Keith Olbermann and Rush Limbaugh: 'I'm Still on the Air With a Higher Audience'
Rush Limbaugh appeared pleased to announce that Keith Olberman had been fired from his post at Current TV, a change in course after his own position had been threatened.
Olberman, a political commentator who mostly criticizes right-wing policy, was fired on Friday. Current TV founders Al Gore and trial lawyer Joel Hyatt later released a statement, describing the company's values and the reasons that Olberman was let go.
"We created Current to give voice to those Americans who refuse to rely on corporate-controlled media and are seeking an authentic progressive outlet. We are more committed to those goals today than ever before," the statement read.
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"Current was also founded on the values of respect, openness, collegiality, and loyalty to our viewers. Unfortunately these values are no longer reflected in our relationship with Keith Olberman and we have ended it."
On Monday during his show, Rush Limbaugh appeared to view Olberman's dismissal as a sort victory for the conservative right.
"The month of March in the United States opened with the left convinced that they were finally going to drive me off the air once and for all. By the end of the month I'm still on the air with a higher audience," Limbaugh began.
Limbaugh came under scrutiny after he referred to Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke as a slut, in response to her testifying in favor of birth control. A petition began later, demanding that Limbaugh be taken off the air; many advertisement companies also dropped the political commentator. However despite the recent backlash, Limbuagh didn't hesitate to criticize Olberman.
"If Olbermann were anything other than an insane lunatic leftist - which is a resume enhancement - he wouldn't get hired," Limbaugh remarked.
He also commented on the fact that Olberman would be getting replaced by Eliot Spitzer, the former New York governor who stepped down from his post after being linked to a prostitution ring.
"And, by the way, Eliot Spitzer, great defender of women's rights. Great, great defender of women's rights, 'Client No. 9,' Eliot Spitzer. Not exactly how they thought it was going to turn out," he remarked.
