Keith Olbermann Takes up Sean Hannity’s Waterboarding Challenge

On MSNBC’s Countdown last night, host Keith Olbermann took up Fox News personality Sean Hannity’s waterboard charity challenge. Olbermann offered to give $1,000 to charity for every second Hannity lasted while being waterboarded. Needless to say, Hannity has not responded.

Here is the video:

As I wrote yesterday, Sean Hannity in the midst of an argument with Charles Grodin, agreed to waterboarded for charity. Olbermann said, “For every second you last, $1,000,” said Olbermann. “Live or on tape, provided other networks’ cameras are there, $1,000 a second, Sean, because this is no game. This is serious stuff. Put your money where your mouth is, and your nose. Oh, and I’ll double it, when you admit you feared for your life.”

Of course, Hannity doesn’t have the guts to do be waterboarded, and Fox News would never allow a third party to film the waterboarding. Olbermann should have added an additional stipulation stating that the waterboarding must be carried out by an independent third party. I would be stunned if Hannity lasted 15 seconds while being tortured. It is all pointless anyone because Olbermann’s is the name that dare not be spoken at Fox News. His on air mentioning of Hannity’s tough talk all but makes it a certainty that Hannity will never utter another on air word about it again.

Conservatives love to talk tough because they are afraid of everything. They are afraid of big government, afraid of terrorists, afraid of progress. Fear is the gasoline that powers the conservative movement. Republicans know this, so they are always peddling a new scare tactic. People like Hannity offset their fears by talking tough. The dirty little secret is that they never intend to back up their talk. For people like Hannity looking tough, is more important than being tough, and Olbermann called him out on it.

(h/t: tvnewser)

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association