Mediate: Keith Olbermann Compares Obama’s Tax Compromise with Nazi Appeasement

[dennis4868]

He might deny it, using a lace doily of a fig leaf that would embarrass even Rush Limbaugh, but Countdown host Keith Olbermann’s “Special Comment” Tuesday night heavily featured that most Godwinian of rhetorical devices: the Nazi comparison. Angrily responding to President Obama’s compromise on the Bush Tax Cuts, Olbermann quoted Winston Churchill extensively, ran down a laundry list of missed opportunities and broken promises, and even lent support to a primary challenge to the President. While Godwin’s Law states that Olbermann lost the argument, the defection of Obama’s base could portend a different result.

Hours after President Obama defended his compromising ways against criticism from the left, Olbermann responded by highlighting the missed opportunities, most squandered as the President held obstruction-proof majorities in both Houses of Congress: (transcript via MSNBC)

More here....http://www.mediaite.com/tv/special-comment-keith-olbermann-compares-president-obamas-tax-compromise-with-nazi-appeasement/

[Clio the Leo]

1. I like Keith but I hope his holiday vacation starts soon...

..... he's on point most of the time but, every so often .... he does this weird Glen Beck impersonation and I'm never sure if he's kidding or not.

[dennis4868]

3. he actually...

made my 8 year old son cry when he did his last special comment...he looked scary and he was huffing and puffing...scared the shit out of my son....

[Clio the Leo]

14. oh my. nt

[rocktivity]

2. He made Nazi appeasment references

in his very first special comment about Donald Rumsfeld.

Methinks the pundit protests too much. That business with Keith's political donations didn't work; this is just the next attempt to kneecap him.

:boring:
rocktivity

[dennis4868]

7. I disagree...

my family was murdered by Hitler and way too many people used the Hitler comparison to easily not knowing what they are talking about...it offends people beyond belief and it needs to stop by everyone who does it....it is hurtfull!

[rocktivity]

8. It is, should be, and always will be hurtful

but a big part of the reason why Hitler got as far as he did is because so few people spoke up.

:(
rocktivity

[dennis4868]

10. When people spoke up in Germany....

they would be murdered....I know this as a fact....

[Vicar In A Tutu]

4. He's a joke.

Just because one shares many of my ideals doesn't mean they can't be crazy. He's a looney extremist, just like his flame blowing right-wing equivalents.

[dennis4868]

5. I agree...

with him most of the time but his antics and flame throwing drowns out his message sometimes....RM on the other hand is calm and collective.

[mtnsnake]

6. I agree with almost everything Olbermann said in that video

Just sayin'

[dennis4868]

9. that's not the issue...

it's his nazi comparison that bothers people....we should not act like Glenn Beck.

[mtnsnake]

11. That's exactly why I said "almost everything."

and you are 100% right. We should never act like Glenn Beck.

[dennis4868]

15. understood....

[JVS]

12. Beck calls Obama Hitler, Olbermann calls him Chamberlain. Big difference there.

[dennis4868]

16. I am not saying KO is as bad as Keith...

but that doesn't mean he does not offend people....

[Clio the Leo]

17. exactly...

.... I disagree with him but I USUALLY agree with him and respect his right to disagree. His argument is informed, that's all I ask for.

But this was one step too far.

[Pisces]

13. Maybe this is what Stewart was talking about. He is extreme when he wants to be for ratings.

[Clio the Leo]

19. I think so. nt

[rocktivity]

20. And Stewart ISN'T

capable of being extreme when he wants to be for ratings? Not that I'm complaining!

Which is the point--you can be as over the top as you want as long as you get it right.

rocktivity

[treestar]

18. so what has he done to get the tax cut to stay for the middle class?

Or extend unemployment? How many Republicans or Blue Dog Senators has HE convinced?

None. He's just a whiner who can say whatever he wants with no consequences.

Why do people hang onto every word of these useless pundits?

[Imajika]

21. Keith and Ed are so over the top lately...

...that is damn near impossible to watch and take seriously.

I like both a lot, particularly Ed, but their coverage of this tax compromise has bordered on hysterical and often times simply misleading. If you watch their shows you'd think there is a real Democratic revolt and the tax cut package was in some danger of failing. There isn't and it is not. The reality is this compromise was going to pass all along and every single person connected inside DC has long known this. Keith and Ed are blowing up theatrics into something they are not. Even calling what Sanders did a "filibuster" is incredibly misleading since it is clear he wasn't holding up anything. Reid gave him time to vent and that is all it was. And the House Democrats supposedly being against this was nonsense as well. A nonbinding caucus poll means nothing, and Keith and Ed should know that as highly paid analysts.

I will still watch Keith and Ed, but I have been disappointed in their coverage of this.

[flamingdem]

27. They undestimate their audience, we'd like a little nuance nt

[COLGATE4]

22. I couldn't disagree more. Keith used Chamberlain as a historical

metaphor for appeasement, of which he now accuses Obama. The only 'Nazi' reference is there tangentially and inescapably, since by his conduct in the infamous Munich Agreement which essentially destoyed Czechoslovakia Chamberlain forever became the symbol of unreasonable and cowardly appeasement of heavy-handed opponents. Olbermann suggests, I believe with a great deal of validity, that Obama behaved in much the same fashion in arriving at his 'compromise' with the Rethuglicans. Nothing more, nothing Nazi, no Godwin.

[DCKit]

23. +1 But that doesn't serve the above ^ arguments.

Pretty soon you won't be able to reference the years 1934-1945 without drawing the Hitler comparison.

[oasis]

28. Did Chamberlain do an about face on a firm policy commitment?

KO was close but, no cigar.

[flamingdem]

24. Sad, but he's paid 7 million a year so I doubt his comments are totally sincere nt

[COLGATE4]

25. You can be paid as much for believing something as not

believing it. Aside from what he makes (which is a pittance compared to Beck, O'Leilly, Shammity and many other RW Clowns) what makes you doubt his sincerity?

[flamingdem]

26. He's an entertainer and doesn't suffer consequences from having changing his views within a week nt

[MadHound]

29. And under the bus he goes,

Joining a long line of other Obama critics, especially critics who were spot on with their comments. Fine company that Keith is joining under that bus.

Don't worry Keith, as soon as you say something nice about Obama, you will be pulled out from under the bus by his supporters, only to see this cycle continue, rinse, later, repeat.

[mtnsnake]

32. Yeah, really. How quickly Keith Olbermann went from super hero to goat around here. LOL

Next a lot of them will be saying how they never really liked him.

I guess Keith struck more than a few sensitive nerves by pointing out the truth about Bush's tax cuts and how they relate to this pathetic deal or cave or whatever it was. The truth hurts.

[marshall]

30. Does that mean Obama is Neville Chamberlain?

Strange comparison.

[Whisp]

31. wtf is wrong with him?

ratings going down and he has to ratchet the stupidity up to get attention?

and this is supposed to be a 'grown up' 'journalist'?

oiy

[whistler162]

34. Perhaps he is looking for a gig as a shock jock?

He has made senseless/stupid comments an other occasions.

[boppers]

33. And people wonder why FAUX and MSNBC comparisons are made.

If you act like a clown, be prepared to be compared to clowns.

[That Guy 888]

35. Comparing anyone on the Left to Rush Limbaugh should be a corollary to Godwin's Law n/t