Dear Mr. Olbermann:
Dear Mr. Olbermann:
It is early Tuesday morning, November 4. I do not know how the election will turn out, though I am finally allowing myself to hope that the miracle will happen. I find that I am brought to tears at least once an hour, by hearing Eugene Robinson speak about his parents in their 80's voting for Obama, when Obama speaks about his grandmother, when he says "There is no red American or blue America, there is the United States of America, and not least when I think of the profound contribution your newscast has made to this country, and particularly to progressives like me.
The last 8 years have been a long nightmare. George Bush was chosen illegitimately by a partisan Supreme Court, to the ultimate and unforgivable shame of Scalia, Thomas, Kennedy, O'Connor, and Rehnquist all of whom who history will judge most unkindly. He has been an unmitigated disaster for this country. Many were the times that I despaired for my country, a country which I love and with whom I am often in disagreement. I just could not see how, in my lifetime, America could become a progressive, compassionate, just, wise, and humble country which could again lead the world as a force for good.
And then I found you on msnbc. It was probably 2 years ago. I heard about you on Randi Rhodes’ show, and listened in. Words cannot express my relief that finally there was a brave journalist who was willing to tell the truth, to be outraged, to be passionate and articulate, and to voice my deepest feelings. A man who could take on Fox News and who had the courage to say what has needed to be said for so long. You restored my faith that our country could overcome the forces of hate, division and cynicism. And I know that I am not alone in this.
And now we are on the brink of perhaps the most remarkable event in our history (and certainly in my lifetime), the election of a man of color, and we may be able to fulfill the promise of the founders, whose greatest mistake was to allow slavery. We have paid dearly as a country for this moral outrage. I weep to think of how dearly we have paid. We still have open wounds, but I am profoundly hopeful that a new day is dawning, that we will finally be able to heal that wound and become the great nation of our promise.
You, Mr. Olbermann,, have been pivotal in this transformation. Soon Chris Matthews began to be more outspoken, then Rachel Maddow joined in, making msnbc the cable news network that we have needed for so long, and which I was afraid would never come into being.
You are the Edward R. Murrow of our time. Many disliked him, but he spoke truth to power and risked his career to be honest and take on Joe McCarthy. I believe that you will have a similar place in our history. And whether Obama wins or loses, this country that we all love has won in no small part because of you.
Thank you again with all my heart.