Olbermann Slams AP Analysis Of Obama's Speech
By Nicole Belle Thursday Aug 28, 2008 6:30pm
Download | play 
Download | play (h/t Heather)
The AP is at it again. The largest North American news service is continuing in their anti-Obama trajectory with an "analysis" that, like Ron Fournier's last week, seems more agenda-driven than actual analysis. This time, it's Charles Babington, a little known writer from the Washington Post (and I've been assured it's not a nom de plume of Fournier) whose shots at Obama had MSNBC host Keith Olbermann wondering what speech Babington had been watching
I feel impelled to read something from the Associated Press, which is a service that is distributed to thousands of newspapers around the continent mostly, our continent. This is called ‘Convention Analysis'. I'm not familiar with the writer, he's identified as Charles Babington. But let me read part of this in full:
Barack Obama, whose campaign theme is "change we can believe in," promised Thursday to "spell out exactly what that change would mean."
But instead of dwelling on specifics, he laced the crowning speech of his long campaign with the type of rhetorical flourishes that Republicans mock and the attacks on John McCain that Democrats cheer. The country saw a candidate confident in his existing campaign formula: tie McCain tightly to President Bush, and remind voters why they are unhappy with the incumbent.
"Of course," he went on to write, "no candidate can outline every initiative in a 35-minute speech - especially one that also must inspire voters." Mr. Babington got the length of the speech wrong by at least seven minutes. And this is analysis that will be printed in many, many newspapers, hundreds of them around the country. It is analysis that strikes me as having done...as having borne no resemblance to the speech you and I just watched. None whatsoever. And for it to be distributed by the lone national news organization in terms of wire copy to newspapers around the country and websites, is a remarkable failure of that news organization.
Charles Babington, find new work.
Login or Register to post comments.
Obama is right. McCain doesn't get it. The Republican Party doesn't get it. What remains to be seen is whether or not the American people get it and will reject the regressive GOP policies of the last eight years and endorse change offered Barack Obama.
LOL AP
AP?!? Really? You too turn into Fox News? You can’t trust anybody anymore.
Wasn't it Murdoch who tried to take over AP? It sure smells like a FOX treat.
I threw my TV in the alley years ago. I get mad when I listen to the Diane Ream show and she has "pundits" on.
Who the fuck are these people? They wine and dine with the elite and try to talk to us?
Why the fuck would I care what Tom Brokaw, or any "journalist" "thinks"? Their job is to object report as objectively
as possible what happened.
I am tired of opinion. Especially from people with smooth white hands and easy chair asses.
LOL! McCain totally checked out Gov. Palin's ass the whole time she was speaking today in Dayton. Every time she turned her head to look back at him, he would look up and smile, then when she would face forward again to address the crowd, he would go right back to staring at her ass. Comedy gold!!! They HAVE to run this on The Daily Show tonight.
http://blog.indecision2008.com/2008/08/29/sarah-palin-total-vpilf/#comments
The repubs are nothing more than DESPARATE!
Hye, nobody said that just because Obama knocked one out that the MSM wasn't going to do their job and LIE and CARRY THE WATER for the GOP and McLame.
Cripes. I stuck around for one story too many! Almost harshed my buzz for the weekend.
ALMOST. It didn't work, Charles Babington, you shameful hack!
If I didn't know better, I'd swear the *eh-hem!* "analysis" has been written before the speech had even been given.
test
there's a history with Babington and covering up for the GOP
http://phoenixwoman.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/charles-babington-coverup-a...
Leadership @ 5:
It's out of control. A constant tidal wave of babbling tv idiots. I wish they would SHUT UP.
MSM has way to much control over the public and spectrum. It's no wonder people can't think anymore with this crap constantly being pounded into their consciousness.
Johan @ 4:
In fact, he sits on the board of directors with a bunch of other wing nut media moguls:
Check out the APs board of directors:
http://www.ap.org/pages/about/board.html
I tried to cut and paste it, but for some reason, C&L won't let it post.
Obama gets what 9 sec's a week in the MSM where he's actually talking into a microphone to a network.
Let the guy TALK. Put him out there!
Charles Babington, "find new work." Would you hire him? I wouldn't! Looks like he'll be out of a job soon enough.
Since when did AP write opinion pieces?
OT: Sarah Palin's fifth baby may be that of her sixteen year old daughter's instead
Charles Babbington, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight's "Worst. Person. In the World!"
Teacher arrested for giving cocaine to students! Obama...please fix our schools!
Story at DetentionSlip.org
Didn't his article come out something like less than a half hour after Obama's speech was over? Keith is right, he didn't even bother seeing the speech at all, and it's pretty obvious.
VIDEO: Focus on the Family pulls plea for rain at Obama speech
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/11/focus-action-pulls-vid...
Marc @ 7:
Desperate, that is!
Obviously, a canned response from Babbington (sp.).
Did anyone see that ghoulish-looking PUMA representative on Tweedy's show? Didn't get her name but she just looked deranged. I don't trust people who don't blink. I looked into your her and saw NOTHING! She is just plain creepy! And her logic is just plain .. well, off, is the kindest I can say.
So just what is a PUMA? (I know the acronym) but does it mean I am an angry Democrat who is going to vote republican? Isn't that just a way of saying that when I registered, I checked the wrong box? I didn't get my way so I'm not going to invite you to my birthday party? Somebody didn't get to be a cheerleader in high school and is still mad about that. Admit it you are a republican in sheep clothing Rove is paying you! You can't fool us.
Don't bitch that what the majority of Democrats wanted isn't what you wanted, just go work directly for the Repuglicans.
Glen Beck is still a fool.
Olbermann is right on - again. AP has become a Faux News wannabe for whatever reason and they are currently getting away with it. This crap has been going on for months only it is getting worse and no one in the MSM is calling them on it. SHOCK!!
The Charles Babington post-speech critique was similar to the opinions expressed by political pundits on the Larry King show and Fox News on Thursday night. Analysts view Obama through the prism of their own perceptions; as does Keith Olbermann.
Oops…forgot the YouTube link of that dawg McCain staring at something he shouldn’t be staring at, especially with Cindy right there. About 2:40 in...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8F23DC73G4
Portrayal Of Obama As Snob Hailed As Step Forward For Blacks
We really have come a long way.
Keith Olbamamann; he likes to pick gnat shit out of pepper. Gees what a hack.
orcas @ 26:
sorry! that is a crock of shit. facts are facts. the truth is the truth.
people have chosen to be paid liars. there are no 'prizms involved.
Earl @ 29:
KKKristol!!! Is that you?
It's sad we have only one news wire service in this country. The AP went downhill long ago.
CoIntelPro for Pronktastic Victory Over SCLM, DIEBOLD, ESS and SEQUOIA! @ 31:
No. He just gets on my nerves like Hannity (The master of beating dead horses).
What do you expect from the press. It's
propaganda that rivals the Nazis. The AP
is no better than Fox & proves it daily.
Earl @ 29:
So I take it you prefer eating gnat shit with your pepper. What hollow you from Earl?
Either Babington is in fact part of McCain's "base" or somebody had just explained to Chuck exactly what those Rocky Mountain oysters were he ate earlier in the evening.
-AF
Andrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
Earl @ 33:
sometimes, KO is very gregarious. but hannity is malicious and a liar.
Saint Augustine @ 35:
Very intelligent response.
CoIntelPro for Pronktastic Victory Over SCLM, DIEBOLD, ESS and SEQUOIA! @ 37:
Excuse me. Hannity (The master HACK of beating dead horses.)
Earl @ 29:
I prefer my condiments to be free of feces, also. It doesn't make me a hack.
Move on people, nothing to see here. @ 24:
PUMA was originated by a republican woman who was never ever involved in anything related to the democratic party until she formed that group. There was never any huge splinter group, though it was revealed after a couple in post-primary polling, that 3-5% of hillary voters were repugs voting for hillary at the behest of Limpballs.
well, so, what ARE the changes Obama plans? maybe some of you could write to the point, and spell it out for me, specifically?
CoIntelPro for Pronktastic Victory Over SCLM, DIEBOLD, ESS and SEQUOIA! @ 30:
Cmon. You are old enough to know there aint no such thing as Truth. Not with a capital T. Which religion is the True religion?
It's a sad day here at Crooks & Liars. This blog is slowly slipping into DailKos, Americablog, TPM territory. What a shame for a blog that used to be one of the "go to" blogs. You people seriously need to step back and take a good hard look at yourselves and the people like Olbermann you associate with.
Isn't Rupert Murdoch on the board of AP?
MSNBC is getting ready for a meltdown. It is on all the sites. They are saying olbermann is getting so many complaints because of his know it all actions they are upset. I guess his ratings moving up some, he thinks he owns the place. They were in third place in the election coverage, and that was what the public complained about olbermanns coverage. They got sick of it...check out the net you'll find all the information.
The Dude Abides @ 6:
Dirty ol man shouts at clouds and stares at ass. Priceless!
OxyCon @ 44:
Con man!
The Dude Abides @ 6:
southy @ 42:
I agree. It apparently was not enough for Olbermann to criticize Babington for daring to criticique Obama's speech. He also believes that Babington should resign forthwith because Babington had the temerity to state that Obama was not specific in the proposals that he mentioned when he gave his speech. Perhaps this demonstrates that quasi liberals like Olbermann who wear their hearts on their sleeves for Obama can be just as intolerant of other people's opinions as those on the far right.
I noticed that also.
Olberman, and the public, know propaganda when they see it. Its on every cable and broadcast netwiork, in the papers and on the radio. He calls it out, which is what anyone with integrity should do. Who else out of all the the media point out the obvious hacks?
Erroll @ 50:
And what specifically has McCain proposed? Nothing yet but attacks. And, when the attacks start against your guy you want to gather all your marbles and go home so you don't have to listen to the truth.
What is it about people like you who consistently vote against your own interests. You walk with them, then when you turn your back they screw you in the arse. Maybe you all are closet homosexuals. Just come on out. We won't throw you under the wheels.
Olbermann comments if read on paper are tremendous. But delivered so stridently, he makes O'Relly look like Solomon (the Wise Man.)
chicano2nd @ 53:
Like so many Obamaniacs, you assume that if one dares to disagree with your candidate, then that automatically makes that person a supporter of John McCain. That is a fallacious assumption to make. Unfortunately, that observation proves to be not too surprising as you, apparently in desperation, decide to hurl sexual accusations at those who dare to criticize Obama. If I may suggest, try making your argument, if you have one, intellectually instead of reacting in such a puerile and emotional manner.
Marge @ 46:
Marge, do you walk around with knee pads? Google McCain and Forrestal. If you've been in the military in an enlisted position you would know that officers like McCain were lucky to get out of Nam alive. It's called fraggin. Guess he was lucky to get shot down.
OxyCon @ 44:
I was once an Olbermann fan and avid watcher for five years. He lost me earlier this year with his bias for Sen Obama. Stopped reading Americablog and Huffpo for the same reason.
abarts @ 57:
Olbermann has become the liberal copy of Bill O Reilly. Maddow and Todd and are the only two people I look forward to seeing when tuning into MSNBC.
Maryrosie @ 17:
Nice -- this is the kind of class comment that will lose the election for us. Grow up.
Erroll @ 50:
AP is supposed to be an unbiased new service, reporting events. When they start distributing editorials it is just propaganda, there is no news at all. Distributing opinion disguised as news is the worst kind of propaganda.
OxyCon @ 44:
Trolls ...
Olberman models himself on Edward R. Murrow, probably the greatest journalist ever, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and numerous Peabody Awards. He also won a Grammy and was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. You can't have a better role model than that. But if you are on the other side I guess you would look up to Goebbels.
mr babbington is just another paid liar for the GOP.
I wonder what these people are going to do when they meet their god?
I wonder what bush or chenny will say when god asks why they killed so many innocent people in Iraq?
Why they tortured so many people?
What will they say?
Loonie @ 9:
No question the "review" was written before he even gave the speech. That seven-minute error... applause-lag he failed to account for.
Each night Keith Olbermann delivers his "special comments' with such overwrought, humorless, bombastic, bathetic, scripted self-righteous indignation...he looks like a Howard Beale caricature.
orcas @ 61:
At least he has the balls to speak truth to power, which is apparently a whole lot more than you are willling to do. It's about time to get mad as hell and not take it any more.
Slightly Off Topic but was anyone else as repulsed as I was by David Brooks' commentary in Friday's NY Times?
Sample quote:
"...Barack and Michelle Obama, two tall, thin, rich, beautiful people who don’t perspire, but who nonetheless feel compassion for their squatter and smellier fellow citizens."
The entire piece was dripping with snide, unfunny remarks about delegates, Denver and all things non-Republican.
I've already sent a letter to the editor.
"And this is analysis that will be printed in many, many newspapers, hundreds of them around the country..."
KO
If only Keith could get hundreds and hundreds of viewers
What these nitwits don't understand is that they will not get specifics in campaign speeches.
Before retiring I wrote programs for mainframe computers. Bosses and users told me what input there was and what the results should look like.
It was up to me to develop the software and produce the result which then was reviewed, approved or rejected, or for additional changes.
The government works similarly. Obama tells congress what he wants, then the bees get to work on it. He will most likely never know the nitty gritty of it, because that is not his job.
-k- @ 65:
David Brooks not only looks like an imbecile, he IS an imbecile. I would no more read his right wing trash, than I would peruse incoherent Billy Kristol's dribble. They are both a total waste of space.
The Dude Abides @ 6:
Good for him! Just goes to show that snow on the roof doesn't mean there's no fire in the furnace. ;-)
The AP link to Bab's editorial has been changed to read 44 minutes.
It smacks of an 'analysis' that was written before the author had even heard the speech.
Just some of the great comments on:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/fire-keith-o...
"Oberdouche is an a_ _ _ hole and a waste of oxygen."
"K.O. is mentally ill, and if all is right with the world..eventually, he will have a meltdown right on the tube...."
"Faulty logic, half-truths and sarcasm. An imbecile who calls other people stupid. What a tool!"
Visit and leave a comment!
Newspapers should be encouraged to drop the AP.... and someone should start an alternative.
abarts @ 57:
I agree. If anyone watched Keith O or Bill Maher last night, full blown boy crushes on obama were over the top. I don't where this election will end up, but following either of these two foolish men is not an option for this Oklahoman.
CoIntelPro for Pronktastic Victory Over SCLM, DIEBOLD, ESS and SEQUOIA! @ 41:
Thanks, I knew it couldn't be a real group of Democrats that pissed off by Obama's success to vote for McCain. They had to be close by to McCain to begin with.
douglas in oklahoma @ 73:
What about that gushing from Pat Buchanan then? Was that over the top too? My suggestion is that you are a troll who had never planned to vote for Obama and want to take a dig at KO and BM. Now I'm not slamming voters from Oklahoma, those "boys" (KO/BM) are pretty bright and have some degree of success. So be up front, you don't want to vote for Obama. Say it. Its O.K. Don't blame others. Be an adult.
#75
I will take your advice and be an adult and state on the record that I will not vote for a militaristic and corporate candidate such as Barack Obama whose foreign policy advisers Madeline Albright, Warren Christopher and Anthony Lake [those three are not exactly the paradigm of change that Obama keeps talking about] will only add more misery and suffering to the Afghani and Iraqi people.
It's ironic because I was at the speech and was interviewed by AP, I made sure to voice my complaint about the slanted coverage as well. (So I doubt they'd release the footage, that and I was wearing an MSNBC cap)
Killshot @ 59:
No it's called she's a hypocrite and the connies would do the same thing, facts be damned. Grow some balls and let's start digging into the rumor of Palin's daughter's bastard child.
The rumor is that Sarah Palin was never pregnant in 2008. When she announced that she was 7 months pregnant to her staff, everyone was shocked because she didn't look pregnant. At the same time, her 16 year old daughter was out from school for 6 months claiming a prolonged bout with mono. Sarah Palin says that her water broke on August 18th around 4 in the morning at a Texas convention. She then decided to give a speech she'd been planning at the event and got permission from her doctor to fly 8 hours to Alaska before giving birth.
The rumor in Anckorage is that Palin's daughter was actually the one who was pregnant and the Governess claimed the child as hers. Some say that the oldest daughter, in this image, is actually beginning to show signs of her own pregnancy. The image is recent, but before the fifth child was born. More information and interesting comments here:
http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/sarah-palin/22236/the-fully-vetted-...
'foxnews' Fournier.... thats his new nom de plume
Whoa! Look at all the Keith haters! PUMAs and trolls all I'll bet. As a former long-time professional broadcaster, allow me to inject so clarity.
Caller one. Orcas, what's on your mind today?
Orcas sez:
Not true. Thus far this in this year (an election year no less) Olbermann has done a total of 8 "special comments." Since it's Sept. 25, 2006 inception there have been a grand total of 32 "Special Comments" -- an average of 1.4 per month.
Thanks for checking in, Orcas. We go to Marge on line two.
Marge sez:
Which sites, Marge? Salon's War Room? HuffPoo? Believe it on not this is actually good for MSNBC. Controversy sells. At the very least this will lead to short-term ratings gains. Countdown didn't truly become a ratings force until Keith's "Special Comments" and his retaliatory attacks on Big Bad Bill. Hell, Rupe's TV empire was built on a combo of 91210, NFL football and O'Reilly's spat format.
Don’t get me wrong. MSNBC’s DNC coverage was a unqualified disaster. But much of the blame lies on the network’s (including individual shows’) producers and tech people. Keithy, Tweety, Joey et al didn’t choose the set locations, blow the audio feed at the beginning of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s opening speech (WTF!!??!!) and others or decide whose speeches were heard in their entirety (if at all). This is very frustrating to the on-air talent (and Joe Scarborough too). That frustration, exacerbated by some garden-variety ego-friction, resulted in the unprofessional antics by the aforementioned.
Also worth noting: I’ve been to a ton of conventions. A day or two in it's possible to become slightly irritable due to sleep deprivation, partying and the like.
Marge sez:
They are getting "so many complaints" because you and Orcas flood their switchboard.
Onto our next and final caller. Orcas, you're back on the air:
Orcas sez:
The "political pundits" on Larry King were all hardcore Republican operatives. They included McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds(R), Florida Governor Charlie Crist(R), so-called “libertarian” Larry Elder(R), Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor(R), the extraordinarily idiotic Ben Stein(R) and ex-McCain spokesmanTodd Harris(R). Republicans all. Hardly a "fair and balanced" group. Fox News? I won't dignify that with a response. Charles Babington is in mighty interesting company indeed. 'Nuff said.
Lest I forget Larry King's Thursday nite panel(R) scaled the heights of douchbaggery trying, unsuccessfully I might add, to blame Bill Clinton for 9/11 too.
Thank you Captain Obvious.
That's it for today folks. Until next time...
-AF
Andrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
I liked Olbermann better when he did sports. He's too much preachy-pundit, and not enough journalist for me to enjoy him. Why can't he be like Bryant Gumbel and do both equally well?
Looks like AP got it right and Olbermann got it wrong.
Sorry, Keith.
According to the Gallup Daily Tracking poll, Obama's appearance and speech landed like a thud on the eyes and ears of the American people. On the other hand, Hillary and Bill's appearances and speeches did provide a modest uptick for Obama during the convention.
August 31, 2008
Gallup Daily: Obama-Biden Ticket Leads by 6 Points. No further increase for Obama since before Thursday’s speech
http://www.gallup.com/poll/109903/Gallup-Daily-ObamaBiden-Ticket-Leads-P...
[[[USA Election 2008 Gallup Daily Americas Northern America PRINCETON, NJ -- Gallup Poll Daily tracking from Aug. 28-30, including two days of interviewing since the close of the Democratic National Convention, finds Barack Obama with a six percentage point lead over John McCain in the presidential contest, 48% to 42%.
...As the recent trend shows, Obama did not gain any additional support in the poll since his generally well-reviewed acceptance speech on Thursday night. ]]]
The daily tracking polls shows that Obama got zero bump as a result of his appearance and his speech at the convention and all of his bounce...that's right, all of it...come directly after the much anticipated speeches by Hillary and Bill Clinton. Two days after Obama's appearance and speech at the convention, his momentary Hillary and Bill bounce is already falling.
Any pundit or commentator who suggests otherwise is trying to mislead you for their own purposes.
Me, it that really You? Your Clinton-loyalty is quite touching but get real. By almost every mainstream media account including your Gallup Poll quote states Obama's speech was "generally well-reviewed"! In fact according to Saturday's Gallup Daily Poll
America gave Obama an "A":
Predictably Babington, Fox News & various conservative/Republican lap dogs were the dissenters. And you, Me. I know you're bitter and twisted about Hillary not being nominated but that's not the point. Don't carry the right wing's water for them.
Me, come back to us. Be You again. Because that's the Me we all knew and loved. Our nation's very future depends on it. Bill and Hillary are waiting...
-AF
Andrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
A note re: daily polling... due to their very methodology i.e. small sample size -- usually around 3000-5000 people, quick turnaround time, etc., daily polls often prove unreliable. Certain outside factors may also greatly impact an individual poll's "accuracy" including conducting/tallying a poll on the Friday & Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. It was highly unlikely that Obama's campaign would see a nomination speech "bump" (or to coin a phrase: a "populist fist-jab") before this week.
Nope. It looks like 4 days after his big day the same Gallup Daily Tracking poll that totally nailed the outcome of the 2004 presidential election is still showing that Barack Obama's "generally well-reviewed" speech can't match the marginal "lead" Hillary and Bill managed to squeak out for him.
http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08gen.htm#Gallup
It has definitely gone from the Hillary and Bill-generated 8 point lead for him midway through the convention...back down to a middling Obama-generated 6 point lead for himself. Obama has still yet to see a single digit bounce from that speech of his and instead has only seen a drop in the polls after he gave it.
wow. And this is before McCain/Palin has even one day of his convention.
I thought the Obots assured us Obama's numbers vs McCain were going to skyrocket juuuuuust as soon as he no longer had to lose key/battleground states, major demographics critical to winning a general election, the electoral vote metric and the popular vote to Hillary Clinton in the primaries.
Hasn't turned out that way, has it?
Login or Register to post comments.