Olbermann Special Comment on Prop 8 - 11/10: "This Vote is Horrible, Horrible"

[Hissyspit]

Run time: 06:29 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVUecPhQPqY   Posted on YouTube: November 11, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: November 11, 2008 By DU Member: Hissyspit Views on DU: 11068

 
MSNBC Countdown w/ KEITH OLBERMANN - Nov. 10, 2008:

"In 1967, the parents of the president-elect of the United States could not have married in nearly one-third of the states of the country their son grew up to lead."

- snip -

"And uncountable in our history are the number of men and women, forced by society into marrying the opposite sex, in sham marriages, or marriages of convenience, or just marriages of not knowing -- centuries of men and women who have lived their lives in shame and unhappiness, and who have, through a lie to themselves or others, broken countless other lives, of spouses and children... All because we said a man couldn't marry another man, or a woman couldn't marry another woman. The sanctity of marriage. How many marriages like that have there been and how on earth do they increase the "sanctity" of marriage rather than render the term, meaningless?"

- snip -

"You want to sanctify marriage? You want to honor your God and the universal love you believe he represents? Then spread happiness."

- snip -

"You are asked now to stand, not on a question of politics, not on a question of religion, not on a question of gay or straight. You are asked now to stand, on a question of...love."

- snip -

"I do not care about that Book above.
Erase my name, or write it as you will,
So I be written in the Book of Love."
-- Omar Khayam

[NorthCarolina]

1. This was very good. Thanks Keith n/t

[mentalslavery]

74. This is what debate does

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/11/14833/671/837/657164

[NorthCarolina]

75. Thanks much for the link. It's a Must Read. My favorite part

"I sat there with goosebumps as you spoke because I was appalled by my own beliefs and now I see and I admit to everyone that reads this simple blog that I was wrong and I am sorry. This is America. I think 52% of California forgot that{/i]."

[BlueCaliDem]

2. This "Special Comment" moved me. It was so different than his others. So warm and full of

... emotion. It was beautiful. :loveya:

[phrigndumass]

3. Thanks for posting this!

It is an awesome, unsettling commentary.

:hi:

[rosesaylavee]

4. ...

Bet he persuaded some people tonight. I hope those that needed to see that, did so.

[GodlessBiker]

5. We love you, Keith. Thank you for being a voice of reason and a voice for us.

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. Thanks Hissyspit.. you are the best for getting this up so fast

Kick and nominated

[Ichingcarpenter]

14. Complete Text of the Speech Here:

Finally tonight as promised, a Special Comment on the passage, last week, of Proposition Eight in California, which rescinded the right of same-sex couples to marry, and tilted the balance on this issue, from coast to coast.

Some parameters, as preface. This isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics, and this isn't really just about Prop-8. And I don't have a personal investment in this: I'm not gay, I had to strain to think of one member of even my very extended family who is, I have no personal stories of close friends or colleagues fighting the prejudice that still pervades their lives.

And yet to me this vote is horrible. Horrible. Because this isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics.

This is about the... human heart, and if that sounds corny, so be it.

If you voted for this Proposition or support those who did or the sentiment they expressed, I have some questions, because, truly, I do not... understand. Why does this matter to you? What is it to you? In a time of impermanence and fly-by-night relationships, these people over here want the same chance at permanence and happiness that is your option. They don't want to deny you yours. They don't want to take anything away from you. They want what you want -- a chance to be a little less alone in the world.

Only now you are saying to them -- no. You can't have it on these terms. Maybe something similar. If they behave. If they don't cause too much trouble. You'll even give them all the same legal rights -- even as you're taking away the legal right, which they already had. A world around them, still anchored in love and marriage, and you are saying, no, you can't marry. What if somebody passed a law that said you couldn't marry?

I keep hearing this term "re-defining" marriage.

If this country hadn't re-defined marriage, black people still couldn't marry white people. Sixteen states had laws on the books which made that illegal... in 1967. 1967.

The parents of the President-Elect of the United States couldn't have married in nearly one third of the states of the country their son grew up to lead. But it's worse than that. If this country had not "re-defined" marriage, some black people still couldn't marry...black people. It is one of the most overlooked and cruelest parts of our sad story of slavery. Marriages were not legally recognized, if the people were slaves. Since slaves were property, they could not legally be husband and wife, or mother and child. Their marriage vows were different: not "Until Death, Do You Part," but "Until Death or Distance, Do You Part." Marriages among slaves were not legally recognized.

You know, just like marriages today in California are not legally recognized, if the people are... gay.

And uncountable in our history are the number of men and women, forced by society into marrying the opposite sex, in sham marriages, or marriages of convenience, or just marriages of not knowing -- centuries of men and women who have lived their lives in shame and unhappiness, and who have, through a lie to themselves or others, broken countless other lives, of spouses and children... All because we said a man couldn't marry another man, or a woman couldn't marry another woman. The sanctity of marriage. How many marriages like that have there been and how on earth do they increase the "sanctity" of marriage rather than render the term, meaningless?

What is this, to you? Nobody is asking you to embrace their expression of love. But don't you, as human beings, have to embrace... that love? The world is barren enough.

It is stacked against love, and against hope, and against those very few and precious emotions that enable us to go forward. Your marriage only stands a 50-50 chance of lasting, no matter how much you feel and how hard you work.

And here are people overjoyed at the prospect of just that chance, and that work, just for the hope of having that feeling. With so much hate in the world, with so much meaningless division, and people pitted against people for no good reason, this is what your religion tells you to do? With your experience of life and this world and all its sadnesses, this is what your conscience tells you to do?

With your knowledge that life, with endless vigor, seems to tilt the playing field on which we all live, in favor of unhappiness and hate... this is what your heart tells you to do? You want to sanctify marriage? You want to honor your God and the universal love you believe he represents? Then Spread happiness -- this tiny, symbolic, semantical grain of happiness -- share it with all those who seek it. Quote me anything from your religious leader or book of choice telling you to stand against this. And then tell me how you can believe both that statement and another statement, another one which reads only "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

---

You are asked now, by your country, and perhaps by your creator, to stand on one side or another. You are asked now to stand, not on a question of politics, not on a question of religion, not on a question of gay or straight. You are asked now to stand, on a question of...love. All you need do is stand, and let the tiny ember of love meet its own fate. You don't have to help it, you don't have it applaud it, you don't have to fight for it. Just don't put it out. Just don't extinguish it. Because while it may at first look like that love is between two people you don't know and you don't understand and maybe you don't even want to know...It is, in fact, the ember of your love, for your fellow **person...

Just because this is the only world we have. And the other guy counts, too.

This is the second time in ten days I find myself concluding by turning to, of all things, the closing plea for mercy by Clarence Darrow in a murder trial.

But what he said, fits what is really at the heart of this:

"I was reading last night of the aspiration of the old Persian poet, Omar-Khayyam," he told the judge.

"It appealed to me as the highest that I can vision. I wish it was in my heart, and I wish it was in the hearts of all:

"So I be written in the Book of Love;

"I do not care about that Book above.

"Erase my name, or write it as you will,

"So I be written in the Book of Love."

---

Good night, and good luck.

[elshiva]

19. Thank you, Ichingcarpenter, for posting the text.

:cry:

[babylonsister]

7. He expressed the emotion we all have felt over this travesty. This needs

to go viral.

[fascisthunter]

8. .

there needs to be an emoticon that bows.

[valerief]

10. Yes, like a "you rock" with finesse. nt

[Pastiche423]

42. This is close...

lol

[fascisthunter]

60. oh cool... I didn't see that before.

[amyrose2712]

62. Hey I never noticed that one. I like.

[valerief]

9. Thanks for posting this. A lot of confessed to being brought to tears by it.

:cry:

[ikojo]

11. Wow, this was among the most moving of

his many important special comments. I love you Keith Olbermann!!!

[aquamarina]

12. Kudos to Keith Olbermann

Hate wrapped up in the name of religion is still hate. It's time to take away these groups' tax exempt status.

[subsuelo]

23. hear hear

(on edit - or is it "here here"?)

[RedLetterRev]

48. It's "hear, here" and I *so* agree!

Our best friend from out of state came to visit for a week. We all hadn't stopped gabbing until KO started giving that speech last night. There wasn't another sound in the room.

I still have a lump in my throat. He prefaced with how he didn't have a dog in the fight at all, except for the one of true morality and decency. For that, I will always respect and admire him. For that, he will have my deepest gratitude for speaking out when he didn't have to. But he did because he had the platform and it was the right thing to do.

Kudos, Mr Olberman.

[rexy]

13. Loving K.O. so much right now. nt

[Hissyspit]

15. .

[Divine Discontent]

16. loved this very much. I wish he coulda came up with a different ending but I appreciate him so much

as always...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

17. Ishk

God is Love, Lover, and Beloved. In this phrase, the stress is upon Love (Ishk) and nothing else. Since all is God, what difference does the form of love make?

[FreeState]

18. Wow - that was awesome! n/t

[Hissyspit]

20. .

[DrZeeLit]

21. Keith... nobody but you could speak that truth with the amazing emotion you showed and

be so solidly credible.

I can't think of another newsperson who could offer such a deeply heartfelt response.

Rachel Maddow could, but she obviously would be seen as "biased" (duh to those who would say that, and they would).

If Walter Cronkite were broadcasting... would he be so bold, direct, challenging, and remain human?


I have always admired Keith O, and I've laughed and ranted along with him, but tonight... he made me cry.
He voiced all the incredulity that I have felt and stammered through in the past week regarding this travesty in CA.

Love

The greatest of these is LOVE.

Love thy neighbor.
Do unto others....

For those whose propensity is Christianity.... see Christ in EVERY person.

And... we're left with LOVE.

Thank you, Keith Olbermann, my hero!

[litlady]

22. Heard this when it aired tonight and thought it one of the best he's done. nt

[Athelwulf]

24. Please DIGG this!

http://digg.com/politics/MSNBC_Keith_Olbermann_on_Prop_8_Marriage_and_more

[Hissyspit]

25. Thanks, done. n/t

[Lumpsum]

26. That made me cry, I'll admit.

Keith Olbermann is an incredible journalist, man and human.

[regnaD kciN]

28. Same here...

[OHDEM]

27. K & R for Keith

He said it all and SO well!

"What is this to you?" He looked like so many people FEEL right now - even straight people who know the pain this is causing and it's so unnecessary.

[Faeya]

29. K+R for Keith

Thanks to being broke, the choice between cable and internet was decided in favor of the internet, so I just now finished watching the KO podcast. Afterward, I dried my face and came to look around on DU to make sure if I was the only wuss in the world who was moved to tears by KO's comment. I just hope that those who needed to hear this were open minded enough to be watching KO and were listening with their hearts as well as their minds...

[Duncan Grant]

30. Thank you, Keith.

There is no context which excuses this bigotry. That Democrats are complicit in the "Yes on 8" victory is an outrage.

[ksimons]

31. K&R

[Terri S]

32. K & R !

One of his best... ever! Very warm and emotional and personal. I honestly don't know how anyone could not agree. I don't know how anyone could listen to this and not feel utter shame for voting for this abominable proposition. You rock, Keith.

[leftstreet]

33. K&R Excellent

[JanusAscending]

34. Those are the words I've been trying to find,

and express since the whole controversy began on DU. Keith brought me to tears. I've never heard, or felt anything so moving. Don't let my name fool you brothers and sisters. I've kept silent 'til now because all I had to offer were "platitudes". We all deserve LOVE! My very best friends in Ma. (where I used to live) married this past year as soon as the laws passed in Ma. They had been together(in the closet) for 30 yrs. One of the couple is the Congregational Minister who married both my oldest daughter, and my youngest daughter. They are my sisters by choice, that I never had. And I am thrilled that they are finally HAPPY !!! I pray that this injustice will be solved peacefully, without further wounded feelings. Love :loveya: :grouphug: DC P.S. I am 70 yrs. old, white and straight. (not much choice as I'm a widow)

[aaronbees]

35. What a powerful commentary

And turning that argument around about "redifining" marriage is a winner. Keith presents a logical and heartfelt case ... it's really simple, spread happiness indeed.

[jennied]

36. That was so beautiful. And so sad...

The only thing that I can think of is how my brother and my best friend are totally against gay marriage, and I can't even try to understand how they could be (My brother is BLACK and married to a WHITE woman, I'd like to see how their marriage would be if it were set back 50 years ago)... but it all leads back to that Book above.

[EmilyAnne]

37. This made me cry.

[Jack Rabbit]

38. K/R

[donheld]

39. Best EVER!

[AntiFascist]

40. K&R, very emotional n/t

[Loudmxr]

41. I wept too. Great job Keith!!

I fought against Prop 8. I did some of the best writing of my life. But still not enough.:banghead:

I am so happy to see the fight in everyone to correct this bigoted vote. :applause:

[caseycoon]

43. K&R Beautiful! n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

44. The Book of Love

Mr Olbermann's words meant so much to me last night. He put it all so well, not because he understands GLBT people, but because he understands people, our common human plight. Keith is a good man.

[closeupready]

45. Very moving.

:hug: Keith.

[RoccoR5955]

46. Another one knocked out of the park for KO!

He seems to be a master at these things. This one especially. It had a whole different tone about it, but underlying it, I could feel his anger.

[NorthCarolina]

47. K&R for Olbermann

eom

[Love Bug]

49. That was beautiful!

When was the last time we heard someone make such an impassioned plea for love? That brought tears to my eyes. I hope people listen because he's right.

:loveya:

[LatteLibertine]

50. Yeah I saw this last night

Good job, KO.

[file83]

51. Obama has only disappointed me in one way - his opposition to gay marriage.

When he said he didn't support gay marriage, I was very disappointed. The fucking irony of a black man whose parents are black & white being opposed to gay marriage is thick. The only hope I have is that he is was just playing politics and didn't want to give up that extra buffer - but Obama doesn't seem like a man who makes compromises. Perhaps those are his real feelings.

[Martin Eden]

59. I suspect his opposition was a political necessity

In a potentially tight race, coming out in support of gay marriage would lose more votes than he'd gain.

My bet is he does nothing to oppose gay marriage during his presidency, though I don't think you can count on him to be an advocate of it.

[WillyT]

52. Thank You Keith !!! - K & R !!!

:yourock:

[burbank_spiffers]

53. Good that he was not preaching to the converted...

As someone already mentioned, hopefully there are those watching in California who voted against but voted Obama in.

Redefinition of marriage - excellent point, but I'll take it a step thousands of years further. The "Who gives this woman?" part of the ceremony used to mean a transfer of property from father to husband. What self-respecting woman these days will put up with that?

Most politicians will never say they're for marriage equality. I don't know how Obama really feels about it, but I'd bet that, despite what she's said publically, Clinton favored it. Kucinich and Gravel were the only two in the HRC debate who were able to say publically that they were in favor of it. Sadly, in this day it is political suicide when you're trying to win over the other 1/2 of the country who doesn't believe in marriage equality.

But it is coming!!! We've made so much progress in so little time. This wasn't even on the table a couple of years ago.

Thank you Keith!!!

[lligrd]

57. So True. It Wasn't Long Ago That Even Civil Unions Were

off the table but now they have the support of the majority and politicians happily endorse them. I have no doubt that this fight will be won.

[connecticut yankee]

54. This really moved me to tears.

Thanks so much for posting it -- I couldn't watch "Countdown" last night.

Keith says it so beautifully.

:loveya:

[hangman86]

55. Just watched it an hour ago thanks to DVR

Beautiful!O8)

[Fedja]

56. Whoa

Keith says he's not gay, and well... neither am I. But right now, I'd marry him.

[trickyguy]

58. K&R Keith, You're the best. Sending this clip to several friends.

:toast:

[CADEMOCRAT7]

61. I am in tears, that was beautiful. Thank you for the post. Thank you KO!

I will send it to my relatives that are gay, and whom I plead so much for them to have the right to marry. We were hoping to have them come to San Francisco to marry...I still am not giving up hope.

[amyrose2712]

63. I watched this live and again , it still made me cry...

Many times Keith's Special Comments, though they are great, are usually preaching to the choir. But, I think this one needed to be heard by so called "liberals" as well.

[xxqqqzme]

64. The 'Yes on 8' campaign was so ugly and nasty.

Relying on fear(your church will be sued for refusing to marry same sex couples; your children will be taught about same sex marriage and you cannot object) & hate, it should have been rejected for those reasons alone.

The California initiative process has to be changed to limit or ban out-of-state money or advocates pushing an agenda. Horrible, is right.

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

65. One of the best KOs ever

[knitter4democracy]

66. Amen and amen again to all of it.

Amen, Keith. Amen.

[Kajsa]

67. Keith, once again,

you got my anger, my outrage and my feelings
and showed them through you and your words.

Thank you for being our voice in the MSM.

:loveya:

[myrna minx]

68. K&R n/t

[Left Brain]

69. omg

he so brilliantly illustrates the stupidity, the idiocy, the ignorance.

I started bawling about a minute into it. I still am.

I sent this link on to my stupid, idiotic, ignorant cousins. You have no idea how much I hope they see themselves and feel the shame.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

70. My grandmother was in one of those sham marriages...

He had been told by his employer that if he wanted to be considered for promotion, he would need to demonstrate that he was "stable" and "dependable"...and that marriage, to a woman, would help illustrate that image.

When my grandmother found out about her husband's boyfriend, they got a divorce.

So sad for both of them...

Thank you, Keith, for telling it like it is!

[npk]

71. Perfect

You can't argue with anything he said. Thank You Keith.

[lib_wit_it]

72. Unfortunately, the powers that be behind prop 8 will not be

moved. Well, surely they'll be moved to revulsion at the emotion--the fact that KO seemed very near tears, revulsion at the very idea that such librul propaganda is allowed on air, revulsion that the obviously anti-American sin the "homos" are committing is even in question.

I posted this in another thread, but think it's worth reposting because power is enhanced by knowledge (though ignorance is still bliss, in many cases):

The reclusive billionaire, the mother of Blackwater’s Erik Prince, and the drive to fund this year’s most controversial referendum.

Among the local ballot measures to be decided on Election Day, California’s Proposition 8 is perhaps the most fiercely contested. Backers of the proposition to ban same-sex marriage in the state cast their campaign in apocalyptic terms. “This vote on whether we stop the gay-marriage juggernaut in California is Armageddon,” born-again Watergate felon and Prison Fellowship Ministries founder Chuck Colson told the New York Times. Tony Perkins, the president of the Christian right’s most powerful Beltway lobbying outfit, Family Research Council, echoed Colson’s language. “It’s more important than the presidential election,” Perkins said of Prop 8. “We will not survive if we lose the institution of marriage.”

The campaign for Prop 8 has reaped massive funding from conservative backers across the country. Much of it comes from prominent donors like the Utah-based Church of Latter Day Saints and the Catholic conservative group, Knights of Columbus. Prop 8 has also received a boost from Elsa Broekhuizen, the widow of Michigan-based Christian backer Edgard Prince and the mother of Erik Prince, founder of the controversial mercenary firm, Blackwater.

While the Church of Latter Day Saints’ public role in Prop 8 has engendered a growing backlash from its more liberal members, and Broekhuizen’s involvement attracted some media attention, the extreme politics of Prop 8’s third largest private donor, Howard F. Ahmanson, reclusive heir to a banking fortune, have passed almost completely below the media’s radar. Ahmanson has donated $900,000 to the passage of Prop 8 so far.

Read the rest and don't miss the truly disturbing video. (Blech!)
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-11-03/the-man-behind-proposition-8

[BeyondGeography]

73. This is quite good; humanity rarely gets a hearing like this on U.S airwaves

:patriot:

[David Zephyr]

76. Keith is a great, straight guy. Sadly, there's been loud silence from some here on this issue.

To Keith!

[demigoddess]

77. K&R for Keith, a great orator and right on!!!!

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[demigoddess]

78. p. s. the way I put it is that some issues are more important than the right of 51%

of the people to vote on it. Marriage and abortion are just that.

[knixphan]

79. 'nother grand slam by KO.

:kick:

[jeff30997]

80. Very moving.

Warmly recommended.

[annabanana]

81. Much to my distress, the early morning replay of Countdown (the one I TIVO)

Did NOT show this Special Comment. Instead they showed a replay of a Richard Lewis visit from before the election instead.

Does anyone here know why?

[rocktivity]

82. Keith's entire comment was poetry, poetry

not just its closing.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Truth Teller]

83. The best I have ever seen from Keith

He seemed genuinely moved.

Thanks for posting this.

[trickyguy]

84. Simply amazing that a straight man with no obvious gay connections

could be so sensitive to a powerful gay issue like marriage.

Congrats Keith on some insightful comments and caring.:toast:

[shadowknows69]

87. It's not that big of a stretch

Some of us consider ourselves to be party of the human family. There are no labels here, only love.

[enigmatic]

85. This was just about perfect

KO's best Special Comment ever.

[myrna minx]

86. K&R n/t

[kirby]

88. My respect for Olbermann went down...

when I learned the other day that he does not vote!

[Hekate]

89. Keith is right. And this is what I say: THIS WILL NOT STAND. THIS IS NOT OVER.

The Bush Era is leaving us quite a few more stink-bombs on the way out, and this is one of them. The religious far-right has forgotten that the Constitutional separation of church and state is what protects every church/synagogue/temple not only from the tyranny of the state but the tyranny of the majority. They need to be re-educated about what that means.

This issue being on the ballot is, sadly, a textbook case of the tyranny of the majority. And I am telling you, It Will Not Stand.

Hekate

[xotoxi]

90. The Conservative Viewpoint

I just don't get it. Some conservative that I have talked with think that if gays are allowed to marry, that suddenly their children will be taught how to perform gay sex in school.

I guess it is just a continuation of the conservative delusion...

[katty]

91. thank you Keith