In thier latest battle of words, Olbermann vs. O'Reilly round 5 so to speak, finds Olbermann ronouncing and blasting O'Reilly for his vehament pro-life rhetoric. The recent slaying of late term abortion Dr. George Tiller in his local church has given Olbermann cause to cite O'Reilly for his anti-abortion campaign on his Fox News show, No Spin Zone (insert laughter here). Olbermann claims O'Reilly and his ilk are part of the problem, in that their hate speech fuels people like the gunman in this case, to act like vigilanty zealots. O'Reilly's complicit participation, albeit small, is nonetheless a part of the news pundit culture that breeds irrational and abhorant behavior. For a more detailed account visit: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/02/olbermann-fox-news .
What's really fundamental about their latest diatribe against one another is that it's all basically about free speech. First, let me make it crystal clear that I am 100% in favor of free speech. But, I realize there are great consequencesa and possibly even greater responsibilities that go along with the first admendment right (especially in a public forum).
Mr. O'Rielly, if you really operated a show that was in fact, a no spin zone, then you wouldn't begin to try and put a spin on this gunman's cowardice actions. Instead, you'd take responsibility and aknowledge the part your words might have played in inspiring such hatred. Yes, of course, you'd like to think that all your viewers are intelligent and fair-minded. And, you may believe most of them could distinguish the BS, from the acutual news you may be reporting. But, they are not, which means you, along with all the other loose-lip political pundits have a responsibilty. Yet, even if you do believe everything you said about Dr. Tiller is true, you are evoking such pathological responses from your audience that are, and could, perpetuate domestic terrorism against abortion doctors.
But, quite honestly, both Olbermann and O'Reilly know this; however, their ongoing war of words makes for good entertainment television, which is what much of cable news is, entertainment.
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