Just when you think Keith Olbermann can’t get anymore politically biased, he and MSNBC make a deliberate effort to paint comments from an Iraq War veteran as a racist for commenting that heroism deserves more respect, admiration, and recognition in America than athletes; specifically Tiger Woods.
David Bellavia is a Silver Star recipient, has been nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor, and (here’s where he undoubtedly earned the disdain of Olbermann) is running as a Republican for Congress. The other day he was at a speaking event and introduced Sen McCain-describing him as a hero.
A hero introduced a hero, and that’s racist because he said, “Tiger Woods” instead of some white athlete.
One wonders why MSNBC decided to paint this remarkable event-where an Iraq War hero introduced a Vietnam War hero-as racist, and distasteful rather than as a moment when America should be proud of two remarkable men? Was it pure political partisanship? Was it the inability to see that most people don’t see Tiger Woods as an impressive black man, but as an impressive man? Was it the overpowering hatred anything and anyone left of loony?
In the end, it doesn’t matter. America will recognize its heroes though we’d do well to ask why Medal of Honor recipients get barely a footnote in the news, but athletes get infinitely more attention today.
Olberman owes some apologies. He owes Mr Bellavia an apology for painting him as a racist. He owes Sen McCain an apology for ignoring recognition of his courageous efforts, and he owes Tiger Woods an apology for suggesting that he’s only deserving of merit because of his race and not his skills or accomplishments.
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You are an idiot if you think Olbermann is supposed to be unbiased. He is unashamedly biased. It’s a comedic opinion show, not hard news…
calling heroes racist is funny? Olbermann and his guest were comedians?
A racist hero is still a hero…he’s a soldier not a saint.
I take it, Fit, that you agree that Bellavia is a racist?
Olbermann is an intellectually dishonest bottom-dweller. He believes that the end justifies the means, and if the means include trashing a veteran in order to forward his political agenda, so be it. I don’t know how such people live with themselves when they have no values – only agendas.
I don’t think he’s a Card Carrying Klansman but there was no need to cite Tiger Woods other than to inject a racial undertone. There are literally millions of better ways to express his point, but he chose that one. Keith Olbermann is no more than a left wing amalgamation of Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly. You take him far more seriously than you should.
If he wanted to make it racial, wouldn’t he have mentioned one of any number of black athletes who actually act and talk like African Americans, rather than Tiger who is probably the only black man on the PGA tour, does not dress or talk like a gangsta, and basicly is the least ‘black’ of all black athletes? It makes no sense.
When I try to think of a recent athlete who has been elevated to the level of near godhood, the only one I can think of offhand is Tiger Woods. Granted, I don’t follow basketball, baseball and football much at all, but 10 years ago he might have said Michael Jordan. Those are names that EVERYONE is familiar with. I can’t think of a white sports star on that callibre since Babe Ruth.
He was making a point that we as a society spend way too much attention to sports and entertainment figures than people we can really look up to – people who have sacrificed for the rest of us. Race is completely irrelevant to the arguement. But in chosing an example that clearly just happened to be black, the race-baiters pounce on him to avoid having to address his message. Olbermann knows perfectly well he’s wrong. But it appears he believes that it is better to do something immoral than miss a chance to strike a blow for the Secular/Liberal agenda.
B.S. Fit fit.
He chose Tiger Woods because he is a VERY high-profile sports hero. That is all. The man’s color is NOT an issue at all, other than to people who define EVERYTHING by skin color. People like Olberdouche, and (apparently) you.
Stop judging people by the color of their skin. Tiger Woods is a great man, and a fantastic example of accomplishment for everyone. However, he is NOT a hero on the level that men like John McCain and David Bellavia are. His skin color has nothing whatsoever to do with that. It’s just sad that you are so blinded by liberalism that you can’t see that.
Could you imagine if Obby and Randy Rhodes got together and decided to have children??
Humanity’s biggest nightmare!
That’s the reason he chose Tiger Woods. Nobody would know what the hell he was talking about if he had said “You can have your Eli Manning, we’ve got John McCain”. If he had said “You can have your Jeff Gordon, we’ve got John McCain” would it have made any sense? Everybody would be thinking “why’s he bashing Gordon?” But everyone knows what he means when he says Tiger Woods…
I don’t knwo how you clever right wingers did this, but I’d swear you all foisted Obama on the Dems somehow. I can’t quite put my finger on it. I can only imagine how far behind Obama would be if the Wright Tapes had surfaced on ABC NBC and CBS in December rather than in March.
he can’t win if Wright is typical of black preachers. The anger and vitriol of the congregation will simply freak-out white America. It’s a slow burning Dean Scream
No they wouldn’t. They would have gotten the point, which still appears to escape you.
And a lot more people know who Tiger Woods is than know Jeff Gordon. Bellavia’s point is equally valid for both, but when trying to make a point, you try to make references to what people know.
Now you seem to be coming back at this again and again with the assumption that Bellavia is indeed a racist without actually supporting that position. You are simply making assumptions, and you know what they say about assumptions.
I am happy to debate the issue at hand, but a debate is two-way. If you think that Bellavia is a racist, explain how you came to that conclusion, apart from simply making the assumption that he is because it suits your political agenda.
I take my kids every year to the Congressional Medal of Honor Museum. It looks likely Bellavia may someday join those honored there. His actions will outlive the comment. His actions will outlive us all. Still doesn’t make it right.
LOL, you just made my day.
I used to think of Obama as naive, but well-meaning. Certainly a better choice than Hillary, who is a conniving, powerhungry pathalogical liar. But the more I read about Obama and the more I read his books, he’s turning out to be a can of worms.
I get his point. He’s 100% right about our hero worship being misplaced, though I honor sports heroes over shallow Hollywood actors anyday.
No Problem Dreadnought.
On some level Hillary Clinton actually respects conservative philosophy and straightforward patriotism. She did give Bush the benefit of the doubt on the IWR for example. She’s factored in YOUR opinion to her policy commitments–however much you might disagree with her conclusions.
Obama is a can of worms by comparison. There’s a joke on pro Hillary blogs about him btw.
What Obama Really Meant. WORM, when the surrogates explain away a misstatement.
I think Wright really is a Dean Scream.
I don’t think the guy’s a racist by any means; Tiger Woods probably came to mind because the Masters is this week, and there’s been a ton of Tiger hype. Olbermann is really, REALLY reaching with this one.
In this hypersensitive day and age, he probably should have said something like “you can keep your sports heroes and movie stars, we have John McCain.” Dreadnought, I have to disagree with you that substituting another name would have “gotten his point across.” There are more than enough stupid people who would hear that and interpret it as a slam on NASCAR and/or the South. (I have–no kidding–met people with Jeff Gordon’s number enameled on their teeth.) That’s what we get for dissecting speeches down to individual words. Let’s face it; the deep partisanship of American politics punishes any extemporaneous speech. (Case in point: the “Where’s al-Qaeda?” article on the front page of this blog; Obama caught himself instead of saying something incorrect, and he’s still getting bashed for it.)
dan,
I would say Obama has more respect for Conservative philosphy. Has Hillary ever said welfare has contributed to the decline of the black family? Has Hillary ever said “government can’t do everything”?
wesmorgan1,
You’re right about hypersensitivity. Somebody had to have to looked at that speech before it was delivered. They had to have realized how this could be interpreted. I don’t even think it’s that offensive, but you’ll never convince me it wasn’t deliberate.
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the – Web Reconnaissance for 04/11/2008 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often.
Fit fit originally wrote:
Olbermann= joke without the punchline.
This is the same assclown who said Michael Medved defended slavery. I didn’t think Olbermann even read the column at the time to have drawn such a stupid conclusion; but now, given his apparent white guilt-driven witch hunt of racism, I’m no longer so sure…
So, you’d rather live with your partisan blinders on, rather than seek clarity? What if you’re wrong? You’d rather not know?
I didn’t even know who Jeff Gordon was, until this thread. Tiger Woods is simply a huge sports star and you don’t even have to follow the PGA to know about him. In fact, I’ve never even watched a single golf tournament, yet I know about Tiger Woods.
To say that Bellavia’s choice of naming Tiger Woods was based on a racist undercurrent would make as much sense as accusing him of racism had he not named a prominent black athlete for purposes of making his point.
Wordsmith,
I didn’t say you had to think he was funny, but the guy acts out current events with stick puppets and people are trying to assign him jounalistic integrity?
I find it impossible to believe no one looked at Bellavia’s script and said “this might get taken out of context”. As I said before, I don’t think it’s that offensive, but he knew what he was doing.
And I believe no one mentioned the possibility to him, that this might be taken out of context, because it’d require a real stretch of the imagination.
You really have to be grasping to find the offense.
Well, if you honestly believe that, then I understand. It is as obvious to me, as it is opaque to you… so let’s leave it at that.
Moving on, how is it you have never heard of Jeff Gordon?
I would say Obama has more respect for Conservative philosphy. Has Hillary ever said welfare has contributed to the decline of the black family? Has Hillary ever said “government can’t do everything”?
She supported Welfare Reform… which cut off Welfare.
On liberal blogs Obama’s henchmen have keel hauled for supporting that reform. It’s one of the biggest blaclk resentments against the Clintons.
Obama’s VERY VERY two faced. He ingratiates himself with white pundits with these fawning comments about black self reliance–in reality he directs a very different campaign aimed at blaming Clinton for things like Welfare Reform–a reform which blacks blame for their misery.
Wright said it best:
“They were riding us dirty.”
He was clearly refering to welfare reform.
Obama is massively two faced about issues.
Obama doesn’t respect the other side and incorporate it into his view. he has a surface presentation which masks the bubbling and seething resentment that he rubs raw deliberately.
“To say that Bellavia’s choice of naming Tiger Woods was based on a racist undercurrent would make as much sense as accusing him of racism had he not named a prominent black athlete for purposes of making his point.”
So true, the logic is the same. Lets say that he did realize that it might be construed to be racist so he changed the name from tiger to some white golfer. Wouldnt he be attacked by people like fit fit for knowingly not naming Tiger because he is black when tiger is so much better then the named white golfer? It is a double edged sword all conservatives must juggle in politics today.
Horse crap. Woods is the most famous and successful athlete on the panet, and he’s worth probably hundreds of millions. OK…fine…nothing wrong with that. Most people would trade places with him.
Most…not all. Bellavia, like McCain, voluntarily risked their lives for the cause of sacrifice and freedom for others. Bellavia thinks that’s more noble and more worthy of admiration and emulation. That’s it. Woods’ race is completely incedental to his comment…not the predicate for it.
I would argue that it would actually be racist to avoid using Woods in the comparison simply because of his color.
I also find it hilariously hypocrtitical that Keith “Chicken n’ Waffles” Olbermann stretches to acuse someone else of racist comments.
Oh..and don’t forget the Bill Richardson/guacamole reference
’cause the white man’s being held down! I only know of black athletes. 😉
Seriously….was I supposed to know “Jeff Gordon”?
Unless I am simply living under a rock, I’d assume more people who don’t even follow sports (I’m not hard-core on sports) have heard of Tiger Woods due to the amount of coverage and commercial endorsements, etc.
Is Jeff Gordon really “Tiger Woods” status material? Is he really that big and well-known? Was there ever a commercial where people keep saying, “I’m Jeff Gordon”……”I’m Jeff Gordon”….”I’m Jeff Gordon”…..?
“I’m Tiger Woods”
Jeff Gordon is DEFINITELY Tiger Woods matl, and here’s why:
1) Gordon’s endorsements (financial popularity/commercial recognition) is painted all over his car and his outfit & it far outweighs or at least matches Tigers
2) Tiger may have had death threats like Jackie Robinson, but golf is hardly a dangerous sport regardless of how many death threats he gets/got: a single NASCAR race is infinitely more dangerous let alone the hundreds he’s driven
3) Tiger woods crashing in a golf cart is a lot different that Jeff Gordon wrecking into 20+ cars at 200+ miles an hour
4) Tiger may draw crowds, but NASCAR draws hundreds of thousands to their big races and many come for Gordon
Look, Tiger’s a skilled guy (oh yeah, and he’s black-so what), but he’s not a hero on the level of Bellavia, McCain, Jeff Gordon, or Payton Manning.
I’m sure David is waiting next to the phone for Olby’s call. Which is why I’ve been crank calling him all day.
I still hadn’t heard of him. Even his name. I sometimes know people’s names without knowing a wit about them.
Is NASCAR bigger than golf? Not that it necessarily matters in terms of hero-personality-celebrity status. I watch neither golf nor NASCAR.
C’mon…can Jeff Gordon do this:
?
“Yes, but you’re aware that there’s an invention called television, and on that invention they show shows?”
They don’t cover NASCAR in your local newpaper’s sports section? I’m not doubting you, just trying to figure out how you wouldn’t know that reference.
NASCAR is a popular racing series in the US Only. Nobody outside of the US knows Jeff Gordon’s name. Tiger is known worldwide.
Incredible! How in the world anyone could label this as racist is beyond me. Its one thing is there had been past incidents in Bellavia’s past to suggest he was racist but without that context then all this is just typical PC hypersensativity to a innocent, but true, sentiment. That the real heroes are those fighting for this country, not sport stars.
On the bigger question of who is more known. Golf is watched by many more people than NASCAR. Golf is the second most watched sport in the world, second only to soccer(football on the other side ofthe pond) And then comes tennis and F1 racing. The only people that watch NASCAR are Americans. So in the big scheme ofthings, Tiger Woods is a better choice. He is the most known sports figure in the world. I only know of Jeff Gordon because he is from St. Louis and some one I ride the train withto work likes NASCAR. I have never watched a full NASCAR race and so has most of the country. And I have never seen a commercial with Jeff Gordon on it. Tiger Woods is on commercials all the time.
So the whole squabble is full of BS. Hecould have said Wayne Rooney, because he has more fans than Jeff Gordon, but Americans would have no clue who Wayne Rooney is. Or maybe he could have said Roger Clemons, but more people know Tiger Woods, not becasue he is black, but becasue he is the best golfer out there and has dominated the game for along time now.
If anyone sees racism in this quote, they have problems. It had nothing to do with race at all.
At the very least MSNBC should force Olbermann to apologize to Bellavia for slandering him. Labeling someone a “racist” is never a joke, given that it’s the “witch” word of our times. Let’s hope this pushes Bellavia to victory in the electoral contest he’s engaged in.
To twist Bellavia’s comments into a racist remark requires the absolutely most paranoid “I’ll look for a racial slight anywhere” mind-set. Of course, that’s exactly the sort of mind-set that BHO’s “retired” spiritual guide Jeremiah Wright has… If I were to hazard why Olbermann decided to make this stretch, it’s to try and put McCain in the same muck that BHO landed in.
Heck, if anybody should be offended here, it’s the Asian community; given that Tiger is half Asian, and only a quarter black, and yet has been claimed as a black sports icon. (By the way, for those who might rant regarding this remark, that was humor people – laugh!)
I don’t follow sports. I’m not sure why, as I’ve always been athletic, and grew up on standard, all-American sports; but as I grew older, I just grew out of the desire to sit for hours in front of the tube, watching games for hours.
I personally can’t remember anyone ever bringing up NASCAR in my daily conversations. Football, yes. Basketball, yes. Baseball, yes. UFC/NHB/MMA, yes. Boxing, yes. Gymnastics and Olympic sports, yes. NASCAR? No.
And the only thing I’d ever see are highlight crashes on the news; other than that, I don’t know what the difference is between NASCAR, Indy 500, and whatever other car races there are. It’d be like asking me about badminton sports heroes, greyhound races, horse races, and a host of other sports I don’t care about.
And I don’t care for golf.
But I do know who Tiger Woods is.
And there you have it. Maybe it’s because of his remarkable name. How many people know anyone else named Tiger? Who the heck is Wayne Rooney? The long-lost cousin of Wayne Rodgers and Mickey Rooney? Never heard of him. But everyone knows Tiger.
Wayne Rooney is a forward for Manchester United. He is one of the best on the team. He got a red card in the last World Cup for stomping on another player.
It prooves my point. No one except people in England or are fans of soccer know Wayne Rooney. But almost everyone knows Tiger. I also could have said Thiery Henrey, Ranaldo or some other well known soccer players in England and no one here knows who they are.
A good one could have been David Beckham. He is more than just a soccer star and everyone know who he is. He has more Paparazi than almost all of the American stars combined.