The feud between Fox News' Bill O'Reilly and MSNBC's Keith Olbermann has morphed from a sometimes amusing spat between cable news hosts to a clash of corporate titans.
As Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post notes, O'Reilly has attacked General Electric Co. (NWS: GE) Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt for being "responsible" for the deaths of soldiers in Iraq because the MSNBC parent does a tiny amount of business with Iran which, apparently, is coming to an end. O'Reilly even sent a crew from "The O'Reilly Factor" to GE's annual meeting in Erie, Penn., to buttonhole Immelt and GE shareholders about the issue. One fund manager even called Immelt a "Benedict Arnold CEO" on the Fox program.
On his show, Olbermann often awards O'Reilly the title of "Worst Person in the World," a bit of shtick that's getting tiresome. Everything that O'Reilly says and does irritates Olbermann. Then again, so does Britney Spears.
But that's not the whole story. Fox News chief Roger Ailes warned NBC Universal head Jeff Zucker that "if Olbermann didn't stop such attacks against Fox, he would unleash O'Reilly against NBC and would use the New York Post as well," according to the Washington Post. This underscores the arguments of liberals and progressives that Fox and The Post are the winged monkeys of their corporate masters at News Corp. (NYSE: NWS). Fox, of course, denies Ailes threatened NBC.
The back and forth between the two media conglomerates shows that nerves are starting to get frayed and that life -- sigh -- is a lot like high school.
NBC argues that O'Reilly stepped over the line when he began attacking NBC correspondent Richard Engle for taking "an anti-war" position in his reporting from Baghdad and for not giving the military credit for the "success" of the surge. Fox is furious that Olbermann claimed that Fox News chief Roger Ailes was advising the presidential campaign of his former clients ex-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Fox denies the charge, which would be a major breach of journalistic ethics. A Fox spokesman put it this way: "If he was offering Rudy advice, you think Rudy would have done as badly as he did? No way Roger was giving him advice."
Of course, the real reason why O'Reilly has taken an interest in GE's Iran dealings is Olbermann. O'Reilly had a petition drive to get Olbermann fired, which only emboldened his more liberal rival. O'Reilly considers Olbermann and his other main liberal nemesis comedian turned wannabe politician Al Franken to be a cross between Satan and Superman super villain Lex Luther. Such evil must be destroyed even if you continually beat them in the TV ratings.
One more thing: If you read the Post story, expect to do a lot of clicking. It seems that the paper needs the page views.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-19-2008 @ 4:18PM
lboxman said...
Advise Harold Kirsh that if he listens to Bill O. he is probably dead from the neck up and doesn't one any shares of G.E. Bill O. only speaks to the dumb masses that will buy his hatred toward any one that thinks he is wrong, and hopes that people will forget about who he is and what he has done.
5-19-2008 @ 4:56PM
Mikey said...
Anybody who takes either Bill O'R or Keith Ob seriously is braindead. The bloger insulted the high school kids. It's more like middle school.
5-19-2008 @ 5:47PM
Joyce said...
Go O'Reilly..Thanks for exposing GE & Immelt. According to USA Today News on 5/17/08, GE through a subsidary did about $270 million of business with Iran. GE provided hydroeclectric equipment, medical equipment, and oil and gas equipment in Iran. This may be as the reporter classifies "a tiny amt. with Iran", but a little bit goes a long way......especially to a dictator who hates us.
5-19-2008 @ 7:41PM
charlie said...
i sold my ge stock because after being made aware of ge's dealings with the dictators in Iran, i took my loss and sold it. It was nothing to them but i felt better not supporting GE.
5-19-2008 @ 7:45PM
charlie said...
I have listend to both oriley and oberman and even though bill is a bit self centered, He tries to cover both sides. the NBC oberman doesn;t even try to be "fair" or have a different opinion represented so i watch oriley
5-20-2008 @ 12:05AM
Chumley said...
Only small brain-dead idiots listen to either O'Reilly or Olbermann. All "shows" like that: O'Reilly, Olbermann, Limbaugh, Hannity, Franken, etc. all pander to shrill idiots inhabiting the far-left and far-right.
5-20-2008 @ 1:12AM
wade said...
america looking for change . not fix news or advertise news .
5-20-2008 @ 4:26AM
Paul Nicholson said...
Amazing Nefsigh that you can make big Keith into a high and mighty news commentator when his biggest claim to fame is hosting Sportscenter with Dan Patrick. THEN he jumped into news. So I guess that makes him an expert.
5-20-2008 @ 5:58AM
Doug said...
GE should fire Keith O for working so closley with Iran. He is a trader
5-20-2008 @ 6:48AM
Scott said...
GE makes wind turbines. OReilly I believe pushes oil and the Bush administration.
One side pushes Fear to get what they want and believes wars at all cost, the end justifies the means. Get them before they get me. This attitude breeds distrust and turns moderates against you.
One side believes you'll have a better world by doing your best to get along with people and move towards peace, trying to make friends and gain trust. This attitude has a better chance of getting people to work together.
Both sides have their problems to deal with.
I'd rather die trying to join people togehter than to separate them.
I'd rather help people have clean renewable energy than fight wars for oil, destabilizing the world.
5-20-2008 @ 6:59AM
FMC said...
Olbermann is braindead from his rearend up! What a DOLT! Even sports fans can't stand his drivel.
5-20-2008 @ 11:43AM
Tattletale said...
Quite a great American company....huh? Well, they can all dismiss any fuckup as "Global" They are wrapping up a Global Economic Forum in New Orleans right now. They will orchestrate another inDavos in the Fall 08...Joyce May 19....You are right.
5-20-2008 @ 11:43AM
harold kirsh said...
Ge should be more than chastised..they need to be shunned.
It is disgraceful..that they try to make money by supplying our enemies.
I am selling my GE stock...Shame on them..
Recommend a total boycott
5-21-2008 @ 1:31PM
Kenny Shoulars said...
Well, it is certainly obvious who the O'Reilly supporters and FAUX NEWS fans are in this blog. True "dittoheads" as well I suppose.
5-23-2008 @ 11:14PM
nefsigh said...
The problem with OReilly is that he's never intellectually gotten past being a host of Entertainment Tonight-or whatever it was called back then--Whereas, like Oberman or not- he is certainly more articulate, more astute and has a firmer grasp of the issues than Billo does. Bill presents hot buttons issues for ratings, Keith presents issues that require more than a knee jerk reaction and frankly, a bit more of an education than those that Billo champions.
5-26-2008 @ 10:23AM
k williams said...
GE--Why would they trade with the enemy of our troops. Who do you think are sending arms and people all over the middle east-IRAN . They cause death and destruction of innocent people every day.