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Keith Olbermann Gives Interviewing Alvin Greene A Shot, Gets (Some) Answers

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Yesterday morning, ABC News tried to get answers out of baffling Democratic Senate candidate Alvin Greene. They got a series of stutters and a view of his baby shoes as a reward. Then Shepard Smith at Fox News tried, and, well, that didn’t go so well. The theater continued tonight, with Keith Olbermann giving it the ol’ college try. It wasn’t much better.

Rather than the delightfully combative tone of Smith’s interview, which ended in an anti-climatic “Mr. Greene, South Carolina’s candidate from the Democratic party to be a Senator in the United States Senate,” Olbermann treated Greene like one would interview a child that won a contest to be on the TV, and now got to explain his science project. Except Greene’s science project is his campaign, and he’s too shy or uninformed or just plain confused to really explain what his campaign even is.

Olbermann, presumably having seen previous interviews with Greene, decided specificity was the way to go, asking if he had campaign rallies, or literature, or canvassing. The interview tactic made this the most successful Greene interview so far, mostly because it got actual information out of him on what the Greene campaign was like: yes, there was campaign literature, and there was door-to-door canvassing. Greene seemed not to understand what “campaign rallies” were, and repeated that everything about the campaign was “informal.”

Sadly, he continued to refuse to talk about his felony pornography charges (he stands accused of showing obscene material to a woman at a university), but insisted that he was neither a plant nor was he going to back down, giving Olbermann an emphatic “no, sir” when asked if he was going to step aside for a more legitimate candidate to take his place.

Olbermann seemed suspicious of Greene after the interview– though who wouldn’t be?– and pointed out a factoid that seemed to have been lost in this entire saga: in South Carolina, primaries are open, and Republicans can vote in the Democratic primary and vice versa. He also mentioned the fact that Greene’s lawyer seemed to be in the background of the interview feeding him answers.

For Greene, at least the appearance wasn’t a complete failure. Afterwards, while talking to guest Robert Klein, Olbermann admitted that “I’d vote for him over [Sen. Jim] DeMint, but that’s another story.”

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  • roxsteady

    It was also obvious that Greene was being fed his answers through a second ear piece which he kept fidgeting with towards the end. Operation Chaos? He’ll probably be arrested for collecting unemployment while sitting on 10,000 unless he gives up just who gave him that money. Stay tuned!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Xeta-Byte/100001174410994 Xeta Byte

    This is the guy’s lawyer:

    Daniel “The Wig Man” Vovak (born May 15, 1972 in Cleveland, Ohio) is a comedy writer[1] and satirist perhaps best known for his tongue-in-cheek political Republican candidacies and for The Blue Dress, a movie script that he wrote about the Monica Lewinsky scandal and which he was reportedly producing as a movie.[2][3] He also does ghostwriting.[4]

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Vovak

  • TROLLING4LIBS

    LOL. Moron Sr. interviewing Moron Jr.

    Just another show for Dobermann.

  • http://twitter.com/SailRabbits Magister

    I wonder if Keith got the open primary factoid from reading the comments to an earlier Mediaite post, has it worked its way over to (or from) Kos or did he think of it all by himself.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Xeta-Byte/100001174410994 Xeta Byte

    Scrubbing the wikipedia entries too:

    # (cur | prev) 21:20, 10 June 2010 216.156.97.106 (talk) (10,420 bytes) (→Political and satirical activity: He uses his own fake twitter account as a source. That’s not adequate sourcing. It’s part of an obvious publicity stunt.) (undo)
    # (cur | prev) 20:49, 10 June 2010 Cit helper (talk | contribs) m (10,755 bytes) (Correcting spelling: campain->campaign) (undo)
    # (cur | prev) 20:49, 10 June 2010 65.111.140.14 (talk) (10,754 bytes) (→Political and satirical activity: Updating citing error) (undo)
    # (cur | prev) 20:46, 10 June 2010 65.111.140.14 (talk) (10,656 bytes) (→Political and satirical activity: Adding Alvin Greene’s naming of Vovak as campaign manager) (undo)

  • dhg

    The ultimate irony: Someone who did nothing to get the position he is in,now refuses to give it up despite obvious reasons he does not qualify to be there,and gets defensive and angry when challenged to give answers while never really giving answers….interviewing Alvin Greene.

  • lanquihue

    Since when did lawyers or porn bother liberals / progressives? Seems to me that this guy is the ideal Democrat, minority, stupid, takes orders from a lawyer, and is a college campus deviant.

  • Rogue-Comic

    Wow, that was painful to watch.

  • lanquihue

    Plus, Dems (independents) got that douche nozzle McCain the nomination, so pap smears like Olbermann should just go back to tongue slapping Barney Frank.

  • ChrisNH

    In the span of less than ONE DAY. a heretofore unknown by the name of Alvin Greene (D-SC) has been absolutely ridiculed as the ‘new face of the Dim Lib Party.’ The idiot got utterly SCHOOLED by ratings-leader Fox News, as Shep Smith got utterly exasperated with the know-nothing tool Alvin Greene (D-SC). Smith bludgeoned Alvin Greene (D-SC) with this finishing salvo: “Mr. Greene, South Carolina’s candidate from the Democratic party to be a Senator in the United States Senate.” You know…just to make it perfectly clear that this TOOL was a Dim Lib.

  • TROLLING4LIBS

    Chris , this is the new face for the ” Green(e) Party movement “.

  • Cactus

    @ChrisNH: Wouldn’t that be, y’know, the entire point of a GOP operative financing his campaign? For what you said to easily happen? What exactly is your point?

  • MichelleF

    I find this story absolutely hilarious!

  • the real john t

    lanquihue says:
    June 10, 2010 at 10:34 pm
    Plus, Dems (independents) got that douche nozzle McCain the nomination,
    ——————————

    That is the most ignorant statement I’ve read in a long time.

  • C0nstant

    hes waiting for an offer from rahm for van jones old job

  • Moderate

    It sounds like Olbermann and the Democrats would love to disenfranchise a Black candidate. The Whitehouse should offer him the Secretary of the Army job to drop out of the race.

  • me1ranger

    Why do liberals hate the black man..always trying to keep him down?!

  • Liberty – Not Redistribution

    Is there a problem with a regualr citizen running for office, and actually getting a nomination? It’s rather disgusting how the DNC, media and others have attacked this guy. While I don’t agree with some of his platform, or the pornography charges, I think a regular citizen should be able to run, and win without the attacks by the establishment.

  • TfT

    Olbermann and his MSNBC pals along with Congressman Clyburn are clearly racists. How dare they go after this individual the way they are.

    On another note, funny story over at the media blog on the Corner: (Cut and pasted below):
    ————————————————————–
    In a response to a reader asking Chuck Todd about the Rassmussen poll that has Angle up over Reid by 11 points, Todd responded with:

    @DTCahill Not a serious polling firm. Need to see numbers from a more reliable pollster

    And. . .

    @DTCahill how is it bias if I refuse to report on some firm who has a horrible track record and us proven to be unreliable.

    We don’t call it MSDNC for nothing!

    Oh, and for the record, a quick search of MSDNC shows that they had no problem using the results from the Daily Kos polls, which have now been discredited.
    ——————————————————————-

    MSNBC – the place for propaganda, to include the NBC correspondent Chuck Todd — guilty of pushing propaganda.

    Too funny – MSNBC=Meltdown

  • me1ranger

    I agree..he had campaign rallies, they were just informal, the wine was screw top bottles and the malt liqour was warm. Whats’ wrong with that? None of these lib chatter-monkies are asking themselves why their voters elected this guy. Open primary? Don’t registered dems out number repubs in that state? I think he deserves a shot, this is a true rags(not rag-head) to riches story. Why can’t this man be allowed to live the American dream, you evil democrats?

  • me1ranger

    Good job TfT..Matthews last night reported that Reid had a sizable lead over the tea party candidate, and had that race about wrapped up. Reid..the chump who said the war was lost on the senate floor..

  • Liberty – Not Redistribution

    Rasmussen has Angle up by 11 over Reid.
    LVRJ has Angle up by 3.
    Daily Kos, come on who’s really thinks this is a real poll, has Reid up by 6.

  • MichelleF

    Well LNR, the libs hate Rasmussen also. EVEN though he uses likely voters and has proven to be the most reliable. I’m sure they will go the the DK poll, which is fine with me. Let them enjoy their delusions as long as possible.

  • MichelleF

    Matthews last night reported that Reid had a sizable lead over the tea party candidate, and had that race about wrapped up.

    ARE YOU SERIOUS! Well I’m sure Mediaite will do it’s job and fact check this and report the results. Right Frances? I mean you love to fact check every little thing out of Beck’s mouth.

  • The Real Royal King

    Michelle, let’s cut the cheap analysis. You know very well that the only reason Rasmussen is in the least accurate is because whilst cheerleading for Republicans consistently up until four (4) weeks prior to the election begins to mimic other polls as the election nears.

    And, LNR, you were preaching about counting our chickens before they hatched a couple of days ago, so what gives now. My own sense is that Reid may be polling slightly behind now. Angle must think so or she wouldn’t have hired Scott’s people to pull her into the respectable center. The fact is this woman has lots and lots of baggage from some shadowy and scary extreme rightist organizations, the news of which is very effectively being trickled out now. Given the working class and heavily Hispanic demographics of the large Nevada service industry, it seems more likely than not that Reid is going to pull it out. I don’t know that I take any particular pleasure in that, and I am certainly not going to help with contributions. I am decidedly not a fan of Reid. His ties to the right-of-center Clintonistas have long been a concern of mine. Still, it appears that the Republicans may really have shot themselves in the foot with Angle. The Chicken Lady had a far better shot.

  • The Real Royal King

    ARE YOU SERIOUS! Well I’m sure Mediaite will do it’s job and fact check this and report the results. Right Frances? I mean you love to fact check every little thing out of Beck’s mouth.

    Michelle: Is there some reason you roost here if it makes you so miserable? Do you just enjoy being miserable? If you’re going to spend every keyboard moment bleating, moaning and whining and the site and its contributors, do yourself and everyone else a favor and fly over to one of the extreme rightist blogs where you’ll be happier. I’m only saying this out of concern for you.

  • MichelleF

    King, you continue to say I’m miserable when I’m not. I find it highly entertaining to read what’s posted here. I do appreciate your concern though. It’s so thoughtful!

  • notsofast

    You know very well that the only reason Rasmussen is in the least accurate is because whilst cheerleading for Republicans consistently up until four (4) weeks prior to the election begins to mimic other polls as the election nears.”

    Try Gallup king.

    Obama Weekly Approval Average Dips to New Low of 46%
    Obama’s average has been in 46% to 50% range since mid-February
    by Frank Newport

    PRINCETON, NJ — At 46%, President Obama’s job approval average for the week ending May 30 is the lowest weekly average of his administration, one point below the previous low of 47% measured in April.

  • me1ranger

    Reid, center right?? King..do you sip Kool-Aide with your pinky up? And most of us on the right think Scotts’ polls favor the lib candidates..so maybe there’s some balance in them.

  • MichelleF

    Don’t bother notsofast. Allah himself could come down and say it and he still wouldn’t believe it. Let’s just let him be surprised on election night.

  • notsofast

    He comes across as a typical Democrat. KO showed him such respect. Clyburn? A racist. He can’t stand that another black person is running for office.

  • lanquihue

    Recently, an unknown rabble rouser with no experience was not only nominated by the dems, he was elected by a bunch of ignorant independents. Sounds like you dems have learned your lesson, maybe?

  • Liberty – Not Redistribution

    The Real Royal King,

    I simply reported what the actual polls say. I said nothing else. Additionally, earler in the week I told you and readysteady to watch what you say, then I quoted the polls which said Angle was up.

  • The Real Royal King

    me1ranger says:
    June 11, 2010 at 10:02 am

    Reid, center right??

    Go back and read the post. I never said that. I said Reid had ties to center right Clintonistas.

  • The Real Royal King

    MichelleF says:
    June 11, 2010 at 10:03 am

    Don’t bother notsofast. Allah himself could come down and say it and he still wouldn’t believe it. Let’s just let him be surprised on election night.

    Sorry, Michelle, I have always said the Democrats are going to lose seats on election night. The out of power party always gains off year. Frankly, there are a large number of Democrats I’d as soon see out of office. Reid in certainly one of them. Specter was one. I hate to blow your narrative when you’re so enjoying being miserable, but that’s just the way it is.

  • me1ranger

    “the out of party power party always gains off year” Oh yeah, King? What about 2002..memory lapse buddy?

  • TROLLING4LIBS

    Angle, Fiorina, Haley, Boozman, Whitman,Rubio, . . Chalk em’ up TRRK /Roxsteady and please change your spoiled diaper .. It fucking stinks dude !

  • The Real Royal King

    Won’t give you Angle or Fiorina. Probably Haley. South Carolina always votes for the adulterer creep. Boozman and Whitman? Don’t really care. Rubio? Don’t think so. Crist keeps the moderate Republicans (and there are some in Florida) and Rubio sinks under the weight of the extreme right.

    BTW: I object to your foul and filthy mouth. We have plenty of that around here already.

  • me1ranger

    What about 2002, King? I kept my language clean when I asked you..spin away.

  • TROLLING4LIBS

    BTW Mr. Bovine , ( TRRK , Robert Stephenson )my filthy mouth is a result of BULLSHIT you engage in on a daily basis , thus it will continue , Roberto.

  • MichelleF

    me1ranger says:
    June 11, 2010 at 11:45 am
    What about 2002, King? I kept my language clean when I asked you..spin away

    King’s like a toddler, selective hearing.

  • TROLLING4LIBS

    Also by ALL means PLEASE , PLEASE , keep believing in Dailykos diaries, HuffPuff, and Dobermann/ Maddcow talking points , TRRK , they will try to tear down repubs but will not prevail, go ahead and believe in them LOL, we’ll be laughing all the way to November !

  • writer

    King, you asked why Michelle doesn’t leave this site if she’s going to whine. You whine about ‘Amerika’ all the time and claim you’re always traveling to places morally superior to us, yet you don’t relocate. The other day you were praising Islam and whining about the Crusades your own religion had carried out, yet you’re free to convert and don’t. So I’ll ask you what you asked her. What gives? Why are you continuing to stay in situations that make you miserable? I’m only asking this out of concern for you.

  • TROLLING4LIBS

    Writer, King’s purpose is to bait posters . He is a complete and utter hoax . I truly believe he is in a complete delusional state of mind, and a pathological liar , and he has created a imaginary alter ego of a important traveling business man. I say that with all jokes aside.

  • Patrick Bateman

    roxsteady you can collect unemployment no matter how much money you are “sitting on” . You still get unemployment if you have money saved up

  • writer

    Watching Greene being interviewed was like watching Jim Fowler bring a parrot to the Tonight show. The parrot would occasionally look into the camera, but it had no idea what was going on.

  • Paula

    Oh HORRORS!!! A young man who is inarticulate and who — soooo stupidly — VOLUNTEERED to serve in his country’s armed forces actually DARES to challenge the cultural/political/media elite and run for the US SENATE! I mean, like an actual CITIZEN!!!??? This could be CATASTROPHIC!!! Actually allowing The Government to be run by REGULAR PEOPLE who aren’t RICH and who didn’t go to elite colleges????

    OMG! I think I’m going to throw up!

  • Paula

    Next thing you know, people like LUKE RUSSERT and AL GORE will have to like, write at crummy little small town newspapers or run for jobs like county clerk even BEFORE they get to step onto the national stage!!! I mean, after their PARENTS held big important jobs with connections and everything!!!

    This is just oh so TERRIFYING!!!

  • writer

    And people said Bush was inarticulate. This guy makes Bush look like Socrates.

  • Paula

    Frankly, I’d rather see MORE candidates like Alvin Greene in office; people who — far from the Washington elite — do most of the work, pay most of the taxes, and do virtually ALL of the fighting for this country.

    Oh, but wait, he wouln’t LOOK cool on TV, and that would be, like, a total freak. And, as I’ve said, he’s really not related to anyone who’s elite….

    No, this guy shouldn’t have a chance at public office….haven’t we in the Media Elite already decided that for everyone? (I mean, notwithstanding what those silly VOTERS did?)

  • writer

    He doesn’t have to look cool, but being able to speak would help. Zombies are more articulate.

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