Fox News Exec. Says Olbermann 'Is Over the Line'

July 25th, 2006 11:32 AM

The founder of Fox News, Roger Ailes, says MSNBC host Keith Olbermann went too far when he did a Nazi salute while wearing a Bill O'Reilly mask.

Reports the Associated Press:

Fox News Channel chairman and CEO Roger Ailes responded to Keith Olbermann's latest critical volley against Bill O'Reilly on Monday, saying the MSNBC host's behavior "is over the line."

Ailes, appearing Monday at the summer meeting of the Television Critics Association, was referring to a weekend incident at the gathering in which Olbermann whipped out a mask of O'Reilly and gave a Nazi salute.

Ailes said Olbermann picks on Fox's O'Reilly to boost his ratings.

"Clearly he has no viewers except those he gets when he attacks Fox News," Ailes said.

Of Saturday's incident, Ailes said, "I really think that's over the line."

During his "Countdown" show on MSNBC, Olbermann regularly tweaks O'Reilly. Olbermann has named O'Reilly his "Worst Person in the World" at least 15 times. The nightly "award" is Olbermann's way of criticizing what he deems bad behavior.

O'Reilly has referred to Olbermann - although not by name - as a "notorious smear merchant" and pointed out the low ratings for "Countdown."