NBC Suspends Olbermann For Donations

[reflector]

NEW YORK (AP) -- MSNBC has suspended prime-time host Keith Olbermann indefinitely without pay for contributing to the campaigns of three Democratic candidates this election season.

Olbermann acknowledged to NBC that he donated $2,400 apiece to the campaigns of Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway and Arizona Reps. Raul Grivalva and Gabrielle Giffords.

NBC News prohibits its employees from working on, or donating to, political campaigns unless a special exception is granted by the news division president - effectively a ban. Olbermann's bosses did not find out about the donations until after they were made. The website Politico first reported the donations.

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

Olbermann was not immediately available for comment.

His "Countdown" show, which airs at 8 p.m. ET, is MSNBC's most popular program. His on-the-air transformation from the host of a straight news program to a liberal commentator led the network itself to go in the same direction, filling its prime-time lineup with left-leaning hosts and doing better in the ratings than anytime since its 1996 launch.

Olbermann was a co-anchor of MSNBC's election coverage this week. The network's performance drew some criticism, particularly with Chris Matthews' contentious interviews with Republican Reps. Michele Bachmann and Marsha Blackburn.

Chris Hayes will fill in for Olbermann on Friday's program, the network said.

[StoopTroup]

I better go reset my DVR....LMAO

[Collier11]

He has always been a complete doosher but now he has proven to be extremely hypocritical after whining about Fox all the time.

[Collier11]

MSNBC suspended "Countdown" host Keith Olbermann Friday after the news that he donated to three Democratic candidates.

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

Politico reported Friday that Olbermann gave the maximum individual donation of $2,400 to three candidates in Tuesday's election: Arizona Reps. Gabrielle Giffords and Raul Grijalva and Senate hopeful Jack Conway, who lost in Kentucky to Republican Rand Paul. (Grijalva appeared on Olbermann's "Countdown" on Oct. 28, the same day the host donated to his campaign; Conway was last a guest in May).

Olbermann, in a statement to Politico, said that he "did not privately or publicly encourage anyone else to donate to these campaigns nor to any others in this election or any previous ones." Also, Olbermann said he had not "previously donated to any political campaign at any level."

But the revelation raised clear ethical issues.

Olbermann, a liberal commentator, gives his opinions each night on the air. But NBC News editorial staffers -- like journalists at most news organizations -- are forbidden from giving to political candidates. Also, Olbermann anchored election coverage Tuesday night without disclosing that he'd given to candidates who were running for office.

By punishing the network's biggest star, Griffin showed how little tolerance there is for hosts to make undisclosed political contributions while covering those political races.

An MSNBC spokesman told The Upshot that The Nation's Chris Hayes, an MSNBC contributor who has filled in before for Olbermann and Rachel Maddow, will host Friday night's show. Hayes has spoken publicly before about donating $250 to a friend's Congressional campaign in Alabama earlier this year.

MSNBC already attracted criticism this week for having its liberal hosts and commentators anchor election night coverage. Typically, nonpartisan journalists anchor major news events—such as election results—while commentators like Bill O'Reilly (Fox News) or James Carville (CNN) offer analysis.

It's ironic that Olbermann gave to political candidates after criticizing Fox News because its owner, Rupert Murdoch, gave $1 million donation to the Republican Governors Association. "Fox News has put its money where its mouth is," Olbermann said in an August segment that questioned the network's impartiality.

In October, Olbermann again raised the issue of Murdoch's donations, during an interview with Democratic Rep. James Clyburn. Olbermann asked whether there was "a legislative response to the idea that there is a national cable news outlet that goes beyond having a point of view and actually starts to shill for partisan causes and actually starts to donate to partisan groups of one party."

[Blue]

What are his 5 viewers gonna watch now?

[Collier11]

the horrible human being known as Rachel Maddow?

[tommieharris91]

You mean MSNBC is trying to eliminate bias? I'm seriously shocked. But I hope they make that suspension permanent. Olbermann is insufferable.

[3rdgensooner]

Meh. I don't care if pundits contribute to campaigns.

But, he broke a rule so I'm sure HR will handle it like any company would when reprimanding one of their primary income sources.

[Collier11]

He is one of those libs that hates Bush SO much that he will still be blaming him for sh*t in 30 years

[TUSooner]

Olberman was funny on ESPN back in the day, but as a political or "news" commentator, he was poo. Hubris, baby!

[mgsooner]

He should be fired, and anyone else at any other purported news entity that engages in this type of behavior should be fired as well.

[dwarthog]

Kinda surprised it took this long.

[badger]

OU's student media department tried to oust the Daily's editor for starting a fake political campaign during the 2006 election in Norman. The editor stayed on, but the fake candidate was unsuccessful in his fake camapaign.

[TUSooner]

OU's student media department tried to oust the Daily's editor for starting a fake political campaign during the 2006 election in Norman. The editor stayed on, but the fake candidate was unsuccessful in his fake camapaign.

Was he truly unsuccessful? Or did he just seem unsuccessful?

[XingTheRubicon]

this is not even in Olberman's top 50 doouchebag offenses...


btw, did the article say which party the Jewish, Cornell graduate, msnbc employee contributed to? 'cause it could have gone either way.

[hellogoodbye]

Whats funny is MSNBC is trying to act like its some kind of institution of journalistic integrity

[ddub0224]

Olberman was funny on ESPN back in the day, but as a political or "news" commentator, he was poo. Hubris, baby!

Agree. He is an entertainer, not a journalist.

[TUSooner]

Actually, MSNBC has abandoned any pretense of impartiality, just like Fox has. So why not just let them all wear their biases on their sleeves? It's not like anybody is going to think either network is trying to be objective about anything any more. And I will continue to ignore them both.

[soonerscuba]

One down, about 500 to go. Cable news is a disease.

[landrun]

Even nut-jobs pushing an agenda have to keep the doors open.
Keith's ratings are so bad they probably can't generate any revenue.

I think that this is an *excuse* to let him go for 2 reasons.
1) So he can be replaced by another lefty that they hope can at least pay their own salary.
2) Because it seems he's a jerk to everyone everywhere he goes and people simply don't like him.

[Collier11]

Actually, MSNBC has abandoned any pretense of impartiality, just like Fox has. So why not just let them all wear their biases on their sleeves? It's not like anybody is going to think either network is trying to be objective about anything any more. And I will continue to ignore them both.

Actually you are quite wrong, Fox often has guests from the other side, they dont allow their guys like Oreilly to anchor anything like the article said, and as a matter of fact, Oreilly, the guy who most of the libs gripe about, I have routinely heard him say not only good things about Obama but bad things about Bush.

Are they mostly partial, sure, do they atleast look at the other side as something other than Satans right hand man, all the time

[soonerscuba]

Actually you are quite wrong, Fox often has guests from the other side, they dont allow their guys like Oreilly to anchor anything like the article said, and as a matter of fact, Oreilly, the guy who most of the libs gripe about, I have routinely heard him say not only good things about Obama but bad things about Bush.

Are they mostly partial, sure, do they atleast look at the other side as something other than Satans right hand man, all the timeYou honestly don't believe that between every Republican nominee for president minus McCain and Romeny, Glenn Beck, O'Reilly, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc. Fox doesn't have an ingrained, purposeful bias? I mean, as a business, it's completely genius, it is however not even close to being even keeled on any level. Neither is MSNBC for that matter, and I wouldn't be shocked if this doesn't have something to do with Comcast and rebranding.

[Collier11]

Of course they do, I admitted that in my post...I dont think they have the over the top looney tunes who hate dems just for being dems though, well, other than Beck :D

[soonerscuba]

Of course they do, I admitted that in my post...I dont think they have the over the top looney tunes who hate dems just for being dems though, well, other than Beck :DAnd known bigot, Juan Williams. ;)

[Collier11]

lol

[The]

Anybody that watches cable news gets exactly what they deserve.

[OnlyOneOklahoma]

MSNBC's motto isn't "Fair and Balanced". And to compare what an anchor does with their money to what an owner of the loudest cable news in the world does with his money is dishonest.

Plus MSNBC drags out Pat "White Folks" Buchanan every time they want a right wing opinion. Who dies fox bring out?

[Scott D]

I'd hardly call anything Chris Matthews does on the air as "interviews"

[OnlyOneOklahoma]

Pat is good on Morning Joe.

[tommieharris91]

This thread needs more Hitler and Nazis.

[The]

This thread needs more Hitler and Nazis.


http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u108/TheSooner/conservative.jpg

[Scott D]

you know who else got suspended for political contributions?

Hitler :D

[The]

This thread needs more Hitler and Nazis.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u108/TheSooner/emo_hitler.jpg

[The]

This thread needs more Hitler and Nazis.
http://media.gamerevolution.com/images/misc/image/hitler-achievement.jpg

[bigfatjerk]

Fox is right leaning obviously but they have a lot more different views then MSNBC has. Basically the only republican MSNBC has on regularly is Pat Buchanan and Joe Scarburough.

Fox has Juan Williams, Doug Shoen, Pat Caddell, Bob Beckel, Alan Colmes, just to name a few that are on almost every day on various programs. I'm not going to say Fox is fair but you can't put it as far right as MSNBC is far left.

All that being said here's Olbermann doesn't even vote.

eVqdOkgX-iY

[Scott D]

Usually those who yell the loudest don't follow through.

except Hitler.

[OUthunder]

Actually you are quite wrong, Fox often has guests from the other side, they dont allow their guys like Oreilly to anchor anything like the article said, and as a matter of fact, Oreilly, the guy who most of the libs gripe about, I have routinely heard him say not only good things about Obama but bad things about Bush.

Are they mostly partial, sure, do they atleast look at the other side as something other than Satans right hand man, all the time

Dude, don't bother trying to change one's mind about politics, especially a liberal. I have found them anything but opened minded.

Also, you'll never see a guy from any of the NBC networks praise a Republican or an Independent. But you'll see the anchors, guests, and hosts on Fox, slam both parties when called for.

I wonder if anyone that slams Fox, has ever watched the shows or news on there stations for more than a few minutes. Most balanced news network in the business.

[soonerscuba]

Dude, don't bother trying to change one's mind about politics, especially a liberal. I have found them anything but opened minded.

Also, you'll never see a guy from any of the NBC networks praise a Republican or an Independent. But you'll see the anchors, guests, and hosts on Fox, slam both parties when called for.

I wonder if anyone that slams Fox, has ever watched the shows or news on there stations for more than a few minutes. Most balanced news network in the business.You're the one defending a TV channel. Spin that however you will.

[badger]

Actually you are quite wrong, Fox often has guests from the other side

And it's awesome every time they do. Al Sharpton's one of my favorite Fox News guests... or at least he was last time I was at my parent's house and they had that channel on :P

[Scott D]

Al Sharpton was only there because he had to pick Ann Coulter up.

[OnlyOneOklahoma]

Reminder Sean Hannity donated ~$15000 to the republican party recently. At least NbC has some ethical rules.

[Scott D]

you know who else sean hannity and keith olbermann donated to?

hitler.

[Collier11]

Reminder Sean Hannity donated ~$15000 to the republican party recently. At least NbC has some ethical rules.

To the Party, not an individual

[bigfatjerk]

If you are an opinion guy you have the right to donate to your party. I just think Olbermann is a hypocrite. He basically said he doesn't vote because he tries to be unbiased. And he's obviously is biased.

[Crucifax Autumn]

Personally I think if these guys on either side are commentators and not real "news" guys they can do what they want. an actual anchor would have a conflict of interest, but if Olbermann or Beck or someone gives money I'm not bothered at all.

As for who is more biased in their news coverage, what liberal hosts a show on Fox? Joe Scarboruogh hosts for 3 hours every morning on MSNBC and he was a part of the last pub takeover back in the Clinton days and like someone said before, conservative "god" Pat Buchanon is on constantly.

Both networks are biased and they do it on purpose. I don't like Olbermann at all, but this idea he has no ratings is also silly. He's doing better than CNN (no big accomplishment granted) and he regularly pulls more than any of those super hot shows on the CW.

O'Reilly pulled in an average of 2.94 million in the second quarter. Olbermann has the #1 show on cable news outsaide of Fox. He had over 1 million viewers in the second quarter, not counting the west coast repeat. That still means everyone on Fox beat him, but not one show on CNN got better ratings than him.

Doesn't matter really, but a bit of reality in this thread is in order.

[Scott D]

you know who else wanted reality in this thread?

de Gaulle

[Collier11]

Fox owns all stations and Oreilly completely owns Olbermann and its not even close...my only point in bringing this up is that if FOX was so unfair and biased, would they really dominate by this wide of a margin?

and I realize that is one day but that example holds true in total as well


http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/11/05/cable-news-ratings-for-thursday-november-4-2010/71003

[Scott D]

you know who unfairly and biased dominated that largely?

ou

[Collier11]

great word huh

[Scott D]

negative ghost rider the pattern is full

[TUSooner]

negative ghost rider the pattern is full

You know who else had full pattern?

Yep... Hitler

[Crucifax Autumn]

Fox owns all stations and Oreilly completely owns Olbermann and its not even close...my only point in bringing this up is that if FOX was so unfair and biased, would they really dominate by this wide of a margin?

and I realize that is one day but that example holds true in total as well


http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/11/05/cable-news-ratings-for-thursday-november-4-2010/71003

Actually it doesn't. The MSNBC evening talk shat beats CNNs version on average. Fox beats both on average. CNN always wins when there's a non-political big story, particularly disasters and international stuff.

As for O'Reilly, for whatever reason he beats the crap out of everyone on his network and the rest. The point being, Olbermann does get decent ratings for a guy on a 3rd place cable channel and when you look at the combined total of both airings of his show he gets more viewers than CW hits like Supernatural, so it's not like there's 3 people watching like someone said earlier. People used to say the same thing about the Fox shows and they were wrong too. People LOVE watching "news" where they agree with everything said. That's why I watch all 3 regularly: All 3 **** me off and challenge me in a way staying in a comfort zone wouldn't.

[TheHumanAlphabet]

OU's student media department tried to oust the Daily's editor for starting a fake political campaign during the 2006 election in Norman. The editor stayed on, but the fake candidate was unsuccessful in his fake camapaign.

Was this the Norman election or student election?

[TUSooner]

*** People LOVE watching "news" where they agree with everything said. That's why I watch all 3 regularly: All 3 **** me off and challenge me in a way staying in a comfort zone wouldn't.

That's wisdom. For real. Spek.

Me? I watch none. That way my opinions are untainted by knowledge.

[olevetonahill]

I get all the ****in news I need on the Sports report :cool:

[picasso]

Olberman was funny on ESPN back in the day, but as a political or "news" commentator, he was poo. Hubris, baby!

He was funny as long as the joke wasn't on him.

I recall on his birthday one year the crew on the entire set at ESPN wore Groucho Marx glasses (kinda looked like Olbermann).
He was not amused and acted like a child. I guess it was pretty humiliating though.

[picasso]

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u108/TheSooner/conservative.jpg

Those guys were socialists.

[Crucifax Autumn]

But not the same kinda socialists as either the Soviets or American politicians. Kinda like how neo-cons and paleo conservatives are two totally different things.

[Scott D]

you know what else are two totally different things?

me and hitler

[Crucifax Autumn]

you know what else are two totally different things?

me and hitler

That's because only whitey would grow one of those stupid mustaches.

[The Maestro]

Seriously amazed that no one has pointed out that Olbermann was dumb enough to think that 24 C-notes was gonna do the trick! Cheap bastard...Bill Gates wipes his *** in one month with that chump change.

[tommieharris91]

you know who else wanted reality in this thread?

Genghis Khan

fixt

[OnlyOneOklahoma]

Seriously amazed that no one has pointed out that Olbermann was dumb enough to think that 24 C-notes was gonna do the trick! Cheap bastard...Bill Gates wipes his *** in one month with that chump change.

I know, right? Hannity coughed up $10k to Michele Bachman and $5k to a PAC in Minnesota.

Typical liberal scum only going halfway in.

[picasso]

I know, right? Hannity coughed up $10k to Michele Bachman and $5k to a PAC in Minnesota.

Typical liberal scum only going halfway in.

Hannity does a talk show right? I thought Olbermann insisted his was a news/opinion show.

That's the problem.

[picasso]

But not the same kinda socialists as either the Soviets or American politicians. Kinda like how neo-cons and paleo conservatives are two totally different things.

Well no ****. But those guys ain't conservative Republicans either.

[Crucifax Autumn]

Neither one is a talk show or a news show. They are both masturbatory opinion shows. And both of them are *********s.

[OnlyOneOklahoma]

Hannity does a talk show right? I thought Olbermann insisted his was a news/opinion show.

That's the problem.

Nothing MSNBC does in primetime is unbiased.

[GrapevineSooner]

I don't care for Olby. I don't care if he donates to Democratic candidates.

Because unlike what Rachel Maddow wants to think, MSNBC's prime time lineup is a political operation. Mind you, with the goal of getting ratings.

And I don't have a problem with any of that.

[Scott D]

you know who else had a prime time political operation lineup?

Goebbels

[GrapevineSooner]

You mean Gobo from Fraggle Rock?

http://www.snark-sharks.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/gobo_fraggle1.jpg

[Frozen Sooner]

You mean Gobo from Fraggle Rock?

http://www.snark-sharks.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/gobo_fraggle1.jpg

You know who else dressed up as Gobo from Fraggle Rock for Hallowe'en?

Me.

[StoopTroup]

I watched fraggle rock but I think I might have been to stoned to remember the names of the characters and you all bringing it up is kinda freaking me out.

[stoopified]

What are his 5 viewers gonna watch now?
:D

[SCOUT]

That's because only whitey would grow one of those stupid mustaches.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wNZZ__BLJDI/S_8jJEmQfKI/AAAAAAAABE0/C_msmQ06-xk/s320/michael+jordan+hitler+mustache.png

[Viking Kitten]

I watched fraggle rock but I think I might have been to stoned to remember the names of the characters and you all bringing it up is kinda freaking me out.

Gobo. Mokey. Wembly. Boober. Red.

That was done with out the assistance of any search engine.

You know who else can reel off all the names of all the Fraggles without having to look it up?

Kim Jong-il.

[GKeeper316]

Whats funny is MSNBC is trying to act like its some kind of institution of journalistic integrity

well, its miles above fox... you think rupert murdoch would find anything ethically wrong with someone like glenn beck donating to a particular cause or candidate?

hell, he keeps hannity on the payroll ffs

[XingTheRubicon]

msnbc is miles above nothing

[Serge Ibaka]

But seriously, this is all just based upon strange and idealistic NBC guidelines. They know that Olbermann is a lefty--every viewer of his show knows--but it's somehow reprehensible that he puts money on a democrat's campaign? I don't think that public knowledge of Olbermann's contributions would really harm MSNBC's reputation.

But rules are rules, so whatever.

But with that said: anybody who thinks that MSNBC is somehow beneath Fox News (in any journalistic sense) is a chode. They're at least equal, and I think Fox is actually more disturbing because they represent themselves as "fair and balanced" and use more scare-tactics.

[GrapevineSooner]

You know who else was a lefty?

Joseph Stalin.

[GrapevineSooner]

But seriously, this is all just based upon strange and idealistic NBC guidelines. They know that Olbermann is a lefty--every viewer of his show knows--but it's somehow reprehensible that he puts money on a democrat's campaign? I don't think that public knowledge of Olbermann's contributions would really harm MSNBC's reputation.

But rules are rules, so whatever.

But with that said: anybody who thinks that MSNBC is somehow beneath Fox News (in any journalistic sense) is a chode. They're at least equal, and I think Fox is actually more disturbing because they represent themselves as "fair and balanced" and use more scare-tactics.

And BTW, I just love the partisan defense that Fox News is worse.

Look, they're both havens for hackery, alright?

Fox News has candidates on who shill for their own causes. So does MSNBC (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txjXBx9-2c0&feature=player_embedded#%21).

Which that video, I guess, shoots some serious holes in Rachel Maddow's argument that they're not a political operation.

[VeeJay]

Rachel Maddow couldn't carry Schindler's jockstrap.

[olevetonahill]

Well By Gawd they Really meant it to. :rolleyes:
He will be back tuesday :pop:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101108/cm_yblog_upshot/keith-olbermann-returns-to-msnbc-on-tuesday