I don't know if you'll answer this, but I have a question that pertains to what I call the Absurdity of Modern American Politics.
Why is it that the mainstream media (MSM) has taken no responsibility in calling out the McCain/Palin campaign for their outright hate/fear mongering and smear oriented politics?
While I am happy that your show and Dr. Rachel Maddow's show do do this, it seems not to have penetrated into the shield of so-called "balanced" reporting for the MSM. It would seem that now, especially now, when the US and world markets are collapsing, when we continue to lose lives and resources in Iraq, when more and more people are uninsured while the wealthy can fly their own doctors in (I know - as a surgeon I've seen it happen), and when our future and history hangs in the balance, condemning McCain/Palin for their complete disregard for the nation's ills would be not simply appropriate - but more importantly, inherently necessary.
More after the fold with some video.
I ask this Mr. Olbermann because I have no idea why they can't do it. Maybe there are politics or money involved with this all - I can only surmise an assumption, but I actually don't know why. And while you have had difficulties with parent NBC sometimes, I've respected your duty as an American first, anchor/reporter second to demand accountability and responsiblity from the McCain/Palin ticket. I trust your thoughts and for that reason, I ask you. I believe that this current negativity is a test of not only Senator Obama's campaign, but also of our MSM's ability to put the needs of our country first over their own need for a close campaign. More importantly, it is a test of our country's ability to define our political legacy as based in logic, respect, and common sense over sensationalism and lies. I've laughed at other governments' politics over the years as they indulged in the latter. Sadly, I feel we're becoming the laughingstock of the world. I ask all Kossacks to maybe offer their thoughts even if you can't for political or time limited reasons.
I preface the rest of my post by embedding a youtube of your recent special comment:
It is a great one, as usual, and I agree highly with it. But why don't we see this more on ABC/CBS/NBC? I won't even mention Fox, but it would be nice to see CNN be more upfront about it, more often. It seems the only ones carrying the torch there are Mr. Jack Cafferty and Ms. Campbell Brown - but then it lasts for only a moment until we have the tire swing back to the right - a made up necessity to appear "fair and balanced."
The MSM can't possibly claim that the proof isn't there. There is more than enough youtube videos to go around showing McCain and Palin working up the hate and fear mongering meme to distract Americans from the real issues. Here's a sampling of what's been posted many many times:
The danger of these videos should be obvious to all. The fact that a supposedly honorable war hero would be fanning the flames of anger and hatred during a time of desperation and depression is despicable. For us internet junkies and fans of your show, Mr. Olbermann, its easy to see through this. But what about the average "Joe six pack" who doesn't access the internet, who doesn't rely on MSNBC for their accuracy, and who only watch ABC/CBS/NBC news and, gulp, Fox News? If not the MSM, then who? Then isn't it an inherent responsiblity for the American MSM to not only report it, but denounce it? Surely, any respectable news organization would denounce physical threats against another person if only on an individual basis - but why not when it is coming from someone who aspires to be the leader of our country?
Thomas Paine wrote in Common Sense that there "is something exceedingly ridiculous in the composition of monarchy," while outlining the absurdity of a hereditary king governing the thirteen colonies from across the Atlantic ocean. His writing inspired the members of the 13 colonies to realize the irrational situation they were in and urged them to join the American Revolution. I wonder what he would write about our democracy now.
Does not this current strategy of McCain/Palin represent the culmination of the Absurdity of Modern American Politics? What began in the Starr investigations into President Clinton's certainly immoral behavior then morphed into the attack and fear politics of 2000 and 2004 - isn't this a similar absurdity? Must not all Americans recognize the ridiculousness of spending hours and resources on Ayers, ACORN, and Wright when people are losing jobs, homes, health care, and lives in the Middle East? How is it then, that we allow the absurd to continue? This, Mr. Olbermann, is something that I lay onto the lap of responsibility that the MSM often refuses to recognize. But they must at this time, so that the foundation of Mr. Paine's pamphlet on rational thinking and, thus, the principles behind which our country was constituted may not be eroded by the acidly absurd campaign being waged by Senator McCain and Governor Palin.
I write this diary (which probably will fall below the fold and never be seen again, I haven't had a good track record) with the utmost frustration and sadness. If we as a nation cannot see past this glaring neon sign of distraction, we as a nation must wonder how we can continue on in a rational fashion. The guidance used to be from pamphlets and newspapers, but now must come from the MSM. They have a moral obligation to denounce this behavior.
I'm just asking Mr. Olbermann, why haven't they done so?
Thanks for any thoughts from Kossacks or Mr. Olbermann that comes from this.
Update: It seems that David Gergen has finally said something - although he refers to both campaigns needing to tone it down (which is also absurd since its really only one campaign).
Also, Greg Sargent at TPM also is calling for the MSM to pick up and denounce this behavior:
The news orgs are beginning to weigh in with big takes on what is unquestionably one of the most important stories of Campaign 2008: The pathologically-unhinged tone that McCain-Palin supporters are displaying at rallies of late.
The New York Times has a write-up here; The Washington Post has one here, and The Politico has one here.
This is a welcome development, and the stories are pretty good. But the news orgs are still dancing around the central story here: That McCain and Palin themselves are largely responsible for what's happening.