Keith Olbermann comments on Bev Harris

[Syrinx]

Complicating our effort is the fact that even as we hoped to provide a platform to publicize and illuminate her efforts, Ms. Harris had returned none of the messages left on her own voicemail by Countdown staffers since she spoke to our staffers briefly, twice, during the week of November 8. Only today did she even get back in touch with us, and was so belligerent, threatening, and demanding, that we have chosen to withdraw our invitation to her to appear, or to have videotape of her efforts played, on Countdown.

Threats against myself or my staff will not be tolerated. We are not only busting our humps on the voting irregularities beat, but we remain the only mainstream news organization to continue to cover this vital story. These are my people — they are running professional risks I can’t begin to describe — and I will stand up for them, first, last, and always.

E-mail me at [e-mail]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6210240/

[Lucky Luciano]

1. This war of egos

is idiotic.

[Old and In the Way]

4. I agree.......what is up with?

Keeerist, these 2 people ought to be working hand-in-glove on this.....both can help each other's work so much. It's non-sensical, really.

But based on Bev's posts here, I tend to believe KO on this....too bad, really.

[4democracy]

12. Exactly, I can just see Rove's face as we destroy ourselves from inside

out. Divide and conquer,isn't that his motto? Now with all this dissent on the board, people are forgetting about the issues and concentrating on "he said, she said". It is starting to be a regular soap opera and we are playing right into Rove (and his partners in crime) dirty little hands.

[T Town Jake]

19. You've expressed my exact same thoughts on the entire...

...imbroglio, precisely.

[Merlin]

2. Bev is not exactly a master of finesse. But she has redeeming qualities.

She is a bright, dogged, relentless, knowledgeable, tough-minded street fighter. I'll take that any day over diplomat.

Still it would be good if she'd let somebody do PR for her.

[faithnotgreed]

14. very fine points you make. each one

i really only know a little about this situation and all its offshoots. but from the little i do know, i have to say i can appreciate what keith says here. he is the only mainstream person out there giving a damn and he doesnt strike me as someone who is bogged down in ego. he has always seemed sane and smart and capable of telling the truth when no one else on television can say the same.... but then again i certainly dont know him so i really cant say that i do.

its very sad that they cant work together since it seemed to be right there, waiting - and needing - to happen. for that i am very sorry to see all this break down esp right now.

however, i wish keith could keep his eyes only on the goal because he strikes me as someone who would. he has to be able to rely on the person he is getting information from. he is taking risks on a national scale and must be able to depend on his sources and protect those working with him, as well as the platform on msnbc that he has worked for. i have no idea what happened and often time these kind of things happen when both sides either miscommunicated something or get emotional because of the heat of the battle. from either side, i could understand this would happen because theres so much at stake for all involved and it certainly is high risk, hard work and probably little sleep

i thank keith for his incredible work.
and
i surely thank bev as well, for working so very hard on something not many others were willing to do. she deserves a heck of a lot.

[InvisibleBallots]

16. I trust Bev Harris 100% more than I trust Keith "Corporate Actor" Olbermin

I have a lot of respect for Keith Obermein for talking about the voting problems, even if he did have to go on that vacation right in the middle of the scandal. As far as I can tell he's the only Corporate Media Whore talking about it, and therefore, the only Corporate Media Whore I ever bother to watch. He can at least count me in his ratings.

But I've been reading http://www.blackboxvoting.org and reading Bev Harris' articles for what, 4 years now? She has my trust, she was fighting back before MSCBS was saying diddly shit about Diebold and their election fraud machines.

So I assume Keith Oberenn's editors at ABC/Disney decided it would cause some controvery to diss Ms. Harris, and it would get some ratings, so you should expect it from these kinds of people. I'll skip the next episode, and wait until Keith what's his name gets back to discussing Republican voting fraud. When the lousy editors stop feeding me lines like this, I might start paying attention again:

"Threats against myself or my staff will not be tolerated. We are not only busting our humps on the voting irregularities beat, but we remain the only mainstream news organization to continue to cover this vital story."

Lol! You guys, anything for ratings! What, Karl Rove and the CEO of Diebold were too big to go after, so you decided to attack a decent regular American trying to make elections fair? What jerks, but then again what do you expect from the biggest whores in the USA?

[leftofthedial]

36. Sorry, but I don't see how there is any blame in this scenario

for anyone but Bev.

I work with the media on a daily basis. When they can help your cause, you work with them. Period.

[InvisibleBallots]

39. Corporate Media is no friend of mine, ever.

Different values I guess. We can still all work together to elect Democrats.

[leftofthedial]

42. The one show that is virtually single-handedly keeping this issue alive

and you dismiss that because you hate "corporate media?"

That's smart.

This is not a values issue.

[InvisibleBallots]

45. why "corporate media" in quotes?

Corporate media has a specific meaning. I don't hate it, but I obviously don't trust it any more than I would trust, say, pyramid schemes, creationism, or "money back guarentees".

[leftofthedial]

48. so I can safely assume you don't sell Amway?

Olbermann is providing a service immensely valuable to Bev's cause.

Not working with him is incompetent.

[InvisibleBallots]

52. maybe, not trusting MSNBC/Keither Olberman is wise

Sure it's kind of silly to say this, but MSNBC technically speaking does have a financial interest in Diebold. I simply don't trust MSNBC at all. I like what I've heard of Keither Olberman so far - maybe he will earn my trust eventually. Certainly not now. Bev Harris has.

[leftofthedial]

55. so Bev should avoid talking to anyone who works for any corporation

she should stay off the radio, except for those 5-watt jobbies owned by individuals.

she should not grant any press interviews.

In fact, you and I should not be communicating right now on a network that is built on a backbone of telco fiber, using these nasty computers that are manufactured by the same companies that make the computers used to help kill people in Iraq.

. . . ?

[InvisibleBallots]

59. she should avoid being ambushed by the corporate media, yes

and if I had a nickle for everytime some grassroots activist like Bev Harris got set up and ambushed by some Corporate Whore, and edited to look like some crazy conspiracy monger, I would be a wealthy man.

If Bev Harris is suspicious of MSNBC and Keither Olbermin, she has every right to be. And relying on MSNBC to "get our message out" is a fool's wager. They are not on our side, ever.

The fact that MSNBC and Keither Olberman took this opportunity to attack Bev Harris instead of keeping the focus on the people committing election fraud says a lot, doesn't it?

So far, I like what he has to say, but he should stop attacking Bev Harris and get back to his job.

[leftofthedial]

69. that's paranoia

sadly, paranoia is not wholly unreasonable in Murka these days.

Still, this is foolish.

Who has olbermann ever "ambushed?" He's been on the air in one capacity or another for a long time now and I've never seen him resort to "ambush" tactics.

You compared him to O'Reilly earlier. That is completely unfounded.

You also called him a paid actor and said he simply reads his lines. He definitely tries to entertain in an intelligent way, but he writes his own material. He has quit at least two very high profile jobs because he refused to be manipulated by his employers.

If Bev is devoted to this issue, she should have exploited the opportunity to present her case on Olbermann's show, plain and simple.

It also is a bit absurd to characterize the overall situation as Olbermann "attacking" Bev Harris. It sounds to me like Bev was unprofessional. Even if she believes Olbermann to be an evil tool of an evil system, bent on ruining her, she should have responded in a timely and professional manner. Her protracted unresponsiveness, followed by what appears to be an unprovoked and unjustifiable attack of Olbermann is not only unprofessional, it indicates incompetence, calls into question her commitment to getting her message out, makes her look like some sort of crank, and seems almost designed to create a critical response in return from Olbermann.

This is a huge lost opportunity to bring the cause of voting integrity to a large, mainstream audience.

[InvisibleBallots]

72. "he writes his own material" - Lol!

I bet he does! Lol! ha ha ha :)

[leftofthedial]

73. he's a seriously funny and witty man

never mind.

[priapis]

74. how does msnbc have financial interest in diebold?

[Syrinx]

47. I take it you don't know much about Keith Olbermann

He doesn't take shit from anyone. Fox, Espn, Nbc, Bev Harris... He tells them all they can go cheney themselves. But he always pops back up, because he is good at what he does.

[InvisibleBallots]

50. he is paid by MSNBC, and marketed towards "Liberal" Democrats

I know enough. He is slated to be the next Bill OReally, and he's probably good enough to pull it off. He's talking about the election fraud. Good for him. He's reading a script like the other actors, and I certainly respect his talents.

[Syrinx]

51. he writes his own script

6,000 words each day.

[InvisibleBallots]

53. Does Bill OReailly write his own scripts too?

They all say that.

[Syrinx]

58. I doubt it, but don't really care about the nazi asshole.

[ailsagirl]

3. I do know that, according to Ed Schultz,

Bev isn't always so good at answering emails. I had emailed him about her once and he responded that she needs to answer her emails.

Not to put her down!! She probably doesn't have a minute's peace with all this going on.

[aquart]

9. How many emails do you think she gets hourly???

Think YOU could answer them? And do anything else?

[Merlin]

11. Hmmmm. How about delegating?

This doesn't have to be a one-person show.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

15. I Think If I Was Contacted by Keith Olbermann

I'd find a way to respond.

DTH

[InvisibleBallots]

46. when Olberman gets a reputation, perhaps he would be worth it

Just because MSNBC pays him and broadcasts his show on TV stations doesn't mean he's worth time dealing with. When the corporate media puts on someone just to trash them, it's sometimes better to ignore them. Hell, why do any Democratic candidates bother going on FOX? Their limited cable audience is hardly worth dealing with their attacks.

I don't know the specifics of this situation, I doubt any of us do. But I don't take the word of any employee of Microsoft/NBC at face value, especially when they are attacking grass roots activists about election fraud. After all, Microsoft makes a lot of money selling Access to Diebold, why would Bill Gates tell the truth and lose money? He's obviously not stupid.

[Andromeda]

64. You have a right to your opinion...

but if I was Bev I would not burn all my bridges. KO is the only journalist who has touched this issue and she really needs somebody who can do a little public relations for her or she is going to alienate so many people that nobody is going to listen to her.

What good is knowing about this if you have such an obnoxious personality you put people off?

[leftofthedial]

37. how many emails do you think she gets hourly from COUNTDOWN?!?!?!???

Cheezis. It is nothing short of incompetence for her not to exploit that kind of an ally, in that kind of position to further her cause.

Sheesh! C'Mon Bev!

[Sperk]

5. So much for his ratings spike.....Keith got "the call".And I don't mean

from Bev. Are we to believe that a journalist is ready to drop a potentially huge story because he got a nasty call? Or should I say his bookers got a nasty call. I am making an assumption that Keith didn't talk to her directly. You'd think he'd make an exception this once for such an important issue. I guess he didn't like it when Bev demanded that he retract his misleading statements on a previous blog.

Bev is investigating a possible felony....she doesn't owe it to anyone to reveal what she has until she's good and ready. Time will tell if she gets the goods or not.

Bye Keith....guess I'm back to a total t.v. news blackout again.

[The Traveler]

20. He didn't drop the story

He dropped Bev. His position seems to be something like: "Someone else can have that scoop if they want it ... I am not allowing people to abuse my staff."

Which, professionally, is a pretty gutsy line to take since the story is beginning to pick up interest in other MSM channels due to the ratings spike Keith has enjoyed.

Bev is a bulldog, and man I am so grateful she is, but my sense is she has a temper and over-reacted to the "put up or shut up" signal Keith recently sent. Hopefully, apologies will be uttered and Keith won't be cut out of that aspect of the story.

But there are other aspects of the story and I see no sign he has decided to drop them.

I myself can only imagine the pressures both are experiencing right now and am reluctant to dump on either one of them.

[InvisibleBallots]

60. poor, abused staff! Lol!

Yeah, heated phone calls make these staffers cry, why, politics is a gentleman's sport! Bev Harris should be gentle with these Yalie grads!

Come on, let's all be serious here.

[The Traveler]

63. Dude

You call my people up on the phone and bitch them out, threaten them, and such ... and I will be right in your face. You gotta a problem with me, then you take it to me. Leave my subordinates out of it.

Olbermann seems to feel the same way and I respect that. If you don't, it probably means you have never been responsible for helping develop the careers of people younger than yourself. When you do, you'll understand it better.

[InvisibleBallots]

65. you would do what you boss said to do, nothing more Traveler

If MSNBC said they really wanted Bev Harris on, you would kiss her ass. If they said to be hostile, you would. That's how media works. Don't bullshit us with the "respect your subordinates" crap - is that how Hollywood works? "Your people, my people" - oh please.

Keither Olbersteing may be a great guy, but he is getting a big fat paycheck for saying what his bosses want him to say. Let's not be naive here, okay? When MSNBC takes time to diss Bev Harris and grassroots activists, I'll take the time to stick up for them. Simple really.

[The Traveler]

66. I hear ya

and let's face it neither of us is fully privy to all the details of this public pissing contest. But, again, I consider the pressures on all the individuals involved. Bev is fighting the good fight, and Keith is trying to do a job his management ain't fully comfortable with. Bev is known for blowing her cool ... sorry, but that's the case. (Given the magnitude of her up hill battle, I find that entirely forgiveable and understandable. Her frustration factor has to be about 11.5 on a richter scale of 10.) I believe her "lockdown story" (independent confirmation) and so I know Keith and his people had to know they were hanging it out over the edge.

Keith may have already fulfilled his role ... getting attention drawn to the basic issue. Tnis story AIN'T going away now. Bev will have her day ... it just probably won't be on Keith's show.

[The Traveler]

67. Oh, and BTW

when it came down to it, I wound up resigning.

There's more than one way to make a living.

[InvisibleBallots]

56. Jon Stewart has more credibility than Keith Olberman

I do hope that Keith Olberman will catch up to Jon Stewart some day. If any can do it, he can.

[InvisibleBallots]

61. I hope you are wrong, Sperk, but my cynical side says

you are 100% correct. Let's hope we're both way off.

"Are we to believe that a journalist is ready to drop a potentially huge story because he got a nasty call? Or should I say his bookers got a nasty call."

Exactly. You hit the nail on the head.

[Ducks In A Row]

6. He's a lying sack of shit

[symbolman]

29. funny

some people feel that way about Bev Harris.. at least that's what I'm reading..

of course if someone called Bev a lying sack of shit they'd get tombstoned I bet..

me, I'm more diplomatic than that.. I just didn't bother sending her money, better to give to the DU..

[Sperk]

7. one more thing....too bad he wont stand up for the truth.".first, last and

always".

[crispini]

8. Oh, this discussion has already been BEATEN TO DEATH

over in "election results"

Please go over there and look for the threads.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

10. I ain't killin' off good guys.

I ain't playin'.

[kentuck]

13. Me neither....

I'm not taking sides....Let them work it out. We support both of them.

[goclark]

26. Support Bev and Keith

the are both A type personalities and have big egos.

They are both Super Stars and we love them.

Rove would love to have them fighting each other.

For ONCE let's not give him what he wants.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

17. There's an Old Saying: Never Get in a Fight With Someone Who Buys Ink

by the barrel.

This reminds me of when McCain flew off the handle at Michael Reagan in 2000 and blew any chance of getting his endorsement. Sure, maybe McCain felt better afterwards, but getting that endorsement sure would've helped his campaign.

Same thing here. Regardless of the particulars of the spat (and based on Bev's unwisely combative response, my guess is that Olbermann's version is probably correct), Bev is going to be on the losing end of it. Which is too bad, since I think having her work spotlighted on Countdown would've been very helpful.

DTH

[InvisibleBallots]

18. Bev Harris is the greatest, screw anyone who says otherwise

No one would be saying jack about anything if it wasn't for Bev Harris.

[Forkboy]

22. Idol worship

[InvisibleBallots]

24. Bev Harris has a reputation, Keith Olberstein has a marketing demographic

Bev Harris has a 4 year record of action, Keith Olbemen has a job with MBSBC trying to recruit an audience among Democratic partisans. Who do you trust? Before there was ad space to be sold, Bev Harris was there. Keith "When the going gets tough, I go on vacation" Ostermann needs to pay his dues like Bev Harris has before I give him the time of day.

Yeah, I've read about his show, but haven't watched it yet. What time is it on? What channel? If I read about it on http://www.blackboxvoting.org I MIGHT watch sometime.

[Forkboy]

25. The defense rests

[InvisibleBallots]

27. and the jury has reached a verdict

[DoveTurnedHawk]

28. Yeah. We Find for Forkboy.

:evilgrin:

DTH

[InvisibleBallots]

30. you find for MSNBC you mean?

Choosing hired hand Keight Olberman over grassroots activist Bev Harris? Perhaps I'm in the wrong place.

[Forkboy]

31. Perhaps

[DoveTurnedHawk]

32. Bev Has a History Here

Her history here jibes almost 100% with what Olbermann is saying.

DTH

[InvisibleBallots]

38. I know Harris' history, I've read her for four years

I've never met her in person, or talked to her personally, or know anything about her other than her public internet record. I know that MSNBC wants ratings, to sell ads, and wants to position this guy as a "Liberal" version of Bill O'Reailly.

I don't know the facts of the situation - no one does - but I have solidarity with Bev Harris, and none with MSNBC. That's all it boils down to for me.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

41. She Has Burned More Bridges Than Madison County Possesses

Plan 9 Pub, Symbolman, her threats of suing DU, Olbermann, you name a bridge, and she's burned it.

DTH

[InvisibleBallots]

43. you trust MSNBC/Olberman, I'll trust Bev Harris

we can agree to disagree. Maybe she's a real jerk, I don't know. When her website suggests tuning into MSNBC to watch what's his name, I will. Until then, I'm reading Bev Harris' site and ignoring the corporate media. Different folks, different strokes, yadda yadda...

http://www.blackboxvoting.org
http://www.verifiedvoting.org
http://www.cooperativeresearch.org

[Forkboy]

33. Heh...thanks...here's the five bucks I promised

:D

[DoveTurnedHawk]

34. Dayum, I Am One Cheap Whore

:D

DTH

[Forkboy]

40. If I had a nickel for every time I've heard that!

:)

[Dem2theMax]

68. I just have to say this.

You sound just like a repub who hasn't seen Fahrenheit 9-11, yet insists that it's full of lies --

"Yeah, I've read about his show, but haven't watched it yet. What time is it on? What channel? If I read about it on http://www.blackboxvoting.org I MIGHT watch sometime."

Keith is the ONLY person in the MEDIA who has been on this from day one. Jon Stewart isn't even talking about it. Keith had his vacation schedule set back in AUGUST. I am thankful for what Bev has done and is doing. But I've also seen her go ballistic on DU. So I wouldn't put it past her to do the same to the Countdown people.

If you are going to go after Olbermann, maybe you ought to watch the show on a daily basis like the rest of us. At least then you'll have some facts at hand, instead of going off on him with nothing to back it up.

[InvisibleBallots]

71. I saw F911 on opening night in NYC

I even got interviewed by Japanese TV about it coming out of the theater. My opinion? Moore's best work second (barely) only to Roger and Me, which is in my top 10 favorite movies of all time.

I've read Olberwhatever's blog, never watched his show. As I said, I trust Bev Harris more than I trust any employee of MSNBC, simple. If that makes me a Republican, well, I just don't know what to say.

Maybe Bev Harris is a real jerk, I don't know, and I don't care. Go Bev Harris, she's the best! Just consider me Bev Harris's unofficial, unpaid, PR flunky, if MSNBC can afford them for Keitht Olberween, then the least I can do if offer my volunteer services to http://www.blackboxvoting.org

[goclark]

21. Does Keith want us to email him ?

What does he want us to say?

I say everyone that is working 24/7 on this issue is tired.
Tempers are flaring.

Why are two grown people, acting like crabs in a barrel!

[hangloose]

23. Bev needs a PR person, she driven and the nature of what she

has to do is confrontational. Can you imagine butting heads with those crooks all day Evey day. How does one just shut it off and be cordial even with Keith. Not defending her but she needs to delegate, I qualify that by assuming she has someone to delegate to.

[Syrinx]

49. Bev Harris *IS* a PR person

Or so she claims. And she sold Clinton/Lewinsky cigars to stand up for Democracy I guess.

[Merlin]

54. A public personage who does their own PR has a fool for a client.

Bev is hot-headed, blunt and feisty. She has no business getting anywhere near a major media figure without having first undergone extensive meditation.

She definitely needs somebody as a spokesperson.

[InvisibleBallots]

62. MSNBC is the problem, not Bev Harris

"Bev is hot-headed, blunt and feisty."

My kind of person.

"She has no business getting anywhere near a major media figure without having first undergone extensive meditation."

The less I hear about MSNBC and the actors they hire, the better. The fact they throw us a bone with Keith what's his name just makes it worse.

"She definitely needs somebody as a spokesperson"

Better she spends more time talking to us than wasting time getting berated by whores on TV. Just different values, that's all.

[leftofthedial]

35. what the hell is up with Bev H?

why would she not make nice and bend over backwards to work with Countdown?

Makes no sense to me at all.

I am very bummed about this.

[Merlin]

57. She's under pressure and she was pissed about what he did to her the...

night before. Bev has a hair trigger and she tends to jump down the throat of those seeking to help her at times.

She needs PR help.

[leftofthedial]

70. Let's get her some help then

he made a very minor little wisecrack about her as I recall

but he consistently takes her issue and her findings more seriously than anyone else in teh MSM.

[Coltrane]

44. Bev Harris

Go to http://www.crooksandliars.com/ if you want to see the video clip of Olbermann

[Moderator]

75. Locking

To consolidate these threads, please post here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x106819