MSNBC on Friday suspended Keith Olbermann indefinitely without pay after it was revealed the "Countdown" host had made campaign contributions to three Democratic candidates, including one donation made the same day the pol in question appeared on Olbermann's show.
Politico revealed that Olbermann made contributions to Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords on Oct. 28 - the same day Grijalva appeared as a guest on "Countdown."
Olbermann also made a contribution to Jack Conway, an unsuccessful Senate candidate from Kentucky, the website reported.
Olbermann admitted the contributions in a statement to Politico. The website said he made the maximum legal donations of $2,400 apiece to the three candidates. In a statement, MSNBC President Phil Griffin said: "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."
Like many news organizations, MSNBC bars employees from contributing to political campaigns.
To make matters worse, the man MSNBC had picked to fill in for Olbermann - Chris Hayes, Washington editor for The Nation - had to be scrubbed after it was learned Hayes had also donated to Democratic candidates.
The network said MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts would fill in Friday night.
In a statement, Olbermann said: "I did not privately or publicly encourage anyone else to donate to these campaigns, nor to any others in this election or any previous ones, nor have I previously donated to any political campaign at any level."
Media Matters pointed out on Friday that two Fox News hosts, Neil Cavuto and Sean Hannity, had given money to Republican politicians in the past. And Fox's parent company, News Corp., donated $1 million to the Republican Governors Association (something Olbermann himself had criticized.)
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Chris Hayes declined to do Countdown due to respect for Keith.
Anyone that has ever watched Keith knows he is not close to being an “impartial” journalist.
A blog at crooksandliars:
“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.”
That language clearly says “should” and not “must”. Further, anyone who thinks Keith Olbermann is an impartial journalist should have their head examined. He’s not, never has been, never will be, and is not presented as one.”
http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/what-role-did-comcast-play-keith-olbermanns”
I UNDERSTAND RULES THEY ARE THERE FOR A REASON, BUT FOR ONE OF THE ONLY HONEST BROADCASTERS IN SERVICE, PLEASE, NO ONE COMPLAINED WHEN HE STARTED AND GAVE MONEY TO THE HEALTH FAIRS, NOW DID THEY. HAVE ANY OTHER HOSTS DONE THAT?????????
FAIR has exposed the fact that GE and Comcast make political contributions.
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=4192
I can hardly wait to hear Fox’s outcry against MSNBC’spolitical correctness police having suspended Keith Olbermann.
But for now, the crickets seem to be drowning them out.