US elections: MSNBC sidelines presenters Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann

The Telegraph ^ | September 8, 2008 | Alex Spillius

[Schnucki]

The MSNBC cable channel has sidelined two Democrat-supporting presenters from coverage of major political events, after months of concern that their political leanings were colouring their work.

Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews will now appear as commentators on big occasions such as presidential debates and election night itself on Nov 4, but will be kept away from the anchor's seats.

The change reflects tensions that have erupted during the presidential campaign between the freewheeling, opinionated MSNBC and the established, impartial NBC News, its parent company.

The tipping point appears to have come during last week's Republican convention, when Mr Olbermann criticised MSNBC for broadcasting a video about the September 11 attacks prepared by the party.

He also expressed little sympathy with Republican anger at rumours and smears on the internet about Sarah Palin, the vice-presidential pick of John McCain. Mr Olbermann remarked that Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, had endured similar treatment.

Amid several on-air tiffs between presenters, Mr Olbermann was heard on an off-stage microphone criticizing his colleague - and former Republican congressman - Joe Scarborough, while he discussed the benefits of Senator John McCain choosing Mrs Palin. "Jesus, Joe, why don't you get a shovel?" he said.

Both Mr Olbermann, and Mr Matthews, 62, who is rumoured to be considering a run for the Senate from his native Pennsylvania, will retain their daily shows, which network bosses consider fair milieus to vent their anti-George W Bush, pro-Obama views. Mr Matthews once said that he "felt a thrill going up my leg", when he heard Mr Obama speak.

[I still care]

Anyone wonder what OReilly’s talking points will be on tonight? LOL.

[stanz]

Good riddance to the wimp and the simp.

[I still care]

They forget the scroll underneath Palin’s picture when she was chosen, about How many houses would she bring to the ticket.

Does anyone have a screen capture of that?

It made BOR berserk and astonished Brit Hume.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

“...Democrat supporting...” ?

[A_Former_Democrat]

The Tingle & The Dingle.

[chickadee]

Well, the article doesn’t exactly get it right. NBC itself is hardly neutral. And Fox does NOT mix news with commentary. The one thing that Fox does differently from the rest of the media is in what it chooses to broadcast on its news programs. The lefty MSM likes to ignore stories to death that Fox brings to light. In that, Fox may exhibit a certain partisanship, but nowhere near as much as the dominant media does on a daily basis.

[Rennes Templar]

“and the impartial NBC News”

They are good at making their stories seem objective and non-partisan. Olber and Chrissy aren’t.

[ryan71]

I don't think they're being pushed aside because MSNBC doesn't like what they're doing.

I think it's because what they're doing is helping McCain/Palin.

[xtinct]

Olbermann = garden variety nutjob...

But suspect there was more than one closed door meeting, many phone calls, and numerous emails over Matthews..."felt a thrill going up my leg" ...roflmao... way too much information and obviously made the men as MSNBC more than a little uncomfortable... even if they are maggot libs!!

[YOUGOTIT]

While they have the right to free talk it should be noted that as Communist and Nazi they are what they are and should not be considered as news broadcasters. But then it is NBC who is one of the four left-wing networks that are anti-American like CNN, ABC and CBS who must have received thousands of listener complaints to do this.

[Mr. Binnacle]

Olbermann's tipping point:

“I’m sorry, it’s necessary to say this and I have to separate myself from the others on the air about this. If at this late date, any television network, had on its own accord, should show that much videotape and that much graphic videotape of 9/11, and I speak as someone who lost a few friends, there, it, we, would be rightly eviscerated at all quarters, perhaps by the Republican party itself, for exploiting the memories of the dead, and perhaps even for trying to evoke that pain again. Uh, if you reacted to that videotape the way I did, I apologize, Uh, it is the subject of great pain for many of us still and probably was not appropriate that it be shown.”

[TexasCajun]

"It's Your Fault! -- No! It's Your Fault!

[ari-freedom]

Keith and Chris, we worked so hard to build NBC's reputation and you threw it down the toilet!

[ari-freedom]

how many houses? looks like they were recycling ideas they wanted to use against another possible VP pick

[xDGx]

This is the face of NBC journalism:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDx80bnFrVs

If the best NBC can do is ‘demote’ Olbermann to a commentator, then they are still backing him 100%. If they had any journalistic integrity, Olbermann would be off the campaign coverage completely. Clearly they do not.

I hope someone makes note of all the advertisers on Olbermann’s show this evening, and lists them. I want to know who never to support again with my business, along with MSNBC parent; General Electric.

[yazoo]

I suspect ratings and negative e-mail probably had a lot to do with it. Only a cretin could have watched those two and thought they were not twisting the truth for Obama. Further confirmation that Palin is having a big impact on the elections.

[ozzymandus]

I love this story! Every time I read this same story from a different source, I get a little happier. When I got to the part about “impartial NBC News”, I had to spit out my coffee. Rush really blew it by taking today off. I’ll bet O’reilly’s head will be 3 sizes bigger tonight.

[caisson71]

I won’t expect much from their replacement. MSNBC itself is the problem, not only their hacks.

[rrrod]

I am deeply saddened..........