On Monday, Keith Olbermann delivered a post-script to his Special Comment from last week in which he told President Bush to “shut the hell up.” Since some lunatic fringe commentators were deliberately twisting Keith’s words and implying that he called American soldiers — and not Bush administration officials, to whom he was clearly referring — “cold-blooded killers who will kill people to achieve their political objectives,” he felt compelled to clarify his remarks.
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It seems to me that these right-wingers have inadvertently shown their true colors, their instinctive hatred of and contempt for, these self-sacrificing Americans, who have been needlessly placed in harm’s way by these very commentators and the politicians they support.
They hear criticism of our nation’s collective conduct in Iraq, and immediately assume it’s the fault of the soldiers.
In the wake of an insult that exists only in their minds and never in my words nor in my heart, there remains, I think, only one question to ask: Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin: Why do you hate our troops?
Full transcripts below the fold:
And, finally, as promised a reiteration tonight regarding last week’s Special Comment.
You may remember Mr. Bush had used a cumbersome phrase to describe insurgents in Iraq: “cold-blooded killers who will kill people to achieve their political objectives.”
Last Wednesday, I quoted the phrase to say that Mr. Bush had now also given America “cold-blooded killers who will kill people to achieve their political objectives.”
I identified them as Mr. Bush’s personnel — quote “those in - or formerly in - your employ, who may yet be charged some day with war crimes.” I also described the chaos of post-invasion Iraq, with “an American viceroy, enforced by merciless mercenaries who shoot unarmed Iraqis and then evade prosecution in any country by hiding behind” Mr. Bush’s skirts.
No writer nor broadcaster is ever as clear and precise as he thinks he is.
Television goes by quickly and the viewer is not provided a copy of a script.
So it is possible that reasonable viewers might have been confused by exactly to whom I referred, especially considering I edited the original line: “Mr. Bush, at long last, has it not dawned on you that the America you have now created, includes cold-blooded killers who will kill people to achieve their political objectives? They are called your Cabinet. And your Pentagon.”
During the editing process it seemed that was a little broad — that there appear to be men in both places — General Ricardo Sanchez, former Secretary of State Powell, perhaps even Secretary of Defense Gates — who did not merit inclusion in that list.
Obviously, my use of Mr. Bush’s phrase “cold-blooded killers” did not refer to U.S. troops.
I have never had anything but the highest respect for them and their sacrifice.
This newscast constantly advocates their causes, their needs, our collective debt to them. And we constantly call out the administration’s failure to honor them, to protect them, to stop the Pentagon from sticking a band-aid on those whose hearts and minds are broken and send them back for another tour.
The U.S. troops in Iraq, even those few who have done bad things, are victims in this equation.
And most are the proverbial innocent bystanders.
My use of Mr. Bush’s phrase “cold-blooded killers” referred not to them, but rather those former and current members of Mr. Bush’s administration and Pentagon who so irresponsibly unleashed the hounds of war, and may indeed some day face war crimes trials.
And that phrase “merciless mercenaries” seemed to be self-explanatory.
Neither are these U.S. troops, not when there are literally mercenaries in Mr. Bush’s employ, principally from Blackwater-USA, who literally shot unarmed Iraqis, most infamously in a massacre in Baghdad last September.
But strangely, when the terms “cold-blooded killers” and “mercenaries” were used in a public forum, my critics in the lunatic fringe, rather than even considering that the criticism even might be directed at the Pentagon or the administration or Blackwater-USA, immediately decided that these were descriptions of our American heroes fighting in Iraq.
It is perhaps instructive, that to the right-wing commentators, and the right-wing blogs, those terms should first evoke not the war-mongers of the Pentagon or the gun-men from Blackwater… but U.S. troops.
I cannot imagine that kind of evil knee-jerk reflex.
I feel very sorry for those who have shown it.
It seems to me that these right-wingers have inadvertently shown their true colors, their instinctive hatred of and contempt for, these self-sacrificing Americans, who have been needlessly placed in harm’s way by these very commentators and the politicians they support.
They hear criticism of our nation’s collective conduct in Iraq, and immediately assume it’s the fault of the soldiers.
In the wake of an insult that exists only in their minds and never in my words nor in my heart, there remains, I think, only one question to ask:
Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin: why do you hate our troops?
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Thank god for people like Keith Olbermann.
Way to turn it back on them.
Olbermann was on last night! I loved his special comment and it was great how he cited Rachel Maddow for beating Billo in the ratings!
He looks pretty crispy in that screengrab though. Almost Oompa Loompa-like, or even worse… Lou Dobbs-like.
theWalrus @ 1:
Amen.
I sent under-equipped troops into an unnecessary war.
I am a war criminal who is resposible and liable for their deaths and injuries.
I am George W Bush and every right-wing radio tool.
They hate our troops because they haven’t got the guts to go fight the wars they celebrate and push for.
They hate the troops because the troops don’t kill fast enough. There hasn’t been enough bloodshed of the Arab peoples yet and there needs to be more. Blackwater did it, but so far no one else has. So they hate, they hate some more, and they hate a lot.
I think Laura Ingrate and Anne Coultergeist are actually the same guy, just a different wig.
I was in Houston last week and missed the SC then.
It was the first hotel that had actually had msnbc-usually it is just CNN and Fox.
I heard some bad anti-democrat jokes and our waiter was enlisting saying I am fighting them there so….
Otherwise it was very pleasant trip and KO Rocks.
Right on, Keith!!! Another home run for the man who speaks truth to power (okay, albeit resident and stolen power). Nevertheless, the right question to the right. The right having such convoluted logic that up to them is actually down or sideways, hopefully there is nothing in Keith’s words to them they can misconstrue.
What about Keith’s earlier piece showing Richard Engel’s interview of Busholini which, as shown in its entirety as the WH demanded, displays all the petulance, scheming and smirking of the chimperor? A sitting (p)resident who doesn’t look someone in the eye when answering a question.
He (Busholini) is unquestionably a FUCKING LIAR. And a bad one at that!
emphasa @ 7:
Right Wing Hate Radio at its best.
For years most right wing politicians, and some left wing, have been using the flag, the bible, and children to shut up critics and distort thier message.
Now they’re using the “troops.”
Why do you hate our troops?
because the troops are from lower and lower middle class families, because the troops are of the “minority” persuasion, because a
tool is a tool is a tool is a tool!!
To be fair, right wingers only hate the troops who don’t have the decency to just shut up and get shot at, so that said wingers can pat each other on the back and breathlessly compliment each other on how patriotic they are. The troops who disagree with right wingers and who ask for medical services for their lost limbs are the only troops they actually hate.
Whenever I hear Mark Levin, all I can picture is a 93-year old man waving his walking cane in the air screaming at some kids to get off his lawn.
He may not be 93-years old, but he sure sounds like he is.
Legalize @ 14:
QFT
Chico Hussein @ 15:
Levin-McCain, separated at birth?
There is Liberal and there is Conservative. The President has his own ground. He’s staked out “Stupid”, and he a his followers have a firm grasp on it.
Chico Hussein @ 16:
I think Levin sounds like Fire Marshall Bill from In Living Color. In a long list of right wing radio whack jobs, Levin is among the worst of the worst.
Another factor in their hatred is fear. Fear that they may be asked to enlist and put their lives on the line in this war they’ve been cheering on.
Wow….Olbermann!!! You sir, kick ass!
I will listen to lunatic Mark Levin on night time drive, but only in small snippets. No one with a real brain or conscience can tolerate the kind of half truthed, half baked, intellectually dishonest nonsense that this bloated gasbag emits under the guise of commentary, for more than several minutes at a time.
While entertaining at times, in a watching a train wreck kind of way, the show is of course tiresome. Hour after hour, day after day spewing the same mindless talking points, with not a breath taken for the purpose of actually discussing an issue. It’s obvious that without his talking points, Mark Levin would have nothing to say. He only believes what he’s been told to believe, and believe it wholeheartedly he does, he just doesn’t know why. Of course the endless talking points are broken up and intertwined with “live calls” with Sheila from St. Louis who sounds an awful lot like Marge from Indiana, Kathy from Illinois, Debbie from Ct and Rosemarie from Long Island.
Personally, I don’t think Keith should have responded, but I understand why he did. The fact is that the bottom is falling out on the lunatic fringe and they know it. They had their day in the sun, and too long a day if you ask me, but now, it’s back in the basement, back onto the fringe where they belong. The election is over. John McCain will not make it through the summer in terms of his candidacy. He’ll get lit up in the first debate, stammering nonsense about how the economy is strong while gas is $5, and carrots have become a delicacy. The election is going to be a bloodbath for the GOP. There will be supermajorities in both the House and Senate. Count on it. There will be a Democratic President in the White House. The GOP will be back in the political wilderness and its going to take two generations before they recover. No recovery will occur into the wingnut fringe that was created in the ’80s has been purged from their ranks by retirement, political suicide or marginalization. Until that time, they will beat the same old drums about gays, prayer and “moral decay”, and they will lose…election after election…except in those areas of the country either too dumb or too blind to see how they are being played.
There was a time that I felt some sense sympathy for those in the lunatic fringe of the right. I no longer do. I have great respect for true conservatives, and in fact share many of their values. I have nothing but contempt for those who have over these last two+ decades have set themselves up as “super patriots” and done nothing but level personal attacks against liberals, Democrats and anyone else they viewed as somehow different and “less American” then themselves. A pox on them all. Their pathetic, closed minded view of the world has caused the world to close in on them. They will see their ideology collapse and their twisted values revealed for what they are. Xynophobia, racism, bigotry and sexism.
They are deserving of the contempt and hatred they receive. Perhaps whatever god they pray to will forgive them for what they have done to our people and our natoin. I never will.
Yes I have to say that when I think of evil and mercenary I immediately think of shrub co.
Joe Tseng @ 13:
NOW??!?
Gad I’ve watched them do this all along!!
It’s amazingly effective conditioning that they have done on the American people.
They took the sentiment from Vietnam and the vets returning home to an unwelcoming populace that was later seen as unfounded when it was the leadership the created such a situation so why blame the poor troops … and they wrapped themselves in it stating that any disagreements with the president, his policies, his wars or the neocon agenda amounts to hating the poor troops that are just trying to defend your freedoms.
And it’s worked.
Blue Lensman @ 21:
I’ve been wondering for months why right wing hate radio has not started up a coordinated campaign to get people to ENLIST in the war. Given that our troops are being asked to do 3, 4 even FIVE tours in Iraq/Afghanistan (same thing), it seems the only logical way to ’support the troops’ is to simply enlist !
Hate Radio has all the ratings, or so they tell us over and over. Why not put this to good use ? McSame wants a least another 100-10,000 years of war with Iraq and the military is falling dangerously short in recruiting goals, even after they changed the rules and are now accepting basically anyone with a PULSE.
This should be a no-brainer for warmongers on the airwaves.
I just wonder what’s taking so long.
Obviously Keith is usually on the mark, but not this time.
Sorry, but ANY troop who has murdered an innocent Iraqi, is a murderer.
What sacrifice have the troops made? Being sheep following orders to destroy a country that did nothing to us?
Sorry, don’t buy it.
I don’t support the troops. I support those who refuse to fight in this mess. THOSE are true American heroes, not every single moron who decides to sign up.
Jim @ 27:
Did anyone tell you that ‘War Is Hell’? Think about it.
Why even bother refuting Mark Levin. He’s a right wing tourette-syndrome nitwit.
When I hear Levin, I picture that pedophile neighbor from Family Guy.
it appears to me that the time has finally arrived for calling out the right wing hate mongers and bring the light of day to their ways. thankfully there is a man like K.O. to lead the way. this country is ripe for change and certainly tired of the repube hate and fear machine. obama has taken his shots at calling them out for what they are, and the reaction from the people i meet in my part of the world are saying “right on”. repube fear, smear and hate has run its course and the majority of americans see it for what it is and where they have taken us. so when you hear it, call it out. make your objections known. make the days of say anything as long as it agrees with bush co. a thing of the past and a liability for anyone supporting it. i have been in stores waiting for service and have heard comments from wingnuts on t.v.. i have started speaking my objections and have been pleased to hear others offer opinions against the ignorance of the few remaing bush believers. and i live in the heavily republican area of Pa..
to any repube that thinks my humble opinion is wrong, ask yourself this, when was the last time 70+ thousand americans gathered to hear any repube speak their message of hate, fear and talking points? the winds of change are blowing and it is building into a mighty wind indeed.
L AND P #23:
I dont listen to Levin much, but your analysis of his show is exactly how I would define Hannity’s radio show which I listen to ocassionaly. You hear ONE right wing hate radio show, you’ve heard them ALL.
I too ‘used’ to have respect for conservatives, but no more. This current group has fallen off the edge of the flat Earth they live in and they will indeed pay the price. The sad part is that their blind loyalty, which used to be their strong attribute, is now their deathwish.
It sure will take years before America even considers forgiving them, but America will surely never forget the damage a runway party like that can cause.
Jim @ 27:
Come on. The troops you’re talking about are the most marginalized people in our society. People who barely make it out of high school. They’re children, most of them.
It’s easy for grown-ups to disagree with incredibly complex world problems, but a 17 or 18 year old kid from a poor family? Jeez. Give ‘em a break.
Jim @ 27:
“We dont support this war or anyone in it”
-StarBucks-
But, but, but O’Racist has super duper ratings!!!
As much as I agree with Mr. Oberman’s commentaries, I cannot help but wonder if his views are merely a networks attempt at manipulating the people with a voice that appears we are being heard and thereby quiets the maddening crowds of the majority of Americans who disagree with this current Bush administration and their atrocious warmongering ways.
I cannot believe the American people are letting this happen- every day it grows worse and eventually Bush will have his state of emergency and declare martial law and cancel the 2008 election. I said this over three years ago and got kicked off of Alternet after three top posters agreed with me and we began to comment similarly.
This is happening and sane good people are beginning to see this. I wonder if anything will ever happen to counter this bullshit?
Adolph Hitler became Chancellor and dictator of Germany the exact same way- only quicker- and we all know how this shit turned out!
Think about it.
Olbermann is genius.
Mark Levin is a hybrid Walmart version of Weiner-Savage/Vannity. He really, really tries to be hateful and vile, but he just comes off as a complete and utter idiot.
In the wake of an insult that exists only in their minds and never in my words nor in my heart, there remains, I think, only one question to ask: Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin: Why do you hate our troops?
Because their color coordination is simply soooo fabulous!
Cracker’s for Christ @ 19:
I got something I keep a firm grasp on too.
Don’t ask.
Jim @ 27:
Hahaha! good one. This is similar to that old Bill Hicks joke, “I’m for the war, but against the troops.” But he was kidding.
Keith and Rachel for co-presidents…
Seriously, Great Job to Keith and Rachel. Please keep it up. We need more truth tellers like you two.
I think he understated it. They despise our troops. They have nothing for disdain for the peons who join our ‘volunteer’ force. If required to actually pony up and fight for their country, they would all find an excuse, get a favor done, or pretend to have bad feet.
These people are truly scum and its a shame that so many of my countrymen see fit to give them a voice.
Jim @ 27:
As a former soldier I completely disagree with your comments. Soldiers are not in a position to disobey orders (even if it goes against what they believe) as their commanding officers may (and usually do) have more information than the soldiers. You obey an order as it may cost lives if you don’t. Accepting disobedience in the military ranks sets a dangerous precedent. The soldiers are (as Keith so appropriately reminds us) victims as well.
Excellent Keith!!! I wish he would do a SC on the Bush Family and their Nazi ties….