More hypocrisy from MSNBC -- Olberman refuses to pay taxes

[One Sweet World]

I'm an Obama supporter, but I was quite embarrassed by MSNBC's unveiled support for him during the primaries. It didn't do much for their credibility. Now I see this about Olbermann "forgetting" to pay his taxes. What is the deal with MSNBC?

(Full disclosure: As someone who works in media, I've always had a gripe with MSNBC for its refusal to set boundaries between news and opinion, but this is just getting ridiculous, right?)

From the AP:

MSNBC pundit Keith Olbermann, who spotlights misbehavior nightly with his "Worst Person in the World" recognition, owes New York state for unpaid business taxes, according to a tax warrant notice.

Olbermann, the host of "Countdown," owes New York $2,269.50, according to a tax warrant obtained by The Associated Press. State Tax and Finance Department spokesman Tom Bergin said the debt recorded against the TV host's Olbermann Broadcasting Empire Inc., based in Los Angeles, is still open.

[stray cat]

1. Morning Joe was definitely pro-Hillary as was Buchannon with all the shows he is on.

[unpossibles]

2. what's the deal with MSNBC?

you mean besides being owned by war profiteers and being the same as the other rightwing news organizations?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

3. Keith has never positioned himself as an objective reporter

He's a commentator, so he expresses his opinions. As for the taxes, big deal. It's 2 grand. He'll pay it.

[One Sweet World]

15. Keith anchors the election night coverage!

It's absurd to have an opinionator working the election nigth desk.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

18. Well tell that to all the other opinionators there

Buchanan, Maddow, Scarborough, etc.. And that's just MSNBC. If you want objectivity, get yourself an XM radio and listen to POTUS. I, for one, am rather weary of this pretense of objectivity on the part of the news media. I'd rather know where the people reading the news stand than have them pass on propaganda with a straight face like it's the unvarnished truth.

[shraby]

4. Why would he owe the tax in New York state, when

apparently his business is in Los Angeles?? I smell a rat.

[TommyO]

11. Most likely he made personal appearances in NY

[zbdent]

12. Sounds like the "Al Franken never paid his taxes"

except that he overpaid his taxes, just in the wrong state ...

[tularetom]

5. $2,269.50 - hanging's too good for him!

Gimme a fuckin break. That story was originally published by Murdoch's NY Post just to embarrass Olbermann. He's apparently gotten under their skin over there at the good ol "News Corp" and murdoch is pulling out all the stops to make him look bad.

I don't think Keith would characterize himself as a news reporter. He's a commentator and is allowed to have a point of view like any other pundit.

[panAmerican]

9. Honestly, when you're pulling down a $5million salary, that's a paltry sum.

It's nothing to haggle over. He could have just paid it and continued his dispute. I don't think it was an egregious decision by KO, but petty, yes.

[One Sweet World]

16. I hate when people try to relativize the sum

$2,600 is a lot of money.

[wtmusic]

21. I hate it when people mischaracterize a resolved debt as a "refusal"

"Bergin said the debt could have been resolved recently, but it has not yet been legally "satisfied" and so remains an open case."

Why are you interested in regurgitating Murdoch swill?

[wtmusic]

10. Kinda like when O'Reilly sued Franken

in a huff over Franken's book...for people with no leg to stand on, GOT DAMN they sure make a lot of noise.

[niyad]

6. isn't this the story that that piece of fishwrap, the post, printed last week, complete with KO's

home address?

wow, 2K in disputed taxes on a 7 figure salary. how much does rupert murdoch owe?

[Johonny]

7. and the dispute

was settled like 3 months ago. And what does any of it have to do with Hillary?

[hisownpetard]

8. I doubt the sincerity of your entire post.

Something smells fishy.

[wtmusic]

13. Are you also embarrassed by AP's unveiled support for Republicanism?

If not, you should be.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

19. No shit. At least I know where Keith stands.

I can't stand partisan spin disguised as "objective reporting".

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

14. Your concern is noted.

:eyes:

[Cheap_Trick]

20. and scoffed at

:rofl:

[Old and In the Way]

17. Olbermann refuses to pay taxes?

It's a friggen' difference of interpretation his tax accountant had on a specific aspect KO's taxable income. As a person who "works in the media", you ought to do a better job of creating your lede. Otherwise, we'd conclude you work for NewsMax or Talon or some other dishonest RW propaganda outlet with a dishonest and misleading headline.

[Stinky The Clown]

22. That sounds like either an oversight or an accounting dispute with the state

This smells very much of some right wing oppo researcher throwing shit against the wall.