Politico: Bloggers: MSNBC railroaded Keith Olbermann

[Patsy Stone]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44770.html

By KEACH HAGEY | 11/5/10 9:26 PM EDT

MSNBC wants to “Lean Forward” – but apparently not that far forward.

Keith Olbermann’s suspension over donations to Democrats prompted an outcry from across the blogosphere Friday as writers from the liberal Daily Kos to the conservative Weekly Standard criticized the move.

They agreed about one thing: It didn’t seem fair that MSNBC had so quickly and severely punished its flagship personality over an action that seemed quite in line with what he did on the air five days a week: support liberal candidates and causes.

<snip>

Olbermann’s fate remains unclear. An NBC source told the New York Times’ Brian Stelter that the suspension would not likely lead to Olbermann’s firing. Meanwhile, fans barraged the MSNBC offices with calls to reinstate him, while the Progressive Change Campaign Committee circulated a petition calling for the same.

Olbermann’s fill-in Friday night, Thomas Roberts, said:

"As we promised at the top of the show, a quick word now about Keith. Last night MSNBC management became aware of three political contributions that Keith made to three different candidates last week. The contributions are not permitted by NBC news without prior approval. In light of those facts Keith has been suspended indefinitely. And we know all of you are looking forward to Keith’s return. And so are we," he said.

ed: chose new clips

[Major Hogwash]

1. HOW did they come to find out about those contributions?

Someone was using a microscope to go after Keith.

I can hear the train whistle from here.

[jillan]

4. It was some new journalist, fresh out of college, who works for Politico.

There are threads around here somewhere.

[Patsy Stone]

6. If I was a TFH type

I might ask myself how she happened to find this particular info. Was she researching him, all political contributions by media types, or just those to Dems?

ed: spell.

[blondeatlast]

11. I'm sure if we had an eager young reporter on our side, that EYR could easily find a big fat link

from the TAX-EXEMPT RW think tanks, like the Heritage Foundation, to Politico and a few weaselly donations somewhere in between.

Ms. EYR didn't act alone, methinks, but she is young, attractive--and dare I say it (since my son is mixed, I will) brown--a perfexct, critcism-proof, fall gal.

[Patsy Stone]

12. Yep

to all of it. :hi:

[Hailtothechimp]

13. Agreed. I think it was Karl Rove's doing.

Can't prove it, of course, but I just can't believe it was the diligence of somebody just 6 months out of college. Sorry.

[blondeatlast]

8. Yeah, sure, she did it all by herself...

Sure she did. Wanna buy a bridge?

[TBF]

2. I smell Comcast behind this ... nt

[greenmutha]

3. NBC says MSNBCers are not subject to that "rule" !

From Gawker.com
http://gawker.com/5682789/nbc-news-source-our-rules-don...

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."

[Patsy Stone]

5. Hi

Thanks for that. :thumbsup:

[Kind of Blue]

7. Good Lord, we need to know more of this.

I hope that it is in writing and not just what was said or assumed.
KnR

[Patsy Stone]

9. Rachel says they are.

But she also said, "point made," and added that they should bring him back. Couldn't agree more. Also, thanks to DU for that info. :yourock:

[Kind of Blue]

10. Just heard it, too. It's CNBC that is exempt not MSNBC. n/t