Former New York Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey has responded to MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann’s accusations against her calling them “factual errors” and she’s demanding an apology.
I am requesting that MSNBC and Keith Olbermann apologize and issue a correction.
Mr. Olbermann charges that I, Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D. was paid, directly or indirectly, by the pharmaceutical industry, the biotech industry, the Hudson Institute, or Cantel Medical Corp. to write my analysis of the stimulus bill or speak about that issue. All these charges are false.
To bring you up to date…
• Mon., Feb. 9: McCaughey writes an op-ed on Bloomberg.com critical of the stimulus package.
• Thursday: Olbermann calls McCaughey a shill for Big Pharma.
• Friday: McCaughey fires back in a press release; challenges Olbermann to a debate on his show.
• Saturday: Olbermann responds to challenge; says McCaughey is “welcome to buy commercial time on MSNBC.”
• Last night: McCaughey demands correction, apology.
McCaughey’s full letter, via PRNewswire, is after the jump…
Don’t Believe What You Hear on Countdown: Keith Olbermann’s Factual Errors
NEW YORK, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following is from Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D., the author of the recent Bloomberg.com article, “Ruin Your Health With the Obama Stimulus Plan.”
I am requesting that MSNBC and Keith Olbermann apologize and issue a correction.
Mr. Olbermann charges that I, Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D. was paid, directly or indirectly, by the pharmaceutical industry, the biotech industry, the Hudson Institute, or Cantel Medical Corp. to write my analysis of the stimulus bill or speak about that issue. All these charges are false.
I have shown all these charges to be false in a previous statement except the new charge regarding my board membership at Cantel Medical Corp. I serve on the board of Cantel Medical Corp. as a patient advocate and infection prevention expert. No one at Cantel Medical has ever asked me about the stimulus bill or requested that I address the issue. I have not discussed the issue with anyone in the company. I urge those who are interested to contact Cantel Medical directly (973-890-7220).
I have purchased no stock in Cantel Medical. Like all board members, I am routinely issued options. The options cited by Keith Olbermann were not issued to me in payment for my work on the stimulus bill. They were issued to all Cantel board members at the same time. They are issued routinely and periodically. Unlike the other board members, I have never exercised any options to purchase stock. I do not use those options to make money. The same is true for other boards on which I have served.
Sincerely,
Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D.