Olbermann suspended indefinitedly by MSNBC

The Washington Post ^ | November 5, 2010 | Emi Kolawole

[Senator Goldwater]

Keith Olbermann has been suspended indefinitely from MSNBC for making campaign contributions to three Democrats.

Phil Griffin, president of MSNBC:

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. Read the MSNBC policy on campaign donations.

* * * *

MSNBC host Keith Olberman made campaign contributions to Democrats, one of whom appeared on his program, "Countdown with Keith Olbermann."

Olbermann donated the maximum allowable amount to failed Democratic Senate candidate Jack Conway in Kentucky and Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona. Olbermann donated to the Arizona lawmakers on Oct. 28 - the same day Grijalva appeared on Olbermann's show. Grijalva won another term, while Giffords appears to be leading in her race for re-election. Conway lost his Senate bid to Rand Paul.

In a statement to Politico, Olbermann said, "One week ago, on the night of Thursday October 28 2010, after a discussion with a friend about the state of politics in Arizona, I donated $2,400 each to the reelection campaigns of Democratic Representatives Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords. I also donated the same amount to the campaign of Democratic Senatorial candidate Jack Conway in Kentucky." Olbermann went on to say he "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."

The news comes in the wake of Olbermann's harsh criticism of Fox News parent company News Corp., which donated to Republican-leaning groups. MSNBC president Phil Griffin also issued an open challenge in light of the News Corp. donations, saying to The New York Times in October, "Show me an example of us fundraising."

[Chode]

and the RATS, take another one in the..............................HA ha!!!

[Dryman]

Just found out about the “suspension”.

The reason they have the rule is because some of the Cheap B@st@rds would never put their money on the line. Rule gives them an out.

[Ouderkirk]

Worst person in world EVER

Fixed

[BAW]

This is damn funny!!!!! Pardon me while I wipe this smirk off my face!

[kinghorse]

This amounts to a sacrifice by the left. Olbermann’s head on a pike was a necessary first step. The thing is, he was a throwaway piece to begin with. Dems don’t think this is going to be enough do they? I wouldn’t start talking until they gave us the name of two cabinet level departments that would legislated out of existence in 2 years. That’s the start. Let the dems pick but two must go.

[penelopesire]

ROTFLOL! Sound to me like they were just itching for an excuse to get rid of him. It seems kinda ridiculous for an entire network to propagandize for democrats and leftists all the time and then forbid them to ‘donate’ to campaigns. it’s just one more example of how the media thinks the American people are all stupid...lol.

[Fred]