Countdown: Keith Olbermann On The Republican Party's Plans To Teabag Themselves

OLBERMANN: About these meetings, the sort of round two of town halls. In July and in August, that strategy made some sense, at least from a media perspective-shout at, shout down the majority. But yelling amongst yourselves? How does-doesn't that look a little hot house atmosphere kind of thing?

FINEMAN: Well, I'm waiting for Lamar to throw himself out of his meeting.

(LAUGHTER)

FINEMAN: You know, what's interesting about this, is that Lamar Alexander, the senator from Tennessee, is viewed at the White House-or at least was viewed at the White House-as one of the Republicans they could talk to, as a sort of man of moderation in both style and substance and so forth.

But the fact that Alexander is sending out this memo, which really wasn't all that necessary, meaning the Republicans are going to have these meetings to display the anger of their base anyway, shows that the formerly traditional leadership of the Republican Party is being guided by, if not intimidated by, the Limbaughs, et cetera, of the world. Because they're getting with the program, and, sure, they're going to have these meetings and they're going to uncork the dissent and anger in the base of the Republican Party. But it's for show, and to demonstrate. That's what it's all about.

OLBERMANN: But is there something-might there be sort some actual strategy inside this kind of Carrie Prejean tape version of a town hall meeting? I mean, Democrats have figured out how to respond to these town halls. So, if you specifically don't want them there.

FINEMAN: Yes.

OLBERMANN: . you want them yelled at in absentia where they can't refute this stuff, correct?

FINEMAN: Yes. That's right. Also, frankly, one of the ways the Democrats-Democrats are dealing with the town halls is to not have them because they turned into the circuses that you show. So, yes, right. The only objective here is to get video. It's to get a lot of video that will be shown on some channels and not others, displaying the anger, which is real, in the base of the Republican Party and the conservatives in this country.

I was talking to Republicans today. They say, "Frankly, you know, our people are angry and they're scared," and they didn't say to me we want to show that off for the cameras, but that's exactly what they're going to do. That's exactly what they're going to do.

And by the way, some polls show that the reform plan is just enough of a plan to get the right apoplectic and paranoid, but not enough to really inspire all of the base of the Democratic Party.

OLBERMANN: And the talking points that are designed to keep the Republican base angry and scared, even though some of them have very debatable, disprovable points in it.

FINEMAN: Right.

OLBERMANN: . like, it would lead to higher premiums, when, of course, doing nothing would lead to higher, more higher premiums.

FINEMAN: Right.

OLBERMANN: Is the-is the protection on that, "Well, our people won't believe that anyway so we don't have to worry about it being disproved"?

FINEMAN: They're not-the basic point is that the Republicans are not going to attempt to explain any halfway decent feature of this legislation-and there are lots and lots of them-to Republicans or independents. They're going to sit there and say nothing, and let the people at these meetings speak to the cameras. That is their strategy and that's going to happen all the way through to the end of the year.

Full transcript: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33886756/ns/msnbc_tv-countdown_with_keith_olbermann/

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• Keith Olbermann
• GOP
• Tea Parties

[Xytos]

can anyone tell me which channel this guy is on???

thanks.

[wildboy789789]

@bohemianwriter1 now they want to shut the government down? and american idiots are ready to blame democrats equaly lol, it makes me sick... idiot america "well i should equally blame both sides if i want to be smart" lol... just like my friend austin "democrats and republicans are the same", and im thinkin "im sure thats what republicans want you to think" lol... i cant wait for the day europe arrests corporate criminals globally, they do it in their own country

[bohemianwriter1]

@wildboy789789

The Koch bros are driving the same loon ies all avore the country. Making it look like they are a bonified grass roots movement.

Funny is it not?

Only a week ago, there were a few dozen teapartiers "demonstrating" govt. "spending". Got full mediacoverage. A few days later, thousands demonstrated against corporatism. Outside Koch HQ. The only one commenting on this was Thom Hartmann...

[wildboy789789]

these people dont even want to debate their point of view... if i ever see a tea bagger im getting violent... and i live in missouri so im keeping an eye out... i havent seen any yet (i think the movement might be fake) (like they only have a few hundred followers)

[coffee396]

If people were generally intelligent, the GOP wouldn't exist.

[Runesocesius]

This is Republicans on a nutshell (no pun intented).

[auburn722]

rebublicans arent vary smart this lady is scared of what herself needs help.