"Bush-bashing accidental liberal hero." "Keith the Impaler."
Those phrases were used to describe MSNBC's Keith Olbermann in a New York magazine profile of the cable talker who first earned fame as the wise cracking sports guy on ESPN's SportsCenter, which later inspired Aaron Sorkin's SportsNight.
The article -- which describes Olbermann as a "world class agitator" and "sworn enemy" of Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly -- says Olbermann appeals to liberals like radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh appeals to conservatives.
Olbermann's fire breathing attacks, including his "Worst Person in the World" awards -- target all things conservative, O'Reilly and 24, which he recently slammed as -- and I'm not joking here -- "fear mongering" and "naked brainwashing."
". . . Keith Olbermann may not be as popular or influential as Rush Limbaugh, but Olbermann has his own Dittoheads (Olberites?)," the magazine said. "They just happen to drive Honda Elements with a dedicated iPod port."
And share a loathing for Jack Bauer apparently.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-09-2007 @ 7:30PM
Viv said...
I am Obermann fan a liberal and democrat and an O'Reilly hater. Oh by the way i LOVE 24!! Do i need to go to a doctor for a checkup?
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4-09-2007 @ 8:36PM
Jake said...
What I think the writer fails to consider, is unlike Limbaugh, who spews racist crap (like his comments on Donovan McNabb) and attacks those who don't have a forum to fight back, Olberman directs his ire towards those who spread the hate and fear.
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4-09-2007 @ 9:21PM
Matt B said...
Olberman should have stuck to Sports Commentary.
Instead of being totally annoying, not remoteley funny and a LEFT WING PROPAGANDAIST
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4-09-2007 @ 9:39PM
AJ MacReady said...
I am a HUGE fan of Keith. I watch his show every day without fail - the only news program I can say that about - mainly because he's the only one who consistently and correctly points out the hypocrisy and flat-out lies of incompetent politicians. And I have also loved 24 since season one; if he doesn't like it, it's his right. Plus it DOES seem to have more than a little conservative streak in it, seeing as how one of the creators, Joel Surnow, is a self-described "right-wing nutjob." I'm sure he was kidding to some extent, but you get the picture.
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4-09-2007 @ 10:26PM
wil said...
Wow what an incredibly misleading and offensive character assassination.
The fundamental difference between Olbermann and Limbaugh is that Limbaugh is a liar. Limbaugh just makes stuff up, and routinely misleads his listeners. Conservatives have lots of reasons to dislike Olbermann (he has the nerve -- the nerve! -- to question Dear Leader and criticize the King, for one) but he can not be credibly compared to serial liar and Republican Propagandist Rush Limbaugh.
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4-23-2007 @ 5:51AM
Media Glutton said...
Yeah I'd also like to know how you can compare Rush "Abu Ghraib is like a frat having a little fun" Limbaugh to Olbermann.
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4-10-2007 @ 12:08AM
Sam G. said...
I am a liberal. I mean, REALLY liberal. And I can't stand him anymore. Especially since he's started his special comments nonsense. He comes across as a pompous ass.
For my money, Bill Maher is far, far better.
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4-10-2007 @ 10:45AM
Gordy said...
Granted, I'm a Rush baby, but who is this guy? He's in all the political blogs, but I have never seen his show.
By the way, liberals love Rush too. You all don't think his 20+ million listeners are 100% conservative do you?
Oh, and Rush is not racist. His McNabb statement was spot-on, and the media does it all the time.
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4-10-2007 @ 2:01PM
Jonathan said...
Having listened to both for a while, i prefer Limbaugh more. I can respect Olbermann for his conviction and his passion (especially the rant on 9-11) but i do tend to disagree with him.
Does that mean i have to attack him or call him a liberal nutjob? Nope, he is most certainly entitled to his opinions, and im certainly entitled to disagree with them.
I just hope he doesnt run out of steam too soon.
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4-10-2007 @ 1:56PM
Angelo said...
Yea no comparison between Keith and Rush....Rush is a horrible human.
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4-10-2007 @ 11:42PM
John said...
I can see both sides of this. I can see the comparison of Rush and Keith. And I can agree with all the arguments that it isn't fair to compare the two, that what they do is different.
However, I do listen to Rush. I'm one of those 20M. But I don't listen because I agree with him. I listen because when Rush says stupid stuff, I feel good to be mad at him and to disagree with him. When I listen to Air America (which is the better comparison to Rush, I think), when *they* say stupid stuff, I get angry that they said it because I try to agree with the left more than the right, but I tend to stay very middle of the road.
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