MSNBC "Oh God!" Gaffe and Liberal Bias in the Media

One of the more interesting scandals surrounding Bobby Jindal's response to Barack Obama's speech before Congress was an incident that happened on MSNBC. An on air personality is heard muttering, "Oh God!" as Jindal came into camera view.

The voice was so soft that it was not immediately recognizable. A source within MSNBC suggested that it was commentator Chris Matthews, though it could also have been another commentator, Keith Olbermann, or even a producer or cameraman.

Both Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann are well known for their on air antics, especially when it comes to expressing disdain for conservatives and conservative ideas. At one point, during the campaign, both Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann were removed by MSNBC as on air anchors for political events, their antics and on air bickering had gotten so bad.

Matthews and Olbermann are now apparently back and one of them has not learned his lesson. During President George W. Bush's farewell speech, both took the opportunity to take shots at the departing President.

"Am I wrong that the only thing missing tonight was another 'Mission Accomplished' banner?" opined Olbermann.

Chris Matthews, rather nastily, added, "He [Bush] got to be president because of his father. The same way he got into school and everything else.... the same way he got his car, probably."

"Oh God!" indeed.

Liberal media bias has been a problem for decades. Usually, though, liberal media bias is expressed in more subtle ways, in selection of stories, in tone of voice, and the selection of panels of commentators that have a three to one ratio of liberal to conservative. But MSNBC seems to have especially thrown off all subtlety in expressing liberal bias.

Not coincidentally MSNBC regularly places dead last in the TV ratings for cable news networks. Fox News, which has a more fair and balanced approach, beats both MSNBC and CNN consistently.

Why the growing on air nastiness? Possibly it stems from the personalities of on air personalities such as Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann. But behind that it may be caused by the loss of media monopoly by the Left. Not only Fox News, but talk radio, and the Internet provides alternatives to the standard, liberal news that has dominated the air waves and the printed media for decades.

Forty years ago, the news was delivered by three northeastern, liberal, white males on three different networks for a half hour every week night, plus special events coverage. Technology and demands of the market have broadened the choices.

The old media guard, as represented by Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann, are clearly resentful and occasionally allow it to show. Hence, the "Oh God!" gaffe.

Sources: MSNBC Introduction for Gov. Jindal: 'Oh God', Jonathan Passantino, Fox News, February 25th, 2009

MSNBC: Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews Out as Political Anchors, Mark R. Whittington, Associated Content, September 8th, 2008