Fox's petulant, defensive name calling, to O'Reilly's slandering of GE, Murdoch will stop all of it if MSNBC simply stops watch-dogging Fox.

Thus, simply, Rupert Murdoch has revealed his company's news coverage and the people who deliver it are there simply to pursue their own petty vendettas.

Rupert Murdoch, not only doing his carnival fun house version of actual journalism, but stupid enough to admit it, in public, today's worst person in the world.

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Comments

[Solja]

Hi,

Rupert Murdoch, owner of FOX and the News Corporation empire, just said Glenn Beck "was right" when he called President Obama "racist."

I signed a petition urging Murdoch to apologize and put an end to FOX's race-baiting. Can you join me at the link below?

http://civic.moveon.org/murdoch/?r_by=17925-9098714-qmELICx&rc=confemail

Thanks!

[BOin08]

MSNBC needs to stop hunting the Republican bogey man and ghosts of GWB. The previous administration is irrelevant. If you want you ratings to go up start acting like a news organization and less like the History Channel. At least Fox is asking tough questions to today's power.

[tekno2600]

There was not one reference to GWB or his administration in the whole episode...you teabagging, anally-poisoned, Limbot. What it did make abundantly clear was that Fox was not a news organization but a vendetta machine. You were so busy inventing things that were NOT story, you didn't even pay attention to what WAS is the story.

[BOin08]

"If you can't attack his ideas attack the man" James Carvel

[hopeforchangenow]

So, everyone here is okay with the fact that murdoch used this so called "faux news/entertainment" to get even with another business. Allowing lies to be broadcast, this is okay with all of you. It is the point of the story.

[alumcreek]

It is easy to deny that FNS cares much for news. It is a right wing outlet for lies and distortions. It has captured the wingnut market. The FNS is welcome to to the lowest intellect viewers of the USA. May they enioy the lies and distortions they are being fed by the personalities working for Murdoch.

It is important that all the low intellect people shift their viewing to FNS. They need to be quarentined somewhere and Faux News is as good a place as any.

[Pinkie e]

Keith Olbermann named News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch "Worst Person in the World" Thursday night for his admission that Fox News decided to "retaliate" against MSNBC after what Mudoch characterized as "abuse."
Have any of us ever seen any one different than Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaug, Bill O Rielly, Nannity, Ailes, and any other famous conservative get these stupid ridiculous MadMan Olbermann awards?

No wonder FOX NEWS is so far ahead of the "lame stream media" especially msnbc in ratings. Could you dig any deeper than classless Olbermann and Madow for cable news anchors?

[kareemachan]

Yes, you could look at glenda, no-waterboarding hannity, b'or, or rushie.

[gs-425]

Says the host of the MSDNC vendetta machine.

[CaptainVideo]

The Murdoch empire's excemptions from the anti-trust laws should be ended. Why should this fat cat have privileges that others do not have?

[JerryAguy]

What do you call GE with their little propaganda machine MSNBC? They actually give a guy like Olbermann a platform to spew his insane views, he is one weird dude. I can't think of anyone more out of it than him.

[rain33]

so whats new? keith can't stand fized noise at all! when bush senior was in the white house, his friend, roger allies, used his proganda against democrats all the time. mainstream media isn't liberal at all. most reporters have their own political agendas too so let keith dogging fixed naws coz they promote violence, discourage the facts, encourages stuipd tea parties etc! I'm glad that keith is going after them coz they won't change at all.

[LatteLiberals]

Murdoch like all socio-paths will look you straight in the eye and say he has no sway with the editorial decisions of his media empire. He lies. He has been busted in lying more times than I can count.
Fox "News" needs to lose its license.

[Progressiveama]

When you consider the amount of harm that Rupert Murdoch has caused life on Earth, I can't imagine how he will pay this in karma. We don't get away with this stuff.

[El]

So very very true. Murdoch is waaaaaaay up there on the list of most evil/harmful.

[weatherwaxx]

IN other news, small girl throws water on Murdoch. "I'm MELLLLTING!" mogul wails.

[LatteLiberals]

Fanned.

[Balzac]

Well done, Keith. You've found Rupert Murdoch's own admission of guilt. Murdoch's operation is getting down-sized.

Murdoch should cut his losses and stop covering politics altogether. He's not good at it. It's a good time for other media organizations to start hiring talent away from Fox.

[TimtheEnchanted]

murdoch and fox news are a cancer on society

[Progressiveama]

Very sad but true, they have harmed SO MANY......they cause peaceful people to push back in anger when we could be spending our time performing positive acts.

[LatteLiberals]

Specifically Murdoch is a cancer on American society. He does not allow his media empire in the UK and Austrialia to de-evolve to such a state like Fox "News." Murdoch is waging war on American democracy for profit.

[scottyknows]

I'm impressed. Usually Kjokes Worst Person is a competing talk show host with better ratings.

He's moved up. Now it's the guy who owns the station which kicks his butt in the ratings.

[losingitbigtime]

Murdoch can keep the ratings. The majorities in the house and senate are the ratings that count. So much for the GOP's propaganda machine.

[escribacat]

KO picks on those other hosts because they are such easy targets.

[lovestoread]

I would rather have 100 intelligent viewers than the millions of brainless palinites like Fox has.

[daultman463]

But olbermann has neither.

[MGhamma]

Orally Tatz Limbaugh.

LOVE IT!!!