Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann Demoted from MSNBC Election Coverage
MSNBC personalities Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann are two of the more controversial political pundits in the business. Chris Matthews can draw fire from both the left and the right on any given day, while Keith Olbermann is regularly cited as one of the most far-left and anti-Bush pundits on TV. Putting Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann together for election coverage was a fiery pairing even before the conventions.
But with Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann going at each other and trading barbs several times recently, it became too much for MSNBC to handle. So MSNBC demoted Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann from their upcoming election coverage before things got more out of hand, according to BroadCastingCable.com.
Matthews and Olbermann anchored two straight weeks of low-rated coverage at the Republican and Democratic National Convention. Their uneasy one-liners towards each other and potential bias got more attention than their actual analysis of the conventions themselves. So MSNBC has removed Matthews and Olbermann as hosts of their major political coverage, giving the job to veteran David Gregory instead.
Gregory will headline MSNBC's coverage of the upcoming debates and Election Day itself. Matthews and Olbermann will still contribute, but just as guest commentators and not hosts. Matthews and Olbermann will remain on their respective MSNBC shows Hardball and Countdown to give their various political opinions, however. But as a team, Matthews and Olbermann are finished for now.
This is yet another chapter in the ongoing controversies surrounding both Matthews and Olbermann's objectivity. Matthews has been ridiculed for various pro-Obama and anti-Clinton comments during the Democratic primaries, primarily when he said that Obama gave him " a thrill going up my leg." Olbermann has been a hero of the progressive left for countless rants and commentary against the Bush administration and the war on his show Countdown.
But with Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann going at each other and trading barbs several times recently, it became too much for MSNBC to handle. So MSNBC demoted Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann from their upcoming election coverage before things got more out of hand, according to BroadCastingCable.com.
Matthews and Olbermann anchored two straight weeks of low-rated coverage at the Republican and Democratic National Convention. Their uneasy one-liners towards each other and potential bias got more attention than their actual analysis of the conventions themselves. So MSNBC has removed Matthews and Olbermann as hosts of their major political coverage, giving the job to veteran David Gregory instead.
Gregory will headline MSNBC's coverage of the upcoming debates and Election Day itself. Matthews and Olbermann will still contribute, but just as guest commentators and not hosts. Matthews and Olbermann will remain on their respective MSNBC shows Hardball and Countdown to give their various political opinions, however. But as a team, Matthews and Olbermann are finished for now.
This is yet another chapter in the ongoing controversies surrounding both Matthews and Olbermann's objectivity. Matthews has been ridiculed for various pro-Obama and anti-Clinton comments during the Democratic primaries, primarily when he said that Obama gave him " a thrill going up my leg." Olbermann has been a hero of the progressive left for countless rants and commentary against the Bush administration and the war on his show Countdown.
Comments
Rosario
(Guest)
(Guest)
10/03/2008
It is really sad to see the lack of appreciation of two great political journalists. The difference of those programs allowed me to think out of the box and also made me more objective in my political judgement. If we do not have variety, then we do not have nothing worth to watch. Thank God there is now the Rachel Maddow Show (which I love watching) and listening on the radio also. We need journalists who question the status quo otherwise, all is the same mediocrecy. The war in Irak had support here in America because the media did not bother to question. The media was used by the government as the 4th political power and spread lies to support its plan of invasion. In a democracy we value freedom of the press. Please, reinstate Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann in their shows, otherwise it looks like you are silencing the voice of the people.
SuncroW
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/18/2008
Sorry, but Olbermann sounds more like a Nazi than anyone I have ever heard of; I do not believe he can consistently or even on a regular basis argue a point of view without clouded and nearly factless, not to mention out-of-context, attacks. He needs to find an evil dictator for whom to serve as chief propagandist.
SuncroW
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/18/2008
It's good to see that sometimes truly bigoted, or at least terribly biased, reporters are reprimanded in some way. Too bad, they are not looking for other careers.
sandy
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/13/2008
Both were complete bias fools. It's one thing to side with a party, But don't push your BS on me or the public. MSNBC should have booted them for the network altogether. Here's a tip! Report the news and shout the F... UP about your opinions. I thought liberals loved everybody or maybe that only extends to people who think like liberals. The rest of the American people I guess should just be cattle to be led by the liberal left.
I think it is time that we just accept the fact that we all have biased opinions. The media is made up of of people just like the rest of us. It is hard when you have a strong opinion to become objective. With that in mind, the capitalist system works. The media used to be dominated by The New York Times and The Washington Post for print and NBC, CBS, & ABC were considered the big three networks. Due to the fact that liberalism does not sell, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity have a daily audience bigger than the daily audience of both major newspapers and the big three. While conservative pundits enjoy a steady rise in their audience the rest are sinking. Liberal leaders need to take a hard look at their message and evaluate why it is not resonating with the marketplace.
Hi, nice articel, ! love it.
Pam
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/09/2008
They are the two most foul personalities on television. Matthews has a big fat mouth and Olbermann, well what can I say, he is just useless.
cottonwoodbtm
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/09/2008
I see the neo-fascist right has won another victory. Let's hear more about Msss. Palen and her bible-thumping, war-mongering, bull dog stances and oh yes if you tell a lie often enough, people will start to believe it. Yes, god is on their side and liberals are demonized. Sound like pre-WW II nazi Germany? Hm?? How many other of the liberal media will be demoted, eh?
I appreciate your article. I am a little disappointed that MSNBC is dropping the only two news anchors I was familiar with without the Tim Russert.
But whatever happens, its all just business.
While they handle theirs, I'm focused on mine.
Hank Misiak
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/08/2008
Their coverage was so bias that I wonder what took so long to get them off the top spot on the election coverage. MSNBC deserves the low ratings they are getting.
Only one that I watch on MSNBC is Joe Scarbourogh.
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