Who's MSNBC trying to punish here? Let's get real...this is such bullshit...

[Blue_Roses]

if MSNBC wanted to punish someone for "disobeying" the rules, then hit 'em where it hurts THEM most--in the wallet. But by taking Keith off the air, the ones who are punished the most, are US! It's bad enough in the media as it is with all the conservative commentators. To do this is just bullshit...
Good grief...what hypocrisy.

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. To be fair, he is suspended without pay.

That's got to be a good chunk of change.

[Blue_Roses]

2. then that's all that should have happened...but keep him on the air...

still is bullshit.

[niyad]

3. you think it was fair that he was suspended? why?

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. I didn't say that. I said that in response to the OP, a wallet was getting hit.

Not enough information has come out for me to decide whether or not it was fair to suspend him. If it is in his contract that he was supposed to notify of the donation, that's one thing. If it wasn't, that's another. I signed the petition, I'm just not going to get all wadded up about it until there's something to wad around about.

[Iwasthere]

6. heres some info

Check out the fine print of what NBC policy said, as of 2007, about political activities on the part of NBC employees:


"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."


This is a bit difficult to parse. But this does seem to say that those who are worried that their "standing as an impartial journalist" would be jeopardized by political activity should report it. Last time I checked, Keith Olbermann doesn't pretend to be an "impartial journalist."

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. I have seen that all evening long. I am taking a wait and see stance.

I just can't get myself worked up much beyond signing the petition. We have no idea what is, or isn't, in Keith's contract.

edited to replace day with evening.

[JDPriestly]

5. MSNBC should have given Keith a warning and let him

continue. Still, this might be a good lawsuit, although I suspect the Court would decide against Olbermann. That decision would, however, finally make it clear that the Court as it now stands will protect the rights of corporations over the rights of humans.

[DeadEyeDyck]

8. I said this on another thread but it is equally valid here

In any job, we are all in a position of being fired at a moments notice. Read the employee's handbook and you will eventually see that "breathing on company time" is reason for immediate dismissal. IOWs, you work at the pleasure of your employer.

So here is my take. If the elections were reversed on Nov 2, this would have never happened. Why? Because the media powers-that-be would be thinking, America is progressive and KO is progressive. That is what makes good ratings.
But the elections did not speak well of the progressives and KO was seen on the wrong side of the tidal movement. Therefore, they used the first reason to dump him. If he had not given a few dollars, they would have got him on the, "you wore the wrong color tie on Thursday" clause that every contract has. IOWs, they needed a reason to dump him and drummed one up.

I think Tweety smelled the coffee a little quicker for he has thrown Obama under the bus. Business is business and it is all about the ratings.

That is my story and I'm sticking to it....

[flvegan]

9. Punishment can backfire.

You heard it from me.

[tblue]

10. They got SPONSORS, don't they?

Let's have a little chat with those sponsors and tell them to get the programming we want (Keith) back on the freaking air and then we'll buy their products again. If not, ciao.