UPDATE, SEPTEMBER 8, 2008:
_________________
Keith Olbermann has flipped out on the air again.
A video tribute to the victims of 9/11 was shown at the Republican National Convention. It presented a history of radical Islam's war on America and a promise to never let an attack like 9/11 happen again.
Video transcript:
The first attack occurred in Iran – 444 days, America held hostage.
Then again, and again, at our embassies, our Navy.
They grew ever more bold. There call was: On those who believe in God and hopes for reward, to obey God's command to kill Americans.
And kill us they did, this time on American soil. The date was September 11th – 9/11.
This enemy sworn to our destruction has been at war with us for decades. This we now know. Jihadists are still intent on attacking civilization, freedom, the very soul of America.
It is a war we never chose to fight, and for too long we've looked the other way. But the enemy is wrong. This is a war America will win. We'll have a president who knows how.
We remember where we were that day, what happened, what we were doing, how our lives changed. We remember buildings burning, bodies falling, so many stories of bravery.
We remember.
We will carry memories of your beautiful faces and those loving voices now gone forever. And we will never let it happen again.
There was only one vague reference to the election:
"This is a war America will win. We'll have a president who knows how."
John McCain's name wasn't mentioned. He didn't appear in the video. His voice wasn't heard.
MSNBC, CNN, and PBS aired the video during their convention coverage.
Olbermann of MSNBC was horrified by the piece. Following the video, he felt obligated to apologize to the minuscule MSNBC audience for subjecting viewers to the footage.
Transcript of Olbermann's remarks, from NewsBusters:
OLBERMANN: I'm sorry, it's necessary to say this and I wanted to separate myself from the others on the air about this. If at this late date, any television network had of its own accord showed that much videotape, and that much graphic videotape of 9/11, and I speak as somebody who lost a few friends there, it, we, would be rightly eviscerated at all quarters, perhaps by the Republican Party itself, for exploiting the memories of the dead and perhaps even for trying to evoke that pain again. If you reacted to that videotape the way I did, I apologize. It is a subject of great pain for many of us still and was probably not appropriate to be shown. We'll continue in a moment.
Watch the video and Olbermann's feigned indignation.
What is wrong with this guy?
The video didn't exploit the dead.
The terrorist attacks of 9/11 happened. Thousands were slaughtered by Islamic terrorists. That's the reality.
A few things--
The entire tribute lasted for 2 minutes and 50 seconds. "That much videotape" can hardly be considered excessive.
Of course, video of the 9/11 attacks is disturbing but this was not graphic. While certainly the scenes were horrific, the tribute didn't dwell on any gruesome images. It wasn't gratuitous.
The video didn't exploit the memories of those lost in the attacks. To the contrary, it reminds viewers to remember what happened that day, to never forget the precious lives lost.
It's ridiculous to say that it's inappropriate to show footage of such a pivotal event in the nation's history, "at this late date."
Why is it wrong?
Is it wrong to show footage of historical events such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor or the D-Day invasion or the liberation of Auschwitz, "at this late date"? Does that bug Olbermann?
To be sure, it's not easy to watch, but it's important to keep those historical images in mind, to understand the horror and to remember the enormous human toll.
Is something like the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum an outrage and disrespectful? Is that exploitation or meant to evoke pain?
Hardly.
Actually, I think it's Olbermann's little stunt that is exploitative. I don't buy his dramatic little performance. Olbermann is the one using others' suffering and loss to rip the Republicans. He's using the painful reality of 9/11 for his purely partisan ends.
So is MSNBC now officially a "9/11-free zone"?
No images of what happened on September 11, 2001, allowed on MSNBC?
If that's the case, in effect, MSNBC has become a 9/11-denier by purging footage of the attacks from the network.
As long as Olbermann is around, MSNBC has no credibility as a legitimate hard news outlet.
My guess is Olbermann must find the History Channel to be terribly inappropriate and an affront to human sensibilities. He must consider Ken Burns to be public enemy #1 and have him high on his hit list.
He should use the power that MSNBC has bestowed on him to censor the airing of troubling historical footage. He can use his program to lead boycotts against offenders, those daring to acknowledge reality and remember.
I think MSNBC owes the GOP and the survivors of those killed in the 9/11 attacks, and the many other attacks on Americans by Islamic terrorists, an apology for putting someone as self-serving and hateful and irresponsible as Olbermann at its helm.
14 comments:
Fork Time. Unless the kooks have enough money for advertisers to continue to support the broadcast. Like I said, Fork Time.
dude, it's apples to oranges.
a museum or memorial tribute is one thing. connecting the 9/11 events to a bid for the presidency is a whole different & offensive thing altogether.
This wasn't a tribute to the victims of 9/11, it was a political ploy to use the tactic of the last election that if the president isn't republican, we will be attacked again...just listen to the last statement of the "tribute."
When the video started, I was thinking here we go again. Political ploy, tug on my heartstring...and then I realized this is MY country. This is what my country bore, this is how my country responded, this is WHY we are at war. That's the fact. So say what you will...I'm feeling pride in my country, and it feels good.
freedom eden--
really...that's what you call analysis? don't quit your day job!
It was meant to remind us that "this could happen again if we elect a Democrat." It was disgusting and as a Republican, I'm embarrassed. Very Bush like. Could be a game changer, time will tell.
The Left's reaction to this video is very telling.
There's nothing really political in the video.
There's a quick picture of Rudy Giuliani, but he's not running for anything.
It's a history of radical Islam's war on America.
I don't think there's anything untrue in the video.
And it's a promise to never let an attack like 9/11 happen again.
There's only one vague reference to the election:
"This is a war America will win. We'll have a president who knows how."
John McCain's name isn't mentioned. He doesn't appear in the video. Did you miss that?
Actually, it's conceivable that those same two sentences could be applied to Obama, right?
Maybe not.
There was no exploitation here, only a 2 minute 50 second glimpse of reality.
Isn't Obama promising to do battle with the terrorists?
Doesn't he vow to win that battle?
The Left has to acknowledge that we are at war, or at least admit that radical Islamic terrorists are at war with us.
In regard to this video:
The Left doth protest too much...
OK, let us get the basic history straight. This is the best way to put this issues into context. Islam never had an anti-American strain until we decided to insert ourselves into the Middle East. That is pure fact. Implying that Islam has an inherently anti-American sentiment is flatly wrong. Yes, there are a few groups within the Muslim community that are anti-American; but those groups have other factors affecting them that give them this anti-American slant. Other countries with Muslim majorities get along relatively well with the United States or are on cooperative terms with us (Primarly, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia). Also, about the 9/11 video. Frankly, the conventions are a political show to gather more votes. There is no way you can deny this. Yes, 9/11 is in fact a historical event. No one is aruging that it isn't. But this video was shown for one purpose: to get people to vote for the Republicans. No one is arguing about the content of the video. We all can see the footage and understand that it is depicting a historical event. But the issue here is the intent. Frankly, abusing the dead for your own political gain is something I cannot stomach. Who are we to speak for people who are no longer with us? Why do we deserve to put words in their mouths as if we knew who they would support in this election? Have a bit of respect and let the dead rest in peace.
My post and the video aren't slamming Islam. They clearly are referring to RADICAL Islam, the hijacked religion, the radical Jihadists, the anti-American factions.
Good grief.
Surely, you can pick up on the nuance.
The Left doesn't seem to understand that we are at war with RADICAL Islam.
Frankly, I don't see how a promise to protect the country from a grave threat is inappropriate.
During the Dem convention, they trotted out people without jobs and people who can't afford health insurance (including an R.N., which is mind-boggling) to tell their stories. They exploited their misery.
While these individuals did give permission to be used as political props, don't make it sound as if the Dems don't play off of people's fears and hardships. That's been their calling card for decades. The way they've exploited the fears of senior citizens sickens me.
I completely disagree with you that the dead of 9/11 were abused in that video.
The abuse to those precious lives occurred ON 9/11/01. It occurs when people, often Leftists and MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, want to move on and not remember and not speak of the horror of that day.
I suggest that the Left should have a bit of respect for the living and concern itself with protecting life.
I wish they would spend at least a bit more time talking about terrorism. They seem clueless. A few throwaway lines in a speech doesn't cut it.
And on the topic of abusing the dead--
I can't stomach it when the deaths of the unborn are touted by the Dems as an accomplishment to be championed. A woman's right to choose to kill her child -- Woo hoo!
Over 40 million and counting...
May I, respectfully, ask where you were that day?
I was in my office, five blocks from the White House on the phone with my grandmother's roomate trying to find out where my flight attendant aunt was. She was the one that told me that there was another plane headed my way.
I smelled the burning jet fuel and flesh coming from the Pentagon when I was on my way home to my apartment that was five blocks from the Capitol Building.
I nearly lost my United Airlines flight attendant aunt, my WTC working father and my Senate staffer friend that day.
I did lose two friends in the Pentagon.
This video shown in the political venue as it was, sickens me. Wouldn't matter to me if it was RNC or DNC or whatever political party. This was not a tribute. This was not history, there is a difference between Sunni and Shia. This was pure political bullsh*t.
I have a quote for the supporters of this being shown in this venue:
"All right. You've covered your ass, now."
If you don't know it, google it.
I having no way of knowing if what you've written is true.
Speaking of BS, I had someone pose as a 9/11 widow on my site.
If you're telling the truth, I'm sorry you lost two friends in the attack on the Pentagon.
As far as the video goes, I respectfully disagree with your assessment.
Thank you. I appreciate the feedback.
By the way, the Wall of Shame is bipartisan, though the present edition doesn't appear that way. I've quoted many Republicans in the past, including John McCain.
Most past entries are archived if you care to check that out.
Like I said, Fork Time.
The kooks are starting to lose control of the debate, and its about time. Maybe during McCain's presidency we can get back to putting country before party.
Country first.
Post a Comment