August 30, 2006 Keith Olbermann
Most of mainstream media's television and print news are proving that Eric Boehlert was exceptionally accurate when he titled his book "Lapdogs." One rare exception is Keith Olbermann. If it weren't for his MSNBC show, COUNTDOWN, we may not have seen a more damning report, titled "The Nexus of Politics and Terror," on the politically advantageous "perfect timing" of many of the "terror threats" the Bush Administration has issued from 2002 through October of last year. Olbermann updated and reaired the segment on August 14 (see the video), following the announcements of arrests in a British terrorism investigation. The timing of those announcements were a request of the Bush administration and were preceded by "excoriating comments by leading Republicans about leading Democrats" and came on the heels of anti-war Ned Lamont's victory over Joe Lieberman. Coincidence? Perhaps. Yet, has even one other television reporter checked the facts of those threats or dug as hard to uncover the truth as Keith Olbermann? We're still waiting. Instead, the mainstream media keeps rolling over on their backs, begging the White House to scratch their bellies with a new "terror threat" they can sell to their viewers. As the lapdogs well know, fear sells -- and it has considerable partisan political benefits. Olbermann is a model for a new pro-democracy media on television because he understands that to get anywhere in mainstream news, you have to be entertaining and have an appealing personal style. However, Olbermann stands above the pack, using his wit, class, and credibility to do what most other mainstream media reporters refuse to do -- hold the Bush Administration's feet to the fire with the hard facts! That's why Keith Olbermann is being honored with this week's BuzzFlash "Wings of Justice Award."
You can read the transcripts here. * * * Nominated by Tom Wieliczka of Windsor Locks, CT
HONOREES | NOMINATE | ABOUT | HOME Wings of Justice is a project of BuzzFlash.com |
