Joe Scarborough did the exact same thing

[Kennah]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/11/5/917928/-Joe-Scarborough-did-the-exact-same-thing

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. ... 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."

[Common Sense Party]

1. Did he get prior approval from the President of NBC News?

I believe that's the issue.

"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."

[eleny]

2. Common sense should tell you that MSNBC should not suspend its highest ratings host

The very host that launched MSNBC's overall ratings rise.

Rules are made to overlooked. It happens every day, everywhere.

[Common Sense Party]

4. Agreed. It's stupid, it's tone-deaf. But it's within their legal rights.

[eleny]

6. I doubt that anyone is seriously questioing their legal right

We knew early in this mess that Scarborough cleared his contributions with the boss before making them.

[Common Sense Party]

7. There are recent threads up right now that act as if Scar did the

exact same thing as KO, thus KO is being treated unfairly.

[Misskittycat]

10. From a legal standpoint, this is a very weak clause.

It uses non-mandatory language -- not once, but several times. Lawyers know how to use mandatory, unequivocal language like "shall" or "must" and know how to avoid wishy-washy language like "may."

It does not contain any explicit penalty provision or even implied threat of suspension or dismissal. The only result suggested by this language is that the employee "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." Of course, there's the additional issue whether it applies to MSNBC at all, or to its programs that are clearly opinion programs where the apparent "conflict of interest" with being an "impartial journalist" is clear and evident every single day the program airs.

It does not include any standards or guidelines for the "President of NBC News or his designee" to follow to avoid having this prior approval unreasonably withheld or applied in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner.

Once any "President of NBC News or his designee" -- whether current or former -- has approved a political contribution (and, in the case of Scarborough, partisan endorsements as well) by the host of an MSNBC opinion program,there is a strong argument that this clause is waived as to other such hosts, or inapplicable at all to a host of an opinion program who gives political contributions. Moreover, if the "President...or his designee...." withheld the approval of contributions to Democrats when such approval has not in the past been withheld as to a contributions to Republicans, it could be viewed as an arbitrary act in violation of the contract's implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. (There is an "implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing" in every contract, according to widely accepted contract law in the U.S.)

[Botany]

3. please

[Historic NY]

5. IOKIYAR....thats the message.

[autorank]

8. They're smoking crack k*r

Kieth's show is opinion. That's so flagrant. How can people rep that kind of logic.

[eShirl]

9. Joe donated to a Republican though. Not a Democrat.

Bad Keith!

[ezmerelda39]

Very interesting

that multinational corporations can pour money into campaigns but an individual can not donate personally because they work for a TV network. Why do I get the feeling it is a control measure, that IF Keith had asked for permission and indicated his preferences for donations was for GOP candidates that it might have passed under the radar.

[66 dmhlt]

11. And of course Faux "news" did it in spades

Media Matters extensively well-documented article reveals Faux Teapublican donors: REPORT: More Than 30 Fox Newsers Support GOP In 600-Plus Instances During Midterms

http://mediamatters.org/research/201010270005

[kelly1mm]

13. Are fox host bound by the contribution rules of MSNBC? nt

[66 dmhlt]

15. I don't know. But neither I nor the article claims they are.

[Doctor_J]

12. No he didn't

joe Intern Killer donated to repukes, not dems. You should know by now there is a difference.

[Crunchy Frog]

14. Does anyone here think that Keith Olberman doesn't host an opinion program?