"The Truth" Silences Opposition

A while back I blogged about how I had visited a Keith Olbermann fan site, and was told quite clearly that his "Countdown" show is a "real" news program. While I was a bit surprised to learn that there are people who consider him a "newsman", I realized that, in the current hyperpartisan political climate, anything is possible.

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Anyway, here's an update.

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I've been in one of those back-and-forth running conversations with an Olbermann follower at the Huntington Post. It was pretty standard communication with a far lefty: I asserted that "Countdown" is not a news program; the follower insulted me, called me "stupid", came up with a few other names, and did not deny my original point. Of course, they rarely do. The insults and name-calling are simply diversionary tactics designed to avoid addressing the issue. I get them all the time on left wing sites. Luckily, I've been married for 25 years, I can handle insults.

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But at one point he said something that fascinating and quite illuminating.

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One of my points was that Olbermann is clearly afraid to interview anyone who disagrees with him. He launches vicious attacks, and then introduces a guest who reinforces his attacks. They agree and everyone is happy. Of course, on a "real" news program (especially on cable), the host has one guest from both sides of the story to provide balance. I pointed out that even Bill O'Reilly (whose goofy O'Reilly Factor is no news show either, but he doesn't claim it is) interviews people who disagree with him constantly.

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So the Olbermann follower says this: "Keith speaks the truth, so no other sides are needed."

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Did you get that?

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Keith and his sheep have decided that the people who hold opposing viewpoints to those of the sainted Mr. Olbermann are simply "wrong", and so their opinions don't deserve the light of day. This is why, they reason, he is clearly justified in not presenting two sides of a story. Since he represents and "reports" The Truth, no other input is required.

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Between the narcissitic hypersensitivity of Political Correctness and "news" programs like this, the American Left is succeeding in controlling free and open reporting and discourse in America. The First Amendment has become a relic, a punchline.

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How nice it would be to see the GOP candidates expose this fact.

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