Olbermann on Dudley: "That's a rich former athlete explaining how he's going to keep everybody else poor."
Kari Chisholm
Here in Oregon, it's easy to think that what's happening in Oregon isn't connected to what's happening around the rest of the country.
But tonight, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann connected the dots between Republican candidates all across the country. From Senate candidates - like Joe Miller (AK), Linda McMahon (CT), John Raese (WV), Dino Rossi (WA) - to gubernatorial candidates - Bill Brady (IL), Tom Emmer (MN), and... Chris Dudley of Oregon.
In fact, Dudley comes in for the strongest opprobrium from Olbermann: "That's a rich former athlete explaining how he's going to keep everybody else poor."
Oh, and a bit of an aside: We're doing the happy dance here at BlueOregon -- as Olbermann cited Jesse Cornett's 9/21 column in his report.
Here's the video. Dudley appears at 2:45 (though you should watch the open, too.)
On the jump, the full transcript of the bit about Dudley...
Chris Dudley also has a problem with "waitresses." The Oregon gubernatorial candidate made headlines last month when he said that "it doesn't make sense that our waitresses are getting tips plus the highest minimum wage in the country."
How high is the Oregon minimum wage Dudley has a problem with? $8.50 an hour.
The website BlueOregon reporting this means an average salary of 35 to 50 thousand dollars, well below the 450,000 that is the minimum wage for Dudley's old job in the NBA.
Why haven't you heard about this from Republicans? Ask Dudley:
(Dudley, on tape): I'm not going to make a forefront campaign issue out of it, because it's something that I think is a hot button that people don't really understand. But at some point - I'm well aware of the issue.
That's a rich former athlete explaining how he's going to keep everybody else poor.
I couldn't say it better myself. Thanks, Keith!
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9:11 p.m.
Oct 4, '10
LoadedOrygon sent everything to Olbermann on Twitter. People power, my friends.
9:12 p.m.
Oct 4, '10
Full disclosure: My firm built John Kitzhaber's campaign website. I speak only for myself.
9:18 p.m.
Oct 4, '10
Kari... you should see how pumped the missus is for beating your "disclosure" comment ;o)
9:14 a.m.
Oct 5, '10
Now that I know where Olbermann stands, I feel so much better.
11:00 a.m.
Oct 5, '10
And I'm sure everyone here is quite concerned w/ your feelings.
12:31 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
Thanks, Joshua. I'm glad someone cares.
9:39 a.m.
Oct 5, '10
Nice Free Media on that one. They even ran the video under a Blue Oregon banner.
10:24 a.m.
Oct 5, '10
Dudley is in lock step with the national Radical Republican program, starting with: bankrupt government with tax cuts for the wealthy. Get rid of the minimum wage.
And I can only imagine when he seeks the support of the Lars Larsons of the world he also supports the agenda of -privatizing soc. sec. and Medicare. -privatizing Veterans Admin. -eliminating unemployment insurance. -eliminating the Dept. of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency.
A big huge target on the middle class.
11:09 a.m.
Oct 5, '10
Don't you get tired of repeating the intellectual dishonesty about "privatizing social security?"
I know you are just meaning to appeal to the Kool-Aid drinkers on here, but you might try using discourse instead of slogans and buzz-words.
11:25 a.m.
Oct 5, '10
Ken, apparently you haven't followed the statements of your newest crop of star candidates, like Joe Miller, Sharon Angle, Ken Buck, and Christine O'Donnell, as well as the proposal on the table by your financial person in the Congress, Jack Ryan. And locally Scott Bruun is on record as saying Bush's privatization scheme should have been passed. So the dishonesty is on your part.
12:40 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
So I guess your answer to my question is "no"?
3:24 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
So I guess you don't that Brunn actually has stated in the past he supports privatization of Social Security, like many of the GOP candidates in this cycle.
8:50 p.m.
Oct 6, '10
http://www.oregoncatalyst.com/index.php/archives/3524-Schrader-ad-falsely-attacks-Bruun-on-Social-Secuirity.html
11:29 a.m.
Oct 7, '10
Your posting a link to the right-wing blog Oregon Catalyst does nothing to change the fact that Bruun is on record as having pushed the to privatize Social Security. In The Oregonian he said the following about Social Security "We can address this problem by growing the economy and by slowly converting contributions into private investments, which will earn a much higher rate of return."
More recently he pushed the exact same concept that Bush's privatization plan was, which crashed and burned in 2006.
While we are at it, and for the record, do YOU support elimination and/or privatization of Social Security?
11:59 a.m.
Oct 11, '10
(crickets)
10:31 a.m.
Oct 5, '10
I'd like to see more messaging to this effect:
Both parties can create jobs, but only Democrats create the family-friendly jobs we all need to thrive.
Republicans treat workers as a burden. They focus on lowering wages and taking away benefits. Republicans create sh$%^y jobs, and they actually like it that way.
But Democrats, especially those who support union rights, treat workers as people. Democrats create good jobs by boosting wages and job security, and preventing exploitation.
Candidates from both parties can create jobs. The real difference we need to talk about is the quality of the jobs they create.
12:36 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
Jennifer,
Can you cite specifics?
10:45 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
Dudley wants to lower the minimum wage. That's pretty specific.
And he's hardly alone.
Seriously, Jason, it's clear you didn't even bother to watch the Countdown segment at the top of this. It's full of specifics.
Republicans basically want to compete with the third-world by becoming third world. Democrats want Americans to compete for the high-value-added professions that justify higher salaries. But that takes education and superior research universities, which Republicans either hate (ala teabaggers), or pretend that they want, but don't actually want to pay for.
11:16 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
I have years and years of specifics to discuss with people who are genuinely interested in creating solutions. But I don't waste my time with people who are just being provocative.
8:57 a.m.
Oct 6, '10
Dudley wanted to address the 30+% unemployment rate of Oregon youth with a training wage. This proposal was blown out of the water, despite the fact that no specifics were ever presented, by the BO crew.
How do you propose getting our youth work experience and job skills.
11:24 a.m.
Oct 6, '10
Michael Pingree, we have high schools, community colleges and four-year universities that, if a student applies him or herself, teach job skills.
And we've not had to have a "training wage", in the past, in order for younger people to gain work experience. The younger people just go out and interview and get hired on, just like anyone else.
11:29 a.m.
Oct 6, '10
"Youth unemployment across the world has climbed to a new high and is likely to climb further this year, a United Nations agency said Thursday, while warning of a “lost generation” as more young people give up the search for work."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/12/business/global/12youth.html
Just curious, how is that disenfranchised youth supposed to come up with the money for a community college let alone a 4 yr college?
2:00 p.m.
Oct 6, '10
Well, we could make college free - as was done in the 60s and 70s in California. That support made the Bay Area into "Silicon Valley", and returned trillions more dollars into the economy than it cost.
But if you want up-front payment, we could always raise taxes on multimillionaires to pay for it. They're doing just fine in this recession. The top 1% had their incomes go up 8% last year, while everyone else's dropped dramatically.
Just a thought.
9:09 a.m.
Oct 7, '10
I agree that the cost of a public college education is getting out of hand. I would love to see what it would cost to provide free 2 yr community college educations to all Oregon hs grads.
As far as raising taxes on the rich, I am very intrigued by what WA is voting on for an income tax. I wish there had be some discussion of it on Chuck's post: http://www.blueoregon.com/2010/10/washington-initiative-1098-hits-bulls-eye/
4:32 a.m.
Oct 9, '10
wasn't that one of dudleys education ides?
9:57 p.m.
Oct 6, '10
You have years of specifics that show Republicans create lousy jobs, and Democrats create good ones? And, Republicans like it that way? Please share away.
3:44 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
You must be a gay, hippie, vegan stoner who lives off a trust fund and hates America.
So, what do you think of generalizations now?
9:55 p.m.
Oct 6, '10
If that were actually true, it might be a good message. However it is nonsense.
10:36 a.m.
Oct 5, '10
Now that you have Olbermann all you need is Hannity and you can have commentary from opposing idiots.
10:58 a.m.
Oct 5, '10
Calling Olbermann an idiot sort of makes you look like an idiot. Comparing Hannity to Olbermann/FOX to MSNBC is simply a false equivalency. Intelligent passionate news is NOT racist/christian/corporatist/right-wing propaganda.
11:05 a.m.
Oct 5, '10
How true about the labels. I usually leave name calling to the left. They are much better at it. As you prove in your post.
But you are aware that Olbermann is a commentator, not a journalist, right? He opines, just like Hannity. Plus about one-sixth the number of people watch Olbermann as Hannity.
The only difference in the scope is which team he bats for, and therefore by which standard you will judge him by.
12:12 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
Preceded by:
Who said irony was dead?
12:39 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
Touched a nerve did I? Do you consider Olbermann to be a serious journalist?
Did I impugn one of your heroes?
And you completely ignored the subsequent statement about legitimate liberal commentators that I respect for being intellectually honest.
Swimming in Da Nile again are we?
I do so enjoy someone who parses out a phrase to set it out of context and then judge the author.
1:29 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
Agreed on Rachel. She always struggles for objective facts relevant to the argument and when she makes mistakes, she corrects them and apologizes on air. She regularly hosts serious right wingers, treats them fairly, and they come back. You may often disagree with her emphasis on the importance of a given story, ( a flaw she shares with virtually every commentator left or right), and you may disagree with her analysis, but you;ll rarely disagree with the actual facts put forward.
Stephanopopoplis, on the other hand has bought into the fiction of "balance", rather than objectivity, and hence ain't worth watching IMO.
3:25 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
No. Just chuckling at the hypocrisy.
10:47 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
Seriously, Mitch. Calling Republicans hypocrites is like calling water wet.
8:37 p.m.
Oct 6, '10
Oh please Steven ... are you able to say anything that isn't BS? Wow!
Yup you are right those republicans are all hypocrites not the lefties ha ha ha lol you have insights and are able to see things no one else can. Good job
11:55 a.m.
Oct 5, '10
Yes Joshua, we know that you are an ideologue.
12:29 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
They're called principles Michael, look it up.
By the way, after you look it up, let me know if you have any, and please provide a few examples...because from your commentary, it's hard to tell what you actually believe in.
3:14 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
"that through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can pursue our individual dreams but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams as well." -- Barack Obama
3:49 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
Kinda vague...
12:45 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
I really think you need to lay off the mean-spirited and insidious remarks about Christians - which you seem to do often. Your characterization are not only rife with hate, but complete ignorance in intolerance.
3:47 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
Actually, I'm quite familiar w/ America's most popular superstition, i.e., Christianity. Funny you mention ignorance...study just came out showing that atheists/agnostics know more about religion than the religious, which would make sense that the more you know about it the more likely you would be to reject it. Subscribing to absurd notions about the nature of reality just isn't a very good idea in my "book." I will continue to communicate it loudly and clearly whether you like it or not. Many Christians in this country, particularly the FOX News brand are well deserving of criticism. Not every idea is deserving of tolerance Jason, particularly those which are unsupported and a threat to civilization.
3:50 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
One more thing buddy...insults and namecalling have a very important place in our plutocracy.
8:45 p.m.
Oct 6, '10
Only forpeople who don't have anything of substance to say and don't have the breeding to know any better.
11:35 a.m.
Oct 7, '10
"...don't have the breeding to know any better."
Spoken like a true cliched blue-blood wannabe.
1:21 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
Have to agree. Olbermann is nothing like Hannity. He's a lot more like BillO, the guy he modeled himself after and loves to hate. The sneering certainty and insults are a pretty good match.
8:12 p.m.
Oct 6, '10
You have got to be kidding me? The only people Olberman has the stones to go into a rant about are the ones who aren't there...the man is the biggest nancy boy in broadcast journalism...(and thats insulting journalism) <Love him or hate him O'Reilly will go 1 on 1 with anyone and he prefers to do it face to face. He calls out anyone he knows is lying to him (and us) ..like Bawney Fwank (a classic moment) Can anyone tell me how many conservatives olberman had on his show in the last 2 years? (Rhetorical question warning) that's right ZERO! Ann Coulter has more balls than Keith (and she sells better too) The guy is junk ...any man who is snipes at people and says outlandish lies about people who aren't there to call him on it is a coward and a no talent ..can't think on his feet ...loser
11:34 a.m.
Oct 7, '10
If he is so lousy, and nobody watches him, then why are you so enraged by him?
I also find it amusing that fright-wingers such as yourself have to project some unmanly aspect onto those they dislike. Most well-adjusted people don't do that. Odd.
4:37 a.m.
Oct 9, '10
I just call em like I see them. Fair and balanced
11:57 a.m.
Oct 11, '10
You mean just like Fox News, the propaganda arm of the GOP?
8:34 p.m.
Oct 6, '10
its a false equivalency because Hannity has ratings and his show gets watched ...a luxury Olberman isn't blessed with to the same degree. I mean come on Joshua this is the guy who spent all of those years bragging about his "ivy league' degree and come to find out it was only "ivy lite"... his ivy was all in the ground and he was digging it and breeding it at the ag school the show where he tried to pass off his diploma on the air lol ha ha ha ...what a tool!
11:37 a.m.
Oct 7, '10
If Olbermann's ratings suck so much, then why are you in such a tizzy about him?
You seem awfully obsessed with the man.
4:34 a.m.
Oct 9, '10
Obsessed with Olberman? Hardly the man isn't even good entertainment let alone a quotable news source
11:56 a.m.
Oct 11, '10
Me thinks you protest too much. It's ok that you have an obsession with Olberman.
11:00 a.m.
Oct 5, '10
It is a dubious honor getting a shout out from the likes of Olbermann; all the pomposity and bombast of Limbaugh, with less intelligence and charm.
As a political analyst, Olbermann is a mediocre sports commentator.
Now if a liberal of actual substance, like Stephanopoulis or Maddow says something, then you've made it.
11:45 a.m.
Oct 5, '10
As opposed to simply evaluating the truth of the story independently? The bottom line is Dudley's opposition to the minimum wage is part and parcel of a nationwide attack on the working class by GOP candidates. There's a REASON the party apparatus picked this particular empty suit.
12:49 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
The party apparatus? So every registered Republican who voted in the primary is the "party apparatus"?
So why did the "party apparatus" pick Kitzhaber over Bradbury? Bradbury has carried the water for the Democrats for years. I would argue that most of the success the Dem's have had in Oregon over this past decade was due to Bradbury's skillful re-drawing of legislative districts, especially in the Portland suburbs. Plus, unlike Kitzhaber, Bradbury is a helluva nice guy; someone actually pleasant to spend time with.
And, yes, I have spent enough time with both to know.
1:57 p.m.
Oct 6, '10
No, the party apparatus is the RGA and the ORGOP, who propped him up with money and attention, over the "good soldier" Allen Alley. Virtually Dudley's entire client base is essentially part of the party apparatus.
And yes, the Democratic party apparatus pushed Kitz over Bradbury, despite my preferences.
11:48 a.m.
Oct 5, '10
Kari, you forgot to mention that Olbermann called me out as well.
6:51 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
Do you have an anecdote to share regarding this media honor, John?
8:41 p.m.
Oct 6, '10
Thank God no one heard it, are you going to have to wear a bag over your head for a while now?
Just kidding John,. seriously getting mentioned on national TV is a big deal no matter what and especially if its not anything bad nice job!
12:41 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
I agree with Michael. I could care less what any of the talking heads say...be it Olbermann or Hannity; Maddow or Limbaugh. None of them are there to engage in honest debate, and all of them spew the typical right and left rhetoric.
2:31 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
I wanted to comment on this yesterday when it went up, apropos of my enthusiasm, so imagine me being the first commenter: Yee-haw, we rock!
(Worth waiting for, wasn't it?) Quick, Kari, how do we monetize it?
3:27 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
Talk to Shawn Parker first. ;)
3:08 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
Well, congrats to BO and Jesse (though not named) for the national media plug.
I've done dozens of national TV interviews with every news network. It's a little surreal to be seen and heard by tens of millions of viewers.
So next up is getting Jesse into studio at Fisher Pathways so he can replace Rachel Maddow in the split screen, which would be a vast improvement.
4:50 p.m.
Oct 5, '10
Well, while you are all going on about the effects of the Dud being called out on Olbermann, I'm here to report that if it hadn't been for a certain Washington County Democrat who was at work that day and cleverly took the video at a company meeting, none of this would have happened. Although I bet the Dud's true colors would have come out soon enough.
8:53 a.m.
Oct 6, '10
Did that person who recorded it get punched in the face?
9:11 p.m.
Oct 7, '10
Hey Michael,
I gotta' ask. Do you have an opinion on how long the training period should be for a minimum wage job and how much less the "training" wage should be?