Olbermann: To Robertson & Limbaugh 'You Serve No Good, You Serve No God'

[Hissyspit]

Run time: 01:38 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1HO1bdMnwQ   Posted on YouTube: January 14, 2010 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: January 14, 2010 By DU Member: Hissyspit Views on DU: 7487

 
MSNBC Countdown w/ KEITH OLBERMANN - 14 January 2009: "Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson can't help but put theire agenda onto this crisis, Rush politicizes it. Pat blames the people of Haiti. Even if you agree with these people on politics if you have a heart you should not agree with them on this."

KEITH OLBERMANN: "Even the worst of us in this political mosh pit of the early 21st century can stop on occasion in grief and human sympathy in mourning or just in self-preservation. Not Rush Limbaugh and not Pat Robertson. We'll explore this at length later, but, Mr. Robertson, it is laughable now to try to call him Reverend, explained today that this earthquake is the result of a 'deal with the devil' that he claims the nation made in the 19th century to gain its freedom from France. 'True story,' Robertson says. Sir, because of your tone deafness, and your delight in human misery, and your dripping, self-satisfied, holier-than-thou, senile crap, I am now likelier to believe that you are the Devil.

Limbaugh, meantime, did not know when to just shut up. Today he blamed communism for the poverty of Haiti, blamed President Obama for holding a news conference the day after this cataclysm, when he did not hold one after the failed, half-assed terror attempt in Detroit, and said Mr. Obama would use Haiti to 'burnish their, shall we say, credibility with the Black community in the both 'light-skinned and dark-skinned Black community in this country.'

Mr. Robertson, Mr. Limbaugh. Your lives are not worth those of the lowest, meanest, poorest of those victims still lying under that rubble in Haiti tonight. You serve no good, you serve no god. You inspire only stupidity and hatred, and I would wish you to hell, but knowing how empty your souls must be for you to be able to say such things, in a time of such pain, I suspect the vacant purposelessness of the lives you both live now are hell enough already."

[lbrtbell]

1. Definitely one of Keith's finer moments

Amazing, how he can disembowel these b*stards in less than two minutes. Every single word rang of pure truth. And I don't just say that because I'm a Countdown fan; I say it because I think this is the single best mini-comment he's done.

[RZM]

6. This isn't going to go over well . . .

But I have to disagree that 'every single word rang of pure truth' . . . this is mostly spot-on except for the end. Of course it goes without saying that these two jackasses made idiotic statements and the sad part is that neither surprised me in the least. But 'vacant purposelessness'? Lots of people hang on Rush's every word and he's one of the main ideological engines of the right (which given his polarizing and asinine style, is in the end a good thing for the left) - thus he's hardly 'purposeless'. Plus he makes a lot of money doing it, which doesn't really sound like 'hell' to me. The last part works better for Robertson, who does seem a little dazed and only makes the news nowadays with his bizarre interpretations of disasters that cause everybody but diehard evangelicals to roll their eyes.

[Berry Cool]

24. That's the one place I have a problem with it. Keith should know better, too.

He really thinks those two are suffering a hellish "life of vacant purposelessness"? Bullshit. They're enjoying themselves to the hilt. They don't care what anyone says about them.

The reason I say Keith should know better is because he's a huge fan of the movie A Christmas Story, and there's a part in that movie--after Flick gets his tongue frozen to the flagpole and everyone (including the protagonist, Ralphie) has abandoned him (despite having stood by and allowed him to be "triple-dog-dared" into doing it) and Flick has been freed by the fire department, and the teacher comes back into her classroom and gives all her students the long, dirty eye and says that while Flick has refused to tell her who goaded him into it, and therefore the guilty parties can't be punished, surely they know who they are and the guilt they're feeling is worse than any possible punishment. But Ralphie's adult voice says: "Adults loved to say things like that, but kids knew better. We knew darn well it was always better not to get caught."

In short: Keith is acting like the teacher here, assuming that because Pat Robertson and Rush Limbaugh live such spiritually empty lives, their lives are their own punishment. But please, he should know better! Both of them are multimillionaires making tons of money and getting tons of admiration for the evil they do. They're not suffering one iota. Rush, the creep, even found another bimbo half his age to marry him. Please.

Rush and Robertson are proof positive that evil DOES prosper and never has to feel guilty or answer for what it's done.

[truth2power]

28. "They're not suffering one iota."...Sometimes people who seem to have everything

are suffering their own private hell of the soul. People like Limbaugh and Robertson, who spew such hatred, day after day, have got to have demons consuming their innards. (At least that's what I have to believe.)

[diane in sf]

30. there's a reason Limbo stays half-loaded on oxycontin and it's not because he's happy

[NOLALady]

29. IMO,

all the money in the world cannot save him from the "hell" of his addiction.

[AlbertCat]

44. that cause everybody but diehard evangelicals to roll their eyes.

So where is the loud and omnipresent cry of outrage and distancing from the "real" Christians, the "moderate" Christians? I'm sure if asked you get it. And I'm sure a few have condemned it without being asked 1st. But where's the big loud message from the establishment church?

I'm just asking'....

[RZM]

49. Hey I don't know

I'm not personally involved in the mainstream Christian world so I can't speak too much for those that are. My mother and her friends (mostly Republicans) are -- I haven't talked to them about this but I know not a single one of them would appreciate Pat's comments -- but that's probably it. I'm sure when it comes to Haiti they'd rather focus on praying for the victims and collecting aid packages to send down there. Someone once told me: 'Once you start trying to refute the conspiracy theorists, that quickly becomes the only thing you do'. I'm guessing most members of the 'moderate' Christian community would rather do their own thing than take time out of their day dealing with Pat Robertson every time he says something ridiculous. It's like that in a lot of 'big tent' communities. Rather than waste your time on the fringe, it's easier to just ignore them and wish they would go away.

[54anickel]

45. First thing I thought of was the "Purpose Driven" movement and figured it was a play on that phrase.

That's just what came to my mind, I have no idea what might have led to K.O. using the term "purposelessness". :shrug:

[Bette Noir]

2. I love my Keithie.

[LostinRed]

3. Sometimes is a shame there is no hell

According to Robertson's logic, God must act pretty slowly. If the earthquake is punishment for their so-called pact, why did the earthquake happen now? Haiti got Independence from France in 1792.

[Divine Discontent]

7. It's a ridiculous comment of a sick man. God didn't enact punishment at all. Pat is, arguably,

a very evil person.

I believe there is a hell, so we can agree to disagree, and people like Rush & Pat, Savage & Bachmann, are well on their way to it without changes in their lives. They are the cruelest of human beings causing so many hearts to be jaded and negative towards others - they are so in lust with power & attention, and they desecrate anything sweet & kind with their every word of slime and deceit that goes out to millions.

I count it all joy that I'm not one of them.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

4. Every time I think LimpNUTZ can stoop no lower...

...he does, with astonishing celerity.

The words to describe how much I loathe this despicable vat of reich-wing vitriol have yet to be defined.

ETA KNR.

[winyanstaz]

5. I really believe we need Keith in office....

a very very high position where he can kick some butt from the inside.

[Divine Discontent]

8. I'd wholeheartedly support him for anything.

[DumbBassRepublicans]

9. YES.....

Either OLBERMANN-GRAYSON

or...

GRAYSON-OLBERMANN

in 2016...!!!!

Talk about an ass-kicking ticket..!!


;-)

[texastoast]

32. Oh no. He's too smart

He knows he is about as unconstrained as he can be on the outside and therefore far more effective.

But gosh, wouldn't it be lovely . . .

[davidpdx]

10. Both of the comments Keith mentioned reak of racism

Robertson and Limpballs should not even be allowed on the air anymore.

[rasputin1952]

11. The most profound thing Robertson or Limbaugh could have done...

is either go to Haiti w/a plane load of medical supplies and food, or at the least, used some of their massive amounts of cash to alleviate the pain, suffering, hunger and thirst of those that survived this terrible situation. All they can do is offer some silly words that wreak of hate...offering no aid for the suffering. Both of these individuals claim to be Christian, both of them have shown people precisely how not to be a Christian.

Yesterday, in my little town in North Central Nebraska, the churches and many businesses had a drive to get aid to Haiti. They passed all of the markers that were set, while others tried to make religious or political hay of this tragedy...local people, regardless of faith ponied up and gave money to to the churches Relief Funds, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army to get items necessary to help rebuild the lives of those who were affected. Protestants, Catholics, agnostics, atheists, farmers, businessmen/women, insurance brokers, Real Estate brokers, small businesses and ordinary citizens answered the call to help these poor people. They showed up at churches with checks and cash; blankets and T-shirts...some with very little to spare.

Yet those 2 that have vast amounts of liquid cash...did nothing but blabber on.


If there is a hell, they have punched their tickets and are waiting on the platform for the Satan Express.

[SkyDaddy7]

12. You can bet the money is being collected right now...

by Christian groups all over America so that they can go do Pat's work and trade aid for converts.

[rasputin1952]

17. While there may be a little truth to that...

I am not quite that cynical. I've seen major agencies at work, religion plays a very small part. I worked with the Salvation Army during disasters, never once was anything mentioned about religion, it was all about comforting the afflicted. One of the Catholic churches sent people with blankets, clothes, water and sundries to flood victims out here, not many had any idea they came from a church organization...they were there to help, not preach.

Of course, I can't speak for every group or individual...but I can say with certainty...the vast majority of people want to help and while religion may motivate some, that motivation comes from a seated notion that helping others, is simply the right thing to do.

[SkyDaddy7]

19. You are correct...

My comment may have sounded more "broad" than I intended. However, many groups do use tragedies to push religion while bringing aid and this bothers me. I know those who do it see no wrong in it because they honestly feel what they believe is true and others should follow as well.

I am not denying religious aid groups do a lot of good...I just wish more would simply do it in the name of humanity rather than religion. I think there are positive signs of this happening, I hope.

[rasputin1952]

22. I would like to see people just helping people w/o any ties ...

to religion as well. and I know there are those out there that would take advantage of any situation to make a profit, (that's incredibly sad isn't it?).

Anyway, I suggest that people inclined to donate do so intelligently and through established and researched groups. Many of these are relatively unknown, but almost all of us know of the Red Cross, Salvation Army, UINCEF, OXFAM, Orphan Grain Train and a host of others.

One thing about religious organizations that provide relief is that have an existing infrastructure to move things along quickly. After all, they've been doing this for a long time, (at least the legitimate ones). I wouldn't send a dime to Robertson or any other "televangelist", to me, they are little more than moneygrubbing swine that put a bad name on anything they touch.

Thanks for the reply post...:hi:

[bobbolink]

26. Its usually poor people who give the most. Time after time.

I know from my own experience, its those who have little who try to help me out.

Those who could help and not even notice the money gone, just sneer and do little, if anything at all.

I guess that's the story of the Widow's Mite, which Robertson should know well.

[fascisthunter]

27. this is true, considering what little the poor already have

for the rich, they can live without the money they donate... for the poor, it's a big sacrifice, and yet they pay up to help, because they know what it's like.

[IsItJustMe]

13. Harsh, but for these two, needed to be said.

[Renew Deal]

14. Thank you for saying what needs to be said.

:applause:

[GTurck]

15. I don't believe in....

Hell but I do believe that after death we all will have to relive our lives and all that we have said and done to hurt other people (and everything else). What I think of as a kind of hell is to say and do what we actually said and did and at the same time feel the pain, the anguish, and the helplessness of the person(s) it was spoken to. Until we go through all of that we don't get any peace of soul. How long it takes is partly up to the person because the more dense, uncaring, and damaging they have been the longer it will take but of course there will be no clocks or calendars to refer to. It is a matter of choice, really, whether we have to account for many or fewer such incidents. We cannot escape because all of us have at one time or another said or done something that hurt someone else. Some of us don't do it very often; either because we are making the choice not to or because our natures are a bit more innocent. Limbaugh, Robertson, Hitler, Stalin, Caligula, et al have a lot to relive.

[ProgressOnTheMove]

16. I mean any right winger only need view themselves in potential natural duster and would comments

like that be acceptable from a Christian in other nations. Clearly absolutely no, to the likes of Robertson it's not partisan to have a heart, it should be a natural human reaction of sympathy to the horror of natural disaster.

[benld74]

18. If Only, Freedom of Speech somehow specified,,

the person talking, was by law, forced to tell nothing but the truth! Of course this would be a fairytale world BUT just think, no Faux News, No RW talking heads etc. I can dream cant I?

[Mari333]

20. wow.

[olegramps]

21. The problem is that he is just one voice against against a multitude of right wing propagandists.

[RayStar]

23. Thanks Keith O.

I want Rush and that old possible demented man Pat ran off of the airwaves. They both were just horrible with the remarks about Haiti's natural disaster.

[Bette Noir]

31. If Limbaugh's employers had souls, he would have been instantly fired.

Robertson is self employed, so we already know his employer has no soul.

[rocktivity]

25. The members of America's dark-skinned white community

should be outraged--who speaks for them?

:eyes:
rocktivity

[RetiredTrotskyite]

33. It's About Time...

that someone called these asshats on their mean-spirited shit. Haiti was pretty much the final straw for a lot of people! Robertsen's comments, especially, were beyond the pale. To connect the earthquake in Haiti with some imagined "pact with the devil" is ludicrous! Vodoun is central to many Haitians religion. It is an Afro-Carribean religion and kept people in touch with their African roots. It is no more evil than any other religion. It is certainly better than Robertson's version of Christianity. I hope he gets so much trouble from this that he will go off the air. Any God that Robertson serves is no God I would ever want to serve.

[sabrina 1]

34. This is how they get attention. For them, it's all about

money as they have nothing else to offer the world. People should ignore them which would be the death of their careers. They think up the most outrageous things they can say, not that they don't mean them, to rile people up knowing there are just enough morons in this country to keep sending them money. They do speak for the lowest of the low, verbalizing what that fringe of society is thinking. But every society has its low-lifes. Not every society gives them the rewards and attention they get here.

Robertson is a friend of brutal, corrupt dictators. His latest best friend, Taylor, has been convicted of war crimes. Robertson befriended him in order to have access to that country's Diamond mines. He is a despicable individual that in a decent society would be shunned. It says a lot for this country that he actually still has a following, and one that claims to be Christian.

[Politicub]

35. Just wow - Keith didn't mince words

and I'm glad he didn't.

[MasonJar]

36. Hallelujah! Great job, Keith.

[LiberalLions]

37. the family

of k street , they serve

[TheMadMonk]

38. Contact their sponsors.

Let then know that unless they pull their advertising or at the very least, demand a full, unresevered and unqualified appology they will be considered to endorse these vile eructations of hate.

[laconicsax]

39. Actually, they both serve their wrathful desert sockpuppets. n/t

[defendandprotect]

40. Wow . . . great.... but still an understatement . . .. Pat/Rush disgusting --!!!

[valerief]

41. Wow. This needs to be said nightly. nt

[theblasmo]

42. A Poem for Pat Robertson

I wrote this for my wife, but thought it might be slightly okay to post it here. All apologies to those offended. Except the intended.

Go to Hell, Pat Robertson,
I say this not in jest.
When you and your way of life both die
You'll be Satan's special guest.

For we have things to do, rough beast
So slouch away, you wretch.
Go practice what you'll say to Him
When he greets you, arms outstretched.

The rest of us will dance and dance
And dance until we can't.
I understand the hypocrisy
Of such a spiteful rant.

For Good people practice forgiveness,
and empathy for all,
And here I am proposing
That we celebrate his fall.

So maybe Pat should linger
And wait a while to die
So that when Satan is through with him
He'll let me have a try.

Cause I'll already be down there,
In the heat, the hurt, the Hell.
And the chance to have a crack at Pat
Would be worth that pain, as well.

I will gladly scrap salvation
If it means I have the chance
To celebrate his downfall,
And dance, and dance, and dance.

So go to Hell, Pat Robertson
I'll see you when I can.
And I swear when I am through with you
You'll no longer resemble a man.

[JDPriestly]

43. Abraham Lincoln must be turning over in his grave to hear

how Limbaugh and Robertson responded to these terrible events in Haiti.

[Turborama]

46. There it is, if anyone needed definitive proof how the reich wing lacks any empathy

:kick: & R

Thanks for posting.

[kayla9170]

47. K & R For Keith and this Posting.........

[winyanstaz]

48. Keith..thank you so much for speaking up sir...

[Douglas Carpenter]

50. kick and recommend

[Stuart G]

51. Thanks Keith for saying it the way it is, with Rush and Pat. nt

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

52. Mark 8:36

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

--That question is for Mr. Robertson and Mr. Limbaugh. I'd love to hear them respond to it- but neither of them dare, and they know it.