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Topic: Olbermann vs O'Reilly / O'Reilly vs Olbermann
| Author | Message |
| roshob2003 | Posted – 1/8/2008 9:31:38 PM | show profile I have been reading the posts on this board for about a year and only recently began to interact on it. I have to ask the question - Why is there such an obsession over Bill O'Reilly vs Keith Olbermann and vice versa? I have watched both shows, and objectively I believe each has something to offer their respective audiences. These two individuals are commentators with a rather small audience when you consider that the cable news channels collectively have a couple of million viewers, where as the big 3 have between 25-28 million viewers every night. These two individuals do not have the power to elect the next president nor to make the moon fall into the earth. They are simply commentators who represent their own political idealogy. I do not endorse either commentator's show nor do I condone either one. So again I must ask - why? I simply ask for honest candid answers and no name calling if at all possible. I have seen it before on this site from members of both sides of the political spectrum and believe it is possible here. |
| roshob2003 | Posted – 1/8/2008 11:41:07 PM | show profile Crimedog am interested to hear your thoughts on this topic. |
| Iron Eagle | Posted – 1/8/2008 11:55:15 PM | show profile My thoughts are brief - I think it's a waste of time. Neither have much influence. Both are blowhards. I like some of the things Olbermann says because they are things I'd like to shout out. He's been right on the war and on Bush and Cheney. |
| chucho | Posted – 2/10/2008 8:27:19 AM | show profile The O'Reilly Factor has developed a "unique blend of news analysis and investigative reporting". This is on BillO's bio form his website. To say he doesn't call himself a "journalist" is very "truthy", unless you don't consider "investigative reporting" journalism. Also, for years BillO bragged about winning two Peabody Awards -- a JOURNALISM AWARD -- until everyone who was paying attention proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was a big, fat stinking L. I. E. I also find it interesting that the word "Peabody" doesn't appear on BillO's Wiki entry -- obviously somebody white-washed his bio to expel any references to this. Perhaps now -- thanks to the BillO fact checkers -- he has downplayed any referenced to him being a journalist. I think it's also relevant to add that in February 2003, a Florida Court of Appeals unanimously agreed with an assertion by FOX News that there is no rule against distorting or falsifying the news in the United States. **** Back in December of 1996, Jane Akre and her husband, Steve Wilson, were hired by FOX as a part of the Fox ?Investigators? team at WTVT in Tampa Bay, Florida. In 1997 the team began work on a story about bovine growth hormone (BGH), a controversial substance manufactured by Monsanto Corporation. The couple produced a four-part series revealing that there were many health risks related to BGH and that Florida supermarket chains did little to avoid selling milk from cows treated with the hormone, despite assuring customers otherwise. According to Akre and Wilson, the station was initially very excited about the series. But within a week, Fox executives and their attorneys wanted the reporters to use statements from Monsanto representatives that the reporters knew were false and to make other revisions to the story that were in direct conflict with the facts. Fox editors then tried to force Akre and Wilson to continue to produce the distorted story. When they refused and threatened to report Fox's actions to the FCC, they were both fired.(Project Censored #12 1997) Akre and Wilson sued the Fox station and on August 18, 2000, a Florida jury unanimously decided that Akre was wrongfully fired by Fox Television when she refused to broadcast (in the jury's words) ?a false, distorted or slanted story? about the widespread use of BGH in dairy cows. They further maintained that she deserved protection under Florida's whistle blower law. Akre was awarded a $425,000 settlement. Inexplicably, however, the court decided that Steve Wilson, her partner in the case, was ruled not wronged by the same actions taken by FOX. FOX appealed the case, and on February 14, 2003 the Florida Second District Court of Appeals unanimously overturned the settlement awarded to Akre. The Court held that Akre?s threat to report the station?s actions to the FCC did not deserve protection under Florida?s whistle blower statute, because Florida?s whistle blower law states that an employer must violate an adopted ?law, rule, or regulation." In a stunningly narrow interpretation of FCC rules, the Florida Appeals court claimed that the FCC policy against falsification of the news does not rise to the level of a "law, rule, or regulation," it was simply a "policy." Therefore, it is up to the station whether or not it wants to report honestly. During their appeal, FOX asserted that there are no written rules against distorting news in the media. They argued that, under the First Amendment, broadcasters have the right to lie or deliberately distort news reports on public airwaves. Fox attorneys did not dispute Akre?s claim that they pressured her to broadcast a false story, they simply maintained that it was their right to do so. After the appeal verdict WTVT general manager Bob Linger commented, ?It?s vindication for WTVT, and we?re very pleased? It?s the case we?ve been making for two years. She never had a legal claim.? |
| rockyroad | Posted – 2/10/2008 10:14:00 AM | show profile To answer the question about Olbermann vs. O'Reilly it is really rather simple. Olbermann has made O'Reilly and Fox News a cottage industry by continually bashing, debasing and slurring them on a nightly basis. First time that I can remember one network showing such a lack of class. That's why it is sweet that O'Reilly and Fox continue to beat MSNBC and Olbermann in the ratings. Olbermann thought this would seperate him from the pack and all it did was make him a jealous, obsessive loser. |
| parkertodo | Posted – 2/11/2008 8:11:15 PM | show profile Bill O'Reilly vs Keith "the tool" Olbermann How/why is Keith ?the tool? Olbermann acting like a reporter during election coverage over on msnbc? It?s laughable. He?s a former ESPN scoreboard reader and jock sniffer turned bomb thrower with no political background or real journalism experience whatsoever. He makes a living doing one thing-hating Bill O'Reilly and Fox news. His one-sided editorials play like Mad TV skits and to pretend he can present fair or balanced reporting is embarrasing sober adults everywhere. Candidates dodging Fox News or Fox hosted debates makes me doubt their ability/willingness to take on our enemies aboard. Can't take questions from Bill-O? How ya gonna handle Putin? Obama? |
| Atticus6907 | Posted – 2/11/2008 8:31:55 PM | show profile Not even Bill-O The debates on Fox are not even hosted by Bill O'Reilly or even Sean Hannity- they are hosted by Britt Hume. ALL of the republican candidates showed up for MSDNC's debates hosted by Olbermann. Yet, the dems are scared of Britt?!? Yeah, Obama'll stand up to Osama. |
| jtjt225m | Posted – 2/11/2008 11:28:38 PM | show profile When has a Republican debate been hosted on MSNBC by Olbermann? They now have figured it out and have Williams and Russert doing debates. Also, Olbermann is a journalist, he's worked in various markets. He did have a show on MSNBC in the late 90s, also he went to Cornell, so that's not some small potato school either. I personally have no issue with either person. They each have separate styles, so they appeal to different audiences, besides the obvious conservative v. liberal thing. I mean KO hasn't had two guest at the same thing in years. Its just not his thing. Each has venom for various things, but they each have there own audiences. |
| Atticus6907 | Posted – 2/12/2008 12:41:35 AM | show profile My mistake... Olbermann hosted the "post-debate" show/interviews, but actually moderated the dems' debate. My point was that Keith Olbermann is a partisan commentator. He is a left-wing bomb thrower as Hannity/Limbaugh/O'Reilly are on the right. Fox has/would never put Sean or Rush on to moderate a debate of presidential candidates. Even having Chris Matthews host gives the appearance of impropriety - as Matthews is also a liberal partisan. Heck, he not only served under two Democratic politicians (Carter/O'Neil) but he also RAN FOR OFFICE as a Democrat. The line between commentary/opinion and journalism/reporting is not just blurred at MSDNC, its been obliterated. |
| jtjt225m | Posted – 2/12/2008 1:09:14 AM | show profile Pretty much That is the problem with the network. With the fact Olbermann has experience anchoring programs, but his show has become opinion based over the last few years. They finally fixed the debate problem by having Williams and Russert, it only took them like 10 to do that. There problem is they have no one who can anchor, that's part of MSNBC. The NBC news, MSNBC line is so clear, its not funny. Lester Holt should be doing election coverage, but because he's a part of NBC news, and is the weekend man for NBC news, they won't have him do it. Its like we all know Brit Hume is conservative, but he still anchors well on his daily show. Its all right for him to do his opinion part on Fox News Sunday. The line isn't blurred, for one reason, its on the network, not the cable channel. |
| parkertodo | Posted – 2/13/2008 6:48:54 PM | show profile KO the Tool Excellent points atticus. KO's slant in so anti-republican that it's obvious he suffers from Bush Derangement Syndrome (BDS). The fact that he graduate from Cornell just tells me he's an Ivy League pompous ass. Journalism Degree? Gerbilism degree most likely. Feltching major I bet. Anyway, he burned every bridge he had over at ESPN before he was banished to the back rooms of ESPN2....so remote was it back then that he started the very first telecast with "welcome to the end of my career". Poor Chirs Mathtews looks so uncomfotable when they co-host politcal debates-he knows his political crediblity drops whenever they are paired together. KO's one suck-up buddy over there at msnbc (David Shuster) was just suspened for accussing Hillary Clinton of pimping her daughter and it's just a matter of time before KO joins him beacuse of an over-the-top assine statement just like that. Neither are resposible reporters of legitimate news. Keith go back to reading the scores and Dave should stick to Paris/Brintney updates. |
