Rachel Maddow on Keith Olbermann's Suspension

On Friday, Rachel Maddow reacted to MSNBC's suspension of Keith Olbermann by running through political contributions made by FOX News commentators, focusing much of her attack on Sean Hannity.

She suggests that MSNBC is a superior news organization because of its policy on political contributions, as if the rule somehow purifies what they do.

Ridiculous.

Maddow takes Olbermann's suspension and uses it to launch an assault on FOX. The deflection is sleazy.

Olbermann's suspension is an internal matter, solely an MSNBC thing.

Is Olbermann a FOX News employee? Did Olbermann violate FOX News policy regarding political contributions?

No, Olbermann is, or was, with MSNBC.

There's no reason to spout off about FOX and slam Sean Hannity and other FOX employees and contributors because MSNBC chose to take away the platform occupied by Maddow's comrade.

I don't see why Olbermann and other NBC News employees should be required to get permission to make political contributions, but if they are, then they are.

That has nothing to do with Hannity or anyone at FOX.

We know Olbermann is a raving Leftist and Left-wing propagandist, or at least he plays one on TV and parlays the act into a career.

We know Sean Hannity is a conservative and he's a commentator. He's not presented to the viewers as unbiased. He's pushing a conservative agenda. There's no deception whatsoever. No one tunes in to watch Hannity's program thinking that he's acting in the role of an objective reporter.

Maddow, however, acts as if there's something underhanded and unethical about Hannity's political contributions. There isn't, particularly since MSNBC and NBC hosts and staff are not banned from making contributions.

MSNBC AND NBC NEWS EMPLOYEES DO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO POLITICAL CANDIDATES.

Video.



Transcript

RACHEL MADDOW: You may have heard today that my colleague and friend, Keith Olbermann, was temporarily suspended from his job hosting Countdown on this network because he made three personal political donations to candidates in this last election cycle.

The reason that resulted in Keith's suspension is that here at MSNBC there is an explicit employee rule against hosts making contributions like that. You can do it if you ask in advance and management tells you OK. That's what I understand happened with our morning show host's political donations in 2006 under previous management. But if you don't ask in advance for an exemption from the rule, you are bound by the rule.

For the record, the rule applies to us hosts here at MSNBC and to NBC News staff. CNBC is not under NBC News so CNBC staffers are not bound by the same thing.

I understand this rule. I understand what it means to break this rule. I believe everybody should face the same treatment under this rule. I also personally believe that the point has been made and we should have Keith back hosting Countdown.

Here's the larger point though that's going mysteriously missing from all the Right-wing cackling and the Beltway Old Media cluck, cluck, clucking about this. This is what I think is missing:

Let this incident lay to rest forever the facile, never true any way, bull-pucky, lazy conflation of FOX News and what the rest of us do for a living. I know everybody likes to say, 'Oh, that's cable news. It's all the same, FOX and MSNBC, mirror images of each other.'

Let this lay that to rest forever.

Hosts on FOX raise money on the air for Republican candidates. They endorse them explicitly. They use their FOX News profile to headline fundraisers. Heck, there are multiple people being paid by FOX News now to essentially run for office as Republican candidates. If you count not just their hosts but their contributors, you are looking at a significant portion of the whole line-up of Republican presidential contenders for 2012. They can do that because there's no rule against that at FOX. They run as a political operation. We're not.

Yes, Keith's a liberal and so am I, and there are other people on this network whose political views are shared openly with you, our beloved viewers, but we are not a political operation. FOX is. We are a news operation, and the rules around here are part of how you know that.

Before it was politically safe to do it, Keith Olbermann attracted the ire of the Right-wing and a lot of others besides when he brought to light and raged against what he saw as the errors and sins of the previous presidential administration. Keith was also the one who brought to light FOX News' water-carrying role for the Bush administration. He was one whose point of view journalism exposed and put exclamation points on the problems in the political operation disguised as news network model embraced by the guys across the street at FOX.

Now, weirdly, once again it is Keith who is illustrating the difference between what he does on TV, what we do here at MSNBC, and what goes on across the street.

What a load of holier-than-thou crap!

Olbermann is a "journalist." More than that, he's a saint!

Yeah, right.

The fact is hosts on MSNBC do exactly what the commentators on FOX do in terms of endorsing candidates.

A couple of weeks ago, Lawrence O'Donnell was on MSNBC endorsing Alvin Greene for the U.S. Senate.

MSNBC's water-carrying role for the "errors and sins" of the Obama administration and the Democrat Party is undeniable.

MSNBC host Chris Matthews gets a "thrill" up his leg when Obama speaks. The politicking is not only blatant, it's embarrassing.

Of course, MSNBC is a political operation. Disseminating propaganda is political activity. That's what MSNBC does. MSNBC is not a news operation.

Moreover, the NBC News policy regarding political contributions doesn't mean that the on-air personalities or other staff are more objective or professional or ethical than employees of FOX News.

The policy obviously doesn't translate into MSNBC or NBC providing unbiased news coverage.

Good Lord, the OBAMA WHITE HOUSE provides MSNBC hosts with talking points that they literally read on the air.

Perhaps the White House also had a part in Maddow's remarks on Friday.

News operation?

Really?

I don't think so, Rachel.
___________________

Watch this video.

It completely debunks Maddow's claims that MSNBC is a news operation and not a political operation.



Very embarrassing for Maddow in the context of her pontificating on Friday. Very embarrassing.

Alvin Greene: Jim DeMint and the Recession

This interview is MUST SEE VIDEO.

It's absolutely hilarious. Actually, it's a bit scary. It's almost too Twilight Zone for me.

Democrat Alvin Greene, candidate for U.S. Senate, obviously wanted to get out the message that his Republican opponent, Jim DeMint started the recession. He reiterates that lone talking point throughout the interview

Lawrence O'Donnell, the crazed Democrat hack, doesn't shred Greene like he does when he's talking to the political opposition. He treats the bizarre, clueless, and creepy Greene with kid gloves.

O'Donnell is such an extremist wingnut that he even endorses Greene.

Video.


Transcript, from MSNBC

LAWRENCE O‘DONNELL: DeMint is up for re-election and the man opposing him may be the least likely candidate to win this November.

Alvin Greene shocked the Democratic Party when he won the primary over long time Democratic activist with 59 percent of the vote even though Greene never had one campaign event. Alvin Greene is unemployed, lives with his parents, and has now been indicted on felony charges for showing pornography to a South Carolina college student, something his lawyer called flirting.

The state of South Carolina even investigated where he got the $10,000 filing fee and found that, indeed, it came from money he saved after he left the Air Force as he had said.

Joining me now, the Democratic nominee for Senate from South Carolina, Alvin Greene.

Alvin Greene, thanks for joining us tonight.

ALVIN GREENE (D), SOUTH CAROLINA SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: Good evening.

O‘DONNELL: There‘s a first question that all Senate candidates have to answer this year. And that is, of course, are you a witch?

GREENE: No. First, I want to remind everyone that DeMint started the recession.

O‘DONNELL: There you go, you‘re on your talking points, not a witch and DeMint started the recession.

All right. Now, your nickname in high school, I‘m told, was “Turtle.” Does that tell us—and where did that come from? And does that tell us anything about how this race might end up?

GREENE: Look, DeMint started the recession, DeMint is responsible for the recession. And I‘m the best candidate that defines where we at right now in this country.

O‘DONNELL: Now, I know people tell you, you know, no matter what the question is: just do your talking points and all that sort of stuff. But seriously, Alvin, your nickname, “Turtle,” where did that come from?

GREENE: No.

O‘DONNELL: No? OK.

GREENE: Like I said, DeMint started the recession, and I‘m the best candidate that defines where we‘re at in this country. I‘m United States Air Force and United States Army veteran. The concentrations on those efforts, an unemployed military veteran currently.

And we‘re losing—this country is losing 100,000 jobs a month and DeMint is responsible for the recession. DeMint started the recession.

O‘DONNELL: OK. Let‘s go to some DeMint‘s positions and see, you know, how you defer with him. Do you think single teachers should be school teachers in South Carolina?

GREENE: Yes, that‘s their private life. And as long as their private life doesn‘t interfere with how they do their job, that‘s fine. I mean, it‘s—what they do in their private life, you know, as long as it doesn‘t have any affect on how they do their job. So, that‘s fine.

And it‘s just poor positions from DeMint that has gotten us into this recession. So, we just have to keep that in mind, that DeMint started the recession.

O‘DONNELL: How did DeMint personally start the recession?

GREENE: Irresponsible spending, record cuts to education, supporting the Bush tax plan, mismanagement of federal resources. We can look at the wars in the Mideast and how the wars are managed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

So, we just see this irresponsible spending and this mismanagement of government resources, federal government resources, just mismanagement of resources. It‘s destroyed this country. And we see that he‘s responsible for it. And that‘s a fact.

DeMint started the recession, he‘s responsible for the recession, and it doesn‘t make any sense sending someone back to Washington that‘s messing things up every day.

O‘DONNELL: Well, I‘ve got to tell you. I don‘t think Jim DeMint personally started the recession, but I do think Alvin Greene, still better than Jim DeMint. Alvin Greene, Democratic candidate for Senate for South Carolina—thanks for joining us tonight.

GREENE: He started it in his first term.

O‘DONNELL: All right.

GREENE: All right. Thank you.

O‘DONNELL: Get out there and make your case.

GREENE: Research. Do the research.

O‘DONNELL: I will do the research right after the show. I find out who started the recession.

GREENE: Find out how he voted.

O‘DONNELL: OK.

GREENE: Yes. All right.

O‘DONNELL: Thank you very much, Alvin Greene.

GREENE: All right. Thank you.

This interview is priceless.

It must have taken great restraint for Greene to say "Good evening" without following up immediately with "DeMint started the recession."

Believe it or not, Greene has improved quite a bit. Back in June, Dem U.S. Senate nominee Greene didn't know Jim DeMint's name.

Amazing.

This is perhaps the most telling thing I've ever heard the rabid O'Donnell say: "I don't think Jim DeMint personally started the recession, but I do think Alvin Greene, still better than Jim DeMint."

He means it, too.

What a hack!
________________

Did you know that Alvin "DeMint started the recession" Greene won't rule out a presidential run?

Alvin Greene for President

Alvin Greene, Democrat candidate in South Carolina's 2010 U.S. Senate race, indicted "on one felony charge of disseminating, procuring or promoting obscenity as well as a misdemeanor charge of communicating obscene materials to a person without consent," won't rule out a presidential run.

Yes, the president of the United States!



Unbelievable.

Alvin Greene: Attack Ad

Alvin Greene, the Democrats' candidate for the U.S. Senate race in South Carolina, is a bizarre guy.

Listen to the audio of Mark Levin's radio interview with Greene. He couldn't immediately name his Republican opponent, Jim DeMint. It was as if Greene had to refer to a cheat sheet.

Read the transcript.

Really weird.

Greene has released his first attack ad.

Also really weird.

Video.

Alvin Greene and Mark Levin

On Monday, Mark Levin interviewed Alvin Greene, U.S. Senate candidate.

It was stunning.

To say Greene is not a polished candidate is an understatement.

Levin was very patient and gracious. He didn't go on the attack though Greene gave him many opportunities.

Is this the best the Democrats in South Carolina have to offer?

Truly bizarre.

Listen to the audio of Levin's interview with Greene.

Transcript

MARK LEVIN: Why are people running around saying you're a Republican plant? Are you a Republican plant?

ALVIN GREENE: (Pause) No.

LEVIN: But, I mean, but why are they saying that you are? Is it because that you beat the establishment, or what's that all about?

GREENE: I've always been a Democrat. And... I want to focus on the issues, my job. My number one issue is jobs, number two - education, and lastly, number three - justice. Those are the three issues I'm focusing on and, and...

LEVIN: Do you know who James Clyburn is?

GREENE: Yes.

LEVIN: Have you ever talked to James Clyburn?

GREENE: No, I haven't.

LEVIN: Why is he running around...?

GREENE: I've met him before...

LEVIN: What?

GREENE: But I haven't talked to him about anything about what's going on now.

LEVIN: Well, why is he saying that you're part of a Republican hoax or set-up? I mean, why wouldn't he pick up the phone and ask you directly?

GREENE: (Pause) I have nothing to say about that. I just want to say that I'm, you know, that I'm focusing on the issues of getting South Carolina and America back to work, and you know, I'm the best candidate for United States Senate in South Carolina.

LEVIN: Well, let me ask you this: How would you get America back to work?

GREENE: (Pause) Yes, I'm, you know...

LEVIN: How would you do it?

GREENE: ...focusing on the issues and getting America back to work.

LEVIN: All right. Lower your radio because I think that's causing some confusion, or whatever the TV is. Can you lower that for me, sir?

GREENE: Just a moment. (Leaves the phone.)

LEVIN: Uh, oh. Maybe I should...

GREENE: (Returns to phone.) All right.

LEVIN: All right. That's better. So, what is the plan for creating jobs? What would you do?

GREENE: (Pause)

LEVIN: Would you cut taxes? Would you cut bureaucracy? Would you take the government's boot off the throat of the private sector so it could expand?

GREENE: (Long pause) We have to get our priorities in order. We spend 2000 more of our tax dollars on inmates than students. And, you know, we...

LEVIN: Yes, but I don't want dangerous people in the classroom. I want them in prison.

GREENE: Hmm. (Pause.)

LEVIN: Do you agree with me on that one?

GREENE: Yes, yes.

LEVIN: Yeah, yeah.

GREENE: But I agree about that, but it's not about that. It's about the nonviolent first time offenders, things like that that are...

LEVIN: Or maybe we could just put bars on the windows of the classroom and call them prison. I mean, there are different ideas out there.

GREENE: Yes. (Pause.) OK.

LEVIN: I think nonviolent, nonviolent first offenders, I don't think all of them should go to jail, actually.

GREENE: (Pause.) Yes, but...

LEVIN: But our prisons are full of an awful lot of violent people. Let me ask you this. I've got to ask you this because people are going to wonder. OK, sir? I'm not trying to be rude. What is this, what is this stuff with this woman and the computer, and law enforcement's looking at it. Are you able to speak to me about that?

GREENE: (Pause.) My lawyer's handling that.

LEVIN: Your lawyer's handling that. OK.

GREENE: Yes.

LEVIN: Can you tell me about your army career. Did you have to leave the army? Did they throw you out? You just retired? What happened there?

GREENE: (Pause.) OK. I mean...

LEVIN: Are you allowed to talk about that?

GREENE: OK. I mean, I left... It was an honorable discharge.

LEVIN: Yeah, it was honorable?

GREENE: Yes. Honorable, but involuntary. And it was just, just some issues. That's a long story. It's kind of like I ran into some things. It's kind of like the Air Force service, something like that, so... It's a long story.

LEVIN: Well, you know, you have to assume these things are going to come up because you're now a public figure, right?

GREENE: Yes, I believe they'll eventually come out... and we'll find out more.

LEVIN: What made you decide to run for the Senate?

GREENE: (Pause) To make a positive difference, and...(Pause)

LEVIN: Where did you get the money to put up your name? I understand it's not that cheap.

GREENE: I saved it. Um, I saved my... in the Army.

LEVIN: Yeah. So, you knew you wanted to run for the Senate for some time.

GREENE: (Pause) Yes, for a little while.

LEVIN: Well, why are the Democrats... You've got a guy, I don't even know his name, who you beat who's trying to use whatever rules he can use to stop you from running. I mean, I just want to be honest with you, which is this: Obviously you're not the strongest candidate in the world. You're not the strongest candidate I've ever spoken to, obviously. I think the Democrats don't have any trust that you're going to win, so what they're trying to do is knock you off in advance of the election. Am I right?

GREENE: No. (Pause) But some background about myself, I mean, I was born in Florence, South Carolina. I grew up in Manning, South Carolina, where I live now. I graduated from the University of South Carolina. You know, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Um...

LEVIN: So you graduated from South Carolina.

GREENE: Yes.

LEVIN: What was your major?

GREENE: Political Science.

LEVIN: So you're a pretty smart guy, right?

GREENE: Yes.

LEVIN: So, but, I mean, but, do you get nervous behind the microphone? Do you get nervous when you're being interviewed by the media? You're just not experienced about it?

GREENE: Well, this is my first time running for elected office.

LEVIN: Yeah.

GREENE: I am, uh...

LEVIN: All right.

GREENE: I'm 32 years old.

LEVIN: Yeah.

GREENE: I've 13 years of service, military service.

LEVIN: Now what did you do in the service?

GREENE: (Pause) OK, I mean, 13 years, that's almost my entire adult life. I was, in the Air Force, I was intelligence. In the Army, I was supply. And, but uh...

LEVIN: What do you want to tell my audience before I let you go? Anything?

GREENE: Just, you know, let's... (Pause) I want to tell them that, you know, that...

LEVIN: First of all, you're not a Republican plant. Is that correct?

GREENE: No. That's right. I have always been a Democrat, and, and...

LEVIN: Now how did you win? I understand you didn't campaign.

GREENE: (Pause) I campaigned, but I'm not focusing on campaigning. I'm going to just stick with, you know, just my, the issues that I'm focusing on -- jobs, education, justice, and, you know, what, better education for our children, justice in the judicial system. You know, we have to be sure that the punishment fits the crime and that.... And I believe that I am the best candidate for United States Senate.

LEVIN: Well, I know you do. But let me ask you this: Talking about justice and all the rest of it, do you have...?

GREENE: And my opponent...

LEVIN: OK. Well, now I have a question for you.

GREENE: OK.

LEVIN: Do you have...? What is...? How can I put this without getting you in trouble? I'm asking, my question is: How... what is your legal status in terms of have you been charged yet, or you don't know of? Is this hanging over your head? What's the deal?

GREENE: OK. My lawyer is handling...

LEVIN: You can't even tell me that.

GREENE: ...that. But, it's about...(Pause)

LEVIN: It's about justice, I know. But I, I mean, do you think you'll get justice in your case?

GREENE: (Pause) Well, we should have justice and... we need...

LEVIN: In all cases.

GREENE: ...justice. And like I said, I am the best candidate for the United States Senate, and...

LEVIN: All right. Well, I know you believe that.

GREENE: We have to stop my opponent and the Republicans from reversing forward progress in South Carolina and the United States.

The entire interview is a complete mess. This next part is shocking.

LEVIN: Who is your opponent?

GREENE: Incumbent Senator... (Pause)

LEVIN: Yeah -- you're looking at a piece of paper.

GREENE: (No response.)

LEVIN: What's his name, your opponent?

GREENE: Incumbent Senator DeMint.

LEVIN: Jim DeMint?

GREENE: Yeah. Republican incumbent Senator DeMint. Yes.

LEVIN: All right, sir. All right. Thank you for your time.

GREENE: All right.

LEVIN: All right. Take care.

GREENE: Thank you.

Greene doesn't seem to know the name of his opponent.

Unbelievable.

Greene had a script and he couldn't speak without it. He could barely speak with it!

This is all so odd. Really, REALLY odd.