August 28, 200817 yr http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12900.html DENVER — Amid a spate of awkward on-air conflicts among MSNBC anchors at this week's Democratic convention, some staff members say there are sharp internal disputes at the cable network over whether its opinion and personality-driven political coverage has crossed the line. "The situation at our channel is about to blow up," a high-ranking MSNBC journalist told Politico on Wednesday. Two other MSNBC sources said some of the testy on-air exchanges between Keith Olbermann — whose quick-witted and often caustic commentary has fueled ratings growth — and other network personalities were a public glimpse of much more intense behind-the-scenes turmoil. As replays of the conflicts became YouTube hits, MSNBC President Phil Griffin gave his first public defense in a Politico interview. "MSNBC does not have an ideology," Griffin said. "We hire smart people who are passionate about their love of politics and love of news." "Do I want them to have squabbles?" Griffin asked. "No. But I understand they're human." In addition to Olbermann, MSNBC personalities Chris Matthews, Joe Scarborough and David Shuster were involved in Denver controversies. On Monday evening, Olbermann interrupted Scarborough while he was talking about McCain being competitive in the polls. "Jesus, Joe, why don't you get a shovel?" Olbermann remarked. On "Morning Joe" the following day, a clearly agitated Scarborough went off on Shuster during a discussion of Iraq, which quickly devolved over several cringe-worthy minutes into personal attacks, such as Scarborough telling the world how his colleague missed the show three times by oversleeping. "Are you Rip Van Shuster?" Scarborough asked. "Have you been sleeping for the past couple of months?" But Scarborough, a former Republican congressman from Florida, became enraged when Shuster made a reference to "your party." Asked by Scarborough what his party was, Shuster said he was an "independent." "I feel so comforted by the fact that you're an independent," Scarborough said, in a mocking tone. "I bet everybody at MSNBC has independent on their voting cards. Oh, we're down the middle now." (Shuster left the set, but returned later to hug it out, "Entourage"-style.) That night, Scarborough told NPR that he "get frustrated by people who have an obvious partisan bias that don't proclaim that bias." The old debate over election coverage bias was given new life on Sunday, when Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell — who'd remarked during the primaries that Fox News was the "most objective" network — told a panel of Sunday show anchors, including NBC's Tom Brokaw, that "MSNBC was the official network of the Obama campaign." "I've got to laugh a little bit," Griffin said, over the notion that MSNBC has an agenda, while Rendell is "the voice of reason." "Ed Rendell, bless his soul, has an agenda," Griffin said. "Period." Even with Obama as the presumptive nominee, it was MSNBC vs. the Clinton team again, a battle that played out throughout the primaries. During Tuesday night's broadcast, both Olbermann and Matthews took shots at Howard Wolfson, the Clinton campaign's former communications director, criticizing him as a Republican collaborator because of his work as a Fox News analyst. Matthews called Wolfson a "little toy soldier waiting on the shelf," while Olbermann compared him to "Tokyo Rose," the woman who delivered propaganda over the airwaves during World War II. "I think these antics have seriously damaged NBC's brand," wrote Wolfson in an e-mail to Politico. On Wednesday, Wolfson criticized MSNBC on the air, too. "I'm not gonna take any lectures on how to be a good Democrat from two people who spent the last two years relentlessly attacking Bill and Hillary Clinton every day," Wolfson said Wednesday on Fox News. Also on Wednesday, the New York Post reported that Olbermann was an obstacle in allowing McCain adviser-turned-NBC political analyst Mike Murphy to get on the air during the convention. Murphy was bumped from Monday's convention coverage due to "technical difficulties," the Post reported. He also didn't appear on Tuesday. "I'm told I'll be on the air tonight," Murphy said, when reached by phone Wednesday. And so will Olbermann and Matthews, anchoring on a big night when Bill Clinton hits the stage. But last night the two volatile hosts bickered, with Matthews jumping into the frame as Olbermann introduced House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.). "You made that sound, Keith," Matthews said, raising his voice. "I can do the same to you. That's what I thought, and I said it." Some sources who have worked with Olbermann at MSNBC describe him as a difficult colleague, and one source said that there are tensions with Matthews. Regardless, Griffin said he has faith in his convention anchors — including Olbermann, a scourge of the right — for both the final days in Denver and next week in St. Paul, Minn. "Look, when Keith anchors, he plays it straight down the line," Griffin said. "This is our team. They've served us well. We love 'em, and we're going to be at the Republican convention, and it's going to be great. And I don't have any hesitation."
August 28, 200817 yr I only watch MSNBC. I like all of them. I think Joe and Keith sometimes go overboard, but otherwise I think the coverage is great. (Chris Matthews sometimes goes off, too, but he's kind of easy to laugh at, so I give him a pass.)
August 28, 200817 yr MSNBC has found a niche and it's going to hold onto it. Fox news did the same when it decided to become the official station of the republican party.
August 28, 200817 yr MSNBC has found a niche and it's going to hold onto it. Fox news did the same when it decided to become the official station of the republican party. besides CNN, I think Fox is the most balanced of all teh stations. In an odd way. none of them are moderates. But you usually get extreme liberals and extreme conservatives on the channel and they fight. All the hosts are clearly republican, but I think they do a good job with the guests and the topics to keep it balanced. fair? eh not so much, but ill give htem the balanced.
August 28, 200817 yr I'm a PBS guy because I could do without the screaming and silliness, but I flip around a lot.
August 28, 200817 yr I like MSNBC's coverage. I hope they keep things going. :thumbup I agree, although I wish Chris Matthews was less of a misogynist. As far as the Mike Murphy thing, he was on last night, and he used the opportunity to say insane things like 'Hillary is going to secretly vote for McCain'. That quickly earned him the ire and boos of the crowd behind him.
August 28, 200817 yr I got a good laugh watchign Shuster refer to himself as an independent. I hate that guy so much.
August 28, 200817 yr I got a good laugh watchign Shuster refer to himself as an independent. I hate that guy so much. Yeah, because Scarborough wasn't a former Republican politician or anything... Shuster has been in trouble before...he was suspended for calling Chelsea Clinton a whore a couple of months ago.
August 28, 200817 yr LOL He didn't call her a whore. lol He said the campaign was pimping her for Hillary's benefit... slightly different. lol
August 28, 200817 yr LOL He didn't call her a whore. lol He said the campaign was pimping her for Hillary's benefit... slightly different. lol Oh, yeah. Sorry. I was thinking of a radio personality that I listen to, Randi Rhodes, who was forced out of Air America because she called Hillary Clinton a whore during a standup act.
August 28, 200817 yr I got a good laugh watchign Shuster refer to himself as an independent. I hate that guy so much. Yeah, because Scarborough wasn't a former Republican politician or anything... And? Is there a point in you remark? Does Scarborough being a Republican somehow justify Shuster passing himself off as an independent?
August 28, 200817 yr I got a good laugh watchign Shuster refer to himself as an independent. I hate that guy so much. Yeah, because Scarborough wasn't a former Republican politician or anything... And? Is there a point in you remark? Does Scarborough being a Republican somehow justify Shuster passing himself off as an independent? Yes, because I have heard Scarborough call himself an independent on his TV shows. That's my problem.
August 28, 200817 yr Overbite has to be one of the most vindictive people I have ever seen in my life. I only watch him to get a good laugh. Especially his "worst persons in the world" where he basically takes normal comments from conservatives and makes them "outrageous". His hatred for Bill O?Rielly, who is nowhere near radical is humorous. I've heard he doesn't even believe some of the stuff he says. Also, can they put the camera any closer to his face? My god, lol.
August 28, 200817 yr His hatred for Bill O?Rielly, who is nowhere near radical is humorous. Really? Bill O'Reilly isn't radical? Do I have to bring up the literally millions of insane things he has said?
August 28, 200817 yr His hatred for Bill O?Rielly, who is nowhere near radical is humorous. Really? Bill O'Reilly isn't radical? Do I have to bring up the literally millions of insane things he has said? He's very moderate and refuses to take part in any of the over the top Obama bashing the likes of Hannity take part in. No where near radical.
August 28, 200817 yr His hatred for Bill O?Rielly, who is nowhere near radical is humorous. Really? Bill O'Reilly isn't radical? Do I have to bring up the literally millions of insane things he has said? He's very moderate and refuses to take part in any of the over the top Obama bashing the likes of Hannity take part in. No where near radical. That's fine, keep living in your fantasy world. :thumbup I would be angry at O'Reilly myself if he started a petition to get me off the air like he did to Keith.
August 29, 200817 yr Why would anyone want O'Reilly off of the air? I rarely agree with him but he's very entertaining.
August 29, 200817 yr His hatred for Bill O?Rielly, who is nowhere near radical is humorous. Really? Bill O'Reilly isn't radical? Do I have to bring up the literally millions of insane things he has said? He's very moderate and refuses to take part in any of the over the top Obama bashing the likes of Hannity take part in. No where near radical. That's fine, keep living in your fantasy world. :thumbup I would be angry at O'Reilly myself if he started a petition to get me off the air like he did to Keith. Just one question.... Who is a bigger radical Keith or O'Rielly?
August 29, 200817 yr His hatred for Bill O?Rielly, who is nowhere near radical is humorous. Really? Bill O'Reilly isn't radical? Do I have to bring up the literally millions of insane things he has said? He's very moderate and refuses to take part in any of the over the top Obama bashing the likes of Hannity take part in. No where near radical. That's fine, keep living in your fantasy world. :thumbup I would be angry at O'Reilly myself if he started a petition to get me off the air like he did to Keith. Just one question.... Who is a bigger radical Keith or O'Rielly? No contest...O'Reilly.
August 29, 200817 yr Just one question.... Who is a bigger radical Keith or O'Rielly? Olberman by default because he is an actual radical. O'Reilly is just a tabloid entertainer.
August 29, 200817 yr Just one question.... Who is a bigger radical Keith or O'Rielly? Olberman by default because he is an actual radical. O'Reilly is just a tabloid entertainer. What, only right wingers can be 'entertainers', but not ideologues?
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