Friday, August 13, 2010

From the Bottom of the Deck, Book Two

Racism (which, yes, continues to exist in America - our election of the first African-American President, notwithstanding) is an absolutely vile/disgusting thing - no question about it. But, I ask you, cannot we also agree here that indiscriminate and hastily assembled charges of racism are also a negative/destructive thing?...............................................................................................Yes, me-buckos, I'm pointing specifically here to Keith Olbermann's almost knee-jerk reaction to the recent ethics charges against Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters. This "character", folks, has literally been saying that it's all about racism, that Representatives Rangel and Waters are predominantly being singled out, YES, because of their frigging skin color. I mean, yes, I know that Rangel and Waters are innocent until proven guilty and all but, please/come on, is it not at least somewhat plausible that these are nothing more than two absolutely dirty politicians....who, you know, just happen to be black? Is that not at least within the realm of possibility?

13 comments:

Rusty Shackleford said...

I like Charlie...I really do,in my eyes hes an old time neighborhood politician.He's a war vetran who has done a lot for his people....but its time for him to just go...christ,he's 80 years old and hes a little bit crooked....not bad crooked....but a little bit...but he got caught....Charlie baby,give up the ghost,retire.

As for Maxine....this bitch has played the race card everytime she could...not only is she a racist....she is just plain and simple dumb...this bank deal with her old man is big time crooked....this bitch should do some jail time.

Will "take no prisoners" Hart said...

I agree, Russ. Mr. Rangel is the far less objectionable of the 2. I just wish that ONCE, one of these politicians would simply stand up and say, "Yeah, you got me" and fess up. Probably won't happen, huh?

Commander Zaius said...

Hey, with congressional districts gerrymandered to the point the majority of of Representatives have an easy ride getting reelected as long as they bring home some pork people like Charlie are able to create personal fiefdoms feeding planet-sized egos.

Its time Charlie retired, as for Maxine I never thought much of her.

I still believe term limits would help control stuff like this, at least to a certain extent.

Dervish Sanders said...

Countdown with Keith Olbermann, 8/3/2010 (excerpts from the transcript)

Olbermann: "So, the House ethics investigations of Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters and all the others -- all of them, coincidentally enough, African-American".

This tease (the actual story followed after a commercial break) was in reference to a Politico article that stated "at one point earlier this year, all eight lawmakers under formal investigation by the House ethics committee, including Rangel and Waters, were black Democrats". The Politico story was titled "Ethics cases raise racial questions".

The tease WAS NOT an accusation of racism by Keith Olberman. Politico asked the question, and Keith Olbermann covered the story (Keith SPECIFICALLY mentions the Politico story during his discussion with MSNBC contributor Gene Robinson). Keith Olbermann levied ZERO "indiscriminate and hastily assembled charges".

Later in the discussion Keith says, "I'm looking forward, for example, to hearing the detailed rebuttal that Maxine Waters has to offer. We do have a response from Congressman Rangel and it's quite fulsome".

Fulsome means "offensive to good taste, or disgusting". Does this still sound to you like a "knee-jerk reaction" OR a suggestion by Keith that Rangel and Waters are both innocent and that the charges against them are "all about racism"?

Rusty Shackleford said...

So I guess what KO was saying is that if you're
black you cant be investigated.That makes sense.Goddamn it...I just realized we're all racist.Oh shit....I'm racis...we're all racist...what the hell do we do know.

?Question,when was KO elected the white guy that points out who is racist? I thinhk I missed that election.

Will "take no prisoners" Hart said...

Mr. Olbermann is very picky as to his stories and his guests (only those who agree with him are apparently granted access). His constant emphasis is to accentuate the malfeasance of Republicans (which I'd be happy to admit, exists in spades) and to mitigate that of Democrats. Olbermann knew exactly what he was doing here. He clearly didn't have to go down this road but he apparently couldn't help himself......As to me, If I personally engaged in hyperbole here, I apologize. I certainly don't wish to be in the same company AS Mr.s Olbermann, Hannity, O'Reilly, etc..

Mordechai said...

?Question,when was KO elected the white guy that points out who is racist? I thinhk I missed that election.

When MSNBC hired him to headline his own show and gave him editorial control over that show. If you do not like him, watch someone else. That is one of the good parts of being a free country with more then one channel to watch, and very low government control over content.

No need to hyperventilate over what people do with their first amendment rights to free speech, just don't participate if it bothers you so much.

Will "take no prisoners" Hart said...

Guys like Olbermann and Hannity absolutely have free speech. But, as self ascribed media critic folks, so do we; me, you, Rusty, etc.. And, plus, we're totally having fun, aren't we?

Dervish Sanders said...

And I was expecting that your response might include a retraction and/or an apology to your readers for misleading them, seeing as the "facts" as presented in your original post are dead wrong.

I should have known better. Obviously you don't like Keith Olbermann and aren't about to let inconvenient things like facts get in the way of bashing him.

Apparently you're not aware that Countdown is a political commentary/opinion program and NOT a (pure) news program? Not only is it a political commentary/opinion program, but it is one with a Liberal slant. Of course Mr. Olbermann doesn't want this story to hurt the Democrats in the upcoming election (nor do I). I presume you wouldn't be happy unless he did his best to be certain that it did?

It is not as if he ignored the story. Or made up "facts" in defense of Rangel or Waters. He discussed a Politico story which pointed out the coincidence that EIGHT African-American House members were under formal investigation by the ethics committee (which most certainly qualifies as a coincidence!).

BTW, Politico (the story's SOURCE) is a right-leaning publication.

You can NOT compare Olbermann with O'Reilly or Hannity. Hannity and O'Reilly LIE. At worst Keith Olbermann is "selective" in the angle he uses when covering a story and in choosing his guests.

Rusty, KO never said he was "elected the white guy that points out who is racist" or that black politicians could not be investigated. You just made that up. As for all of us being racist -- speak for yourself.

Will "take no prisoners" Hart said...

I saw the entire segment. The point of emphasis was crystal clear. Everybody does "it" and the only reason that these 2 people are being singled out is black. He didn't say it in so many terms but that was the seed he wanted to plant......A liberal "slant"? Olbermann does a lot more than slant the news, my friend. This guy has literally become an operant of the Democratic party. And, yes, he totally does think that he's a journalist. Hell, he thinks he's Edward R. Murrow, for Christ!.....And like I said, he "picks" his stories very carefully. He didn't have to cover this AT ALL. He did so strictly to muddy the water/mitigate the damage. The dude's a hack, every bit as disgusting as Hannity.

Rusty Shackleford said...

KO plays the race card more then Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.My point was...why does "bathtub boy"
view himself as the chief exposer of racist activity by anyone other then a liberal.

MSNBC is on a crusade trying to convice viewers that Fox is trying to stir up white fears of blacks...its quite idiotic actually.Its kind of like how KO and now Maddow continue to start some sort of media fight with O'Reilly,Beck or Hannity and how the Fox folks just treat them like you would a fly on your sleeve.Oh course the MSNBC trio (if you include fat Ed)are just making a futile attempt at ratings,,,I guess if your competition is crushing you day after day you'll grasp at straws.

Will "take no prisoners" Hart said...

Can you imagine if Politico had done a story about prejudice against Clarence Thomas? Olbermann would have either ignored it or spun it in a way that made Thomas look like the villain.

Dervish Sanders said...

Yes, I can imagine such a story, and KO "spinning" the story to depict CT as the villain.

The story would be titled "Supreme Court Justice Guilty of Sexual Harassment Not Suited to Judge Women's Rights Case". KO would use the story as a jumping off point in a discussion with a Women's Rights advocate, but he'd leave it to his audience to draw their own conclusions.

Your blog post would admonish KO for his obvious prejudice against alleged sexual harassers. "It was a long time ago and KO is only bringing it up to paint CT as the villain", you'd say.

Then, after I pointed out that it was Politico that brought it up, you would say that KO was "selectively covering" the story because it made Republicans look bad. Why else would he cover this particular story -- and bring up David Vitter, John Ensign, Mark Souder, Mark Sanford and other GOP perverts and adulters?

Next, I would remind you that he did mention Eric Massa, but you'd insist that only proved your point, as he mentioned so many Republicans and only one Democrat. My response would remind you that KO is a political pundit, and not a journalist. And, as such, he of course has a political bias, but that was the very reason people like me tune in to hear his opinion nightly, because they often find themselves agreeing with him.

Finally you'd offer up some BS about MSNBC's ratings (agreeing with Rusty)-- and KO's "sanctimony" and belief that he is the reincarnation of Edward R. Murrow.

At this point I'd give up, realizing that there was nothing I could say to counteract your obvious prejudice against KO, and that you'd continue bashing him in future posts..................

Rusty, Maxine Waters is a "bitch" and Ed Schultz is "Fat Ed"? I wasn't sure before, but now I am. You're a dick. I'm surprised your comment didn't include a homosexual slur directed at Rachel Maddow.