John Nichols, The Nation: Who Won the Olbermann Wrangle? Bold Progressives

[highplainsdem]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/155903/who-won-olbermann-wrangle-bold-progressives

Who Won the Olbermann Wrangle? Bold Progressives
John Nichols


When NBC knocked MSNBC's Keith Olbermann off the air, a legitimate debate opened with regard to the character and content of cable TV programs—and whether the anchors of clearly ideological and at times partisan programs should try to maintain the traditional standards of journalistic objectivity. An even more legitimate debate opened about the question of why anchors are held to one standard and the owners of the channels on which those anchors appear are held to another standard when it comes to making political contributions.

But the Progressive Change Campaign Committee's co-founders—Stephanie Taylor and Adam Green—opted for action rather than debate. They immediately initiated a petition campaign demanding that Olbermann—who was suspended from his primetime slot after it was learned that he had made three campaign contributions to Democratic contenders in the 2010 election cycle—berestored to his position.

The PCCC campaign attracted more than 300,000 signatures and, when NBC announced that Olbermann would be back on the air Tuesday, Taylor and Green emailed their thousands of PCCC activists with a one word message: "Victory!"

These are tough days for what the increasingly ridiculous Robert Gibbs refers to as "the professional left"—and what serious observers refer to as "the people who were right when the Obama White House misread things"—but the restoration of Olbermann is indeed a victory.

-snip-

[sabrina 1]

1. The Progressive Change Campaign is all about action.

They should start a blog for Progressives who want to take action. They now have over 400,000 members and are very good at communicating with their members.

When some were willing to just let the media get away with silencing one more progressive voice, they instantly took action. Because it was about way more than Keith Olbermann.

The usual 'he makes us look bad when he goes over the top' type fears of what Republicans might think of us would have taken over, were it not for the fact that people are just now sick and tired of all the excuses for not fighting back.

Kudos to them once again for letting Comcast know, BEFORE they take over, that it won't be as easy to turn MSNBC into another Fox, like it was in the early Bush years. At least this time they know they'll have a fight on their hands.

[Radical Activist]

8. No, they're all about raising money online.

They're willing to ride the wave and then try to take credit. Sending out an email and online petition as a fund raising tactic is not "taking action."

[sabrina 1]

10. And what is the DNC about? The only time we ever hear from

them is when they need money. Then they back candidates like Blanche Lincoln against the candidates the people prefer.

So, our donations now go to people who fight for the ISSUES we are interested in. Politicians come and go, and if they are not going to fight for the issues people are interested in, there's no point in sending them donations through the party. The party doesn't listen to the people.

This organization is working on campaigns for issues that matter to most progressives and the bigger they grow the more success they will have.

When they stop addressing issues that concern progressives, we will stop supporting them. It's simple, but so far, I have received a lot more for my support of them, FROM them, that I have from the Party, who appears to believe we are irrelevant anyhow.

The ACLU fights for the Rule of Law. They get our support also, among others.

[polichick]

2. I hope we'll see Bold Progressives grow more powerful over the next few months...

...because liberals and other progressives need a jumping-off place to organize a remake of the Democratic Party.

Alan Grayson (talking with Big Ed today) pointed out that most of Obama's cabinet are neocons, and Joe Biden is the only liberal - and noted that the biggest environmental action taken so far has been more offshore drilling and subsidies for nuclear power. No wonder there was poor Dem turnout.

[sabrina 1]

3. You can get on their email list, if you're not already.

They are very issues oriented which I like. Not much wasted time on personailties, they are all about the issues.

I hope this victory gets them a lot of new members.

[polichick]

5. I like your idea about a blog for them. They're good at getting on TV...

I've seen the founders on a lot of msnbc programs.

[sabrina 1]

11. I know, I wasn't really aware of them

until relatively recently. But they caught my attention when I saw the candidates they were supporting, and the issues. This was the kind of organization needed by progressives. Plus they listen to people's suggestions.

[calimary]

7. Me too! I'm on their list. I hope they mushroom with new members.

After all, SOMEBODY has to listen to us and take action, even if our wuss Congresspeople won't.

Go where the backbone is!

[glitch]

6. Joe Biden is a liberal?

I think he meant neoliberal.

[Swamp Rat]

4. k&r

[gratuitous]

9. That's not right; it's really good news for Republicans

Because everything's good news for Republicans. But really, we can’t expect The Nation to know that.