MS-NBC debates media bias without discussing …. MS-NBC
posted at 7:45 am on May 8, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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If MS-NBC wants to wring its hands over media bias, they need look no further than their own anchorman and highest-profile pundit. Instead of talking about Keith Olbermann and Chris “Thrill Up My Leg” Matthews and their obvious tilt towards Barack Obama, the cable channel gathered a few talking heads to discuss whether pundits have committed bias by declaring Hillary Clinton’s campaign over after her big loss in North Carolina. The verdict? Her campaign is only mostly dead:
There’s a certain irony to the spectacle here as all four pundits completely manage to miss the elephant in the MS-NBC studio. How can MS-NBC discuss media bias in any credible fashion without noting that its own highest-profile “talent” has been so blatantly in the bag for Obama for months? For that matter, the channel has become so anti-Republican, and in Olbermann’s case so outright hostile to anyone on Obama’s right, that talking about media bias as a negative makes no sense at all.
The group concludes that pundits have a right to their opinions, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the process. Bully for them. Maybe they can tell that to Matthews and Olbermann.
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Too funny!
They call it, “DENIAL”
scottm on May 8, 2008 at 7:51 AM
Abraham’s was the one that made that pimping remark, correct? And then he had to temerity to say, with a straight face, the media had been unfair to Hillary.
What a spineless wimp with a bad toupee.
Blarg the Destroyer on May 8, 2008 at 7:56 AM
What’s biased or unbiased about simple math?
pecan pie on May 8, 2008 at 7:58 AM
Don’t get me wrong…I agree that news is biased. I just don’t think the examples they chose about pundits calling the nomination essentially over represent bias. There are plenty of other real examples though.
pecan pie on May 8, 2008 at 8:00 AM
I have one word for the talking heads on MSNBC. Substandard.
Actually a couple more come to mind… but anyhoo.
My husband was flicking through the channels last night, stopped on Dan Abrams for a few minutes, then said to me. ” Is he supposed to be funny?”
4shoes on May 8, 2008 at 8:01 AM
Here’s what I notice,Hillary is Kaput,done,its over
and I think every one is saying it.
But the Left are scared to death to ask,or tell her.
Very nasty things happen to people when they seem
to cross Hillary!
And I think no one wants to be the first to tell her!
canopfor on May 8, 2008 at 8:03 AM
Their three viewers agree that PMSNBC is fairly unbalanced.
JammieWearingFool on May 8, 2008 at 8:16 AM
“And, after the break, we’ll look further into this topic with the question, “Is there a bias in the media against Obama for not worshiping him as reverently as our great Messiah deserves?”"
–MSNBC
Spc Steve on May 8, 2008 at 8:24 AM
MSNBC complaining about media bias. Oh man. That’s rich.
SoulGlo on May 8, 2008 at 8:27 AM
If you look up hypocrite in Wikipedia, you’ll find the MSNBC logo and pics of Olby and Matthews.
Just sayin’.
Gartrip on May 8, 2008 at 8:38 AM
I wonder how many liberals watching that suddenly caught on fire after seeing Karl Rove on their TVs? I mean, isn’t MSNBC supposed to, by law, issue a ‘Content Warning’ whenever they are going to play a clip from Fox News?
Swinehound on May 8, 2008 at 8:45 AM
They’re so in the forest, they don’t even know what a tree is!
abinitioadinfinitum on May 8, 2008 at 8:46 AM
Last week I sold all of my GE stock.
It was almost as liberating as the day, a few years ago, when I cancelled my L. A. Times after 40 years of reading the damn thing.
Every little bit helps??
Shivas Irons on May 8, 2008 at 8:49 AM
Here’s what I notice,Hillary is Kaput,done,its over
and I think every one is saying it.
canopfor is so right on this point. Any democrat that still may have a future in politics will be treading lightly with respect to the Clinton machine—that can still grind up careers and spit them out just for spite.
Only has-beens like McGovern and Carter (that have nothing to lose), can step forward and tell her publically—it’s over.
Rovin on May 8, 2008 at 8:51 AM
Keith Olbermann is the fairest reporter on T.V. His special comments are worthy of Edward R. Murrow…He is the most informed journalist, and never spins the news even slightly.His journalistic integrity is beyond reproach. Be right back, my unicorn just went over the fence……
adamsmith on May 8, 2008 at 8:54 AM
About the only mitigating circumstance an Obama win this fall would produce would be the fun about a year or so down the line watching MSNBC trying to spin everything being rainbows, teddy bears and magic fairies about the Obama Administration as the roof caves in. Olbermann will look and sound something like Kevin Bacon as Chip Diller in “Animal House”, standing on the sidewalk yelling “All Is Well!” as the stampeding crowd storms down the sidewalk.
jon1979 on May 8, 2008 at 9:06 AM
In other news, Osama Bin Laden holds conference on the dangers of global terrorism.
Grafted on May 8, 2008 at 9:08 AM
That’s like David Duke & Jeremiah Wright discussing whether there is any racism in the United States.
jgapinoy on May 8, 2008 at 9:09 AM
Well, I’m certainly glad MSNBC cleared that up. We shouldn’t be to critical, they’re just playing to their dedicated viewer base . . . both of them.
rplat on May 8, 2008 at 9:11 AM
First of all, does anyone watch this schmuck? Secondly, every news organization is bias, one way or another. Some are just better at hiding it, say for instance…..uh…..never mind.
flytier on May 8, 2008 at 9:14 AM
Sometimes, while watching The Factor, I’ll switch to Olbermann during commercial breaks…But usually, after about 15 seconds of his drivel, I’ll switch back to the commercial.
A few days ago, the commercial was tryin’ to sell me Extenz, a male “enhancement” pill…And, even THAT was preferable to the male organ on MSNBC.
franksalterego on May 8, 2008 at 9:22 AM
No, it was their “national correspondent” David Shuster.
Who was subbing in for Ed Schultz on Air America last week.
Olbermann writes on DKos and Huffpost. Shuster hosts liberal radio shows. Et cetera, et cetera.
MSNBC simply has no standards for their journalists. They just do and say whatever the hell they want.
SteveMG on May 8, 2008 at 9:28 AM
Does Matthews try to pretend he’s an objective journalist? Or is he an openly left-wing “commentator” like Olbermann?
forest on May 8, 2008 at 9:32 AM
Who does Bubba’s makeup?…Medea Benjamin?
franksalterego on May 8, 2008 at 9:43 AM
Good grief, what an unattractive and substandard bunch of people that is. No wonder their ratings suck.
funky chicken on May 8, 2008 at 10:02 AM
It’s just more of the same old arrogant and ultimately tiring echo chamber garbagio.
Here is a great example of why I have always given Fox more credit in playing it straighter: When they discuss media bias they’re not afraid to mention the possibility of bias on their own part in covering certain stories in certain ways. Sometimes even when there’s far less bias in their reporting than one of these other “entities”.
I think “systemic”, is our word here. Ya know; in the parlance of our times. Man.
ChipDWood on May 8, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Honestly folks… I don’t really know why this is an issue for discussion anymore. ALL cable news is in the 21st century is lip service to a certain demographic. MSNBC = progressives. CNN = institutionalized, Clintonian Democrats. FOX = Conservative Republicans. In each case, the the one who yells loudest, gets the most air time, and appears least insane will inevitably play to the base viewer. Then we, the satiated viewer clap our hands with ignorant delight knowing that our views have been validated. Whatever it takes to get people to keep paying the $100 cable bill every month…
The amount of speculation, fake news items, and BS distractions this election season have forced Comcast and I to part ways.
Qper on May 8, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Meanwhile, Fox News frequently addresses accusations of its own right-wing bias on the air. Fox also seems to have no problem letting liberal come on and make snide remarks about their bias – witness Howard Dean’s disingenuous comments to Chris Wallace this past Fox News Sunday.
MSNBC could learn a thing or two from its highly-rated competitor.
Enrique on May 8, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Wasn’t Drudge’s “The Nominee” headline a link to a clip of Russert declaring Obama the winner? Why wasn’t that played in their string of ‘it’s over’ clips?
TheNolan on May 8, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Now let me get this straight. Hill and Barry are neck and neck coming down the home stretch. According to the nominating rules crippled by their own party’s last minute bandaids, neither candidate has yet to gain enough delegates to win the nomination. The DNC’s bumbling of the process has created the 600 lb gorilla in their room, so they are left with dancing in their own feces.
Bottom line is, under current rules, and with Michigan and Florida stripped of their delegates, Hillary can’t win the nomination before the convention. And guess what ….. neither can Barry. So the screams for Hill to bow out now are falling on deaf ears. She has every right to remain in the fight until the bitter end. The Mother of All Bombshells still lies in wait, and I for one am looking forward to see what’s coming next.
As for MSNBC, this is a cable “news” network who, every night at 10:00 plays five year old documentaries about poor little criminals locked-up behind bars. What a prime time ratings grabber for the geniuses at MSNBC.
Olbermann sucks.
fogw on May 8, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Tehy Fired Imus in the Middle of his Radiothon for Children’s Charities which is going on right now MAY 8th & 9th They couldn’t wait one day to fire him and let him finish his radiothon? Really what would a day have mattered? MSNBC they don’t care if anyone is watching them.
http://imustimes.wordpress.com/2008/05/07/radiothon-update-imus-keeps-his-job/
Dr Evil on May 8, 2008 at 10:53 AM
NBC = NO Bama Criticism
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on May 8, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Not to be too contrary, but aside from MSNBC’s opinion shows of Dan Abrams and Keith Olbermann which are clearly biased…
how does MSNBC the network constitute pro-Obama bias when they basically do nothing but focus on his gaffes and the reverend Wright controversy? Most Obama supporters I see on the web are actually quite upset with MSNBC and despise Matthews etc.
I’m legitimately curious and not looking to start any arguments.
PaulD on May 8, 2008 at 11:13 AM
“We can say it’s over, without really meaning it”
What?
LtE126 on May 8, 2008 at 11:18 AM
MSNBC discussing media bias? Talk about “the pot calling the kettle black”. That’s kinda like Al Capone preaching why we should all be nice to one another, isn’t it?…;-)
Planet Boulder on May 8, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Don’t Touch That Denial, We’ll Be Wright Black.
Teddy on May 8, 2008 at 4:12 PM
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