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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2008 > September > 09 > Entry
Olbermann Overboard about Palin
I found myself watching Keith Olbermann on MSNBC last night (Monday), something I never do. Wow. He was — choosing this word carefully — apoplectic about all manner of alleged horrors stories relating to Sarah Palin’s religious views.
He was fascinated and unmistakably appalled at the revelation that people in her church speak in tongues. But the church in question is the one she grew up in and has left. So what’s the issue?
He was all excited about the fact that a YouTube video shows her asking her current church to pray that problems involving a pipeline in the works for Alaska be worked out. But that pipeline is God and country in Alaska. Everybody is for it. To ask people to pray for it is like asking them to pray for the troops or for military victory.
And Olbermann referred to an upcoming story about something that was said from the pulpit of Palin’s new church. But it turned out to have been said by a visiting speaker (a Jews for Jesus spokesman saying Israel was paying the price for angering God). Surely the Obama people don’t want to start holding Palin responsible for things that are said (by a visitor, no less) from the pulpit of her church, after all the Obama people have been through.
I can’t remember if it was Olbermann, but somebody during the evening was upset about a YouTube video showing Palin saying something about God’s will and Iraq. As I listened to it, all she seemed to be saying was that people should pray or hope that we are doing the right thing there by God. Hard to see what’s so offensive about that.
The media do have to go at the Palin story hard, of course. Out of the blue, she is put forth for the heartbeat-awayship. If anything ever screamed out for aggressive investigative reporting, this is it. But there’s a right way and a wrong way. Olbermann got it wrong that night. (And MSNBC got it right in taking him — and Chris Matthews — off anchoring duties at events such as conventions. Let’s not kid ourselves about who he is.)
Permalink | Comments (60) | Post your comment | Categories: National politics
Comments
By TRS
September 9, 2008 11:00 PM | Link to this
Olberman has been out of control for some time; but, you could find many of the same type comments on th liberal Salon website and I’m sure many others. Seems an American woman “commoner” is driving them off the deep end. The National Organization for Women was only for women if they were pro choice and liberal…and after accusing others of intolerance and bigotry it turns out some on the left are the least tolerent and seemly most bigoted toward those whose faith and belief system differs from theirs. Thats certainly not to say all liberals are that way but there seems to be enough of them.By Mary
September 10, 2008 12:25 AM | Link to this
From what I have seen on the news about her talks in the church, I can understand why some people would be nervous. The separation between her faith and her role as a political leader and her approach to political power is a legitimate campaign issue. Some have been concerned from the start of the Iraq War that it might have been a religious decision with abuse of political power. Count me in for being concerned. That is not the type of leadership decisions I want in my political leaders when sending our young soldiers,airmen and marines into harm’s way. I do not want our leaders using God, or gods, as an excuse for their ineptness.By Alice
September 10, 2008 12:41 AM | Link to this
I agree that Olbermann is over the top, but as long as the O’Reillys, Hannitys and Rush’s exist, I’ll always defend the Olbermanns of the world. I wouldn’t consider myself an advocate of NOW, and won’t dispute that there are a lot of intolerant democrats and republicans, but as a progressive, I’ve always considered myself intolerant of views that promote intolerance. Preach the hypocrisy, but one side has done more to advance civil rights for minorities and women. Even today, compare the statistics of the delegates at the conventions, representatives of their party, and from that determine who has a better chance of being represented in our government.By derwood
September 10, 2008 2:39 AM | Link to this
Olbermann makes Bill O’Reilly look stable..By Frank N. Germain
September 10, 2008 6:16 AM | Link to this
Olbermann…. come on, he’s just an entertainer…. oh…. wait wait wait- that’s Limbaugh…. nevermindBy Agreeing
September 10, 2008 7:34 AM | Link to this
It’s sad - funny and very sad - to see Liberals tie themselves in knots over this woman. There’s a high road in this political race, and nobody seems to know it’s there. Listening to Olbermann and Co. is A LOT like listening to Sean Limbaugh - they’ll take an out-of-context quote/rumor/whatever and pound it into the ground. It’s quite disheartening to see Liberals stoop so low. The truth is enough, folks!By Bill
September 10, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this
And Bill O’Reilly and the good folks at Fox News are innocent? Come on Martin, the media is in it for THE MONEY! You’re in the business, you should know that. If they put an extremely opinionated personality up there on the screen they know they’ll have an audience and thus more advertising dollars. It is unfortunate that by doing this the media is dividing this country more than it already is - if you’re (R) then you do nothing but watch Fox News that is blatantly biased to the right, and if you are (D) then you watch MSNBC which does have several hosts/pundits (not all - see Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan) that are blatantly biased to the left. This does nothing but reinforce what you already believe and makes it even more unlikely that you will consider points of view different than your own. This is dangerous and will further divide our country. The television media claims “objective” and “fair and balanced” by following the panel format where they feature somebody on one side and somebody on the other side and have them argue back and forth. This is NOT objective news, this is NOISE. And ALL of the cable news stations are guilty. I urge EVERYBODY to turn off ALL of the cable news stations and inform yourself of the issues and where each candidate stands. There are sources (albeit few) that do in fact offer objective information on where each candidate stands on the issues.By coarch
September 10, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this
Olberman is a sniveling snarky-commenting simpleton who has bounced around his industry so many times, that fact speaks for itself. MSNBC tried (is still trying) to be the opposite of FOX News and reached for Keith. They’re finding that they both made a mistake by hiring him, and a more tactical mistake by attempting to cater to a core audience that sits on the fringe and doesn’t command advertisement dollars. Funny how that works. Can we apply Air America to the classic description of insanity??By michael coyan
September 10, 2008 8:07 AM | Link to this
Olbermann has NOT been out of control. He has been doing a reporters job regarding a politician - with nothing spared because she happens to be a woman. After being lied into a war where thousands of our young soldiers lost there lives, I want a president who I can trust. Bridge-to-nowhere? Lie. Sold plane on embay? Lie. Fired chef? Lie. Thank God at least Olbermann has the guts to call it what it is!By JANE C.
September 10, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this
Ha! There is nothing ‘common’ about running for Vice President, and just like any VP candidate, this woman is expected to tell Truth, not lies. Truth seems to be in short supply for Bushie Republicans, and thank God, Olbermann has the guts to stand up and ‘tell it like it is’. There’s nothing liberal or pro-choice about Truth. Truth is what the American people are looking for, especially after WMD lies that took 4,000+ American soldiers and untold Iraqi innocent men, women & children. Olbermann tells the truth & present backup—unlike those storytellers on Faux news. As for Palin’s church, well…if you’ve seen the videos of the hysteria during their services, and hear Palin herself talk about nearing ‘endtimes’, it would make you shiver with doubt about ever having her as VP.By Denny Sorah
September 10, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this
Keith didn’t do enough. She keeps saying anthing she wants (as long as somebody tells her what to say) but no one’s allowed to say anything that might offend her because she isa female. Why can’t she campaign? The reason is, because she doesn’t have anything to say She says what the rep. want her to say and McCain stands in the back ating like some senile old man still living in the 60’s and thinking he is still a hostage. He is way out of touch and mrs. lipstick doesn’t have the ability towrite her own speeches.By Peter Chase
September 10, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
I credit Olberman for some of the best, fact-based reporting around. Rather than take Matthews and Olberman out of the anchor chairs, I wish MSNBC had added a conservative third chair, perhaps for Joe Scarborough, someone who is also honest about his political perspective, in his case conservative, but who, like Matthews and Olberman, has integrity. This would have enabled MSNBC to continue to provide it’s comparatively deep and insightful analysis.By null RON FROM ENGLEWOOD
September 10, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
I like most sane people watch Oreilly but sometimes I turn the station to tune in KEITH. I can only watch for a little while because I can not watch so much hatred. I am fasinated by his anger. Never have I seen such a hate filled man His entire show consists of talking to only people who agree with his hate filled opinions. NO disagreement, NO dialogue, NOthing but anger towards any conservative people or ideas.I t is no wonder that his show is in the tankBy ron from englewood
September 10, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this
Never have I seen such a hate filled man, his show with nothing but other nuts who only agree with him and his opinions is a loser. GOOD BYE and GOOD RIDDANCE TO THIS ANGRY INSANE PERSON. HE’S QUITE A TRIPBy JANE C.
September 10, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this
I agree with “Bill” above—turn off all cable news…, only I would add “turn off all TV news!” The news stations should refuse to air anything that is a lie (put the burden of proof on the candidate),—especially advertising. But, they don’t! Right now TV stations act like, well…like call girls—they work for money, not for the Public Trust. That’s how they make the Big Bucks. But they confuse the hell out of the citizens with censoring truth and/or promoting untruths (aka, lies). This whole game is endangering our democracy because in the end, many citizens believe the lies, and a president is elected…like the one we have now…. What is happening to our country?By null
September 10, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
John McCain and Sarah Palin Just lie and say whatever they want and no one questions them. Look at the ear marks she takes for Alaska.,and her church can’t cure homosexuals.By Kevin W.
September 10, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
Olberman and now Maddow, are the most vile and hateful “commentators”, I have ever witnessed. In fact, by blatently imputing their own twisted radical views into their “reporting”, they have and will continue to lose any remaining creditabilty with the 48 viewers they have left. Just check the ratings.By Neocon & proud of it
September 10, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
alice “as a progressive, intolerant of views that promote intolerance. Preach the hypocrisy, but one side has done more to advance civil rights for minorities and women.” read your history — that party is the GOP, who passed Civil Rights Act against the votes of Southern Dems, Passed the ADA, and the GOP congress is responsible for the only balanced budget in over 60 yrs…By Shirley
September 10, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
I appreciate Keith Olberman’s insights and his humor. The media in general is being intimidated by the Republical attack machine, but not Keith. There is no tactic beneath the Republican who are desperate to remain in power after they have left this country in a mess after 8 years of Bush.By Neocon & proud of it
September 10, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this
Bill- when the major networks have a panel of “pundits” they stack the deck to the left, when Fox — the “johnny-come-lately” in the news biz does one, they put 2 from each side, and yes, I agree that Fox is a bit less brutal to the GOP, but that does not mean they are biased… they just seem right leaning because they are so far from the the All Barack Company (ABC) Columbia Barack System (CBS) New Barack Company (NBC) and Conservatives Not-welcome Network (CNN)By Neocon & proud of it
September 10, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
M Coyan and Jane C If Keith had done his job of reporting, you guys could be supporting Hillary instead. It wouldn’t have got him demoted if he hadn’t given a PASS to the Obama campaign AS for the lies, Obama never supported the war, because he never had a vote, he wasn’t in congress then… Hillary knew exactly what W knew, because she sat on the committee that drafted the intell report that put Iraq in the mix… 500 tons of Uranium are not needed to operate a nuclear power plant, but do make hundreds of dirty bombs More soldiers have died in non-combat during the same period since we went to Iraq, some while on manuevers, some not. You Apologists would have been gassed, beheaded or rape-tortured in Iraq for stating your views, but not in USA, because we honor freedom, not despise it…. oh, that’s right, you don’t….By Rebecca Hall
September 10, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
I am so glad that we have Keith Olbermann. He is not afraid to report unpopular news items. He is not intimidated by Carl Rove and his smear cronies. This election is so important and fact checking is imperative. If a candidate is only telling half truths or completely lying about her record, she should be called on it—so should the other three if they are guilty.By Neocon & proud of it
September 10, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
as for religious freedom, I think that’s why folks emmigrated from Europe, to be allowed to practice their religion without interference from government… freedom of religion, not freedom from religion…. Constitution assures the free practice of religion, nothing more I don’t care if Obama practices his Islamic, Catholic or Black Liberation Theology… Palin’s faith should not enter into it, because obviously Obama’s was never considered….By Inti
September 10, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Everyone should be concerned about Palin’s religious views. Have the last 8 years taught us nothing? Palin belongs to the same school of thought as the right-wing warmongers that brought the USA to this disastrous point in our history: purveyors of war, torture and occupation, all in the name of God. True Christ followers better stand up and be counted now, else we’re in for more of the same.By Inti
September 10, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
Neocon: What balanced budget? Bush and his neocons managed to wipe out Clinton’s budget surplus. And just out of curiosity, what rank and branch are you? Or are you just content to let other people’s kids die so you can sit on your posterior and call the people who are trying to bring them home “unpatriotic?”By Alice
September 10, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
NeoCon, the 19th Amendment was signed by Woodrow Wilson, a democrat. The Civil Rights Bill of 1964 was introduced by Kennedy before he was assassinated. The 2008 RNC delegates were two-thirds male, while the DNC was split. McCain even opposed equal pay for women in a bill this April.By Randy
September 10, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
Already the funny and pointed bumper stickers: VOTE PALIN 08 - AND GET THE WHITE HAIRED DUDE TOOBy Cherie Rosenstein
September 10, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Keith Olbermann is one of my favorite political commentators on TV. He is one of the very few liberal voices to balance out the flood of right-wing, conservative talk show hosts who bombard us day and night on TV and radio how “terrific the Bush Administration has done, how patriotic Sen. John McCain is, how wholesome and motivating Gov. Sarah Palin is, how underchieving Sen. Barack Obama is, and how old-style Sen. Joe Biden is.” After having such blatant partiality rammed down our throats daily, Keith is nothing short of wonderful!By Neocon & proud of it
September 10, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
Palin as a mayor is responsible for the economic growth of a small community, but has no power to legislate or bring about sweeping changes except in her city… as Governor, she can review proposed federal funding and refuse or reject legislation that impacts the whole state…. The Bridge was approved by Hillary and Joe Biden since their states had pork in the same highway bill, and once it was seen as a boondoggle just to get jobs to alaska, she nixed it,, and nixed the federal and state funds for the natural gas pipeline because she said the private sector could pay for their own infrastructure, and they did— and got it done quicker…. isn’t that the american wayBy chris c
September 10, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this
We have separation of Church and State in this country I have been a Republican all my life, and for the last eight years I have been ashamed. Ashamed that I was part of a Party that if you do not agree with them you are branded unpatriotic. We were lied into a war in the wrong country (Iraq), torture people and hold them with no rights(Gitmo), and spy on Americans without warrants(FISA) and yes it would worry me to have another ultra religious conservative in the White House. It strikes me funny that the same people that went after Obama for Rev. Wright or that call him a closet Islamic are the same people that are now saying that it does not matter what type of church Palin went to, or what comments a guest speaker might say from the pulpit while she was in attendance. For the last eight years I have watched this President destroy THE Constitution and McCain over the last few years has voted with him over 90% of the time. So when a commentator like Olbermann has the GUTS the call them out on their double talk and double standards they cry foul and start launching personal attacks. Olbermann was right on the money with his reporting and was not making fun of or mocking Palins’ religious beliefs, but Olbermann was reporting that Palin might have some views that some people might find extreme. i for one am glad there are people like Olbermann and Matthews on the air.By Bruce Profitt
September 10, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
I thought Olbermann was terrible as an ESPN anchorman, but really, words don`t describe his extreme left wing bias. If you would check out his ratings on MSNBC, you would see just how out of touch he is with the majority of people!By Randy
September 10, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Neo-con: Unfortunately from the day the Puritans came ashore, Christian religion has been a part of our political process. President Washington, beginning his second term, didn’t warn us against any religious partisanship. He did, however, warn against political partisanship. He viewed it as a threat to the democratic election process just started. Maybe they’re one in the same, considering how blind faith in a party line is religion to some.By TRS
September 10, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
The issue wasn’t Olberman’s views or Matthews. The issue was MSNBC put them in the anchor chair. Want to make them analysts - OK; but don’t put them out there as rendering a fair commentary. If Fox had put Rush in the anchor chair during the DNC, oh my how the screams would have been heard around the world and rightfully so. Same thing.By Dave Bayer
September 10, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
Olbermann is part of a news network gone daft—MSNBC! The venmon he spews out about Sarah Palin is nothing new to Olbermann. This should not just upset women but everyone who would like unbaised reporting from the electronic media.By Jim 5
September 10, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
“The media do have to go at the Palin story hard, of course. … But there’s a right way and a wrong way.” What??By Joy
September 10, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
Keith Olbermann is right on target. His reports are researched thoroughly and are fair—a refreshing contrast to the Fox “Noise” station.By Mike
September 10, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
I’ve long since quit relying upon MSNBC for political news. The network’s choices of most of its anchors shows it intends to be well left of center. Countdown with Keith Olbermann is probably the most biased and offensive of their programs. What Olbermann feels is humerous is just plain mean spiritedBy JANE C.
September 10, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
Gee-whiz, the vitriol coming from the right-wing fanatics/neocons seems to be…fanatical! Olbermann is so completely fair & even gentle!! compared to O’Reilly’s lying rants & Hannity’s phony accusations, but I guess the shock of having any news person speak with frankness & honesty is really getting the neocons riled up! Bullies are not use to being confronted, especially when they gotten away with their lying shenanigans for so long…. Rove, Bush & Cheney & now McCain are the bullies we’ve all had to tolerate til now. Thank You, Keith. I feel I finally have a voice on the news.By Halcyon Days
September 10, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
This guy has no business commenting on politics. He was a lousy hack at ESPN. He is just another example of the vast left-wing conspiracy of loony liberals that nominated a paper candidate with a messianic complex. Good speech? Sure. Would I trust my kids with him???NObama!!!!By Derek
September 10, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
Keith Olberman is only doing what the Mccain camp should have done, had they properly vetted her. This is what happens when you choose your running mate based on appealing to a certain demographic instead of someone that is qualified to be vice president. It is a shame that a lot of Americans are falling for the wolf in sheeps clothing that the Mccain camp has created.By Jim Smith
September 10, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
Olberman has become so bitterly partisan in his comments that he has lost all ability to discuss the issues in a rational tone of voice. His strident, sarcastic remarks do nothing to add to the discussion of the issues. He seems intent on venting his obsessive hatred of Fox News each night. At this rate he will soon need professional help with his emotional problems.By Woody Ellington
September 10, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this
Sometime the truth is hard to take. Palin is going to find out that this is the big league,not Alaska.Keith and his staff do a good job of finding the truth.By Savanation
September 10, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this
Olbermann is doing what the rest of the so-called jouralists should have done from the start of the whole Bush debacle. It is just the same old right-wing rant: The guy has the audacity to tell the truth, so make him out to over the top. He isn’t over the top, most others who call themselves journalists are way under the top, alomost at the bottom. The folks at Fox are just raving lunatics anyway, so they shouldn’t even be counted. Hmmmm? I guess that means the same for those stupid enough to watch that network.By mwm
September 10, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this
agree with chis c. Reference the old quote: “When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” The current administration attempted to use religion and a war based on lies. Anyone that disagreed with Bush and his war was labelled unpatriotic and unchristian. McCain is not exactly a “model christian” and only uses the title for votes. Palin is an extremist christian with an extreme ideology. Separation of church and state is important and, we must keep them separate. Any candidates religious views or theology should be separate from their job. We do not need a theocracy in our country.By John L.
September 10, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this
Keith Olberman is another mean-spirited liberal that cannot see past the party talking points in dealing with a uniqued individual of another party. He is as predictable as the Democratic Party when it comes to commenting on someone or idea that is not along party lines. “Search and destroy” is how liberals deal with anything and everyone that doesn’t fall within their safety zone idealology! People like Mr. Olberman are as short-sighted, narrow minded and vindictive as they want to be as long as it garners attention! I’d say send him back to ESPN but I wouldn’t want to subject ESPN to his small mindedness; and I can honestly say, why NBC has him paired with Dan Patrick for their football pregame show is mystery to me! But rest assured NBC will not have me as a viewer for this NFL pregame show as long as “Over-the-Top-Olberman” is a host!By marj
September 10, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
Thank God for Olberman. When the media went after Palin like they did Obama the Republicans started calling sexism. Give me a break, like they did for Bush trying to say we weren’t supporitng the troops..if you cna’t stand the heat get out of the political game. She is the one who put herself and her family out there, I feel sorry for the scrutiny the kids are getting but she did it to her kids and her church..not the media or Olberman By the way slick isn’t it, got rid of the real issues.By Sha
September 10, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this
Thank goodness for Keith giving new insights and information about this new candidate. The regular news programs seem unable to do indepth research about the new candidate - relying on the information fed them by the RNC and McCain campaign. I feel this candidate should have the opportunity to be scrutinized as thoroughly as the other candidates. That is fair and equal treatment.By truth seeker
September 11, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this
Rebecca Hall is 100% in her assessment of the situation. Truth seekers is what we need more of in this election to bring out all the lies that the Republicans a-la Karl Rove are throwing around. Keep up the good work Keith.By m
September 11, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this
Reading these comments about the lies makes me irate. Obama has NOT been truthful. Problem is, the media is pulling for him. He has about 5 alias’, ran around with some unmentionables, and God only knows what kind of hate he and his wife have for this country. You’ll all get what you deserve if he gets in…An Islamist country! Because they’ll be coming to America in droves and he’ll welcome them with open arms.By Rauol
September 11, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this
The ‘lipstick on a pig..’ comment and the subsequent outburst from McCain supporters is juvenile. But compared to the nightly rants by Olbermann they pale in comparison. Olbermann has all the big mouth mannerisms of a silly, naive, sophomore Poly/Sci major at some snooty, expensive east coast college (NYU maybe?) and brings no more intelligence than the average Vanity Fair reader all caught up in the latest vile piece about the latest crime against humanity by those nasty conservatives. I watch him sometimes for the ‘car wreck’ phenomena, where you know you shouldn’t look but can’t turn away. His ‘special comments’ are very funny to me, and I can’t help but wonder how or why he imagines his credentials are supposed to make us hang on every word. After all, he was the only guy I can remember who could sound elitist, snarky, and downright unpleasant just reading the nightly baseball scores. He was unlikable then, but now he has reached a new level of snobby elitism that places him all alone at the top of the ‘loony left’ cable news world. Entertaining, maybe. Inspiring, hardly. There is no comparison to O’Reilly or Hannity because he won’t debate anybody. Like the silly soph Poly/Sci major, he would rather spew out the latest propaganda than actually engage in a debate. One night debating Anne Coulter would be enough to send him back to ESPN2 covering college lacrosse games, albeit in his usual loathsome, snobby tone. Until he matches wits with someone in actual debate, there is no defending him. He strikes me as someone who must have suffered a beat-down by a conservative when he was young, and now he is trying to get even.By jim
September 11, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
Funny, When Jammie Lynn Spears pregnancy was announced, Sean Hannity and Fox were all over it. He blamed her parents for not supervising her strongly enough and said they should be held accountable. Where’s Hannity now?By Nan
September 12, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
The Catholic Church also has a charismatic group that can speak in tongues. I see nothing strange about that at all. To me it means that they are very “in to their religion”.By David Treadwell
September 12, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
Liberal Media Unfair to Sarah Palin Don’t you just hate how the liberal media keeps bashing our Sarah? They’re just jealous they didn’t get to approve her selection. Here’s why I love Sarah Palin. First, she’s a good Christian, and America is a Christian nation as all real Americans know. George Bush, also a good Christian, helped implement God’s plan, as Sarah reminds us, by invading Iraq. Sure a few civilians got killed, but what’s a little “collateral damage,” as Rumsfeld called it. She tried to get books banned from her town library, and Lord knows someone has to clean up the garbage. And here’s the best part: She’s anti-abortion, anti-gay and pro-creationism. My kinda Christian. She lives in Alaska which has oil (which gives her energy expertise) and near Russia (which gives her foreign expertise, as Cindy McCain explained). Sure she was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it, but can’t a woman change her mind? Plus Alaska kept the money anyway, which is good because the Federal Government would have wasted it. Who could vote for someone name Barack Obama anyway? He’s probably Muslim or one of those other weird religions. Plus people in the rest of the world favor Obama over McCain, and I care what Americans think, not those foreign people. Some say the economy is shaky, but our Sarah and John McCain will just drill, drill, drill and everything will be just peachy. Anyhow, I’m glad they’re talking about our Sarah and not all that boring stuff like health care and the economy and Iraq and global warming (a liberal plot if you ask me). Well, I gotta go and buy People magazine which has our Sarah on the cover. Then off to Bible study group where we’re baking cupcakes with “Go Sarah!” frosting. Isn’t it exciting? David Treadwell (written while house-hunting in Canada)By Raoul
September 13, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
Happy house hunting, David. Canada seems like a nice, safe place, with national health care and everything. Don’t worry about terrorism or anything like that, because we’ll take care of all that violent stuff for you. If you need any help with anything just let us know; we’ll be right here. Remember, if you get sick or need immediate health care attention, you can always come right back here. Don’t you worry now, everything is going to be all right. Remember to tell everyone up there that we love them, and we’ll make sure nothing bad ever happens to them, even if we have to sacrifice our sons and daughters to do it. That’s just the kind of neighbors we are.By jeff
September 13, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
It is about time the democrats get someone like Keith Olbermann. I am so sick and tired of the Limbaugh’s, Hannity, and Borts of this world brain washing so many Americans. Wake up people, Mccain-Palin is a “chip off the old Bush block”. After watching Palin’s interview with Charles Gibson…it is very obvious she has no idea what she is talking about. The only question she didn’t dodge was the one about Hillary not being Obama’s Veep. Like Olbermann said the other night, instead of making it seem like 9/11 was Clinton’s fault, Mr Bush needs to realize his first term was nearly 20% gone by the time the terrorists attacked. I believe that was ample time to at least do something about Bin Ladens flunkies. By the way, people need to get off the Bible thumping attitudes, and start realizing other religons such as Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, etc etc believe in Jesus Christ too, not just the Evangelicals. Stop mixing politics with religion!!!!!!!!!! In my opinion Bush was reelected only because of the religious right, and look were the economy is because of it. ITS ABOUT THE ECONOMY !!!!!!!!!!!By bud
September 24, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
I read all the comments, and all they do is make me sad,there is to much hate in this countryBy Martin Gottlieb
September 24, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
Bud: Me, too.By Raoul
September 28, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
Martin, if you feel so sad about it, maybe you should re-examine your biased coverage. Your paper has long tried to convince it’s readers that convservatives (right wing warriors, to use your term)are harmful, religious, ignorant nuts. It’s insulting and demeaning, and serves no higher purpose in the political arena than to make class warfare. Conservatives stand for something, liberals stand only against conservatives. All else is “I’m ok your ok, unless you’re a mean old conservative”, then we have to insult you and tell you how ignorant and wrong you are, because we know better because we are ‘progressive’ and tolerate everything (except conservatives.) Show us how sad you truly are about all the hate by not contributing to it. Show us conservatives some respect by reporting all the news, whether it serves your political interests or not. That’s all we ask from you and your paper. What is so hateful about that?By Martin Gottlieb
September 29, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this
I guess we’re going to skip right over the fact that I started the string by attacking the liberal Olbermann, huh?============= “Right-wing warriors” is not our word for conservatives, but for people beyond that, the 5 percent or less who listen to the likes of Rush Limbaugh, believe it and feel obliged to pass it along uncritically. They are the people who have a bizarre level of animosity toward those who disagree and who will believe anything about them. ================ They don’t exist because I label them. They are a national phenomenon. They have a big Internet presence no matter what. ============= I have no problem with them participating in the blog, of course. I just thought that the string — and others on the blog about the presidential election — had nothing but the old, old, old left-right thing that has been driven into the ground. ================= The editorial page finds all manner of common cause with conservatives and Republicans, from bashing liberal warriors of the “Gen. Betray Us” type, to bashing the people on the left who wanted to pull out of Iraq prematurely, to endorsing lots and lots of Republicans — Mike DeWine, Bob Taft (twice), George Voinovich, Mike Turner (every time he has run for anything), and on and on — to running all manner of columns, letters and speak-ups that we disagree with and that trash us. But, because we do lean left-of-center on national issues, there’s nothing we could do to placate the right-wing warriors. As for news coverage, there’s no way to satisfy warriors of any stripe. Their criticism goes with the territory.====================== At any rate, “warriors” is a mild term. Some people would embrace it about themselves. Same with “right-wing.”By Raoul
October 3, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this
OK Martin, fair enough. There is no defending Olbermann, so I am glad you didn’t. But, you were able to insult me again. People that listen to Rush Limbaugh seem to wind up on your list of 5% ‘right wing warriors’. I listen to Rush Limbaugh, not to blindly follow his every word, but because he views the politics of our country a lot like I do. Just as you can rightly claim that the DDN has supported certain Republicans and publishes certain conservatives, the facts are that the over-whelming narrative of our mainstream media comes from the biased views of the roughly 90% of Democrat-supporting journalists, writers, news anchors, publishing houses, Hollywood writers, and of course, our college professors. Why on earth do you think conservative talk shows and Fox News are so wildly popular? I will argue that it is because we demand balance. I don’t stand behind Rush Limbaugh every time he opens his mouth. But he is just as thoughtful as you, and provides much needed counter-balance to our world. The bottom line is, your side writes the history and the news, and you are not as tolerant as you would like to think you are. The left has done enormous damage to the very people they claim to serve. Black families have almost been destroyed, the victimization of exploited minorities has purchased a whole lot votes, and folks like you are fine with it because you feel guilty and you want to throw out a few crumbs. Your side tries to scare us into thinking global warming is going to kill us all, but ridicule Bush for sounding alarms on terrorists (you know, the ones that really do kill us) and the economy. Planet Mars is also warming…..hmmm, maybe this should give us pause. And lastly, your description of Barney Frank as “brilliant” was just ridiculous. Newt Gingrich was truly brilliant, but you would never call him that. And on and on it goes. Well, thanks, I feel better now.