A letter to Lawrence O'Donnell on the 4/25 Episode of MSNBC's The Last Word

[blackleatherbookshelf]

 

Dear Lawrence,

Greetings from Philadelphia. I'm a regular, near nightly viewer of the MSNBC line-up, and try to watch as dedicatedly as I can. Tonight, however, may be only the second time I've ever cringed at your show. The interview with Rev (?) Graham made me incredibly uncomfortable, and then the follow-up on Rush Limbaugh just made me wince....well, Limbaugh makes me wince on his own; perhaps this was a double barreled wince.

What made me squirm so hard is that I almost felt you were softballing Graham. The guy is just another typical white rich-kid coasting on his Daddy's reputation along with the inherited Billy G Billions, and you gave him open mike to proselytize endlessly. Did he really need to read the entire John 3:16 quote, plus? Frankly, WHY does it matter if President Obama is a Christian? Should it matter at all? Even more importantly, why would a President need the holy water dripped from the likes of Graham and his ilk for approval to govern?

 

Given that Graham seems to love using the racist euphemism that Obama has "the seed of Islam" inside him and is now riding on Donald Trump's wig-tail, why get him on camera at all? He brings nothing useful to the discussion other than more proof that evangelicals are crackpots, swindling people out of their cash by using fear of Hell as motivation.

 

Which leads me to part two: The Thrashing you gave Limbaugh. Yeah, I get it. Rush is a lyin' sack of bird vomit, puking up predigested swill for the baby flock to swallow. They may think it's nutritious and delicious, but they're still swallowing puke. Chairman of the Keeping America Stupid Foundation, that man. (And I can't get a broadcasting gig? Life is SO unfair sometimes.)

 

Meanwhile....bookend both segments and I was starting to feel like my Cable Box had magically switched channels from MSNBC to an episode of The 700 Club. I half expected your Rush segment to close with a request for viewers to open up their hearts, open up their wallets and call the 800 number on the screen. Operators will be standing by.

 

If I wanted almost a quarter hour of uninterrupted Christian Come-ons, I can call my Bible Thumping crazy Republican Step-mother. But as one of America's non-believers, I'd prefer my MSNBC to continue giving me useful information, news and relevant commentary. In fact, I am always proud that you, Rachel Maddow and Ed Schultz contribute thoughtful and factual reports on Gay Rights issues. Tonight, though, just made me wonder where the thoughtfulness went.

Respectfully,

Tim Brough

Comments

[maxauburn.livejournal.com]

Excellent e mail!

...

[dorisduke.livejournal.com]

Tim I do understand your revulsion but… Many who watch MSNBC only watch MSNBC and never get the view point that does not agree with their own, much like many FOX viewers. So I see this more of showing the enemy, as like you others will see how horrid these people actually are rather than just hearing others say it. I would prefer that more probing questions could be asked and perhaps at some point it will happen

Re: ...

[tbrough.livejournal.com]

An interesting point. I think I was more irritated that O'Donnell didn't offer any real counter to Graham, then went on a biblical based tirade on Limbaugh. Disproving Rush is like shooting fish in a barrel, where pushing back against Graham would - to me anyways - showed some spunk.

[broduke2000.livejournal.com]

And I can't get a broadcasting gig? Life is SO unfair sometimes.

The employ of anyone even "left of center" is becoming tough. PBS dogma now demands that anything controversial (let's say you're talking about gay marriage) be counterbalanced with someone from the other side (let's say Graham.)

Failure to do so means revocation of any PBS funds, so that just straightened out about 1,000 radio and TV stations across the country.

[daddycoug.livejournal.com]

Great letter, I totally agree with you. At least when Rachel has the right-wing nuts on, she tries to nail them down and doesn't lob softballs at them. But then I read dorisduke's comment and I see his point. I'll admit that I watch Fox "news" because I want to see what the other side is saying. That way I know what I'm up against. While I don't think most other people do that. I have to say that I think either way that it is a horrible thing to give these zealots ANY coverage! All they do is preach intolerance and hate. If people would just ignore them, they wouldn't have as much credence.

[ednixon.livejournal.com]

Amen, brother !

[putzmeisterbear.livejournal.com]

I had a brief moment of hope when O'Donnell asked Graham if he was willing to give up all his material posessions as Jesus says all his followers should. But that went no where.

The reply you won't get.............

[frick.livejournal.com]

Dear Tim: You are right, I was wrong. I promise to do better in the future.

Sincerely,

Lawrence O'Donnell