What’s behind Olbermann’s new focus?
I’m fascinated that Keith Olbermann took the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to task as one of his “worst persons” last night for not responding to the several weather-related crises faced by reservations this year.
I regularly cover the committee for Indian Country Today, and it’s usually one of the most responsive bodies to Native American affairs in the federal government, so it will be interesting to see if its chairman, Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., will mention this issue in a hearing that’s scheduled later this week.
On a side note, you gotta wonder how Keith comes up with his “worst persons” list. Usually, Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh and Fox News are his obvious top contenders, but sometimes a shocker comes out of the blue like this one. I’ve observed in the past that these shockers sometimes involve scores he wants to settle. I wonder if the score in this case is squarely against Dorgan, who Olbermann and many Democrats are greatly peeved with for choosing to retire.
Not that Olbermann didn’t make his proclamation because it’s the right thing to do. I just haven’t seen him focus on Indian issues all that much in the past. So my curiosity is piqued. Now he needs to have a chat with his MSNBC colleague Chris Matthews.
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Good points. I don’t watch Olbermann regularly…but yeah, I was wondering where this came from.
I applaud him for bringing this issue to light. I wish more reporters “did the right thing”.
I love when Native issues get even an ounce of mainstream attention. But usually there’s not enough depth involved to help the average reader/viewer understand there’s a whole world of people, policy and culture that they probably have no idea about. When a popular guy like Keith steps into my world, it’s always at least a little bit of a shock.
In response to another comment. See in context »As you pointed out with your Matthews link, with the convoluted and distorted pictures such as Matthews displays when referencing Native Americans, I would argue it’s a much broader issue than just media. It’s the lack of Native education taught in the schools to the general public. We are scene as relics from the past rather than part of America today. How can this country truly care about a group of people it views as antique? The only reporters who set foot in Indian Country are those covering tragic events such as the shooting in Red Lake years ago. It’s been systematic apathy that has reign supreme in our government regarding Native issues as Keith pointed out. It’s apathy in Indian country with our tribal leaders and those reservations that are pocketing big bucks through family monopolized tribal councils. While throwing beans at reservations in poverty and calling those beans “Brotherhood”. Indeed it’s a shock Rob, for all of us who care about Native issues. But hopefully one day it will be a common topic we speak of in our schools, and in the media. Thanks, and sorry for this rant.
In response to another comment. See in context »Regards, Luis
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