Taboo Alert: The Real - And Most Disturbing - News In the Olbermann-O'Reilly Feud

[NOW tense]

by: David Sirota

The New York Times story about MSNBC's corporate parent, General Electric, forcing the network to soften its criticism of Fox News has generated a lot of buzz over the weekend. But what's so telling about the story and the residual chatter is that, with the exception of Glenn Greenwald's typically terrific coverage, it largely misses the newsiest - and most taboo - part of the whole brouhaha.

What the Times story and the aftershock gossip focuses on is the personality feud and new detente between MSNBC's Keith Olbermann and Fox News' Bill O'Reilly. That's supposedly the "news." And yet the real story is the heavy-handed intervention by the CEO of General Electric effectively forcing MSNBC's news team off a crucially important set of stories - namely, Fox News' politicization/Republicanization of media.

http://www.openleft.com/diary/14439/taboo-alert-the-real-and-most-disturbing-news-in-the-olbermannoreilly-feud





I just want non-biased news! I don't know if it ever really existed, but I am tired of being told partial truths. Yes I know it is ironic to use David Sirota's editorial to make that statement.

[90-percent]

1. I have not

I have not studied the issue, but I'm pretty doggone sure Keith is not keen on corporate muzzling of .

I'll be watching Keith tonight more closely than usual.

Say it ain't so, Keith.

-90% jimmy

[90-percent]

8. It ain't so

"It ain't so, Jim." - Keith Olbermann - August 3, 2009 ( fantasy quote. I made it up. dramatic license)

Cleared things up quite nicely in the first segment of worst persons. That New York Times reporter that did the front page story on this last Saturday better be looking to buy some journalism malpractice insurance.

GOD BLESS YOU, KEITH OLBERMANN!

Keith has made his place in my hero list tonight, along side Frank Zappa and Don Garlits.

Thanks, Keith, for restoring my faith in your mission!

-90% jimmy

[annabanana]

2. If Keith is too vociferous, he will lose his job.

He has been put in a terrible position. Glenn Greenwald is right.

[Riley18]

3. So Faux news wins. G.E. corporation is taking their ball and running home.

There really doesn't seem like any way that Keith and Rachel can continue reporting the truth because when the do they will be fired. It is getting more difficult to keep making myself believe I still live in a free country.

[NOW tense]

4. G.E. wins too. n/t

[glitch]

6. Yep.

Keith and the rest of us lose.

[Demeter]

7. GE Is Due to IMPLODE Like GM or Enron, any Week Now

so we stand a good chance of getting a free media, publicly owned and supported, soon.

[stlsaxman]

11. Lettuce prey.

[Tutankhamun]

5. These kinds of stories get hidden away quickly and very few people ever see them.

Of course GE would hide a story about GE hiding stories. Nothing to see here. Move along.

[BirminghamExaminer]

9. Keith Olbermann just debunked the article from the NYT

on Countdown and explained that the NYT writer asked him several times about the so-called 'taboo' on the feud and Olbermann told him both on the record and off the record that nobody at GE or NBC or MSNBC ever asked him not to talk about O'Reilly and in fact, O'reilly was in his world's worst persons tonight.

Here's a link to Olbermann debunking this ridiculous story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEAQEiO4NWc

[NOW tense]

10. I don't know what to believe anymore. n/t

:shrug: