Friday, April 17, 2009

Janeane Garofalo and Keith Olbermann on "teabagging" and racism

VIDEO: Janeane Garofalo talking 'Tea Parties' on Keith Olbermann's Countdown


I featured Janeane Garofalo's last appearance on Olbermann's show, teaming up against Rush Limbaugh largely because I expected a rebuttal. The only rebuttal came via Fox News' Red Eye. Janeane returns as guest with Olbermann this time to eviscerate "teabaggers" who demonstrated during the Tax Day Tea Parties.

The combination of Garofalo with Olbermann is highly provocative and somewhat predictable. Janeane has her charms and is an able debater. She famously had a segment on her Air America show 'Majority Report' where she would debate with her conservative father, a retired Exxon executive. When "proud liberal" Janeane Garofalo partners with the highly partisan Keith Olbermann, the host acts as an accelerant creating goading television that serves only to alienate the other side.

What conservative Newsbusters' describes as
Garofalo: Tea Party Goers Are Racists Who Hate Black President
...for what Olbermann and Garofalo engaged in Thursday evening is amongst the most vile, hate-filled attacks on average American citizens ever conveyed on national television by so-called journalists.
Read the full conversation transcript from Newsbusters:
Garofalo: Tea Party Goers Are Racists Who Hate Black President
JANEANE GAROFALO: Thank you. You know, there's nothing more interesting than seeing a bunch of racists become confused and angry at a speech they're not quite certain what he's saying. It sounds right and then it doesn't make sense. Which, let's be very honest about what this is about. It's not about bashing Democrats, it's not about taxes, they have no idea what the Boston tea party was about, they don't know their history at all. This is about hating a black man in the White House. This is racism straight up. That is nothing but a bunch of teabagging rednecks. And there is no way around that. And you know, you can tell these type of right wingers anything and they'll believe it, except the truth. You tell them the truth and they become -- it's like showing Frankenstein's monster fire. They become confused, and angry and highly volatile.
Update: Race and Ron Paul
Seeing as Janeane brought up the issues of race and the corporate hijacking of the Tea Parties, I'd like to highlight a thoughtful discussion and spririted debate at popular White Nationalist forum, Stormfront.

As a sidenote, its worth noting that the 'Tax Day Tea Parties' partially stemmed from the movement that sprung during Ron Paul's Presidential Campaign. Paul ran on a platform that can superficially be described as being for:
1) Smaller Government
2) A fairer and simpler tax code
3) Equally taking to task Republicans and Democrats

Ironically many of the people and pundits who are on board with the Tea Parties are the same people who ridiculed the popular but marginalised movement spearheaded by Ron Paul. The pundits who were at least respectful towards Ron Paul include Bill Maher, Glenn Beck and Tucker Carlson with a recent about face from Ann Coulter. It's worth taking this into account as this informs the discussion being held at Stormfront
Were The Tea Parties Hijacked?
Because those people are all part of the problem. For over a decade now, these "conservative" commentators have helped frame the political debate in this country. They choose which stories are important, and conversely, they decide which stories aren't. By focusing the country's attention on petty issues, they distract us from the real problems in America. More than anything, these people are just in it for the money. They make sure to keep the debate shallow, so that there's no risk of it ever getting out of their control, and thereby slashing their profit margin. They build us up to be sheep, and themselves as our sheppards (sic). As I said, all they care about is profit, and their listeners and viewers are simply tools to get it. As long as these people control the debate on the right, it will never evolve beyond petty controllable issues.

posted by Winston Ingsoc Smith
Update II: The Backlash
I featured this Garofalo/Olbermann clip primarily because I anticipated a spirited counterattack. Whilst the first Garofalo-Olbermann connection only got a mild response, this one has found it's mark. Judging by these clips Janeane could take the honour for being the APF's current Top Heel (villain).

Fox News' Red Eye picks up the mantle once again


Video: Fox News' Red Eye on Olbermann and Garofalo - Round 2
GREG GUTFELD: She's as smart as she is hot. That's right, nobody's favourite artist Janeane Garofalo... was at it again on Countdown with Keith Olbermann... you may remember in February this sad little creature... compared women who listen to Rush Limbaugh to Eva Braun (Hitler's girlfriend). Well now she's focused her lizard-like brain on the half million or more people who attended Tea Parties
Mark Levin cuts a mean promo on Janeane Garofalo and Keith Olbermann
Video: Mark Levin says no conservative should work for MSNBC
MARK LEVIN: I want you to listen to this piece of crap. This piece of crap, this walking disorder - Janeane Garofalo. Now Janeane Garofalo tried radio, she's a failure. She tried acting, she's a failure. She's tried comedy, she's a failure. She's tried being a human being, she's a failure. She's a miscreant and a menace. And she's on a show with biggest pervert in the media - Keith Olbermann, Countdown to No Ratings. A pervert, a slob, a moron. Now how do I know this, because his ex-girlfriends write to me and tell me what a sleazeball he is. That's right Keithie, you punk. I know all about you, you are sick.

Now let's listen to these two morons. Let's listen to this one in particular, this Janeane Garofalo. This walking mental disorder...
Read the discussion on Olbermann Watch
- Mark Levin Rips Olbermann, Garofalo, Says No Conservative Should Work for MSNBC!
- Red Eye Rips Keith Olbermann and Janeane Garofalo!
- Lou Dobbs Rips Olbermann, Garofalo, and MSNBC!
LOU DOBBS: She's a one-woman hate event. She's just nasty, nasty piece of business. My lord, and to be on the Keith Olbermann show. You know a lot of meds running around there. His bile spewing everywhere. Listen to this exchange on that unwatchable broadcast. Here she is with her own sweet perspective, if this isn't enough to revolt anyone I don't know what would be required.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't look now but your Bias is showing.
Your ratings show where you stand with America.
Americans are mad about both parties spending money we don't have.

Anonymous said...

Tea bag this you racist granola yuppie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56aSZFGgQlQ

Stuart, ATL said...

I think the bias of this site is showing when there is more time spent on Johnny Dollar's zoom-in videos and Mark Levin slandering Garofalo and comments from anonymous right-wing keyboard punks than on the actual Olbermann-Garofalo discussion.

And where is the liberal tag team that was promised? Two right-wing tag teams, but no liberals. Ah, I thought this was a "balanced" site.

PunditFight said...

Thanks Stuart, I appreciate you policing the site. Feel free to drop me a line. As for your charge, all I can say is that stories to highlight come in waves and depend on the media I can source.

The liberal tag team has been designed. It just needs to get finished. Will pick up the pace.

Stuart, ATL said...

"Policing the site". Hahaha, just because I react to a right-wing brat who is all for bashing Garofalo and pandering to Fascists like Lou Dobbs and Mark Levin. And you know what, I think you are just lying about a liberal tag team. By the way, why not write several articles about Savage cheering Virginia Foxx's comments and Brian Maloney kissing his ass like always?

bushjrlied said...

Teabaggers are racist; it is so obvious

bushjrlied said...

dictator bush jr lied abut nuclear threat. Cluster fox Teabaggers silent.