Keith Olbermann suspended indefinitely without pay, after word he made political contributions

[jefferson_dem]

Fuck!

MSNBC President Phil Griffin announces Keith Olbermann suspended indefinitely without pay, after word he made political contributions

http://twitter.com/#!/stevebruskCNN/statuses/603941226156032

[jillan]

1. What? Is this a joke?

[young but wise]

2. This is fucked up.

[jefferson_dem]

9. If it was against company policy, it was a stupid thing for him to do and...

sorry to say ... he deserves some sort of punishment.

[jillan]

18. But Keith would know that. There has to be some other reason why he did this.

[flpoljunkie]

51. Yes, it is. Kos wrote about Phil Griffin and MSNBC...

Phil Griffin and MSNBC
by kos

Thu Jul 15, 2010 at 12:40:03 PM PDT

Last week I noted that I had been blacklisted from MSNBC for hurting Joe Scarborough's feelings on Twitter. Apparently, they have a policy of booting anyone who criticizes the network's sole conservative host (and no one else).

A lot of the responses were incredulous. Why would MSNBC president Phil Griffin let Scarborough dictate the guest list of the evening hosts? Scarborough's crappy show is last in the advertising demo among the four cable morning shows, lagging even Headline News' show (quick -- what's that show called?). On the other hand, Keith Olbermann's show is the only show in all of cableland to break Fox News' stranglehold on the top 10 list.

The answer is that with the impending acquisition of NBC by Comcast, Griffin fears for his job, and Scarborough is his meal ticket. You see, Griffin had nothing to do with Olbermann's show, and had little to do with Rachel Maddow's -- a project spearheaded by Olbermann.

According to MSNBC insiders, as Olbermann’s ratings have risen, so has his level of power at MSNBC. “Phil Griffin didn’t hire Rachel,” says one person who works at the network. “He didn’t want to hire Rachel. Keith hired Rachel.” Olbermann plays down his involvement: “It was nothing more sophisticated than being the person who nominated her for membership in the club.” But he was the one who broke the news of Maddow’s show on August 19, on the liberal Website Daily Kos, writing coyly, “Yes, I had something to do with it.”

more...

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/7/14/884359/-Phil-Griffin-and-MSNBC

[bigdarryl]

3. Does than mean he's fired

[littlewolf]

22. nope just on "vacation" for a while ....

[golfguru]

49. On vacation without pay /

[SunsetDreams]

4. What the hell?

On edit: think I will wait for confirmation.

[bigdarryl]

8. I think this is enough confirmation

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/05/keith-olbermann-suspended_n_779586.html

[SunsetDreams]

14. DAMN!

:mad:

Why can't he contribute as an American Citizen? Did he mention it on air or something?

[jefferson_dem]

17. Journalistic integrity and independence.

I know it doesn't seem fair but that's what we should expect from those who "report" the news.

[CoffeeCat]

20. Yes, but isn't Keith more of a commentator?

He's not a Katie Couric. Everyone knows where Keith is
politically.

[joeglow3]

23. Should Juan Williams have been fired?

[CoffeeCat]

30. I think...

...that admitting that you are a bigot who cannot be rational when
it comes to an entire class of people--is a bit different from holding
Democratic viewpoints.

I don't consider being an ignorant bigot parallel with having political
views.

[Vincardog]

5. I heard that everyone at FAUX made political donations too, Just saying

[woo me with science]

16. Yeah, but Olbermann gave them hell for it when their news division did it.

The problem here is that, for some unfathomable reason, Keith is classified as a "news anchor" at MSNBC when he clearly is an opinion commentator.

[joeglow3]

25. He is both.

Clearly, he was operating as an anchor during their election coverage. I agree with your thoughts on if he is solely a commentator. Which is why I have never like him doing news coverage of elections, conventions, etc.

[woo me with science]

37. Yeah, you can't really be both.

The line has been there historically for a reason.

[Renew Deal]

6. I hate to say I told you so.

But this sort if thing is wrong.

I wonder if they know about Scarborough.

[alsame]

24. Scar campaigned with Bush while he was at the

network. They had no problem with that.

[SunsetDreams]

28. Good Point!

[xchrom]

7. Fox funnels money to candidates but olberman can't. Nt

[SnakeEyes]

11. NBC has higher standards

[woo me with science]

19. Olbermann has strongly criticized FOX for doing it.

The problem here is that NBC has him classified as a news anchor, when he is really a commentator.

[benlurkin]

44. Olbermann didn't sign a contract with FOX , now did he?

MSNBC said not to do this. Fox might not have the same fucking contract requirements. Stop comparing the two

[Pisces]

10. wow, I guess they don't want to be compared to Fox news

[jillan]

12. I'm thinking about this and if this is true - Keith is no dummy. He did this for a reason.

And I bet that reason is right across the plaza from msnbc.

[leftynyc]

27. You mean SAKS?

If he thinks another network is going to pick him up, he's dreaming. He has a horrible reputation in the industry.

[joeglow3]

32. Maybe he wants to go back to ESPN.

[FBaggins]

48. Didn't he leave ESPN under less-than-ideal circumstances? n/t

[jillan]

41. hahaha- that's funny. I was referring to Faux & maybe he did this to start the conversation about

news organizations, and/or their pundits, donating to political campaigns.

Saks - haha - I can picture Keith selling ties.

[leftynyc]

43. I used to work in the area

and it was the first thing to pop into my head. Keith has a pretty big ego and may have thought he could get away with it. I guess we have to wait and see what he says.

[Renew Deal]

55. lol @ the Saks joke

:D

[leftynyc]

62. Well

It is across the plaza and I figured we need some smiles this week.

[benlurkin]

47. He didn't do this on purpose

He just realized the hard way that he's not 10 ft tall and bullet proof

[Vinca]

13. There are 3 reasons I watch MSNBC: Big Ed, Rachel and Keith.

I am not happy with MSNBC if this is true.

[bigdarryl]

26. and you will now watch Cenk

[leftynyc]

29. No, I wont

He's a blowhard.

[denimgirly]

36. I know i Will!

[Pisces]

39. I would only watch Rachel

[AtomicKitten]

15. If News Corp can give $2 million to the GOP, MSNBC can lighten up on Keith. nt

[dave29]

21. Maybe he thought he was a proxy for corporate cash via Citizens United

:shrug:

[Mass]

31. Sad, but it was stupid for Keith not to follow the rules except if he wanted to create a controversy

[denimgirly]

33. Cenk is going to have a FULL Plate if they Ask him to Anchor this show too...

Today Cenk is hosting Dylan and Big Ed....seeing as how Keith is gone too i wonder if they will ask Cenk to anchor that too...i think Cenk might be burnt out to want to.

I guess we are going to be seeing Cenk a bit more often on Countdown :D

[trayfoot]

52. Not me!

I didn't like what I saw from him the last time he was on! Guess it will be just Rachel!

[Renew Deal]

56. Could be a double Maddow show

Since Cenk and O'Donnell are both out. Maybe they can get Shepard Smith. He's right across the street. :silly:

[Beacool]

34. Wow, I didn't see that one coming!!!

:wow:

But, if it was against company policy, why did he make political contributions?

;(

[denimgirly]

35. On the PLUS Side...Countdown's Ratings are going to be thru the roof when Keith returns.

[jillan]

38. What I want to know - who was the rat? Who told Griffin about these donations?

Could somebody be jealous of Keith's ratings? Could somebody be upset that it was Keith, not them, that hosted the election results on Tues nite?

:tinfoilhat: Remember Phil Donahue? Just sayin'. :tinfoilhat:

[FBaggins]

45. Donations of that size are in the public record.

Unless you're a corporation giving through the Chamber of Commerce of course.

[Mr. Sparkle]

40. Phil Griffin is going rogue, He needs to be sacked, Now !

This is an expract taken from a Huffpo article.

The move is doubly significant in that it represents a major development in the relationship between Griffin and Olbermann, who once told the New Yorker, "Phil thinks he's my boss."

"Keith doesn't run the show," Griffin told New York Magazine recently. "I do a lot of things he doesn't like. I do a lot of things he does."

In recent months, Griffin has taken several bold steps to declare his authority over the network and its sometimes unruly talent: he sent a stern memo warning hosts to not publicly fight with each other, he suspended David Shuster indefinitely for filming a CNN pilot, suspended Donny Deutsch, banned Markos Moulitsas from the network, and reprimanded Ed Schultz for threatening to "torch" the network.

His ego seems to be getting out of control.

[Jennicut]

46. He seems like a total ahole.

[Staph]

42. According to MSNBC themselves,

in a story published on their website in July of 2007....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113455/#Scarborough

MSNBC, Joe Scarborough, host of the "Morning Joe" talk show and the evening newscast "Scarborough Country," $4,200 in March 2006 to Derrick Kitts, Republican candidate for the House from Oregon. Scarborough was a Republican member of Congress from Florida from 1995 to 2001. He also provides political commentary for MSNBC, CNBC and NBC's "Today Show."

MSNBC policy requires journalists to report any potential conflict of interest and to seek approval from the president of NBC News before making any political contribution.

A spokesperson for NBC, Jeremy Gaines, replied to questions sent to Scarborough. "Yes, he did make a donation to Derrick Kitts. Kitts is an old friend of Joe's. Joe hosts an opinion program and is not a news reporter."

Keith did a stupid thing if he didn't ask first. But his show is no less an opinion program than Morning Joe. Were I running MSNBC (oh, I would love to be running MSNBC!), I'd suspend Keith for a few days or perhaps a week for not playing by the rules.

[DemocraticPilgrim]

50. Whoa Thetis heavy,,, Rachel we need you more than ever now. Can we get him back on web radio...

His voice must stay out there however we can. 

[saracat]

53. Whoa. Did KO once say he didn't vote? So as not to bias himself? Or am I remembering wrong?

[Sky Masterson]

58. He said that before

.

[Phx_Dem]

54. Fucked up. Joe is no more a commentator than Keith is.

Keith doesn't "report the news," he comments on it. He's not fucking Brian Williams. If news breaks while he's on the air and then he reports it, as does Scarwhore and Rachel and every other commentator.

The bit about telling the bosses first is total bullshit. Why? So they can say no to Olberman but yes to Scarwhore?

Edited: Olbermann gets on my nerves sometimes, but so do alot of people. I still like him, and I am boycotting his show while he's "on leave." Fuck MSNBC.

[LittleBlue]

57. Can't believe they'll fire him over this, he's their biggest moneymaker

Crazy

[gkhouston]

59. What about the contributions that MSNBC doubtless made in secret? Who's suspending

them??

[NJLEFTY]

60. ratings in the tank

It probably didn't help that his ratings are in the tank.

[Peacetrain]

61. I called MSNBC... they send you to another line for the Olbermann show.. and the message box is full

I am just shocked..

[flamingdem]

63. This is so unfair, unbelievable nt