Well now... isn't *this* interesting?

[greenmutha]

From Gawker.com
http://gawker.com/5682789/nbc-news-source-our-rules-dont-apply-to-olbermann-and-msnbc

MSNBC chief Phil Griffin suspended Keith Olbermann today for violating "NBC News policy and standards" by donating to three Democratic congressional candidates last month. But according to an NBC News source, MSNBCers have been exempt from those rules for years.

NBC News rules explicitly bar employees from making political donations without prior approval, which is ostensibly why Griffin suspended Olbermann. But according to one NBC News insider, it's common knowledge within the organization that MSNBC's increasingly left-wing programming and personalities aren't required to abide by NBC News' exacting rules—if they were, it would be a much less bombastic and politically charged network. So while Olbermann's donations may have run counter to the NBC News brand and Griffin's wishes, there doesn't appear to be a chapter-and-verse policy applying to MSNBC employees barring them.

"The standards department has told us that MSNBC doesn't answer to NBC News standards," the insider said. "They don't have coverage over MSNBC. They used to, back before MSNBC went political, but at some point it became too hard and MSNBC was taken out of their portfolio. As far as I know, there are no ethical standards at MSNBC. And if NBC says MSNBC is supposed to be living up to the NBC News standards, that's a preposterous lie."

edited to add emphasis

[RavensChick]

1. Even still,

unless Keith notified them of the donations beforehand, THIS SUSPENSION SUCKS!!!!!!!

Sorry for the caps but emotions are running real high with me right now.

Griffin needs a good swift kick in the nether regions quickly!!!!!!!

[CBHagman]

2. FAIR sent out an alert on this...

...in which they covered the inconsistency at GE and at MSNBC.

http://www.fair.org.

Here's the contact info again:

MSNBC President
Phil Griffin
[e-mail]

NBC News President
Steve Capus
[e-mail]

Phone: [phone]