Olbermann suspended

[Elhuero]

Queue the nelson soundbite ...... HAHA!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40028929...2010?gt1=43001


Msnbc TV host Keith Olbermann was suspended indefinitely on Friday for making campaign donations to three Democratic congressional candidates, apparently in violation of NBC News ethics policy.


The announcement came in a one-sentence statement from msnbc TV President Phil Griffin: “I became aware of Keith's political contributions late last night. Mindful of NBC News policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay.”


The donations were first reported by the Politico website earlier in the day.
Olbermann acknowledged the donations in a statement to Politico, saying he gave the maximum legal donation of $2,400 to Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords and Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, who waged an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate against Tea Party standard-bearer Rand Paul.


Like most news organizations, NBC News, parent of msnbc TV, prohibits political contributions by its journalists without prior approval of the president. (Msnbc.com, a joint venture of NBC News and Microsoft, also has a policy against its journalists contributing to political campaigns.)


"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,” it reads. “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."


Politico noted that the donations to Grijalva and Giffords were made on Oct. 28, the same day that Grijalva appeared on Olbermann’s “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” show. Grijalva won re-election on Tuesday, while Giffords on Friday was clinging to a narrow lead over Republican Jesse Kelly in a race that the Associated Press has not yet called.


In his statement to Politico, Olbermann said he did not encourage his viewers or other staff members to donate to the candidates.


“I did not privately or publicly encourage anyone else to donate to these campaigns, nor to any others in this election or any previous ones, nor have I previously donated to any political campaign at any level,” he was quoted as saying.

[Molon_Labe-1775]

That's awesome.... what could be better than that?

Reading all the comments from the butt hurt left. Fucking morons

[RARGUNS]

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy

[cebeu]

This twat has always humored me, tries so hard to be an “arrogant persona” and he just can’t get there in my book. He’s like an ugly woman that tries oh so hard to be pretty but, at the end of the day it just ain’t gonna happen. He gets a forum to “spew poop from his pie hole” unfortunately, but he’ll leave few foot-prints that have any impact.

Then again, the mention of his name invoked a response from me here, must have some impact that compelled me to respond (mental note - cebeu needs to do a better job ignoring this human head-cheese).

[TS12000]

Oh god flamesuit on\

You shouldn't have to get prior approval from your employer to participate in politics. Even as a journalist you are going to already have opinions, as long as he wasn't spewing that people should donate to what he donates to there shouldn't be a problem. Like everyone on the planet didn't already know this guy was so far left anyway. Oh no Olbermann is a Democrat!?! say it ain't so!

[Irving]

I kind of agree. I don't like how much power over the individual corporations have.

As one of the commenters pointed out, if NBC wasn't trying so hard to pretend that they weren't so left, this probably wouldn't be an issue.

[Elhuero]

Oh god flamesuit on\

You shouldn't have to get prior approval from your employer to participate in politics. Even as a journalist you are going to already have opinions, as long as he wasn't spewing that people should donate to what he donates to there shouldn't be a problem. Like everyone on the planet didn't already know this guy was so far left anyway. Oh no Olbermann is a Democrat!?! say it ain't so!

normally I'd agree with you, but in this case I don't for two reasons.

1. he didn't get drafted into working in TV. he chose the job and knew the score and most importantly, he signed the contract. had he wanted to freely make donations he should have chosen a different line of work.

2. he's a pompous liar and I find no sadness in bad things happening to him. he's never shown a shred of impartiality and now it's bit him in the ass.

[tmckay2]

i don't like olbermann one bit, but in my opinion he should be able to donate to whomever he wants

[Anton]

I'm more surprised that MSNBC is still on the air at all. If nothing else, you'd think fellating the Democratic party 24/365 would get the FCC after them for indecency.

[Byte Stryke]

Its like saying that I went to work at McDonalds and then sued them for invasion of privacy because they made me wear a name tag.
you knew the conditions of employment, you accepted it, deal with it or leave.
Olbermann, Rush, Granny Smith, I Give a shit.

Tired of everyone spinning it into some kind of civil rights issue.
All he had to do was ask permission from the boss first... he failed to comply.