NBC suspends Olbermann for donations

[The_Iceflash]

(CNN) - 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.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40028929/ns ... sion_2010/

[Super Aurora]

LOL Everyone knows MSNBC are hardcore liberals. Hiding that fact by using their "policy" is bunch of bullshit.

[milojthatch]

Bravo for MSNBC to show they have that much class to stick to their guns. Fox News could learn a thing or two about journalism from this, like, it is hard to be un-biased when you are giving money to the very politicians you are reporting on!

[Super Aurora]

Bravo for MSNBC to show they have that much class to stick to their guns. Fox News could learn a thing or two about journalism from this, like, it is hard to be un-biased when you are giving money to the very politicians you are reporting on!

Indeed.

[The_Iceflash]

LOL Everyone knows MSNBC are hardcore liberals. Hiding that fact by using their "policy" is bunch of bullshit.

This. I agree.

[The_Iceflash]

Bravo for MSNBC to show they have that much class to stick to their guns. Fox News could learn a thing or two about journalism from this, like, it is hard to be un-biased when you are giving money to the very politicians you are reporting on!

This makes me curious, what are other stations' policies when it comes to this sort of thing?

They definately deserve for sticking to their guns. They definately showed class for doing so.

[Goliath]

It's a real shame. I suspect they wanted to get rid of Keith Olbermann for a long time, because he was going against the status quo for way too long. He passionately advocated gay marriage; argued how there was absolutely no problem with the so-called Ground Zero 'mosque'; and busted many prominent Republican *and* Democratic politicians in Congress on dubious and corrupt deals with insurance companies during the health care debate. During the Bush years, he was one of the few remaining voices of sanity who dared to call Cheney and Bush on their war crimes.

LOL Everyone knows MSNBC are hardcore liberals. Hiding that fact by using their "policy" is bunch of bullshit.

They're so 'hardcore liberal' that they have Joe Scarborough on every day for three straight hours, ad employ Pat Robertson! And don't forget Chris Matthews was the political watercarrier for the Republicans for many years before the opportunistic jackass smelled the political winds changing. My, what raging commies!

From the CNN article:

Like most news organizations, NBC News, parent of msnbc TV, prohibits political contributions by its journalists without prior approval of the president.

The hypocrisy is unbearable! Who owns NBC? Oh yes, that's right, General Electric, who contributed millions of dollars to Republican candidates and, through some of their many subsidiary companies, profited hugely from those Republican policies, mainly the Iraq War.

More from the article:

"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,” the NBC News policy reads.

Good thing Fox doesn't have such policy, or the channel would be out of business a long time ago. They hire people like Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, who openly speculate on running for office again; and they function as a mouthpiece for the RNC.

Let's not pretend there still is something like impartial journalism in the US. How could that be? All the news organizations have been sold to large multibillion dollar corporations, who have an interest in shaping the news a certain way to fit their business interests. And then once every year, the journalists and the White House get cosy during one long incestuous evening called the 'Correspondents dinner'.

[Goliath]

Now I'm sure this was an excuse for MSNBC to get rid of Olbermann:


Olbermann's Got Company -- Hannity & Scarborough Donated, Too!

"Countdown" host Keith Olbermann may have landed in hot water following a report that he made three campaign contributions before Tuesday's election, but it looks like Joe Scarborough didn't get that memo. The MSNBC "Morning Joe'" anchor and Sean Hannity have also written checks to political candidates in the past, according to federal campaign disclosures. [...]

However, Scarborough is guilty of the same sin. The "Morning Joe" host donated $4,200 to Oregon Republican Derrick Kitts' failed 2006 campaign for a U.S. House seat. MSNBC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. [...]

News Corp policy does permit employees to make donations in a personal capacity. Fox News has long said it considers Hannity, similar to Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck, a host not a news anchor or journalist. A search of federal campaign disclosures found no Fox News on-air journalists such as Shepard Smith to have made contributions or donations. As a company News Corp. contributed $2 million during the 2010 election cycle to organizations -- including $1 million to the Republican Governors Association -- opposed to Democratic candidates.

[The_Iceflash]

Goliath, what does MSNBC consider Olbermann? I would love to see a list of these policies and titles that he and Hannity, O'Reilly, etc hold and see how they all add up. I don't know what's in their contracts that may allow or not allow this.

[milojthatch]

Bravo for MSNBC to show they have that much class to stick to their guns. Fox News could learn a thing or two about journalism from this, like, it is hard to be un-biased when you are giving money to the very politicians you are reporting on!

This makes me curious, what are other stations' policies when it comes to this sort of thing?

They definately deserve for sticking to their guns. They definately showed class for doing so.

Good question, I have no idea.

It's a real shame. I suspect they wanted to get rid of Keith Olbermann for a long time, because he was going against the status quo for way too long. He passionately advocated gay marriage; argued how there was absolutely no problem with the so-called Ground Zero 'mosque'; and busted many prominent Republican *and* Democratic politicians in Congress on dubious and corrupt deals with insurance companies during the health care debate. During the Bush years, he was one of the few remaining voices of sanity who dared to call Cheney and Bush on their war crimes.

LOL Everyone knows MSNBC are hardcore liberals. Hiding that fact by using their "policy" is bunch of bullshit.

They're so 'hardcore liberal' that they have Joe Scarborough on every day for three straight hours, ad employ Pat Robertson! And don't forget Chris Matthews was the political watercarrier for the Republicans for many years before the opportunistic jackass smelled the political winds changing. My, what raging commies!

From the CNN article:

Like most news organizations, NBC News, parent of msnbc TV, prohibits political contributions by its journalists without prior approval of the president.

The hypocrisy is unbearable! Who owns NBC? Oh yes, that's right, General Electric, who contributed millions of dollars to Republican candidates and, through some of their many subsidiary companies, profited hugely from those Republican policies, mainly the Iraq War.

More from the article:

"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,” the NBC News policy reads.

Good thing Fox doesn't have such policy, or the channel would be out of business a long time ago. They hire people like Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, who openly speculate on running for office again; and they function as a mouthpiece for the RNC.

Let's not pretend there still is something like impartial journalism in the US. How could that be? All the news organizations have been sold to large multibillion dollar corporations, who have an interest in shaping the news a certain way to fit their business interests. And then once every year, the journalists and the White House get cosy during one long incestuous evening called the 'Correspondents dinner'.

I think, if this and other such stories show anything, it is that news is dead and unreliable. In the quest for using up the First Amendment for everything is has on free speech, the news has run it's course and is broken. If we can't trust the news becuase those behind it may be paying off the guys they are reporting on, who can we trust when it come to knowing what is going on in the country and the World?

It seems to me that ALL cable news is a joke, more about getting ratings and entertaining then letting us know what is really out there in the World. Maybe the biggest reason why so many young people depend more on guys like Jon Stewart then any other "real" news man. At least Jon lets you know up front what he says is crap and not to base too much off of it.

[Goliath]

At least Jon lets you know up front what he says is crap and not to base too much off of it.

No, Jon doesn't say it's crap, he says it's only comedy. And he is much too humble about it. A study has showed that viewers of The Daily Show are most informed about news and current events (those watching Fox are least informed). Influential people like Dick Armey, Eric Cantor, Jim Cramer and even Tony Blair have experienced their toughest, most critical interviews with Jon Stewart, instead of the softballs the 'real' news channels throw them.

[Super Aurora]

Only news station I trust and watch is Daily Planet.





I mean they have such a hot reporter/journalist:

[milojthatch]

At least Jon lets you know up front what he says is crap and not to base too much off of it.

No, Jon doesn't say it's crap, he says it's only comedy. And he is much too humble about it. A study has showed that viewers of The Daily Show are most informed about news and current events (those watching Fox are least informed). Influential people like Dick Armey, Eric Cantor, Jim Cramer and even Tony Blair have experienced their toughest, most critical interviews with Jon Stewart, instead of the softballs the 'real' news channels throw them.

Ok fine, comedy, I mis-spoke. Still, I find it sad that a comedy show is better at informing the masses about the news then supposedly the real thing!

[Kyle]

Is it odd that I really don't care much about politics but still watch stewart and colbert? I mean, its not that I don't care, rather I usually feel like its over my head and don't pretend to understand most of it. Yet, I still find it entertaining when both sides make fools out of themselves.

[disneyboy20022]

He's Back on Tuesday!!

http://www.nbcuniversal.presscentre.com ... ClientID=7

[The_Iceflash]

He's Back on Tuesday!!

http://www.nbcuniversal.presscentre.com ... ClientID=7

Respect definately lost for MSNBC now. (What was left of it anyway.)

[littlefuzzy]

Sounds like a holiday weekend, rather than a suspension!

[Goliath]

Respect definately lost for MSNBC now. (What was left of it anyway.)

Respect re-instated for MSNBC now. Good to have him back on the air.

Why? Beecause yes, he violated the regulations, but he claimed not be aware of that clause --and, more importantly, because Olbermann never used his show as a platform to urge viewers to donate to said candidates. Nor did he let candidates advertise their donations websites or upcoming fundraisers on air. Nor did he ever host a fundraiser for a candidate. And that's what distinguishes him from the Fox News hosts. Yes, I know it's very popular nowadays to compare MSNBC to Fox and say they're mirror images, but that's simply not true.

Rachel Maddow of MSNBC commented on this on her show and used Olbermann's suspension as an example to show how different her station is from Fox. Watch how blatantly unapologetic Fox hosts use their shows, or let Republican candidates use their shows, to urge viewers to donate. Also, watch how much fundraisers they host and how many presidential hopefulls are employed by Fox:

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[Disney's Divinity]

Joe Scarborough's suspended, too. For two days, just like Olbermann. Guess they had to do that if they wanted to keep any semblance of objectivity or fairness.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/11/19/joe-s ... -donation/

[ajmrowland]

where are the batmans, green arrows, and assassins of the world?