Keith Olbermann - Wendell Potter Apologizes To Michael Moore

[Very_Boring_Name]

Run time: 15:26 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xlpcDnr7eM   Posted on YouTube: November 23, 2010 By YouTube Member: SuchIsLifeVideos Views on YouTube: 7   Posted on DU: November 23, 2010 By DU Member: Very_Boring_Name Views on DU: 5746

 

[DesertFlower]

1. i watched it tonight.

they were both extremely gracious.

[peacetalksforall]

31. This is the US America I long for. Righting wrongs. Civility. Pride. Political honesty. nt

[liberalmike27]

32. I Like MM

But one thing I've noticed over this long, long period--he really needs to get someone to coach him a bit on his verbal television appearance side. He hems and haws, and finally he gets a three second question out in about a minute.

One question, which pretty much amounted to "What did you son thing of your actions regarding me when you guys attended the event you talked about," I swear it took him a minute to ask. So, you are going on Keith to see this guy, you are a writer, so you don't jot down a few questions so you can get more in?

And I'm a fat guy, so I know he's insecure about his weight, and why not? I think half the people, including some liberals don't like him because of this ingrained prejudice against overweight people. But at some point you have to leave that stuff out of your mind, and push out the insecurity in favor of performing better.

I just get tired of that regarding him, he's so apologetic with everything he asks, so iffy sounding--for Christ's sake dude, just put it out there, ask it bold and strong, don't worry about what they are thinking. You're an award winning documentarian and writer and with those accomplishments you should've gained a bit of presence and guile, so believe it, use it, feel it. Be confident!!

I'm just sayin'...uh, uh, hmmm, well, yea do you, I mean, uh, ......Jesus it drives me crazy.

[peacetalksforall]

37. I like him uncoached. We have plenty of physical polish - Boehner

and speech polish and membership polish on Republicans, including lie polish (Bachmann).

Should he have more polish than (some of) the citizens he works and helps through documentaries?

[verges]

38. And who says

you can't polish s*** ?

[peacetalksforall]

45. I don't know how to interpret what you said. No comment so far..

[verges]

63. And some people can't tell

Boener and Bachmann from Shinola.

[molly77]

47. I like unpolished. Authenticity appeals to a lot of US.

[RaleighNCDUer]

50. Of course, you do know that all the 'ums' 'you knows' 'yeahs' are verbal

placeholders, which indicate that he is actually thinking about what he is saying as he says it.

I, myself, am far more wary of people who rattle on without any hesitation - to me, that says they are either running out long rehearsed talking points (not really answering the question) or not thinking about their answers. That's not always the case - there are a few who really can think quickly and deeply at the same time, but it is a rare gift.

[DesertFlower]

42. i agree. i was thinking about

that when they were talking.

[liberalmike27]

46. Seriously, My God

How long does it take someone to ask a simple question. This isn't something I've noticed over one appearance, he's always been a bumbling speaker. It doesn't come from any lack of knowledge, or credibility. I know where it comes from, a weird insecurity we fat folks have. Somehow he needs to overcome that, and speak his mind a little more strongly.

What would be the problem with someone saying "Hey mike, when you're about to say "Uhhhh," or "Ummmm," or some other sound, instead just practice waiting a second for the word to come, and then say the word." Or maybe "Try to form the sentence a bit in your head before asking it," or "Hey, write some questions down before you get there." Seems like that last one would just be common sense.

That's what I'm talking about, get someone to work on the form a little. Seriously, love the guy, love everything he says, but it's like watching a plane-crash, or listening to fingernails scraping the chalk-board. I know I'm not the only one either--when you are distracted by the messenger, then the message takes a hit. I just find it seriously irritating, that's all.

That said, he and Bill Maher are held in high regard with me.

Ever hear the blonde's voice in CSI Miami? Same thing, but a tambre thing. It's probably just me. I'm still going to watch him, you understand. But he's been doing this for years, you'd think he'd get better at it. And stop all of that "incredulous laughter" stuff. We get it, it's unbelieveable some of the stuff, but while you're chuckling, very valuable stuff isn't being said on the few moments you get on television.

[DesertFlower]

49. i've never noticed a problem

with his speaking.

actually when he does a documentary he's got a very nice speaking voice.

[Skittles]

2. stunning

kudos to Mr. Mooore and Mr. Potter for being gracious, civil and informative

[glinda]

3. It was pretty stunning. The whole exchange the entire time....

[mzmolly]

5. Indeed. It makes one wonder about how often front groups are formed

to "cliff" those who tell the truth.

[heliarc]

23. Always.

Every single time.

[global1]

4. Compelling TV.....

it was a great service by Keith to air this apology and the discussion by Moore and Potter.

I only hope that Obama and the Dems take this and run with this.

What Potter was involved in was a smear campaign that was funded with blood money by the insurance industry.

Somebody needs to inform the American people that this happened and happens every day by other industries that want to continue to profit off the skins of the American people.

The insurance industry was pretty successful with their campaign. Look at what ultimately got passed. It's better than nothing but if we did have a populist movement result from the movie - think of what this health reform could have been.

I wanted my Repug neighbor to watch Sicko with me - and he refused because he bought in to the lies about Moore.

I bought another Repug friend the DVD and gave it to him to watch. He didn't because he bought in to the lies about Moore.

I only hope now that Potter's admission about this smear campaign gets well publicized - so I can go back to my neighbor and friend and point out to them that they were suckered and wound up supporting the insurance industry and the Repugs against their better interests.

We need to communicate this to those who vote against their better interests. They need to be shown how they are being used.

[mzmolly]

6. Yes we do need to communicate about this. In fact, I sent Moore an idea

for a documentary based upon the exchange. I'm so brazen! ;) My idea ... I think it would be fascinating to expose the corporate machinery and demonstrate how the (paid for) talking points trickle down to average Americans. He could start with exposing the front groups and op eds etc. later showing the spin on Faux and CNN, and finish with Luntz's interviews of brainwashed citizens.

I'd love to see such a film come out before the next election! I'm dreaming ... but a girl can dream right?

[sabrina 1]

8. That is an excellent idea

Lol, I had read the post before realizing you had written it mzmolly. But what a great idea. It would help to make people more aware that when they keep hearing the same talking points over and over again, they should begin to question 'where are they coming from' and start doing some research on their own.

Shame on our media also, I remember Sanjay Gupta's role in spreading the smears, and Michael's determination not to let him get away with it. He went on the Wolf Blitzer Show and was more angry than I've ever seen him and demanded a face to face interview with Gupta. MM is a very courageous person and it's shameful how he has been smeared.

CNN owes him an interview on this and an apology for their role in misinforming the American people. It seems Big Business sends them memos and they just read them, no independent checking at all. CNN DEFINITELY needs to address this. They helped deprive this country of a movement for a National Health Care system as the Health Ins. Industry feared. The media is actually harming this country.

Anyhow, I love this idea and I would not be surprised if MM takes you up on it, mzmolly!

[mzmolly]

34. Thanks Sabrina.

I agree CNN owes Moore an apology as does the USA Today and any other media outlet that was "had" by the corporate game.

Another thing I thought of was the Koch connection to the Tea Party. Those idiots are being led by the upper 1 percent to believe that Republicans offer them something. Maddening!

:hi:

[sabrina 1]

67. Yes, I hope the Koch connection gets a lot more attention

from the media than it has so far. I loved the interview with MM and Wendel Potter. That is what TV should be all about. To think we nearly lost Keith's voice! Nice to see you and I hope you hear from MM. I have a feeling he will 'get' what you are suggesting :-)

[gibby2433]

18. That would make a really fascinating movie

And with this new Citizens United Supreme Court decision there's only going to be more and more corruption to expose. I hope Michael takes your idea and runs with it! Giving you a cut of the profits, or course ;)

[mzmolly]

35. Thanks.

I agree. Citizens United makes this issue all the more important to expose.

:hi:

[jtown1123]

20. Love this idea! Tell him about Pete Peterson's influence on WaPo

[mzmolly]

36. There are far too many examples

aren't there? The material is endless, it seems. *sigh*

[molly77]

48. mzmolly...love your idea.

[LiberalLovinLug]

52. I did as well!

This was before Sicko came out. I was really hoping his next project would be about the manipulation of the MSM, especially after seeing how he was treated by them after F 9/11 came out.

I am still hoping he has been gathering clips all along and that something is in the works...this guy is still dreaming too.

[Swagman]

54. that's a brilliant idea mzmolly and if Michael doesn't perhaps another

doco maker will. With you as executive producer of course :toast:

[truedelphi]

56. Hi MzMolly -

Once again,

:yourock:

[chervilant]

60. Great!

And, how about a documentary about public education, particularly since Obama and Arne Duncan seem bent on blaming 'bad teachers' and 'malevolent unions' for the myriad problems with our system of public education? I hope he'll get busy soon. I sure would work for him.

[ejpoeta]

17. the problem is that they believe the bs about how awful canada's system is

and europe without ever asking anyone from those places. they make it so you can't trust what canadians or europeans say about it and just trust us. and then you have people that think they are going to have this insurance if they need it because they haven't really needed it. and they just get mad because poor people get medicaid and they have to pay for theirs and don't get as much. my brother loves beck and limbaugh and faux and he was bitching about obamacare... but his wife and kid have asthma... and they take medicines that cost a lot of money even WITH insurance. but he refuses to make the connection. you want to tell him he got the insurance he wanted. that's what you wanted, so you got it. now friggin deal with it. but you don't want to say that because everyone deserves to have decent healthcare.

i found out yesterday when talking to my dad's girlfriend and her sister that they had been trying to get him to go up to strong (hospital in rochester) and have tests done to find out what was wrong with him because he'd go into the hospital ER with things several times over two years. it would have cost him $100 which he didn't want to spend. and i started to cry. he might have been here today had he gone up and had a test. he might have had a friggin chance. instead he ended up in the hospital with cancer ravaging every part of his body and there was nothing anyone could do about it. and we were getting fucking letters (he was) from the insurance company trying to figure out if there was someone else who could have to pay for it. he was in there less than two weeks from start to end.

this system we have is nuts. it's bullshit and you just want to throttle people sometimes. my brother blames the VA for my dad's cancer. they didn't catch it. how can you blame the VA who are severely underfunded.

sorry, i am just getting ticked as i write this.

[KansDem]

28. The worse part is our health-care premiums ($$$) went to finance this...

...a smear campaign that was funded with blood money by the insurance industry.

We paid health-care premiums that were used to legislate against us.

[tomg]

7. Wendell Potter and Michael Moore

are just really decent, honest and courageous.

[sabrina 1]

9. I feel so angry over this. MM is a real patriot and to think these

vultures are given free reign, and have direct access to our excuse for a news media, to smear someone like him.

I have been defending him for years against those very smears he mentioned. I thought I was just arguing with rightwingnuts, I did not know that defending MM was fighting against millions of dollars worth of propaganda. I just knew none of it was true. But the odds were against those of us trying to fight the lies.

Kudos to Keith for more great TV. If only the MSM did this kind of television interviews helping to uncover the cockroaches that have taken over our society. And kudos to MM for never quitting even though he has been attacked so fiercely for so long. And to Wendell Potter also without whom we would never have known this for sure. We might have suspected it, but now we know for sure.

[Enthusiast]

10. This should be a major scandal.

This is REAL news and it should be on every media outlet. Remember how much air time the angry tea party screamers got?

[Stardust]

11. A couple of very brave men. Michael Moore & Wendell Potter are heroes.

[BrklynLiberal]

26. Yes. Two among many heroes whom the RWing talk machine has maligned and tried to destroy...

sometimes successfully. /cough cough....Howard Dean/

[defendandprotect]

12. Somehow I missed this last night -- thank you!!

[Vilis Veritas]

13. The barricades will not be paid for by our government.

They will be bought, paid for and erected by the corporations that control the country.

Corporate Oligarchy.

"Pull these curtains back so people can see exactly what these companies do to win and to manipulate public opinion to influence public policy"

-Wendall Potter

[valerief]

14. That was a great segment! nt

[gibby2433]

15. Will any conservative wonder "Why" they're supposed to hate Wendell Potter?

The Right (and Tea Party especially) should embrace Wendell Potter and thank him for his courage and PATRIOTISM. But, because he's defending Michael Moore, and a film that if they actually saw it would realize just how "non-partisan" it really is, they are Duty-Bound to demonize this man and his transformation to someone who wants simply to do good for the American people.

Also, Michael and Wendell should strike a deal to package Sicko and his book together. Merry Christmas!

[daleanime]

22. Shoot....

I would take 5 sets and be finished with my holiday shopping.O8)

[LiberalLovinLug]

51. I'm sure they'll trot out the tired old deflection

that it's all about making $ promoting and selling a book

(instead of sticking to his job and making much more)

I always laugh at this argument, I mean how else is someone supposed to get the information out there? Or is he supposed to announce that all profits will go to a charity, after he had to quit his job to write it of course. Meanwhile Coulter, Hannity, Beck, and even Dubya all have books out there making $

[olegramps]

16. Frighting!

It is a bit over-the-top to call these greedy bastards fascists, however, they employ the same tactics that were used to convince the German citizens that they were waging a just war in protection to the Homeland. I wonder how these people convinced themselves that they what they are doing is justified. I wish that there really was a hell and heaven where eternal punishment is meted out so deservingly and the exploited reside in eternal bliss. Unfortunately, these bastards and their enablers will go to their graves laughing at the how damn stupid most people are. They live the good life, make a mockery out of religion and prey on the ignorance of their fellow citizens.

[riverwalker]

19. doing battle

Million dollar PR firms, Big Pharma, giant Healthcare conglomerates, the Insurance Industry, paid bloggers on local media, fake web sites, our RN union fought these groups all last summer. We won our contract, but are still bruised and bloody. It was a dirty fight.

[RoccoR5955]

21. Kudos to KO for allowing this.

EVERYONE should see it, just to see what WE THE PEOPLE are up against.

[BrklynLiberal]

24. Thank you very much for posting this. I missed it last night....

Well worth waiting for...A historical exchange.

[activa8tr]

25. I saw this last night! It was great! K+R

Thanks for posting it here!

[HopeHoops]

27. K&R

[DFW]

29. I hope Potter isn't planning on flying in any small planes soon

His former patrons certainly have the money to sacrifice a small Lear jet and a pilot or two to silence this guy.

[rosesaylavee]

41. Agreed... did it seem to you that he waited a few extra beats

to respond to why George W. Bush used the very same talking points as were in the memo? The connection between the health insurance industry and the RW movers and shakers is no surprise here but to many out there, that would be shocking.

Will have to pick up his book.

[Uncle Joe]

30. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Very_Boring_Name.:thumbsup:

[peacetalksforall]

33. There are things we can do. Learn and teach. Using plain facts and timing things well which for

this means working fast.

Learn the name Sarah Berk. Spelled with an 'e', not a u.

Here are a few facts from www.sourcewatch:

"Sarah Berk is the Executive Director of Health Care America (HCA), a front group funded by pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.<1>

Writing in the Washington Post, Judy Sarasohn described Berk as "a former lobbyist for the American Hospital Association and earlier an aide in the leadership office of Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.)". At the AHA Berk's role was " director of grassroots advocacy".<2>

Berk told Sarasohn that HCA aims to be a free-market "'counter-voice' to Families USA, a group that she said promotes "a 'liberal health-care agenda'."

Notice lobbyist for American Hospital Association, aide in Santorum's office (date unknown)., and it looks like she and her fellow associates are after Families USA. (Good to learn what they are about.

Democrats need a Who's Who. What other sources besides Source Watch and Wiki are there for a quick add-on to knowledge about a guest who is introduced as an expert when appearing on any of the Republican networks.

Once this knowledge is known are there enough people to send a message to the Republican networks saying that we know whose interests the expert is pushing and the least they can do is include it in their introductions. The minimum. This also includes C-Span who is notorious for this. (True or false - you are more likely to get background from Democracy Now and other programs than the seven Republican networks where they have done this for the last twenty years - or from the day they were bought out by the corporate and consortium world - in fact some of the guests on shows like DN share their background voluntarily).

Work that in. If you watch Republican networks - have your computer close by.

Don't just say health care system when referring to ours - say 'FOR PROFIT health care system'.

Perhaps DU could create their own list of all the associations who are for the profit of the system and those who fight for fairness. Slowly add the name. In other words, put it together in visual list form with two sides. Do the same for the politicians (to see the Dem crossover). Perhaps it's already being done.

We operate from day to day and the increasing mouth dropping events erase each other. Health care is a blight on this country because some have decided to join in on milking a profit from the citizens (and residents and visitors).

We can do more because we see plenty passing by on the screen. We can organize it. And teach. And correct.

One way to teach is to correct anyone who does not know what Potter has done. How many would miss this posting/outcome if it weren't for Moore and Olberman? How many watched Potter on Democracy Now?

Little things: Don't call Sicko a 'movie' which implies fiction the way we use it. Use 'film' or better yet - 'documentary' or -
informative and revealing documentary or jazz it up with a street or a half-street description depending on who you are talking to.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sarah_Berk

[fascisthunter]

39. try to do something good for Americans and you get attacked by Corporate America

[harun]

40. Extraordinary. This should have 2000 recs.

[Drale]

43. Is an apology enough?

Potter should be forced to completely finance Michael Moore's next movie, maybe that will teach him to research a subject before spouting out about it?

[PSzymeczek]

58. Maybe they can cooperate on it.

That would be excellent if they did that.

[livingonearth]

44. Recommended

[polichick]

53. "It was all connected" (Republicans, WH & industry) - everything is still all connected. nt

[slipslidingaway]

66. + 1000. n/t

[katty]

55. Amazing, this should happen with so many other lies that result

in suppression and yokes around our necks.

[Swampguana]

57. Great Segment !!!

[avaistheone1]

59. Proud to be rec# 95

:kick:

k&r

[chervilant]

61. Isn't it past time

to take the information Wendell Potter has provided, and compel this milquetoast administration to demand a new health care bill that could be implemented immediately?!

[DemocraticPilgrim]

62. We must support whistle blowers wherever we find them buy their books give them moral support the .....

truth will out. Moore in history will go down as an all time patriot who didn't just save America from itself but the whole world. I just real loyal the the Pres. so I am sometimes at odds but Moore's intentions are noble. I feel the President is at least part way on the path we need to be, given the opposition I'll take part way.

[lovuian]

64. This gives me hope so much hope

that yes those participating in this raping of our families and children
do have a conscious

Atonement is a wonderful thing

[slipslidingaway]

65. knr - As mentioned Bill Moyers did a segment on this last year ...

sure would have been nice if this was followed up During the HC debate.

:(