Olbermann: Palin is not smarter then a third grader

// added October 22, 2008 // 65 comments //
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27310526/

Veteran MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann unveiled a new segment to his program called Campaign Comment. The Campaign Comment is an off shoot of his special comment, however since he has employed them so frequently during the past few weeks he felt a change was necessary in the terminology.

Olbermann gave some great zingers about Gov. Sarah Palin and the Vice Presidency, including

"So, the Vice President is not in charge of Jack, Governor, let alone in charge of the Senate. And you are not smarter than a third-grader."

A full excerpt is available at MSNBC.

SPECIAL COMMENT
By Keith Olbermann
Anchor, 'Countdown'

I suggested last night that until the election, we could very easily wind up doing a Special Comment here every show.

It was in turn suggested to me that while events may warrant them, this would certainly render that word "Special" for two weeks anyway inoperative.

Good point. So tonight, as promised, a Campaign Comment on the continuing adventures of Governor Sarah Palin in the big leagues or "Are You Smarter Than A Third Grader."

Q: Finally governor we've been trying to engage some local grade schoolers for the last few elections. We do a feature called ‘questions from the third grade.' Brandon Garcia wants to know, "What does the Vice President do?"

PALIN: Aw, that's something that Piper would ask me, as a second grader, also. That's a great question, Brandon, and a Vice President has a really great job, because not only are they there to support the President agenda, they're like a team member, the teammate to that President. But also, they're in charge of the United States Senate, so if they want to they can really get in there with the Senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom. And it's a great job and I look forward to having that job.

Oh! I'm so sorry, Governor! The correct answer can be found in the Constitution of the United States.

Article One, Section Three— "The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided." So, the Vice President is not in charge of Jack, Governor, let alone in charge of the Senate. And you are not smarter than a third-grader.

On the one level it is hilarious and entertaining that the Republican nominee cannot correctly answer the question "What Does The Vice President Do?" I mean, that first reference to the Vice President comes not 600 words into the Constitution. And the other meaty references are pretty simple:

Article Two, Section One —"In case of the removal of the President from Office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President."

There's the 20th Amendment— you're done on January 20th and the 25th Amendment —if the President's incapacitated, you're the acting Pres. It's so simple, really, one could memorize those four points pretty easily wouldn't take long.


Special Thanks to: Keith Olbermann
Source: MSNBC
  1. groups:
    News and Politics,   Politics,   TV and Film
  2. tags:
    News and Politics,  Politics,  TV and Film,  John McCain,  1 more

65 comments // Olbermann: Palin is not smarter then a third grader

  • breathexelectric
    • 0
      breathexelectric  

    • i love all the bickering goin on in the responses for this. very entertaining, people!

      keith olbermann is a funny man, it's his job to make light of political blunders, much like jon stewart & stephen colbert. just because he's on MSNBC doesn't mean he can't have a sense of humor.

    • 1 year ago
  • powerhungry
  • BettyC
    • 0
      BettyC  

    • Apparently, the author of this article is not smarter "then" third grader either. The correct grammar is THAN people!

      If you are going to diss somebody, PLEASE at least check the spelling/grammar first!

    • 1 year ago
  • current89
  • BettyC
    • 0
      BettyC  
    • BettyC:

      Ok... I understand where you're coming from. However, in that 1 sentence response you put that I read, at first glance I found TWO, count them, TWO mistakes that you made yourself! You meant to say "weak" response... and then later it's supposed to be the contraction "you're" instead of the possesive form "your" that you put.

      I take it you are a voting democrat? Your intelligence that I gathered from 1 sentence led me to that conclusion.

      Thanks for proving my point!

    • 1 year ago
  • current89
  • am40924
    • 0
      am40924  

    • How would Olbermann explain it to a 3rd grader??
      You would probably give a lot of bull to where the student would not understand. She was not incorrect, just from your point of view.....
      From Wikipedia,Duties of VP of USA
      Formal powers +role of the VP are limited by the Constitution to becoming President should the President become unable to serve + acting as the presiding officer of the U.S. Senate. As President of the Senate, the Vice President has two primary duties: to cast a vote in the event of a Senate deadlock and to preside over and certify the official vote count of the U.S. Electoral College.

    • 1 year ago
  • petarro
  • petarro
    • 0
      petarro  

    • Keith is kind of going too far. Yet, I agree with him and he is saying what people would not dare to say, yet we all know it and have it in the tip of our tongues.

    • 1 year ago
  • krenee
    • 0
      krenee  

    • This is laughable because the headline states "then" when it should be "than"! Obviously, the writers supporting this ridiculous "newscaster" (nothing objective about him) are not even as smart as third graders, at least not mine!

    • 1 year ago
  • powerhungry
    • 0
      powerhungry  

    • This guys is nothing more than a Liberal Rush Limbaugh. Pure entertainment for the left. Has NOTHING to contribute to the real news or life.
      Voted down!

    • 1 year ago
  • grease_weasel
  • powerhungry
  • grease_weasel
  • powerhungry
  • grease_weasel
  • Bodhitree
  • dabne
    • 0
      dabne  

    • I wish Olbermann would spend a night talking about the real crisis in America. "How Obama is peddling socialism under the cover of "change."

      We've slowly been slipping towards socialism for decades and Obama is driving the final nail into capitalism.

      Spread the wealth? Are you kidding me? Where did that wealth come from? Hard working Americans who took risks and had ingenuity. Yeah let's penalize them.

      Tax those who are willing to take risks, take out loans, build companies, and create jobs. Give their money to those who don't take those risks.

      It destroys the American Dream. Why reach for the stars when the Government plans to take the stars from you anyway and spread them amongst those who weren't willing to reach for them in the first place.

      The Soviets proved that this doctrine is morally corrupt and destroys countries.

      Olbermann is a socialist moron.

    • 1 year ago
  • grease_weasel
    • 0
      grease_weasel  
    • dabne:

      I guess you have already forgot Bush was the one who asked us to socialize the banking system, and was the major instigator in destroying the capitalist system by putting the county in such extreme debt.

    • 1 year ago
  • Vierotchka
  • Gtarfr3ak
    • 0
      Gtarfr3ak  

    • It's no secret that Olbermann is liberal but that doesn't make his point any less valid. Sarah Palin has shown time and time again that she is a risky choice in this election and her disregard for the constitutional definition of the role of the vice president is frightening, especially coming from someone under investigation for abuse of power.

    • 1 year ago
  • rainbowryan420
  • cybexg
    • 0
      cybexg  

    • That old guy??? You can't mean Lou Dobbs...He's clearly a pseudo conservative ever more closely following in the footsteps of Rush.

    • 1 year ago
  • rainbowryan420
  • cybexg
    • 0
      cybexg  

    • Wait, so the way of America is to have secret wars (previous Republican administrations), violate (rape) the constitution, spy on Americans on American soil, label those who object as traitors, use fear mongering to control the population, and use race as an issue in a presidential campaign.

      Wow…here I was under the impression that America was the home of the brave and free, those who create opportunity and above all else allowed everyone the right to their own view under the guise of equality.

      Could someone please tell me what county I was thinking of where all men are created equal, not just those who are of the Republican way?

    • 1 year ago
  • nobamagirl
    • 0
      nobamagirl  

    • Because the Republican way is the way of America. And Barrack will lose in a landslide. BUSH was down 7 points on election day last election.DO THE MATH. It's over for you guys. Barring sudden death on Mccains part. A multitude of Democratic voters will change their mind at the last moment anyway, it all ways happens couple that with virtually no lead on BHO part. Barrack loses by 8 points. FINETO!! But blab all you want it is a free country.

    • 1 year ago
  • Vierotchka
  • grease_weasel
  • oblivious
  • grease_weasel
  • nobamagirl
    • 0
      nobamagirl  

    • Wonder if any of you EDUCATED Liberals could Run the biggest state in America? Be the YOUNGEST, and the first Female Governor of that State? Ones TV persona is really all you care about? She has a RECORD, like MCCAIN, and BIDEN, but alas Barrack looks good on TV, lets make him President of the Worlds most powerful nation. Because image is everything." YOU ALL ARE SO SHALLOW". You probably couldn't supervise the crosswalks at a Grammar School, much less run two businesses and a STATE. And why are you preoccupied with the VP anyway,kinda like Joe the Plumber. You try and neutralize all threats you just aren't any good at it. LOL

    • 1 year ago
  • cybexg
  • benjamingon
    • 0
      benjamingon  
    • nobamagirl:

      i like your persistence, i really think u need to really think about what you stand for, lets just compare both sides ........ there is no reason why someone like yourself can admit that republican right wing politics dont work! most of these r.r.w. are so closed off to anything new , it makes me think if we can really move forward, to compare knowledge and theatrics is government is crazy palin isnt running anything alone without her buddy mccain, move to alaska ,she seems to want to secede,(real american) maybe jesus can be your national flag

    • 1 year ago
  • nobamagirl
  • cybexg
    • 0
      cybexg  
    • nobamagirl:

      So if Palin was the topic, wouldn’t bringing up Barrack’s TV image be off topic. Or, how about bringing up the character depth of the participants here – that seems off topic. Similarly, bringing up the prospect of supervising crosswalks seems off topic. And I’m very sure that Joe the Plumber isn’t on topic.

      Just a hint, stay on topic next time nobamagirl

    • 1 year ago
  • grease_weasel
  • Vierotchka
  • karrer
    • 0
      karrer  
    • nobamagirl:

      Is anyone else baffled by claims about Palin's impeccable record and executive experience?

      She was the mayor of a town in Alaska that's home to fewer people than my apartment building. Is my facilities manager qualified to be president? He's been on the job for 17 years.

      Then she became the governor of Alaska, which basically means she worked for Exxon for a couple years during which time she had a kid and is documented to have abused her power trying to settle a personal score.

      I just can't fathom where these people are coming from. Even blinding racism couldn't propel me so far beyond the bounds of reason.

    • 1 year ago
  • benjamingon
  • sati
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  

    • He's so childish.

      Not one single comment about Biden's smart words that were revealed this past weekend?

      Tisk, tisk fox news...
      ooh wait this is MSNBC...couldn't tell the difference there fore a moment.

    • 1 year ago
  • nobamagirl
  • grease_weasel
  • sati
    • 0
      sati  
    • nobamagirl:

      yeah i don't hate her i think thats pretty strong it's an election not a war we are all americans... but any ways she really is not qualified, she can't answer questions, can't explain her plans she just bashes Obama. She is fueling ignorance, thats why her followers are yelling "kill em" and "he's a terrorist," at her speeches.

    • 1 year ago
  • benjamingon
    • 0
      benjamingon  
    • nobamagirl:

      educated people can find the facts and make there decisions on the facts and sorry she cant do the job. just because we educated people dont like her dosent make her a good candidate .......... i really want to know where your reading your facts and about your business how much are you making yearly ? nobamagirl

    • 1 year ago
  • J_Jammer
  • Gtarfr3ak
  • Vierotchka
  • benjamingon
    • 0
      benjamingon  

    • no way is a small town girl going to run this, shes old school like mc cain 50's style politics arent going to make it, its 2008 ....... she is not a good candidate....... just read , find the facts and dont let the media tell you what to think, but olbermann is right and she cant even tell us what her responsibilities are why is she running ......

    • 1 year ago
  • nobamagirl
    • 0
      nobamagirl  

    • Kieth UBBERMAN masturbates by looking at himself in the bathroom mirror. He makes me sick. What part of "she is going to be a hands on VP" didn't he understand. People like him are going to make John Mccaim the 44th President of the United States of America. Thanks Kieth. And no you can't use my bathroom.

    • 1 year ago
  • grease_weasel
  • donkeyfly69
  • cybexg
    • 0
      cybexg  
    • nobamagirl:

      Nobamagirl, I hope you are aware of the very real constitutional question of the legitimate ability of the VP to be “hands on.” Or, is this just something you have chosen to gloss over?

    • 1 year ago
  • krenee
  • outtheinside
    • 0
      outtheinside  

    • anything to make a point to the Repubs that no matter how much they like her as a woman, hunter, and mom - she is in no way intellectually able to be the V.P. - is good for me. two thumbs up.

    • 1 year ago
  • Johnny_Danger
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • FYI: It's 'not smarter THAN a third grader.' ;-). And as much as I am not a supporter of Palin, do you think Olberman for once could find an IMPORTANT ISSUE to comment on instead of being the pawn for MSNBC that feeds the Democrats red meat to get ratings? You know, famine, genocide, climate change, food crisis, water crisis, poverty...?

    • 1 year ago
  • fauxsherrrr
  • J_Jammer
  • redvelvet1278
  • darkhorsejim
  • sati
  • krenee
    • 0
      krenee  
    • darkhorsejim:

      fyi, supposedly, at her acceptance speech, the teleprompter went dead. Actually, she did quite well through the second half. Have you seen Barack Hussein without a teleprompter? Ah, Um, Ah, Um

    • 1 year ago
  • Vierotchka
  • JohnA

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