In what, in my opinion, is one the most disgraceful and shocking exhibitions of callous disregard for journalistic standards not to mention human decency, the New York Post gossipy Page Six ran a story describing MSNBC host Keith Olbermann’s terrifying experience with a threatening letter that contained a “white powder.”
September 27, 2006—MSNBC loudmouth Keith Olbermann flipped out when he opened his home mail yesterday. The acerbic host of “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” was terrified when he opened a suspicious-looking letter with a California postmark and a batch of white powder poured out. A note inside warned Olbermann, who’s a frequent critic of President Bush’s policies, that it was payback for some of his on-air shtick. The caustic commentator panicked and frantically called 911 at about 12:30 a.m., sources told The Post’s Philip Messing. An NYPD HazMat unit rushed to Olbermann’s pad on Central Park South, but preliminary tests indicated the substance was harmless soap powder. However, that wasn’t enough to satisfy Olbermann, who insisted on a checkup. He asked to be taken to St. Luke’s Hospital, where doctors looked him over and sent him home. Whether they gave him a lollipop on the way out isn’t known. Olbermann had no comment.
The fact that the story is not considered “straight news” is absolutely no excuse. The columnist, Paula Froelich, should be fired immediately.
The tone of the piece is not only insulting but attempts to make light of what must have been a horrifying experience for Mr. Olbermann. And, as Dave Neiwert points out, sending the letter is considered an act of terrorism – hardly something to yuck it up about with references to “lollipops” not to mention the attempt to portray Olbermann as something less than courageous.
Yes, I realize I wrote a piece yesterday skewering Mr. Olbermann for his pretentiousness, his ignorance, his hysterical exaggerations about the right, about Bush, and Republicans. Politics is full contact sport and going for the jugular as Olbermann does on his show and I do on this site from time to time necessitates using rhetoric more suited to knife fighting than pistols at 20 paces.
But the United States is not a banana republic where we go around trying to kill our political opponents. Tear them down, yes. Hit them where they’re weakest, yes. This has been the nature of politics in America for more than 200 years. And if you know anything about history, you know that things are much, much more civilized today than they were even 100 years ago. Politics is a blood sport and if you want sweetness and light, get thee to a nunnery – you ain’t gonna get it from the wardheelers of Chicago, the Back Bay Brahmins of Boston, or in the high rise offices of the media manipulators, pollsters, advance men, oppo researchers, or candidates of today.
Our friends on the left are trying to tar the entire conservative media by conjuring up the conspiracy theory that because The Post is owned by Fox News’ Rupert Murdoch, that somehow Froelich’s disgrace was instigated by evil right wingers.
Spare me.
What is it about the left and conspiracies? For them, 2 + 2 = 4 is a conspiracy because it’s possible one of the 2’s used to be a 3 and colluded with the 5 to step aside and allow the 4 to hide the fact that the 3 is now a 2.
Can’t things just be coincidence every once and a while? You know, like real life. History is replete with coincidences that few have bothered to posit conspiracy theories for. And making a conspiracy about everything your political opponent does reflects badly on the critical thinking skills of many liberals not to mention their emotional maturity and innate intelligence.
The New York Post has no excuse. One would hope they would fire Froelich and issue a page one apology to Mr. Olbermann forthwith.
UPDATE
Were Ed Morrissey and Rick Moran brothers in another life? Ed and I have been on the same wavelength all day. Here’s his take on Froelich’s disgrace:
I don’t know what Froelich was thinking when she wrote this piece. Olbermann has surely slammed the Post on a number of occasions, perhaps even in personal ways. That doesn’t excuse Froelich from belittling someone who had good cause to be frightened, especially considering the level of animosity he provokes. The anthrax attacks in 2001 went to media offices, something Froelich fails to mention in her schoolground rant.
Being partisan is one thing. Being inhuman is something else entirely.
And Hugh Hewitt thinks its time for the entire staff to go – again. You may recall the “Page Six Fix” from last year where it was discovered former columnist Richard Johnson was getting expensive gifts and other goodies from some of the subjects mentioned in his columns. Of course, it was just coincidence that references to the gift givers were almost always positive.
Pride goeth before the fall…
Add Patterico to the fire Froelich/shame on the Post group. He points out Ed, Hugh, and I all came to the same conclusions he did without any of us aware of the other’s position.
Maybe all of us were brothers in another life. Let’s see…I would have been the black sheep, Hugh the scholar, Ed the man about town, and Pat the lawyer.
We would have called ourselves “The Undefeated…”
7:54 pm
Why Doesn’t Page Six Take A Big Whiff Itself?
Let’s make one point clear at the beginning of this post: I cannot stand Keith Olbermann. I couldn’t stand his pretentious, egotistical sportscasting when I first saw him in Los Angeles, and thought he only improved marginally at ESPN’s SportsCenter…
7:54 pm
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Coooooool. I get a Republican convention and a brother all on the same day.
8:21 pm
The Goosie-Gander Olbermann
It seems that someone sent Keith Olbermann a letter with white powder, to which he had – as he has with everything – an over the top prima-dona response to.
The story via The NY Post.
“MSNBC loudmouth Keith Olbermann flipped out when he opened hi…
8:33 pm
[...] UPDATE x2: So does Rick Moran. [...]
9:05 pm
I’m trying to work up a righteous indignation over the Post article, but it’s just not working. Olberman spews out so much hate and venom in such an unjustified manner that I figure fate/God has handed him some “you reap what you sow” medicine to take. He was not injured, and maybe this whole incident was a needed lesson from God, or an attempt to draw Olberman nigh unto Him. I’m sure that Olberman has brougtht more hurt to others than this incident cost him. And I really don’t think that the Post response is any indication of a “Banana Republic” type attitude to an open, hostile press. The Post piece would probably have been different if the powder had been toxic. But it wasn’t, and I think you “media” types are over-reacting. That article harmed no one. I don’t mean to be hard hearted, but I just don’t think it’s that big of a deal.
9:05 pm
You would think someone would proof read these articles before they are published. Apparently in this case they did not.
9:24 pm
Nice to know there are so many people out there who would be so much more dispassionate and sanguine than Keith Olbermann, and wouldn’t even call 911 if they got a similar letter or take their family to the emergency room as a precaution. Such hardy souls are exactly what we need in these trying times. Everyone knows that acts of terrorism are just misunderstood practical jokes.
9:44 pm
Hey dave the dolt, where did you get the idea that some people out there wouldn’t call 911 or take their family to the hospital? Did someone say that or imply that? Did anyone call the powder incident a joke? Where did you get that idea? Is that how you feel about it? Or are you just being sarcastic? Sounds like you are spoiling for a fight, or something, and you seem to be reading something here that no one else can see. How do you do that?
10:55 pm
Rick: okay, you know what, I like your blog, and you’re a great writer/analyst; and I post here alot.
Technically, you ARE correct! Okay, but like a few of the other posters, considering who this was, and the hate and venom, and anti-Americanism, that he spews on a daily basis, I do find it a tad difficult to garner any sympathy for the Buffoon!
Do I appreciate the “practical joke” played on him? NO!
Would I do that to him? NO!
Would I like someone to do that to me? NO!
Isn’t it a crime by the way, kinda like shouting “fire” in a crowded theater? If not, it should be!
But anyway, isn’t this the same Idiot, Olbermann, who when Santorum released the report the other month, about the “older” CW Shells found in Iraq, Olbermann spent his whole show pooh-pooh the old and degraded WMD’s, and said that basically, if they were on his set with him, there would be no danger at all?
This was the “tough” guy who was basically asking for someone to bring a “degraded” Sarin/VX shell on his program, to prove it was no threat!
He sure doesn’t sound like a reincarnation of the “Scud Stud” now!
10:59 pm
Dale:
I appreciate your comments as always.
This was not a practical joke. Both under the law and in point of fact, it was a terrorist act.
No different than using a toy gun to hold up a bank. They still call it armed robbery.
And I think that you have to separate someone’s politics from their basic humanity. I hate what Olbermann stands for. I don’t hate the man.
11:04 pm
Rick: Hi, as I said, you are correct!
And that’s why I threw this in there:
“Isn’t it a crime by the way, kinda like shouting “fire†in a crowded theater? If not, it should be!”
I actually wasn’t sure, but post 9/11, it makes sense that it is, especially with the Anthrax incident, etc.
I admire your last point; you’re a better man than me, that’s obvious; I do have trouble distinguishing sometimes; I know, it’s my cross to bear….
11:48 pm
[...] UPDATE: Others: Done With Mirrors, RWNH, A Blog For All, Patterico, TMV, Political Pit Bull, Hugh Hewitt, [...]
12:05 am
There’s a good reaon why I heart you, Rick, you’re a real mensch.
12:21 am
I still hope every Republican in America loses November 7th, but never let it be said that I don’t offer praise when it is due. Nice post.
5:41 am
I don’t feel at all sorry for olbermann, glad it was sent to him as a joke I’m sure, but we can’t sink to their levels.
8:08 am
I hate Olbermann with a passion. He seems like a cruel man on his show.
8:12 am
Defending Keith Olbermann
His rants against the Bush administration have made Keith Olbermann a rock star among the denizens of the Left Blogosphere and and object of scorn and ridicult on the Right. It’s rather amusing, then, to see a pro-Olbermann blogstorm among the l…
8:38 am
as much as Olbermann is a dolt, the Post piece was juvenile and inappropriate…it serves to reduce “us” to the level of “them” and an apology is certainly in order.
9:07 am
I, as well, detest KO. I’ve gone at him too on my blog of little note. But enough is enough. If you believe at all in the right of free speech and non-censorship of what’s protected thereunder, then Olbermann gets his turn in the sun without a threat to his well-being. And shame on the commenters who feel he had this coming. If we stand for anything, then it’s the right to express the universally ahbored opinion (remember, guys?) along with the welcomed. Let’s not resort to such tactics or condone same. We stand in the breach against terrorists that would deny us this right, while the leftist synchophants to Dhimmitude seem oblivious to that simple fact. We are better than that.
monsoon
9:35 am
Keith’s Response:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15036633/
10:12 am
The folks on the Left like to call the Right Facists and the Right enjoys calling the Left traitors -> The intent on both sides is the same, you are less of an American than me and deserving of injury or death. Sadly I don’t think this behavior will be truly examined by either side until someone is actully hurt or killed.
11:58 am
Great essay, Mr. Moran. Politics is hell. But, it’s the kind of hell where we can eventually clock out and get together for drinks on Friday nights. The fun of it is in the debate, not in the threat.
http://dk-sanctuary.blogspot.com/
3:15 pm
From a lefty who probably disagrees with most of what you say, thanks for recognizing that the Post editorial crossed a line.
6:01 pm
Clinton seeks solace in the company of friends
“Gennifer. This is Bill. We need to talk. I really miss you. I’m lonely and that crazed monkey Chris Wallace sandbagged me on Fox…”
8:19 pm
“The folks on the Left like to call the Right Facists and the Right enjoys calling the Left traitors -> The intent on both sides is the same, you are less of an American than me and deserving of injury or death.”
Is that really the case? I have never seen anyone on the left arguing that conservatives should be murdered, but that stuff pours forth from the right in many forms.
Rightwingers will often use messages about violence towards liberals. They usually try to pass these off as jokes, but even if most of them are sincere (if morbid), you would be a fool to believe all of them are joking.
Liberals often argue that the conservative government should be thrown out of office. That is not murder. They often say Bush and his Administration should be put on trial, possibly for war crimes. That, too, is not murder, and insofar as fair and public trials are a hallmark of civilization, it’s exactly the opposite of murder.
If you’ll allow me a bit of stereotyping, try to imagine a group of hippies or musicians turning into a lynch mob. You can’t do it. Now try with your local NRA or Minuteman group.
As Moran notes, political partisanship is one thing, but calls for political violence are a far different beast; one that should now and forever be shot down by every patriot.
People on the American Left today are simply not as violent as those on the American Right today, and trying to establish a false equivalence between them is dishonest moral relativism.
-MH
9:27 pm
In response to comment #25: bullshit.
Just read liberal blogs like the Daily Kos. I’ve received many threats of violence since starting my blog exposing them. I just posted a story about a conservative student beat up by leftists. DKos members applauded the violence. The left is violent and unstable.
http://dk-sanctuary.blogspot.com/
9:49 pm
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Weekend (J)Blog Roundup – 2006-09-30…
... so we said: “sorry Rabbi, it’s just because of the hunger and the headache.” And he said: “the Yom Kippur fast is a joyous fast – for one day we get to be like angels. Instead of food, drink,......