Keith Olbermann kicked to curb!

[kaiser soze]

Looks like he broke company policy concerning donating to candidates - it's no secret to which side he leans, but if he broke the rules...looks like MSNBC gave FOX a boost, stupid move.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/05/keith-olbermann-suspended_n_779586.html

MSNBC has suspended star anchor Keith Olbermann following the news that he had donated to three Democratic candidates this election cycle.

"I became aware of Keith's political contributions late last night. Mindful of NBC News policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay," MSNBC president Phil Griffin said in a statement.

Politico reported Friday that Olbermann had donated $2,400 each to Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, and to Kentucky Senate contender Jack Conway. While NBC News policy does not prohibit employees from donating to political candidates, it requires them to obtain prior approval from NBC News executives before doing so.

[Sir SkratchaLot]

Kicked to the curb? Was he at a Rand Paul ralley? Ba-boom-ching!

[Burnout18]

What the fuck is olbermann doing? Is he fuckin stupid? Sure he leans left, but at least try to look objective.

[kaiser soze]

It's not like Olbermann was trying to look objective. I'm sure this was CYA for MSNBC - If the right wing media (who don't play by the same rules) got a hold of it, they would have blown it out of proportion - they're like a sliver digging deeper into your skin.

[saz]

What the fuck is olbermann doing? Is he fuckin stupid? Sure he leans left, but at least try to look objective.

nbc policy doesn't prohibit employees from donating to political candidates, as joe scarborough and pat buchanan also gave political contributions to candidates. but they weren't suspended.

[kaiser soze]

word on the street is that they need to ask permission before donating

and quite possibly he didn't?

[saz]

Keith Olbermann Suspension Criticized By Reporters, Conservative Pundits

Sam Stein | HuffPost Reporting (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/05/keith-olbermann-suspensio_n_779727.html)
First Posted: 11- 5-10 05:10 PM | Updated: 11- 5-10 05:28 PM


The backlash against NBC's decision to indefinitely suspend host Keith Olbermann without pay has been swift and vocal -- and from some unlikely voices.

Among media personalities and even straight-forward reporters, there has been a bit of shock over what was viewed as a knee-jerk punishment for a fairly minor ethical lapse. Bill Kristol, the longtime conservative scribe for the Weekly Standard (http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/keep-keith_514980.html), penned a blog post under the headline "Keep Keith!" extolling MSNBC's brass for muzzling someone whose ideological leanings are fairly self-evident.

Perhaps Olbermann violated NBC News "policy and standards." But NBC doesn't have real news standards for MSNBC--otherwise the channel wouldn't exist. It's a little strange to get all high and mighty now. But there's now a Republican House, and perhaps GE is trying to curry favor by dumping Olbermann?

Republicans of the world, show you believe in the free expression of opinion! Tell the crony corporatists at NBC--keep Keith!

The more common response, however, was one of confusion. For critics of the suspension, the notion that media outlets can't partake in the political process was made antiquated after it was reported that Fox News's parent corporation had made several million-dollar donations to Republican apparatuses or conservative entities. Even some MSNBC personalities have made political contributions in the past. As Greg Sargent pointed out: "Joe Scarborough, too, gave at least $4,200 in 2006, to House GOP candidate Derrick Kitts of Oregon, according to the FEC."

And as Atrios noted (http://www.eschatonblog.com/2010/11/and-buchanan.html), Pat Buchanan has made over $2000 in political donations.

Scarborough's donation came before the NBC policy outlawing political contributions was put in place. And there was early reporting that he was given the green light to write his checks by NBC president Phil Griffin. Buchanan, meanwhile, is an analyst and not a news host. Nevertheless, even mainstream reporters couldn't quite comprehend the logic of sacking Olbermann (at least temporarily) for making three max contributions.

Zach Wolf, of ABC, tweeted (http://twitter.com/zbyronwolf/statuses/624364928110592): "How is giving $2400 to Raul Grijalva less journalistically sound than his liberal nightly comments? I don't get the MSNBC v. Olberman flap."

Dave Weigel, at Slate, offered that (http://www.mediaite.com/online/some-of-the-best-twitter-reactions-to-keith-olbermanns-suspension/) the lesson learned from the saga is "if you're media and you're going to make a political donation, make it to the RGA."

Rich Sanchez, whose tenure with CNN ended in far more nefarious controversy, expressed sympathies for Olbermann's treatment: "Got to work w/ Keith when I was at MSNBC," he tweeted. "He's a solid journalist. Hope this passes."

For progressives, in the end, the issue became one of false equivalencies. In addition to News Corps.'s donations, there have been more than 30 instances of Fox News employees or personalities supporting Republican causes, according to Media Matters (http://mediamatters.org/research/201010270005), the progressive media watchdog group. If these individuals weren't being punished, why should Olbermann? (The invariable response, in turn, lent itself to a rabbit hole of speculation about the politics of NBC operations.)

The loftier debate is whether the notions of ethical purity is outdated in journalism. Under strict interpretation of the rules, Olbermann violated his company's policies. And for that, his punishment is, at least, rationalized.

But the notion that what he did is rare in the industry he serves does seem far-fetched. This past September, the Center for Responsive Politics produced (http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/09/media-professionals-and-journalists-donate.html) a study showing that "235 people who identified themselves on government documents as journalists, or as working for news organizations, who together have donated more than $469,900 to federal political candidates." One of those individuals was Chris Hayes, who gave $250 to the campaign of his good friend, Alabama Democrat Josh Segall. Hayes was rumored on Friday to be Olbermann's replacement host that night.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today issued the following statement on MSNBC suspending Olbermann for exercising his First Amendment rights.

"It is outrageous that General Electric/MSNBC would suspend Keith Olbermann for exercising his constitutional rights to contribute to a candidate of his choice. This is a real threat to political discourse in America and will have a chilling impact on every commentator for MSNBC."

.

[Bob]

keith olbermann supports the democrats? this new information completely changes my opinion of his journalistic integrity

[travesty]

The Dems are goin to continue eating thier own until the sting of this past election wears off. Look out Biden, you're next.

[yeahwho]

Keith was not nearly as moronic as Beck nor nasty as O'Reilly (both of whom I've watched more of than Olbermann, just out of curiosity and disbelief). But he annoyed me equally with his self righteous indignation and pontificating theatrics.

The truly amazing story is MSNBC's policies and moralizing over a wonky dork like that guy. I mean, you know, it's like they're competing on the same pathetic wavelength as FOX, just in an opposite spectrum. FOX has exclusive contracts with potential republican presidential candidates while MSNBC poo poo's a couple of campaign donations by an admitted democratic leaning employee.

24 hour news is the news now, what a bunch of ding dongs.

[RobMoney$]

One of the most disappointing things is just how divided the media clearly is.
I don't want to hear that idiot Palin on Fox, nor do I want to hear CNN weeping.
The Dems pushed too far, people got pissed, so the pendulum swings. I need to look at a chart on my computer w/ the volume off just to see something that is freaking objective?
Really?

[saz]

The Dems pushed too far, people got pissed, so the pendulum swings.

they didn't do enough. if unemployment was around 8.5% and showing signs of dropping, then the dems would've maintained control of the house. but in tough economic times, the ruling party will usually have to take its lumps. and if the situation is still pretty much the same in 2012, the repubs will take the heat.

[yeahwho]

This whole affair reminds me of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy;

There was a time before the media ratings campaign disclosure act, during this time pontificating anchormen reigned. And on cable, one anchorman was more mann then the rest. His name was Keith Olbermann. He was like a god walking amongst mere mortals. He had a voice that could make a wolverine purr and suits so fine they made Sinatra look like a hobo. In other words, Keith Olbermann was the balls.

24 hour news on the news 24 hours a day, we masturbate, you watch.

[valvano]

i am sure that all 173 of his viewers can find something else to watch.

[kaiser soze]

and he's back on

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40070285

MSNBC says Keith Olbermann will be back on the air Tuesday, ending his suspension for violating NBC's rules against making political donations after two shows.

MSNBC's chief executive Phil Griffin said late Sunday that after several days of deliberation, he had determined that two days off the air was "an appropriate punishment for his violation of our policy."

those 173 viewers will be so happy