A Visibly Upset Keith Olbermann Castigates RNC 9/11 "Tribute" Video
By Nicole Belle Thursday Sep 04, 2008 3:30pm
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There's nothing like some exploitive and fact free propaganda to bring Republicans together in mindless cheering against a phantom and revisionist enemy. On Thursday's final night of the Republican National Convention, the RNC broadcast what was billed as a tribute to 9/11 victims, but by tying in the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis and the Iraq invasion and occupation, resembled more a propaganda news reel that exploited horribly the memories of the victims and heroes of 9/11. Jeffrey Feldman:
No doubt, showing a 9/11 video at a political convention was emotional exploitation. But it was also something much worse: it was blatant historical revisionism. It was a cynical attempt to claim attacks on Americans--1979 and 2001--were carried out by the same 'enemy.'
What Olbermann should have apologized for was MSNBC accidental transformation of their network into a mechanism of the most cynical kind of Orwellian propaganda.
John McCain did not make the link between 9/11 and Iran in his RNC speech, but we can be certain that the video 'tribute' is a sign of what is to come on the campaign trail between now and November.
The media's responsibility from this point forward is clear: either they can sit back and let McCain's historical revisionism stand or they can move quickly to debunk it.
Either way, it seems apparent that major broadcast outlets need to take a more proactive role in pre-screening for blatant historical inaccuracies any video a political party plans to show during a national broadcast--or at least preparing to immediately debunk politically motivated inaccuracies.
So Media--you lazy ass, dismissive-of-blogs-who-do-your-job-better-than-you, monolith of bias? The onus is on you to set the record straight.
As for Olbermann, he promises a Special Comment next week on this subject.
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This video was nothing short of propaganda meant to incite us to accept war with Iran.
It was DISGUSTING!
And this is OT, but in case anyone asks: Here are Obama's List of Senate Accomplishments. I am soooooo tired of the Empty Suit meme!!! Pass it along to everyone.
The video begins with references to the Iranian Hostage crisis of the late '70s. What does the taking of hostages by Persian, Shiite, Iran have to do with terrorist acts perpetrated by Arab, Sunni, Al Qaeda?
Endless war.
I caught that damn film midway through and didn't realize till the end that the RNC was once again trying to capitalize on 9/22.
They really are shameless.
Terrorism=minor second. Patriotism=perfect fifths
And let me add..."they did it again, this time on 9/11..."
Someone tell me then, why have we lost almost 5000 Americans in a war with IRAQ? Why are there more than half a million dead Iraqis?
Fuck you, GOP!
I still think that Iran is on the main menu for a "October Surprise"....
This just makes the case even stronger....
We all know the repukes love to exploit fear but this was over the top even for them. It would make Goebbels and the propaganda sections of the old Soviet Union proud.
That's it. It's over. McCain is going to get elected and we'll be corn-holed for the next 8 years.
Seriously...I would like to think that the majority of our country is not dumb enough to fall for the RNC propoganda.
Unfortunately, recent history tells me that this type of garbage is exactly what the majority of our country is falling for. They GOP knows it, and they're not about to stop using it to their advantage.
I'm telling you Obama bashers, this is what we have to look forward to if McCain is elected (selected). Obama's not perfect but this NOT HIS AGENDA. Do everything to get him elected and then go after him to do the correct thing.
McCain wins, our lives will never be the same. Really not much choice here my brothers and sisters, no choice whatsoever.
The 1979 part of it was obviously a not-so-subtle dig at President Carter.
I love it how the Repigs always bring up crises from PAST Presidencies, usually past DEMOCRATIC Presidencies.
Think about it. HOW MANY fucking times did they bring up the '93 WTC attack (which was NOWHERE NEAR 9/11 in scale or number of casualties), as if 9/11 was a beast that past Democratic Administrations let grow until it was too big for Curious Georgie to stop.
But what's even better is how they try to pretend like a Republican President (with a GOP-controlled House and Senate) was in power on that fateful morning. As Maher said, "A fuckup by a guy on vacation."
At any rate, I'm sick of the Carter-bashing. Flawed Presidency? Yes. Disastrous Administration? Economically-speaking, yes.
But as for the Hostage Crisis, it took nearly a year and a half of DIPLOMATIC negotations, and yes, ALL of the hostages made it home safely.
I love it when Repigs try to nail Carter's coffin over this. What the fuck was he supposed to do? Start World War III over a hostage situation?
Am I to assume that Chimpy would've PERSONALLY flown his codpiece jet into Iran on one of the failed rescue missions? Or would he have sent other people's kids in, guns blazing, to cost even more lives.
THAT was an example of an international crisis being beyond a President's control. Carter made his mistakes, and it cost him a second term, but the hostages got home safely.
Enough!
I'm offended by the exploitative shite!
"It was a war we never chose to fight"
Oh really? Who thought that by removing the DEMOCRATICALLY chosen leader of Iran and replacing him with the BP's Shah, we'd anger some people?
History - how inconvenient...
This video was full of lies. America created all her enemies, and our enemies have already won the war against us because they changed our country forever.
We paid our enemies to destroy us!
Dave @ 8:
Come on Dave, are you really that easy? Demoralizing your opponent is half the battle. Nobody ever loses if they get knocked down and then get back up. You only lose when you quit. So get back up and don't freakin' quit. The stakes are too large. Stand up and do what you can to get Obama elected. Then we'll see what we need to do to straighten out this mess.
Be prepare to go to war with Iran...
Wouldn't be surprised about the resurgence of the "Draft"....
someguy @ 3:
Sorry I meant 9/11.
That sickens me that they will use the video of that day to pursue hurting more people across the world but they still have trouble taking care of the people that were there that day! First responders are sick and dying and they aren't getting help. I can't think of anything more tragic or disgusting.
[edited - please don't advocate violence here... - Sitemonitor]
I am glad I did not see this propaganda because I think I would have had a stroke and therefore been unable to cast my vote Nov. 4. Gotta stay healthy!
Just read that the networks spent more time covering the RNC than the DNC.
The only thing that keeps me from going off the edge altogether is this site, a few others, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Oh, and the Alaska folks investigating Sarah Palin for Troopergate.
Layne @ 11:
The 2008 Republican Platform starts with a hit job on Carter. Page 1. Paragragh 1.
I saw this crap. they also had some crap before Palin's speech in "tribute" to Reagan. wtf. its a bunch of damn filler. its exploitative and it was just filler.
It does beg this question though:
When will we be invading Saudi Arabia?
Those motherf*c*ers can't go low enough. This administration has fed off of those 3000 bodies for 7 years, and McCain has tucked in his napkin and has knife and fork in hand. What happened to this country?
John McCain's campaign came out today, the day after the republican national convention and said that SARAH PALIN WOULD BE LOCKED AWAY FROM THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC UNTIL SHE IS READY!!!!
JOHN MCCAIN SAYS SARAH PALIN IS NOT READY TO BE THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
They don't know how long she will be kept hidden away. They may allow her to do some "fluff pieces", but NOT FOR A WHILE!!!
Just think about what they are telling us the day AFTER their convention!!!
SARAH PALIN IS NOT READY TO BE THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
Chicken "Hussein" Little - Not! @ 15:
No way. Obama is a terrist!
I think I reacted similarly to Keith. It was upsetting. Sometimes I think that's ok: there are many reasons not to forget (though fomenting further wars is not such a reason).
The link between made between Iran and 9/11 is disturbing. But here is what I found much more disturbing:
In the middle the narrator says "This is a war America will win; we'll have a president who knows how."
And this is the party which accuses Obama of pretending to be "the one?" What does this little snippet sound like if not the characterization of John McCain as the one who will deliver us from evil?
I thought this was the party that believed in America? What does this video say, implicitly if not explicitly, but: America cannot do it on its own and needs John McCain.
No Mr. McCain, we don't need you! We are Americans and we will persevere (even if you do manage to win this election)!
But how dare you make yourself out to be the savior? How dare you, or your party, use images of America's pain in order to cast yourself as that one and only savior?
How Dare You?
How Dare You?
Is the Coast Clear?--- @ 6:
Likely.
As a backup they have the Dark Lord in the Ukraine and other former Soviet satellite countries unnecessarily stirring up shit with Russia ... nothing like setting the place on fire on your way out the door.
foolme1ns @ 24:
They know that she won't be asked, "When are you going to fix these potholes?"
foolme1ns @ 24:
A couple weeks is not going to make a hell of a lot of difference....
I am hoping Hillary comes out fighting against this fundie....
Dave @ 25:
Ya sure, and Palin is an expert on foreign affairs since AK is so near Russia. Dave you're a wanker and that's the kindest thing I can say to you.
That is a total propaganda piece. They are using 911 once again to scare everyone. It is just too bad that you all don't realize that it was a self inflicted attack. If people would only do a little bit of research you would realize that al-queda is a CIA run outfit, and the so-called Fascist Islaminc terrorist threat is ALL STAGED. When you know the truth about 911 they won't be able to use it to scare you anymore. WAKE UP!!
someguy @ 17:
You DO know that if something bad happens on 9/22, I will blame some people in this room. And that I will not forgive.
(shameless take on Vito Corleone and his preamble to making peace with the other heads of the Families)
:)
That video was absolutely shameless fear mongering. Convenient how they linked Iran from the first few seconds of the clip.
It never ceases to amazing me the sheer abundance of incurious sheep who happily submit to their masters without question. Will this country ever wake up?
Grrrrr. I live in NY and it's hard to find anyone who doesn't have at least some connection to 9/11 in a personal way. When I see clips I get angry. It's not just some news footage, it's my friends being murdered. ... Imagine (goodness forbid!) someone you know dies in a horrible car crash. This crash, though, was captured on several news videos. Your loved one's death played over and over...anyway. I will watch this later after the kids are in bed because it will put me in a foul mood...I'm already getting angry.
On the other hand, the "Freedom Towers" that replaced WTC are such a great tribute on their own that - - oh, they haven't? Never mind.
Well, in a way, that's true. It's all been done by people who have been run over by our foreign policy, and have no other means to fight back.
A dog backed into a corner and kicked repeatedly will only whimper for so long, at some point he will realize it's fight-or-die and he'll rip your throat out. And we keep backing dogs into corners and kicking them repeatedly. We do it over and over and somehow, we still manage to act surprised when the dog finally fights back. (note: no offense towards anyone is meant by using the example of a dog)
What a shameless piece of crap made by lying cowards. I would love to beat the shit out of some of these people!
Here's what I want to know - why is Keith Olbermann apparently the only person who knows how to respond to Republican misbehavior? Why are there no senior Democrats speaking out not just as forcefully, but in Olbermann's case as IMMEDIATELY as Keith?? Yes, I understand being able to respond on one's feet requires a quick wit and the ability to pay attention to WTF's going on around you. So how did Reid and Pelosi get to positions of power without being quick witted and paying attention??
Olbermann responded immediately and strongly in response to what he saw. The Democratic Party needs to learn how to do the same thing. Keith can teach you, but he'll have to charge.
Mykey @ 13:
Precisely. We often sow the seeds of our own comeuppance through our own anti-democratic actions. The same thing has also happened in Africa and Latin America where we chose to support despotic regimes that would do our bidding rather than risk them falling into the "Soviet sphere of influence." We betray our own lack of faith in our own institutions and principles every time we do that and make it easier for other nations to dismiss our exhortations to democracy as hypocritical.
These fucking people don't have souls!!!
What do you think the reaction would have been if the Dems would have played a piece like that, only showing burned and dead Iraqi babies perpetrated by Bushitler? USA USA USA!!!
Chicken "Hussein" Little - Not! @ 30:
I'll consider it a benign honor to be your wanker. BTW, I work in DC and that's really close to the Supreme Court, so if you need to any interpretation of Constitutional law...i'm WAY over qualified.
I could just kiss that man! Right on the mouth! Thank you, Keith Olbermann, for saying exactly what I need to hear after watching something so nauseating.
deezus @ 40:
Of course they do, how do you think they got to positions of power?
A person only has two grandmothers!
Funny that the video had no mention of the origin of that terrorist group, which was the creation of their last Alzheimer's-ridden president Ronald Reagan.
"...blatant historical inaccuracies."
That describes our government perfectly.
Once again, many Americans are either in total denial or are outright moronic regarding the scope of criminal activity perpetrated by our government and the marionettes behind the scenes.
I have two questions for anyone out there.
Are the republicans that insecure that they have to keep reminding everyone about 9/11, the pledge of alleigence, flag lapel pins....etc?
I am a very proud CANADIAN , I know all the words to my national anthem and I don't have to be reminded about being patriotic by some damn politician. Why does it happen in america?
I hope your Special Comment is a memorable one, KO I have all of them collected and stored. Wished you could do it tonight because by the time you get to it, McBush or Dubya may do something else stupid by then or the moosie floosie who was a default VP pick may say something. I understand your busy schedule and look forward to NFL Sunday nights. Been watching you since 1992 at ESPN. You are the best at what you do.
chris [not the troll] @ 36:
I'd love to be compared to a dog! Loyal, silly, guileless, boundlessly enthusiastic, and a heart full of forgiveness!
Everybody: go hug your dog! Fur therapy!
Dave @ 42:
I'm beginning to appreciate the way you think Dave. I'm out here in rural Washington state and I'm an applied biologist aka farmer. You know I'm very involved in creation. Guess you know what that qualifies me for, I wonder if I'd be any good at it?
nickpoppagorgiofromyuma @ 23:
That's right. The NeoCon usually make the most money off of the corpses of American citizens. They've gotten it down to a science.
Remember that they were warned about the attack. It was almost as if they ALLOWED it to happen. Considering the many billions they've made, it makes you wonder. Remember that some people are willing to do anything for money.
ANYTHING.
Remember that the NeoCon mindset is 'my money first'. They could care less about the lives of others. They only time they do care is when they want you to be consumers of whatever they're trying to sell you.
it wasnt a memorial to those who died on 9/11...it was fearmongering at its worst
and ko was right to get upset
Dave @ 42:
Haha. Dave, you set yourself up! You know what is coming next, right? Sarah Palin the Alaskan? Proximity to Russia...?
Ah well.
Shameless. Disgraceful. Exploitive. Racist.
There just aren't enough words to describe how wrong this video is. Keith Olbermann's restraint in his reaction is impressive, quite frankly. I feel sick after watching it.
Is this what American fascism might look like?
Now I get it.
It all started in 1979.
How about Fake History?
Mykey @ 13:
How very, very true. I would assume that you too have read Mark Bowden's book
"Guests of the Ayatolllah, The First Battle in America's War With Militant Islam"
Too bad that the lies/misinformation put out by our own Gov. as to displacing the
Shah in Iraq in mid 1979, is not known by most Americans. An Act that led to the student rebellion and "hostage crisis" that followed. But, as usual, the MSM(even
back then) was nothing but a propoganda machine for our Government.
Ok, on cnn.com right now - their main page - you get a huge pic of Sara Palin w/lovely, home story about her hometown, and at the top a handy click banner for RNC highlights.
Leftwing media, huh?
alicia01 @ 34:
for what it's worth I understand, I had a friend that died in an accident on 9/1 we burried him on the 7th. I will NEVER know how a New Yorker felt that but I know it was a very painful time for all of troy's friends. I can't imagine how you feel seeing that footage used in the way it has
It was tasteless. There was not tribute to anyone. Revolting flag waving hypocritical pigs who should burn in hell w. their damn lipsticked...
I have thrown out all lipsticks in support of pitbulls everywhere.
sorry I meant to say "that day"
sorry about the spelling
Mike the Canuck @ 47:
Apparently distortions, outright lies, and fear mongering are the modus operandi of the GOP and it has been successful.
The Dems are out gunned on that mark. We need to fight back hard and call them on every lie distortion very, very loudly and repeatedly.
Even then I do not know if that will be enough....
Chicken "Hussein" Little - Not! @ 50:
I hear you, Chicken Hussein. Ya, know just this morning I was thinking: "gee, besides Hawaii, Alaska is the closest state in the Union to Vietnam..." so, I mean do the math... Plain and McCain are like POW cell buddies. They go way back. OK, I'm starting to cheer up now...
Oh man, I hate to be the berer of the bucket full of cold water, but I really think the Republicans are going to pull this thing off. With vote stealing machines, they don't actually need to win they just need to make it plausible that "they could have won". And I think they've just done that. So brace yourselves for McCain 2009.
Mike the Canuck @ 47:
i know all the words to your anthem too
and its much easier to sing than ours
Kay @ 9:
Agreed that the country is falling for garbage, but it's not the GOP's fault. Hell, you can't expect criminals to act like saints. The real culprit here is the MSM. If the press would only report the facts, the GOP would be defeated 3-fold come election day.
The problem is, the MSM are propagandists, in the strongest sense of that word. What we are witnessing now--and it will get worse with the direct threats to the media by the mccain camp--is nothing less than the willful, deliberate, and perverse distortion of facts to help the republicans and slime the democrats.
People fall for it, even intelligent, well intentioned people, because they simply refuse to believe that someone like tom brokaw isn't telling them the god's honest truth.
This is shameless, utterly, utterly shameless.
My dad was a hostage back in 79. He always liked Carter and felt that he was a genuinely honest, passionate man who made some mistakes, but still voted for him.
My dad has no love for Iran and is still upset over it, but he doesn't want to go to war with Iran, even if they did threaten his life and keep him behind bars for 444 days. It got so bad that he tried to slit his wrists there and when they found him, they stitched him up without anaesthetic.
Tying the 9/11 attacks to the events in 1979 is not only foolish but is downright disgusting. My dad voted for Dukakis, for Clinton (twice), for Gore, for Kerry, and will be voting for Obama this fall. Because he knows first hand that more than anything else. diplomacy- NOT force- is the way to end international terrorism in the long-term.
Layne @ 11:
except it was under reagan, when the first major terrorist attack against americans occured
that is conveniently left out
September 11,2001.
Copyright 2001 by the Rpublican National Committee.
Just Anonymous @ 35:
The NeoCons don't want anything built on that site. They want to keep that wound open and festering.
I live in NYC and work near the spot were the old towers where. You should see the tourists that go to that site (They're certainly not MENSA members).
It's pretty disturbing. They almost seem happy the towers fell. Like it's a scene from a carnival. They have their spouses take pictures of them standing in front of fence surrounding the scene of the destruction. They have these big idiot grins on their faces.
It make me feel ill just to watch them.
After watching Palin on Wednesday night I skipped Thursday in order to spare myself the pain. Looks like that was a good thing. That movie is criminal. Republicans will go to any length to stay in power and after seeing this I don't have to guess what the October surprise will be. The media has to wake up and do the right thing. We, the voters have to wake up and work for our candidates. We have to use the brain between our ears (I almost said 'that God gave us') and separate fact from fiction.
These Republicans arrive in their private plains dripping with diamonds, talk like trailer trash that has only been to Sunday school to 3200 upstanding citizens that get in costumes and bark like dogs on command and that is how they nominate our next president? America, you can do better!
Man, I'd LOVE to beat the shit out of olberfuck. Goes double for the clueless libs on here.
Mike the Canuck @ 47:
Yes, and . .
Because it's all the repugs have. If they had to run for office based strictly on their platform and policies, there's now way they could win. So they grope for "intangibles".
Diana @ 65:
The MSM is simply the corporate media run by the CFR. Do you know how many members of the press and media corporate officers are members of the CFR? Many. Including Tom Brokaw, Director of the CFR. Their job is to frame stories to make us believe that corporate interests are our interests. That's why most of the truth we will hear on any given day is on the Comedy Channel.
Albatross @ 38:
Exactly. I've been watching the news but I did not watch the convention that night. So, why is this the first I'm hearing about this? Why isn't anyone mentioning this?
Its all about Sarah, but no fact-checking...
Truly tasteless and disgusting!
Wow... now I know how those people watching Nazi and Communist propaganda films felt like.
Why is it that any time I watch GOP events I get the feeling that I am witnessing the American redux of the Nuerember rallies?
IndridCold @ 63:
brace yourself? i say, run like hell
Here’s what I want to know - why is Keith Olbermann apparently the only person who knows how to respond to Republican misbehavior? Why are there no senior Democrats speaking out not just as forcefully, but in Olbermann’s case as IMMEDIATELY as Keith??
Cowardice.
Susie @ 59:
Hmmm..."lipstick" + "pig".
"A term used by many, generally in reference to someone who may be trying to make something or someone look appealing or attractive when it quite clearly will not work, or will only deceive the dumbest of people."
Food for thought.
Just to add one more voice to the objections.
I have my own personal connections with 9/11 that aren't necessary to go into in order to 'justify' my contempt and disgust with that blatant use of tragedy for political spin and propaganda. 'TRIBUTE?' Bullsh*t. A tribute is to honour the memory of the dead - not USE their corpses to get yourself elected.
If this is all John McCain has to run on - stale fearmongering and the vague promise of a president 'who knows what to do' without ever actually SAYING what he would do - then he really is desperate.
And if American voters, by some incredible lack of intelligence or courage, either vote him in or allow another rigged election to do it for us, then we will deserve the contempt and the disgust the rest of the world will feel toward us.
Tyler Durden @ 76:
Yes, instead of the Hitler Youth it's the Reagan Youth.
Fightclub!