MSNBC host Keith Olbermann has been suspended indefinitely without pay after POLITICO reported that he made three campaign contributions to Democratic candidates.
MSNBC President Phil Griffin said in a statement Friday: “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."
Olbermann made campaign contributions to two Arizona members of Congress and failed Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway ahead of Tuesday’s election.
Olbermann, who acknowledged the contributions in a statement to POLITICO, made the maximum legal donations of $2,400 apiece to Conway and to Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords. He donated to the Arizona pair on Oct. 28 — the same day that Grijalva appeared as a guest on Olbermann’s “Countdown” show.
NBC has a rule against employees contributing to political campaigns, and a wide range of news organizations prohibit political contributions — considering it a breach of journalistic independence to contribute to the candidates they cover.
You know I am all about following the rules and my first instinct when hearing this story was to say, "Well if Keith knew the rules and broke them than NBC had no real choice."
However as I have learned more I am beginning to smell something fishy.
I mean if freaking William Kristol responds as he does below I think we can all assume that most journalists believe that Olbermann is getting fucked over for some reason besides the fact that he broke a fairly minor rule at work:
First, he donated money to candidates he liked. He didn’t take money, or favors, in a way that influenced his reporting.
Second, he’s not a reporter. It’s an opinion show. If Olbermann wants to put his money where his mouth is, more power to him.
Third, GE, the corporate parent of MSNBC, gives money to political organizations. GE executives and, I’m sure, NBC executives give money. Why can’t Olbermann?
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!
Okay what kind of topsy turvy world do we live in where Bill Krystal is the voice of reason?
If you want to do your part and help get Keith back on the air then please sign this petition and remind the assholes at MSNBC just WHO saved their pathetic network and made it the progressive powerhouse it is today.
Oh and of course, IOKIYAR, as Joe Scarborough gave money twice to a republican buddy of his but MSNBC said that was okay because they were "friends" and his show is an opinion show.
ReplyDeleteSo just what the fuck is Olbermann's show?
It is soooooo WRONG
ReplyDeleteFREE KEITH
Now, I enjoy periodic viewings of Maddow and I watch Joe every morning as a ready myself for the day, but calling MSNBC a powerhouse is a bit of an overstatement. It's a network made up of mostly fringe programming. My roommate, a true california liberal, even thinks most of the hosts are fanatical beasts. I just view the network as the Democratic version of Fox news. Far left, very biased, very marginal. I'm glad it exists because the country needs balance but I would like to know details of this Keith ordeal
ReplyDeleteThanks for the petition link. Frankly, KO shouts too much for my taste; but the hypocrisy of giving Buchanan and Scarborough a pass on the same behavior is too much for me to stomach, so I signed.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/11/5/917958/-Olbermann:-Emergency-PCCC-petition-to-MSNBC
ReplyDeleteDailyKos right hand column
petition for Olbermann
space for personal comment as well
Just signed the petition (they already have their 50,000 sigs!). They could have gotten 500,000 easily...
ReplyDeleteI also read that Joe Scarborough did the same thing and they let it slide because he is a commentator not newsperson. Secondly, I thought I read that the policy said they should get permission first, not that they had to.
ReplyDeleteEither way, it does not make him seem less balanced, since he never claimed to be unbiased.
I have written emails and signed petitions and will not watch MSNBC unless Keith in on period. I will miss Rachel, but maybe she will get wise and leave these asshats.
Anon
ReplyDeletePerhaps MSNBC is no powerhouse in your opinion, however there are very few voices on the left that are able to counteract the voices on the right. Keith, Rachel and Lawrence are the only ones who seem to be able to speak above the din.
I dont know what happened, but things surely will not be the same without Keith.
Pity Fox News doesn't have this policy. There would be nothing but dead air.
ReplyDeleteMSNBC makes excuses for "Morning Joe", doing THE SAME THING!!!
ReplyDelete"Joe hosts an "opinion program" and is not a "news reporter"
Really?
Nice try but nobody believes this distinction and the BOYCOTT has gone VIRAL!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The list: Journalists who wrote political checks
And their explanations, from ‘Yikes!’ to ‘They’re all in somebody’s pocket’
(R) MSNBC, Joe Scarborough;
host of the "Morning Joe" talk show and the evening newscast "Scarborough Country," $4,200 in March 2006 to Derrick Kitts, Republican candidate for the House from Oregon.
Scarborough was a Republican member of Congress from Florida from 1995 to 2001.
He also provides political commentary for MSNBC, CNBC and NBC's "Today Show."
MSNBC policy requires journalists to report any potential conflict of interest and to seek approval from the president of NBC News before making any political contribution.
A spokesperson for NBC, Jeremy Gaines, replied to questions sent to Scarborough. "Yes, he did make a donation to Derrick Kitts.
Kitts is an old friend of Joe's.
Joe hosts an opinion program and is not a news reporter."
There are over 140 on this list and it ended in 2007.
http://www .msnbc.msn .com/id/19 113455/#Sc arborough
Try emailing:
ReplyDeletephil.griffin@msnbc.com AND
jeff.zucker@nbc.com
Other talking heads at NBC/MSNBC have donated to political campaigns and nor been suspended.
Google al michaels, john madden or joe scarborough AND political contributions
or any other talking heads name AND political contributions.
How about all the money GE contributes to political campaigns? I am boycotting NBC, MSNBC and all their ad sponsors until Olbermann is reinstated with pay.
"Anyone working for NBC News who takes part in civic or other outside activities may find that these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist because they may create the appearance of a conflict of interest. Such activities may include participation in or contributions to political campaigns or groups that espouse controversial positions. You should report any such potential conflicts in advance to, and obtain prior approval of, the President of NBC News or his designee."
ReplyDeletefrom http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19178161/
NOTE: The last line reads "SHOULD" not "MUST" report!
So it's okay for Fox to call themselves a 'news' program despite the fact that they have had actual Republican candidates for office on their payroll and donate millions in undisclosed funds to conservative political causes. And it's okay for Scarborough to donate to Republican 'friends.' But it is somehow unethical for Olbermann to make small donations that he legally disclosed to Dem candidates? This must be that liberal bias everyone's always talking about.
ReplyDeletePetition signed and forwarded.
ReplyDeleteM. from MD
@ 2:24. I heard that it was because he didn't ask permission, not that he gave, too.
ReplyDeleteOff to sign the petition!
I want Jeith back on the air. But he broke the policy. A policy that is different than Fox NEws. I don't think the message should be "We overlook policies, like Fox News." Jon Stewart was on track when interviewing Chris Wallace and pointed out to Wallace, that MSNBC is making a mistake in trying to replicate Fox. I think MSNBC has to stick to their standards and give Keith the procedural suspension and get him back on the air. Just think if Hannity donated money to a Republican candidate, and let's say it was against Fox news protocol. We would be enraged that they didn't enforce a rule, meant to keep his personal interest out of his job.
ReplyDeleteThat all being said, I look forward to Keith's return.
Time to check out CNN!
ReplyDeleteI am with you about the smell of fishy. It could get real interesting how this plays out. O'Really will be doing the happy dance for anyone who would want to see that.
ReplyDeleteSuspended without pay is not fired. There is hope? When I think of the execs at ABC and the DWTS debacle it is hard to see corporate media as anything but manipulative and rotten.
Mark Burnett claims the importance "to be true to Alaska but also to be true to the way the Palin family acts, warts and all. in his TLC program. The first episode, “Mamma Grizzly” has already generated unauthorized videotaped images. Mamma Grizzly's cub may be one of the photographers? I hope someone has kept that segment b/c they may pull it before it airs. Depositions could reveal more about the family and particular cubs.
We need Keith more than ever. Whatever happens he will do something necessary and brilliant.
Unfortunately for Keith, Bill Kristol might possibly be the most stupid "talking head" in our great nation: he's always wrong (about everything) and he couldn't be any worse karma.
ReplyDeleteIs Buchanan not in trouble trouble because he's such a cheap tightwad?
It's Bill Kristol.
ReplyDeleteI just signed the petition. I get that rules need to be enforced. Why not just have written a cautionary letter and put it in Keith's file. I do not understand a respected station being this unprofessional.
ReplyDeleteFREE KEITH!
Just the pot calling the kettle black.
ReplyDeletehttps://sites.google.com/site/turnedon2politics/
Wonder if they got jack booted thugs to handcuff him and escort him out of the studios.
ReplyDeleteGo to ThinkProgress and read their article on the changes at the top since the ComCast takeover.
ReplyDeleteWhat we are seeing is the modern equivalent of "Gleichschaltung" in 1930ies Germany, where all communication in the form then current forms of newsprint and radio were coordinated to reflect the view of the then ruling party.
Need I identify the acronym?
Olbermann openly supports Net Neutrality - ComCast does not.
fromthediagonal
Any further questions?
I wonder if Keith will even want to return to that network?
ReplyDeleteAnd, I hope the truthfulness of the situation is told by Keith because I too think there is more to it. GE being involved - corporate America big time! Republican ties? Hummmm!!!
FREE KEITH! shirts:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cafepress.com/RunLeviRun1
2:01, no way on EARTH is MSNBC the left wing FOX. More progressive overall, probably, but MSNBC does not promote a left wing POV in the insidious way that FOX promotes the right. Nor does MSNBC blatantly tell lies. Lies that are spun in the morning programming....are woven throughout the day's programming, only to be reported as news in the evening. Jon Stewart has a brilliant expose on this deceitful tactic.
ReplyDeleteKO is not my favorite program, but still, I think he is being treated wrongly. Since when is KO news? I've always thought it was pure opinion. If Joe S. is allowed to donate, so should KO and every other MSNBC show host.
Something else is clearly going on. Maybe because he said Billo had no humanity?
Time for levity
ReplyDeleteI about peed myself watching this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-_ipSXgujk
Keith is not a journalist, it's all about his opinion - hello, worst person in the world! Anybody who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves! What's the real story here?
ReplyDeleteI would have to say I agree with Bill K. on this one. What is happening with the left organizations eating their young. First it was Juan Williams and now Kieth. I have to admit, I don't care for his program but I just turn the channel. I like that he has a voice, balance is a good thing regardless of how you feel about the content. MSNBC is holding their finger to the wind and are making the wrong choice again.
ReplyDeleteO/T
ReplyDeleteBristle & her partner will appear on Ellen Degeneres show on Monday. Show would have been taped either Thursday or today (Friday).
The clip showed Ellen saying there are rumours about them dating -- well are you?? Can't wait to see the response and look on Bristle's face!!
Good God MSNBC, you finally have some well established political shows with excellent hosts, that have a strong following and you're going to dimish that during a time when Fox TV & radio personalities dominate the airwaves with lies and hate-filled rhetoric? (If anything give Chris Matthews fewer shows and tell him to stop interrupting people)!
ReplyDeleteAs it is, Democrates barely have a voice in this country and Keith has made brave and inspiring "speeches" on his show against hate, racism and violence, and you're going to take out this well respected professional who donated his personal funds to candidates of his choice? Does Olbermann write his own scripts? Does he pressure viewers to support the candidates he's donated to? Of course not!
Keith is one person not afraid to blast criticism to O'Reilly, Palin, Hannity, Beck & Fox by pointing out their evil, corrupt, racist lies against Obama & the administration, let his voice be heard!
WTF Boycott MSNBC untill they put our hero back on air. Fuck Phil Griffin he needs to fucking go away.
ReplyDeleteyeah I guess I don't understand this because I always though keith was a commentator, not a reporter or a news anchor.
ReplyDeleteI bet keith doesn't give a shit though. he could get another job in a heartbeat.
OT: Guess who's being threatened with a lawsuit for invasion of privacy (and maybe defamation; my legalese isn't great)?
ReplyDeletehttp://tiny.cc/3qpzb
This is just awful - petition signed.
ReplyDeleteWho should be contacted at MSNBC about this (email?) - I want to tell just what I think about this stupid decision of theirs and boycotting their show until they bring him back
Welcome to phase 2, oppose the GOP and pay the price.
ReplyDeleteThomas Roberts is filling in for KO.
ReplyDeleteYour mild-mannered reporter....
from Wikipedia:
Thomas Roberts (born October 5, 1972) is an American anchor and reporter. He currently works as an anchor/correspondent for MSNBC. Previously he was a correspondent for CBS News and prior to that the syndicated entertainment programs Entertainment Tonight and The Insider. Earlier, Roberts worked as a news anchor for CNN Headline News. In late April 2010, Roberts began freelance anchoring for MSNBC. Roberts primarily anchors dayside coverage but can also be seen filling in as weekend anchor and overnight news update anchor on MSNBC as well as Early Today on NBC and First Look on MSNBC.
Signed the petition and posted it on my FB and Twitter. Stupid a#* MSNBC.
ReplyDeleteThis is riduculous ! Does NBC also tell its' employees who to vote for too ? I want Keith back on Monday !
ReplyDeleteJuan Williams actually was supposed to be a news journalist and by going on FOX, he tainted his credibility. Worse, he wasn't merely Juan Williams, FOX commentator, he was "Juan Williams of NPR." A big no no. He was repeatedly warned about pushing the envelope past what NPR policy allowed and ultimately fired. As he should have been.
ReplyDeleteKO has long given his opinion quite openly. I would not be surprised if he angered some high ranking executive whose personal opinion differed. The campaign contribution angle is a decoy for the actual petty source of the action.
NPR exercised transparency in their actions. MSNBC has not. This should be an interesting story.
this is about comcast, net neutrality and *the chamber*
ReplyDeleteof commerce.
"New York Times reported that Comcast CEO Brian Roberts tacitly acknowledged that he would be open to interfering with the editorial content of MSNBC shows.."
Who on msnbc is next, since RW comcast bought NBC.
They shut KOs monday show OFF, fade to black during his encouraging comments of the DC rally.
They waited for the election
outcome, and then began making the "news" no longer neutral in any form.
Comsux owns many 'new news outlets' all of which are quoted by faux to, um, make news! Comsux gives them a place to tweet and 'article' things they use all day long, but, none of it is true.
They at faux just quote one another without sourcing the same "news' that was made up overnite. Like the $2trillion trip the prez will take.
Im dumping comsux this weekend.
Just got the news, made me sick. Keith is out and the clown are firmly tethered? How about Keith viewers-his is the only news that has any credence at this point-get together and boycott MSNBC and NBC and their sponsors. I have just started looking at the sponsors and I will be sending out a mass emails to boycott the lot.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone else watch when Keith explained, on his show, that he NEVER voted because, as a journalist reporting on politics, he felt it would be unethical to have a personal stake in an election?
ReplyDeleteI find that putting money into a race gives me a personal stake in the endeavor.
It doesn't really matter to me if KO broke a rule; he breached the personal ethics he used 'company time' to explain to us in detail. Since in this day and age there is no consequence for tossing personal ethics to the side, I'm satisfied to let him battle this out on his own. At least its a consequence, and there should be one.
THIS FIGURES!!! Turns out, Comcast own MSNBC now:
ReplyDelete"Late last year, Comcast — the nation’s largest cable provider and second largest Internet service provider — inked a deal taking over NBC Universal, the parent company of MSNBC," the progressive blog explains. "Comcast moved swiftly to reshuffle MSNBC’s top staff. On September 26th of this year, Comcast announced perhaps the most dramatic shift, replacing longtime MSNBC chief Jeff Zucker with Comcast executive Steve Burke. Burke has given generous amounts to both parties — providing cash to outgoing Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) as well as to Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) and other top Republicans. But as Public Citizen has noted, Burke has deep ties to the Republican Party. Public Citizen’s report reveals that Burke served as a key fundraiser to President George Bush, and even served on Bush’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology."
Source: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/11/msnbc-suspends-olbermann/
5:00 PM:
ReplyDeleteCatch up; there are countless lists flying the skynet containing the 'donations' made by buchanan and sundry others.
It is fauxs habit, as well.
This is about buying and making up the frickin news.
Making. It. Up.
*and now they want to charge people money for it!!*
...$$ for madeup fake 'news'.
holy shit!!!
New Politico:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44770_Page2.html
"Some saw in MSNBC’s latest move corporate fears about appearing too liberal, which were being exacerbated by NBC Universal’s pending takeover by Comcast.
Michael Wolff wrote at Adweek that the pending merger -- which, if it is approved, will coincide with the stepping down of NBC Universal president and chief executive Jeff Zucker – is the true reason for the power shift behind Olbermann’s suspension.
“The background to everything is that is happening at NBC is the transition to Comcast ownership,” he wrote.
Others, such as Mediaite’s Steve Krakauer, saw a power grab by Griffin as Olbermann became less important to the network, which has developed other stars.
....
Maybe we can get Fagan off the air for good since he contributes to candidates and brags about it on the air.
ReplyDeleteDoes this now mean that Palin, who is a fox employee, will no longer be doing 'fund raisers' for candidates, nor representing the baggers as their queen for cash and prizes, as it too is a conflict of interest?
ReplyDeleteNot an attorney, but heck, sounds reasonable to me.
Big business already owns Fox. Are they trying to own MSNBC also? That way they will have two mouthpieces for the far right.
ReplyDeleteOkay. I'm sorry, but I am gonna play Devil's Advocate.
ReplyDeleteIf NPR fired a contributor for a racist comment on a different channel, then why shouldn't Keith be suspended indefinitely w/o pay?
Not that that's gonna stop me from signing the petition to bring him back, but... with this petition, it encourages hypocrisy from both sides.
Remember MSNBC got rid of Phil Donahue, and he was a top rated show at the time. Spoke out against the war and GE did not like.....
ReplyDeleteThe profit motive is way stronger than any political leaning of some jerk who is in charge of MSNBC...so lets get going on letting the SPONSORS of all NBC shows know we won't be watching any of their advertisements or shows, until Olbermann is safely back on air, and able to continue to express his opinions...it IS still the United States of America (at least for NOW).
ReplyDeleteFirst, I miss David Shuster. They need to bring him back.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I wouldn't trust the reasoning behind William Kristol's words. His speaking out for Keith, is not for Keith's sake, but for protecting himself & the full RW punditry & Fox News from further scrutiny.
Now they can point fingers at Keith & how they spoke in his defense when & if they are called out on their dollars going to into Republican campaign coffers. Of course their dollars enter the millions, & their free publicity also enters the millions.
If Keith broke a rule, well, then quietly dole out precise disciplinary action & be done with it. Why make it public? Suspend him for a day, or two, or a week, then bring him back on the air. Do it quietly, behind the scenes, just as any other employer should and would.
But don't embarrass the man. Don't make him the laughing stock over at Fox. Don't give your competition reasons to speculate or make up stuff. Keith doesn't deserve that. No employee deserves that from their employer, damn it!
My worry is Comcast has their hands in this, and we know how RW they are.
I watch only MSNBC at night. I DVR TV shows to watch on the week-end. My routine is to watch Ed at 6. Clean the dinner dishes or whatever at 7, ignoring Mathews. Then at 8 all the way throughout the night it's Keith, Rachel, O'Donnell. When Mathews comes on at midnight, I watch Stewart/Colbert that I DVR'd earlier, then at 1am, I watch the repeats on MSNBC - because I always hear something I missed earlier. I'm up until 6am EST every night, & that is my routine. MSNBC & my laptop.
Now, I'm boycotting. Just to let you know how serious I am, I have been boycotting ABC since the night they showed that inaccurate & biased 911 movie in 2005 or 2006 (I forget which year now, it's been so long.) I gave up decades of watching 'All My Children' for this boycott - that's how angry ABC made me.
As much as I love Rachel, I still won't tune it. I'll read her blog, instead.
I signed that petition earlier tonight.
Denise
Phil Griffin........the worst person in the WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete7:50, you clearly have not accumulated facts regarding both situations. They are NOT the same thing. Read some of the comments here for starters.
ReplyDeleteThere's rules for a reason. Keith knew the rules; he didn't follow them.
ReplyDeleteThe issue isn't what other people do or don't do. MSNBC has a policy. Employees are expected to follow that policy. If you don't want to run your political contributions through your boss, don't take a job that requires you do so.
Keith clearly thought it was worth it to trade that ability to have his own show. He knew better, but he did it anyway. Whether his indefinite suspension is deserved, I can't say, but IMO he loses cred if he thinks the rules don't apply to him.