Why it's OK, but ridiculous, to be disappointed with Olbermann but not the Democratic Party

[jpgray]

First off, I don't like Olbermann at all. I never watch his program. There's nothing soothing to me in seeing a comfortable set of prejudices reflected back at me.

But Olbermann is an advocacy journalist. His invitations to and support of Grijalva on his program were exponentially greater in dollar value than a $2,400 donation. His reputation as an impartial journalist was in no way damaged because he has no such reputation. His donations were neither secret nor unduly influential on the outcome of the election. Even if he violated the letter of the contract (which is debatable), he in no realistic way can be seen to be acting against its rationale.

As a contrast, consider Walter Lippmann. Guy actually -wrote- speeches and statements for Johnson and others, and then reviewed them. He was constantly on the line consulting with the highest public figures. All in secret, all undisclosed, and having a profound influence on the debate he was supposed to be impartially commentating on.

Olbermann's infractions are the smallest potatoes imaginable--the puniest most harmless tubers one could ever waste text on. This should be so damn obvious that all the text spilled over it is fucking heartbreaking in its wastefulness.

That the Democrats did nothing much about McCarran-Ferguson while forcing everyone to buy into the cartels that are our health insurers is not at all small potatoes. That Obama excoriated Medicare Part D Billy Tauzin on the trail as the perfect example of horrible, game-playing, revolving-door venality, representative of all he would change in Washington, and then proceeded to meet with Tauzin about once every fifteen days between Feb 4 and July 22, 2009 before cutting a secret deal with him that took all his promises on drug re-importation and negotiation off the table--those are not small potatoes at all. That he gave health insurers the same mandate he ridiculed on Letterman as being akin to requiring everyone to buy a house is not small potatoes.

Those are some big and bloated spuds.

[jpgray]

1. Kick, because this phenomenon is absolutely baffling to me

[movonne]

5. Really...and why is that when 95% of radio, tv media is right wing

and now they will sop up the other5%..that's why it is a big thing weather you watch keith or not...we don't really care it you like him or not that is your choice but now no choice...got it..

[jpgray]

6. If you'll direct your attention to this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9496772

You'll see I agree that this is not a reasonable move by MSNBC. But given that, it is completely weird to me that so many are striking a pose on this, saying that such is what happens when you break your word, and that his punishment is just. in truth, the consequences of Olbermann's violation were as minor as one could possibly imagine, and the trust for him to be impartial was nonexistent. These people are nowhere to be found when the consequences are higher, when truly crucial trusts are violated by elected officials. Instead we get tough on editorial commentators.

[TheKentuckian]

2. Nothing special about this dynamic, as in most cases

"Sensible Centrists" and the right have the same goals and tactics.

Fire breathing truth tellers harsh the beltway delusion.

[jpgray]

3. I don't think Olbermann harshes the beltway delusions at all

But at the same time the pious posturing over this most meager of infractions seems utterly ridiculous to me, considering the real harm of betrayals that are going on from people who actually do have a significant impact.

[xchrom]

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