Think of it as the largely unwatched liberal media member's "If you can't beat 'em, bash 'em" motif.
Despite how pathetic it is, it's certainly worked for Olbermann, whose incessant invective aimed at Bill O'Reilly -- interspersed, of course, between vitriolic rants against any politician with an "R" after his or her name, especially if it ends with "Bush" -- has nearly doubled the "Countdown" host's audience to almost a cool million.
Now, the man that used to be Olbermann's boss -- mired in his own viewership slump as he continually gets trounced in his time slot by "Hannity & Colmes" to the tune of four to one! -- has decided to adopt the former sportcaster's strategy as evidenced by the following partial transcript of Wednesday's "Verdict" (video available here):
DAN ABRAMS, HOST: It‘s time for tonight‘s Beat the Press.
First up: Thank goodness for the political experts on FOX News, they are so good at what they do, they just knew Barack Obama would have to respond to Reverend Jeremiah Wright‘s comments.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARA LIASSON, NPR: But last night, you know not to toot my own horn, but I said there‘s going to be pressure on him to push back and today he pushed back.
FRED BARNES, WEEKLY STANDARD: Not to toot my own horn, but I agreed with Mara last night, exclusively, that needed to push back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABRAMS: They‘re great. They really are. I said it, and all guests said it, just about every political and nonpolitical analyst said it. But when they get it right on FOX, it is cause for a celebration.
Wow, Dan! That was impressive. You mean Fox contributors, who are regular panel members on "Special Report," actually refer to what they said the day before?
Oh, the humanity.
Press members should never do that as they begin a lengthy discussion about the days events.
Heresy.
Next up on Abrams' hit list was Oliver North:
ABRAMS: We should have known that it wasn‘t going to be long before the folks in the FOX News bubble will take the Reverend Jeremiah Wright story and turn it into a national security story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What this man has become is a recruiting campaign for al Qaeda and all of the enemies of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABRAMS: Right, right.
Um, Dan? Would it hurt you to provide some context for your viewers, regardless of their miniscule number? After all, there was reason for Col. North to be displeased with the reverend. Or, didn't that matter to you?
Regardless, let's roll the tape from the beginning of this "H&C" segment, shall we:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WRIGHT: Our congregation stood in solidarity with the peasants in El Salvador and Nicaragua while our government, through Ollie North and the Iran-Contra scandal, was supporting Contras who were killing the peasants and the Miskito Indians in those two countries.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: All right. There he is, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, taking a shot at our own friend, Colonel Oliver North during yesterday's National Press Club address.
Here to respond is the author of a brand-new book -- by the way, this is -- and I've loved all your books -- I think one of the best. "American Heroes in the Fight against Radical Islam." The host of "War Stories" right here on the FOX News Channel, Colonel Oliver North.
Good to see you, my friend.
OLIVER NORTH, HOST, "WAR STORIES": It's great to be with you. It's wonderful. You and I are both attacked by Jeremiah Wright.
HANNITY: He attacked me in a eulogy at a funeral, for crying out loud.
NORTH: Listen, this guy has gone after everything that is good and decent in America. It's a privilege to include us.
And by the way, Colmes, he hasn't mentioned you yet.
COLMES: And you're very proud of yourself.
NORTH: You're known not only by your friends but by your enemies.
HANNITY: That's true.
NORTH: If this guy doesn't like me, good.
COLMES: You know what? I'm tired of the demonization of Wright. I'll get on that in just a moment.
HANNITY: I want you to respond to this here, because he's basically accusing you of murder and atrocities, and there's a serious side to this.
NORTH: And what this man has become is a recruiting campaign for al Qaeda and all of the enemies of America. This is -- this person, by virtue of his own ego, and I think that's what's really driving this...
Ah, context: something folks like Abrams, and the rest of the disgraces to journalism at MSNBC, proudly eschew.
And, they wonder why theirs is the least-watched cable news network.
