What Role Did Comcast Play in Keith Olbermann's Suspension -- UPDATED

[Donnachaidh]

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/what-role-did-comcast-play-keith-olbermanns

There is a double standard at work with regard to Keith Olbermann's suspension, not only between other personalities appearing on MSNBC as commentators, but also at the very top level of the food chain.

Comcast now owns MSNBC after their acquisition was completed earlier this year, despite protestations from many of us. A look at campaign finance disclosures for several organizations shows that Phil Anschutz, chairman of Comcast, donated large sums of money to the First Amendment Alliance, one of the largest outside groups targeting Democrats in the 2010 midterm elections.

The Anschutz Corporation, wholly owned by Phil Anschutz, gave $50,000 on 9/24/2010 to the First Amendment Alliance. The two candidates targeted by the First Amendment Alliance? Jack Conway and Michael Bennet.

Keith Olbermann gave to Jack Conway's campaign along with Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords.

In addition, the Anschutz family donated $169,900 to Republican candidates and committees during the 2010 election cycle, according to Open Secrets.

Additionally, Comcast Corporation has contributed $125,000 to the Republican Governors' Association in the 2010 cycle (as of 9/30/2010).

MORE at the link ---

[Cleita]

1. K&R!

[Vinnie From Indy]

23. This OP appears to be wildly inaccurate

Please see post 18.

[emulatorloo]

2. fascinating, thanks - rec n/t

[FSogol]

3. K & R. n/t

[meegbear]

4. Interesting ...

been thinking about dropping Comcast for a while. If this pans out, they are gone.

[crazylikafox]

5. Follow the money.............

Follow the money... Follow the money... Follow the money... Follow the money...

[Dappleganger]

12. That's always true.

[harun]

21. +1

[Loge23]

6. Bastards.

I'm sure Keith knew this and stuck his neck out.
It's time for all Progressives to get tough and let these bastards feel it. Boycott, flood them w/ emails, phone, letters, etc.
Concast (sic), above all, should not be involved in politics while they have a monopoly over the airwaves in so many communities.

[movonne]

7. The complete takeover of media and all news...and I'm afraid they

got it all now..once limpballs got all the radio stations in rural areas and corp business having faux news station in their business's this has been a slow takeover of our country..and we let this happen...in a few year this country will look like a 3rd world country..

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Remember, KO SAID this would happen.

In his special comment in Jan right after the John Roberts decision which said corporations could contribute unlimited campaign funds.
I went back and watched it again this am.

EXACTLY what he said would happen.

Here is link to his prediction that HE would be gone.
( Happily, he said so would Limbaugh and Beck)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x521838

And btw...remember yesterday a news comment that Bachmann was being ignored in her attempt to be on a
Committee or something in Congress, that the mainstream Repubs were rejecting her?

KO predicted THAT, too, in this comment.

Might be worth a minute or 2 to listen again and see how much has come to pass.

[mzmolly]

9. Steven Burke's political contributions here:

http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/stephen-burke.asp?cycle=08

[ProfessionalLeftist]

10. Philip Anshutz is an evil cretin. Rightwingnut, religious crazy.

etc. I suppose that goes without saying but well...just saying.

[Lorien]

11. Fairness Doctrine. Reinstate it. nt

[glinda]

13. I wish but am not holding my breath for these corrupt selfish asshats

[Bozita]

14. link to the videos of the ads sponsored by the First Amendment Alliance

KY:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTH3eKBJ8KQ&feature=related

CO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EV8iXeS90o

NV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mQzW78xr6w&feature=related

[GeorgeGist]

15. I cancelled Comcast long ago because they are fundamentally evil ...

and switched to DISH who are actually somewhat progressive.

[femrap]

16. Follow the money....Follow the money...nt

[snot]

17. K&R'd

[onenote]

18. its hard to keep track of the falsehoods in the story linked in the OP

First, Comcast's purchase of NBCU (which owns MSNBC) has not been completed. Its still being reviewed by DOJ and FCC.
Second, Philip Anschsutz is not now, nor has he ever been, chairman of Comcast. The Chairman of Comcast is Brian Roberts, who succeeded his father, Ralph Roberts, in the position.
Third, Ralph Roberts, Brian Roberts,and other members of the Roberts family donated over $105,000 to political candidates and/or PACs in the 2009-10 cycle -- not a single cent was directly contributed to repubs. Among the Democrats receiving Roberts' family contributions: Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, Michael Bennet, Richard Blumenthal, Daniel Inouye, and Sander Levin. Comcast's PAC donated to Democrats over repubs in 2010 by a 55/45 margin.

Check opensecrets.org if you don't believe me.


It would help if folks making these sorts of arguments actually had their facts straight.

[Vinnie From Indy]

22. Thank you!

Personally, if the OP is as wrong as your information makes it appear, it should be deleted from DU. It is obviously PURPOSELY designed to deceive.

Cheers!

[ooglymoogly]

24. Once again ad infinitum; onenote to pug rescue. nt

[onenote]

27. rescuing repubs? really? that's what the truth is to you?

It does us no good to spew falsehoods here. None. Zero. Nada. Zilch. If you can't see that, you're part of the problem with this country, not the solution. And badmouthing the Roberts family, who have given more money to Democratic candidates than you ever suggests you are more interested in helping repubs than not.

[HughMoran]

26. Sadly this thread got 112 recs promoting faulty information

I'm not so sure about this place at times.

[Kablooie]

19. So think they have plans to gut MSNBC and make it Fox light?

They won't give up until every bleeding heart liberal's heart is lying on the ground bleeding.

[Liberty Belle]

20. Bigger question: What role did GOP leaders in Congress play?

If a link could be proven through freedom of information requests, say if Boehmer asked MSNBC to axe Olbermann then an argument could be made that this is a first amendment violation. Courts have so ruled when a private entity colluded with government sources in the past.

[Stardust]

25. If #18 is correct, seems as though Comcast would have zero influence right now.