Keith Olbermann Attacks Bristol Palin for Something Announced 18 Months Ago

November 30th, 2010 10:32 AM

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann showed viewers just how on top of things he is Monday attacking Bristol Palin for something that was announced more than a year and a half ago.

During his newly renovated "Worst Person in the World" segment, the "Countdown" host gave Palin top honors for being The Candie's Foundation's abstinence spokesperson (video follows with transcript and commentary):

KEITH OLBERMANN, HOST: But our winner, Bristol Palin. She has done a public service announcement with this The Situation guy from TV's "Jersey Shore." It's about abstinence and safe sex. Sadly, it is not a spoof done by "The Onion."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE SORRENTINO, "JERSEY SHORE": B-Palin, are you seriously -- you're not going to hook up like before you're married, for real?

BRISTOL PALIN, DAUGHTER OF SARAH PALIN: For real.

SORRENTINO: For real for real?

PALIN: For real for real for real?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OLBERMANN: She's the Candie's spokesperson for abstinence? She and her son? Because it's got to work this time? This is like saying George Bush kept us safe, except for that 9/11 thing which doesn't count. Bristol Palin, abstinence role model, this time, today's Worst Person in the World.

One problem: as Mediaite noted Monday evening, The Candie's Foundation announced this May 5 2009. It was covered by the Associated Press, the Chicago Tribune, New York's Daily News, the New York Post, the New York Times, and New York's Newsday to name a few.

As for television, Bristol appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" the following day to discuss it. She and her father Todd were also on NBC's "Today" show that same morning. CNN in the ensuing days covered it nine times.

The folks at MSNBC were a bit late to this story, at least when it comes to their transcribed prime time lineup. Ed Schultz reported the news on May 7.

It appears the first time the self-proclaimed genius Olbermann found out about this was on May 26 of this year when David Weigel mentioned it on "Countdown."

Despite all this coverage for over eighteen months, Olbermann and his cracker jack staff thought it was finally newsworthy on Monday.

As for this public service announcement with The Situation, it was released two weeks ago.

Keith Olbermann: today's Most Clueless Person in the World.