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That's funny, considering the money given by parent companies to candidates and parties.
The initial story . . . .
Via Mediaite.com
Subsequently . . .Keith Olbermann Donated To Three Democrats Last Week, Potentially Violating NBC Rules
» 106 comments
by Steve Krakauer | 9:09 am, November 5th, 2010
VIDEO
Remember all that back-and-forth between Fox News and MSNBC regarding possible on-air fundraising? Well an offshoot from that is actual donating – which Politico reports Keith Olbermann did last week, in the maximum amount, to three Democratic candidates.
This donation came to one candidate directly after his Countdown interview that night – and it may be in violation of NBC’s rules.
Rep. Raul Grijalva was a guest on Olbermann’s MSNBC show last Thursday (video below), lamenting the campaign waged against him because of immigration-related SB-1070. “It comes at the end of a campaign when many of us have been battered for six months because of our opposition to 10-70,” he said on the show. It was the sixth time the congressman had appeared on the show in the last sixth months, according to Politico. In the end, Grijalva ended in a too-close-to-call race, eventually pulling out the victory on Thursday night.
But that night, Olbermann concluded his show, went over to Mailboxes Etc. around 30 Rock, and donated $2,400 to Grijalva, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and Jack Conway (running against Rand Paul). “Giffords had appeared on Olbermann’s program in May, as did Conway,” reports Politico.
So what does this mean? NBC has rules regarding employees donating to political campaigns, discouraging it and impressing that it’s a “a breach of journalistic independence to contribute to the candidates they cover.” Here’s a key part of that policy: “You should report any such potential conflicts in advance to, and obtain prior approval of, the President of NBC News or his designee.”
Whether Olbermann told his bosses about the donation before it happened will be key, but regardless, this act should evaporate any final appearance of objectivity by the MSNBC host. Gabriel Sherman, who recently wrote a massive cable news profile, said this on Twitter: “Roger Ailes wouldn’t tolerate Fox talent giving $$ to candidates like @KeithOlbermann. In April, Ailes puled Hannity from tea party event.”
MSNBC declined to comment for Politico’s article, so we don’t know whether they knew about the donation. We’ve reached out to MSNBC as well. But here’s what Olbermann told Politico:
This will not be where the story ends. Also, as MSNBC Leans Forward into their new life with Comcast at the helm, they are in a very different place than they were last year. The success of Rachel Maddow (beating Olbermann in the demo last month), and Lawrence O’Donnell may mean the new bosses will be far less understanding of these types of issues that arise with Olbermann when, and if, he went rogue last week.
Last edited by Mr. Peabody; 11-05-2010 at 01:43 PM. Reason: Formatting
That's funny, considering the money given by parent companies to candidates and parties.
I am pretty sure that CNBC suspended him over their poor ratings along with Oberman’s & Meadows outrageous behavior…CNBC has no where to go but down with these two hateful people…Everyone knew that something was going to happen soon…..
It's unfortunate that Mr. Olbermann doesn't work for Fox, where donating to candidates that the network supports will probably give you a bonus rather than a pink slip.
Fox is biased. MSNBC is biased and emarassing.
Why are you embarrassed by a news network you have nothing to do with?
Who knows? They might put him in the stable with Juan Williams.
Olberman's a dip . He's the same kind of emotional rabble-rouser that Palin, Beck, Hannity, O'Reilly, and the rest of the Fox News crowd are.
That's just an excuse to get rid of him. The guy sucks donkey .
I think they'll find an excuse to get him back.
Allowing a person on YOUR show - giving them air time on your show - is 100000000000x more beneficial than a monetary contribution to their campaign.
This suspension makes no sense for a network with an obvious bias.
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
Having said that, I believe the firing was unjust. It's not like his political bent wasn't on display every show. , I'm surprised he was giving to more Democrats.
What the are his 25 viewers going to do?
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
Having said that, I believe the firing was unjust. It's not like his political bent wasn't on display every show. , I'm surprised he was giving to more Democrats.
What the are his 25 viewers going to do?
Yeah George, what are you going to watch durning that time slot?
looks like his donations didnt do much anyway
lol yoni is one of the 25 viewers.
For the record, I don't think KO should be suspended or fired. He's not a journalist. After the fallout from the 2008 election coverage, why the did they put KO and Chrissy Matthews on election night coverage anyway?
Besides, suspending KO for this allows MSNBC to go on pretending that they're a news organization.
they're not a news organization? what are they?
......it's ridiculous that Olbermann can't make political donations...I mean, I know it's a part of his contract, but seriously? Hannity and beck openly campaign for wing-nuts...
Scarborough donated to Derrick Kitts:
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. ... 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."
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/11/5/917893/-Olberma...
The entire on-air talent at MSNBC openly campaigned for Democrats. That's not what's at issue. Olbermann made political contributions to politicians he talked to and about, on air.
I agree, firing Olbermann for giving money to a Democrat campaign is stupid. But, hey, it MSNBC's game and he did sign the contract.
Insannity donated almost 10K this year alone....
News MeatHannity, Sean
Oyster Bay, NY 11771
Fox News/Talk Host MANY INDIVIDUAL CONSERVATIVES HELPING ELECT LEADERS EVERYWHERE (MICHELEPAC) - $5,000
general 08/31/10
HANNITY, SEAN
OSYTER BAY, NY 11771
FOX NEWS/BROADCASTER GOMEZ, JOHN B MR. (R)
House (NY District: 02)
JOHN GOMEZ FOR CONGRESS - $2,400
primary 05/01/10
HANNITY, SEAN
OSYTER BAY, NY 11771
FOX NEWS/BROADCASTER GOMEZ, JOHN B MR. (R)
House (NY District: 02)
JOHN GOMEZ FOR CONGRESS - $2,400
general 05/01/10
HANNITY, SEAN
11743 PIRRO, JEANINE F (R)
Senate - NY
PIRRO FOR SENATE INC - $-2,100
general 02/17/06
HANNITY, SEAN MR
LLOYD HARBOR, NY 11743 PIRRO, JEANINE F (R)
Senate - NY
PIRRO FOR SENATE INC Lost $4,200
primary 10/28/05
HANNITY, SEAN MR
LLOYD HARBOR, NY 11743 PIRRO, JEANINE F (R)
Senate - NY
PIRRO FOR SENATE INC Lost $2,100
general 10/28/05
HANNITY, SEAN MR
LLOYD HARBOR, NY 11743 PIRRO, JEANINE F (R)
Senate - NY
PIRRO FOR SENATE INC - $-2,100
primary 10/28/05
Hannity doesn't work for MSNBC, does he?
Look, I know you're going to miss him but, really, Olbermann violated company policy and was fired for it. It doesn't matter if the policy was stupid, it's something to which he agreed when he accepted their employment offer.
You can post all day long about others how contributed but, that's not the point; we all agree, holding a partisan pundit to that standard is idiotic. But, oh well.
Personally, I think something else is in play. Olbermann was MSNBC's star, he must have really pissed somebody off to get fired for something this stupid.
COMCAST, MSNBC's NEW OWNER, GAVE $50,000 TO CANDIDATES Olbermann opposed
crooks and liarsComcast 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, major shareholder and content partner with 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).
This was planned by the new bosses
Comcast is in line to acquire control of NBC Universal, once regulators sign off on the $30 billion deal. Mr. Chernin asked Mr. Roberts how he planned to handle daily editorial control of such an immense news operation. “Are you saying that you’ll never interfere?” he asked. Mr. Roberts blanched slightly at the question, which included a hypothetical situation that had Keith Olbermann, an MSNBC host, attacking a couple of Republican congressmen just as the approvals were being finished. “Let’s have that conversation in six months or 12 months,” Mr. Roberts said."
As I've pointed out, so has Joe Scarborough...this is the corporate M$M closing ranks to take total control of the message...
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