Keith Olbermann, MSNBC’s primetime firebrand host, has been suspended indefinitely for violating the ethics policies of his employer earlier this year when he donated to three Democrats seeking federal office, MSNBC announced Friday.
WTF!
MSNBC TV President Phil Griffin:
“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 must have known the policy. He must have known that political donations are public information. What was he thinking? This is really going to hurt MSNBC’s ratings.
Note that Griffin didn’t fire Olbermann.
UPDATE: Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan have made campaign contributions. When will they be suspended?
-David Drumm (Nal)
I firmly believe this was a calculated move on KO’s part to stir up discussion about campaign contributions. Good for him!
i’m still wondering who’s gonna get the ax at fox, christine o’donnell needs a job
Bdaman:
Does the word credibility gap ring a bell?
As far as source from where that information is presented.
Nobody thought that Olbermann was objective; his job wasn’t to be objective. So there is no reason that he shouldn’t be allowed to donate to candidates.
But even if he were an objective journalist, there is no reason that he shouldn’t be allowed to donate to candidates. Objective journalists obviously have opinions about what they report on, so why should they pretend, when they’re not at work, that they do not? As long as their reporting is objective, they are doing their job.
True, Olbermann shouldn’t have done it. But it’s accepted practice at Fox News: http://mediamatters.org/research/201010270005
And exactly what does that have to do with Coburns refutation?
Bdaman:
“Senator Coburn on O’Reilly correcting inaccurate reportings of Haiti aid legislation”
The same station saying President Obamas India trip ,is costing $200 million dollars a day with 34 warships in tow with 200 planes,PLEASE!
From TPM
Scarborough, Buchanan Also Made Political Contributions
Jillian Rayfield | November 5, 2010
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/scarborough-buchanan-also-made-political-contributions.php?ref=fpb
Excerpt:
But a search of OpenSecrets.org reveals that MSNBC host Joe Scarborough and MSNBC contributor Pat Buchanan have also made contributions to political campaigns. Here’s what we found…
In March 2006, Scarborough, who hosts the show Morning Joe, gave $4200 to Derrick Kitts (R-OR). And, as the Daily Kos points out, a month later Kitts was a guest on Scarborough’s show.
Between 2005-2008, Pat Buchanan made five contributions to Republican candidates, totaling $2250.
From Salon (11/5/2010)
CNBC must suspend Larry Kudlow (and a couple others)
http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/nbc/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2010/11/05/nbc_larry_kudlow
Bda,
Ok … got a good address and fired off an email. Hopefully I’ll have something in the next couple of days.
I’d like to have MSNBC report on the political affiliation of MSNBC TV President Phil Griffin as part of this claim for journalistic integrity.
Bda,
N Florida with wind chill values in the middle twenties tomorrow night. Well below normal. Could be a very interesting season.
Temps near 60 now with a 20 degree drop after the sun sets.
===========================================================
Whoa … what does that do to the crops?
I’m hunting for a DeWine email … calling political friends …
Every little bit helps in Hati,but this isn’t helping:
Sen. Tom Coburn: Facts and fiction about the U.S.-Haiti relief effort
By: Sen. Tom Coburn
OpEd Contributor
October 20, 2010
With the Haiti recovery and reconstruction effort moving at an unacceptably slow rate, many are asking hard questions about the U.S. response, and rightly so.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/OpEd-Contributor/Sen-Tom-Coburn-Facts-and-fiction-about-the-US-105372593.html
These people with their supposed morality,are sickening.
Gotcha and yes please keep me informed. Also I am trying to come up with a list of worthy organizations other than Docs without Borders and the Red Cross. If he has any let him know I will endorse them in a report I plan to do in the coming days, thanks
N Florida with wind chill values in the middle twenties tomorrow night. Well below normal. Could be a very interesting season.
Temps near 60 now with a 20 degree drop after the sun sets.
Bdaman,
I read the link … interesting that the strain is not Haitian … one wonders where it came from.
One of our former Senators, now newly elected as Ohio Atty. General, Mike DeWine (R) did a lot of work for Haiti and I’m sure is still dedicated to the Haitian people … I’ll send him an email and ask for information as to where all the money is that was raised. He’s a relatively honest man, especially for a Republican out of the Ohio Republican Party … he’ll probably be glad for the interest.
I’ll let you know.
Snow east of us and expected tonight and tomorrow. So far no really bad storms but I’m prepared. Remember that I’m on Lake Erie just west of Cleveland proper … let me know what you see coming my way.
Blouise,
“The one who doesn’t do well at all is Matthews”
That’s because he most likely has ADHD. He should take a dose of Ritalin before his show.
😉
Blouise I didn’t really, but there is a pattern. Lou Dobbs, Rick Sanchez, Jaun Williams, Dr Laura now Obie one Kanobi. Did I miss anybody?
To shift gears have you seen the news out of Haiti? The Florida Dept. of Health has now put an advisory out to look for signs of Cholera. There will be a lot of people traveling to and from and it has about a five day development period. Ms. Blouise I want to know how all of that money was raised less than ten months ago and the people have nothing to show for it. This goes all the way back to Papa Doc. How can this be? The worst part, Virginie could be in the same area next week to close out the 2010 Hurricane season.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-hk-state-cholera-warning-20101103,0,5219940.story
Money $$$ is Free Speech for Corporations so as to bribe our elected officials, but not for Olbermann, it’s right there in the Constitution..!
I know, “It’s in the Contract, Yossarian..!”
@lottakaz – his speech was not restricted. His employer has a right to suspend him because they don’t like the deoderant that he uses or lots of other stupid reasons. He signed a contract that said he had to disclose and recieve permission to make donations to political candidates in exchange to keep recieving paychecks. Given that he is a very public figure, I am sure there are all sorts of quirky rules he has to follow in order to stay on the payroll. None of which is a restriction of his speech. Personally, I prefer to know the political bend of the person reporting my news… there is no such thing as journalist who is truly impartial… they are all lying when they say as much. Just be honest about it…