Olbermann bestowed “Worst Person in the World” bronze on O'Reilly for his Stalin remarks

MSNBC Countdown host Keith Olbermann gave Bill O'Reilly a bronze during the show's “Worst Person in the World” segment because of O'Reilly's remark that “if Joseph Stalin was still alive today, he'd be the UNICEF spokesperson.”


On the January 11 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann, host Keith Olbermann awarded Fox News host Bill O'Reilly bronze honors during the show's “Worst Person in the World” segment for O'Reilly's comments -- made on the January 9 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show -- that “if Joseph Stalin was still alive today, he'd be the UNICEF spokesperson.” Media Matters for America documented O'Reilly's remarks earlier on January 11.

In presenting O'Reilly with the “Worst Person in the World” bronze, Olbermann stated: “As part of his latest debate with reality, the big giant head has gone on his radio program to protest UNICEF spokesman Harry Belafonte, and he has done so by saying, quote, ”If Joseph Stalin was still alive, he'd be the UNICEF spokesman [sic]." Continuing, Olbermann asked, “Bill, are you remembering to wear that helmet when you go outside so that, when you finally fall over, you don't break anything? I'm concerned, Bill.”

O'Reilly made his comment during a discussion with co-host E.D. Hill of remarks by singer and UNICEF goodwill ambassador Harry Belafonte -- reportedly made on the January 8 broadcast of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's weekly television and radio show -- that President Bush was “the greatest tyrant in the world, the greatest terrorist in the world.” Belafonte met with Chavez in Venezuela as part of a delegation of Americans that included actor and activist Danny Glover and Princeton University professor Cornel West. On January 9, UNICEF issued an official statement denouncing Belafonte's remarks, saying that the comments represented Belafonte's own views “as a private citizen” and not as a member of the organization.

From the January 11 broadcast of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann:

OLBERMANN: First, time for Countdown's list of today's three nominees for “Worst Person in the World.” The bronze -- come on, Bill, you can do better than bronze. As part of his latest debate with reality, the big giant head has gone on his radio program to protest UNICEF spokesman Harry Belafonte, and he has done so by saying, quote, “If Joseph Stalin was still alive, he'd be the UNICEF spokesman [sic].” Bill, are you remembering to wear that helmet when you go outside so that, when you finally fall over, you don't break anything? I'm concerned, Bill.