BS: MSNBC Host Keith Olbermann suspended-He's Back

Subject: RE: BS: MSNBC Host Keith Olbermann suspended
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 07:40 PM

I've never watched MSNBC. Never watched Fox either. The only reason I've ever watched CNN is because my 82-year-old mother, whom I am taking care of at present, is addicted to it. She watches it pretty well all day every day...that's like my idea of being in hell!

Beats watching soap operas, though, I suppose. Well....maybe! ;-D

Subject: RE: BS: MSNBC Host Keith Olbermann suspended
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 07:35 PM

Monopolies are alive and well...read what part COMCAST may have played in this whole fiasco. They are buying up NBC, all of it, which includes MSNBC, USA, etc. etc., my Rog says. The link leads to an article about the money behind ComCast, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: MSNBC Host Keith Olbermann suspended
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 07:30 PM

And there appears GfS...right on schedule.

Olbermann never suggested he was 'unbiased', no one *I* know claimed otherwise...he was clearly left-leaning, just as Sean Hannity and Glen Beck are very far RIGHT. What he and the others on MSNBC claimed was that they always tried to get the facts right....to the point of correcting and apologizing for mistakes. Do you see any of Fox's lock-step mouthpieces do that?

Subject: RE: BS: MSNBC Host Keith Olbermann suspended
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 07:28 PM

Unless they are on the editorial pages, journalists are supposed to maintain an unbiased, apolitical stance so as to report without prejudice. Of course, that is the optimum and hardly ever happens any more because "news" has become so much about personalities.

It used to be the Fourth Estate which stood for the independence of the media. I see on wiki that it is sometimes called Fourth Branch suggesting it is not independent of the government.

It would be really stupid of MSNBC if they do not keep Keith...his ratings are consistently high and has a lot of viewers.

If anyone cares to comment to MSNBC, I see there is a Save Keith Olbermann started on facebook.

Subject: RE: BS: MSNBC Host Keith Olbermann suspended
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 07:25 PM

Jack, You'd think so. I hear it was a 'contractual' thing....which then brings up two polarized issues about him, if it was. Either way, its a ding in his credibility. I thought he was great, during the Monica Lewinsky mess....I wonder if the parent company switched sides, or strategy?

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: MSNBC Host Keith Olbermann suspended
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 07:23 PM

But reading that it appears that the man isn't being penalised for anything he said on the box, or elsewhere, but for making an undisclosed donation.

From what I've seen of American news bulletins, the ratio of comment telling people what to think about news to actual news seems remarkably high.

Subject: RE: BS: MSNBC Host Keith Olbermann suspended
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 07:17 PM

But wouldn't making a political donation count as a kind of freedom of speech?

Only for corporations with the current Supreme Court.

Sigh...

http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2010/11/05/131105376/msnbc-s-keith-olbermann-suspended-angering-liberals

Subject: RE: BS: MSNBC Host Keith Olbermann suspended
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 07:17 PM

Perhaps, his reporting wasn't as unbiased as it was ballyhooed to be...which would be consistent with what I've said about him, and MSNBC, for quite some time....and been chewed out for it..but only on here. Most people already know that, and it IS pretty common knowledge. aybe that's why their ratings are 'in the tank'...because people know that, already...and aren't trying to wade through understanding something, while wading through their political bias to get to it.
Happy Wading, Here in The Mud Puddle....(Get's a little murky, sometimes).

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: MSNBC Host Keith Olbermann suspended
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 07:08 PM

Yes...it IS freedom of speech, but they tried to keep a semblance of direct support for specific candidates off of programs, and Keith had one of them on his program recently, as well as sending a contribution.

He used poor judgment....

I'm waiting for rabid conservatives to try to use 'poor judgment' as a way to try to get rid of one of their biggest thorns in their sides.

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 06:42 PM

But wouldn't making a political donation count as a kind of freedom of speech?

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 06:36 PM

Do these people allow their employees to vote?

Yes, but only because it is a constitutional right.

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 06:35 PM

OMIGOD! Keith Olbermann likes Democrats!

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 06:26 PM

Do these people allow their employees to vote?

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 06:11 PM

I think they are looking for free publicity and an outcry, one way or the other on the other fake news outlets.

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 06:09 PM

The Fox that uses the public airways doesn't do that much more than any network.

Fox "News" is on cable and not subject to the FCC.

I really do not think Olbermann should be called a, or treated as a journalist. That's just dumb.

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 06:07 PM

So... it is up to MSNBC to decide whether a suspension is enough. This is hardly a crime...and certainly not an attempt to subvert the electoral process. If Fox can do it an an institution, maybe MSNBC can figure out how to make this an object lesson, rather than tossing out an important voice of reason.
   I KNOW they are struggling with it right now, as I type, because there are no comments by hosts online now. I hope they will just keep it as a suspension while they sort out a reasonable course.

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Bobert
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 06:05 PM

Emulating FOX is not exactly a good goal... Might of fact, FOX should loose their FCC license to use the public airwaves as a means of spreading Republican propaganda...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 06:01 PM

Olbermann's comment to Politico:

"Olbermann said he made the donations on October 28 -- just days before the November 2 election in which Republicans seized control of the House of Representatives and narrowed the Democratic majority in the Senate."

"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," Olbermann said in his statement to Politico."

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 05:55 PM

...and.. "Fox's parent company, News Corp., gave $1 million this summer to the Republican Governor's Association, which helps elect GOP gubernatorial candidates nationally. Fox host Neil Cavuto paid $1,000 in 2002 for a ticket to a dinner benefiting the Republican senatorial and congressional campaign committees."

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 05:54 PM

Interesting!

"Sean Hannity, a conservative radio talk show host with a popular hour on Fox News Channel each weeknight, donated $2,400 to the congressional campaign of New York Republican John Gomez in May. In August, he donated $5,000 to Michelepac, or Many Individual Conservatives Helping Elect Leaders Everywhere, according to the Federal Election Commission. The PAC is associated with Minnesota Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Fox's Bill Shine, senior vice president of programming, told the Twin Cities Pioneer Press after the Bachmann donation that "it's always good to remember that he's not a journalist; he's a conservative TV host. If he wants to donate to a candidate, he certainly can."

*wry smile*...I guess it depends on who you work for...Keith should have thought it out, but all he 'violated' was MSNBC's own rules which try to maintain certain reasonable guidelines. They suspended David Schuster a couple of years ago for insensitive remarks...

Fox seems to delight in having their commentators not bother to even pretend...

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 05:36 PM

Actually he did incorporate. He pays taxes as an S-Corp. He said so on a piece about the Bush Tax cuts.

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 05:25 PM

Too bad he didn't incorporate himself...the Supreme Court would have to protect him, like they do the CEOs of big corporations who donate millions with no oversight...

It's too damn bad he got himself in trouble for such relatively minuscule amounts. He should have known better...

We shall see....

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: GUEST,999
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 05:20 PM

I got into some stuff on the net to do with political donations and being a journalist. One site I looked at said the NYT doesn't care, as long as the reporter's reporting is not biased.

I hear what you're saying, Mark.

And you two guys, thanks for the correction. Suspended, not fired as yet.

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 05:14 PM

Oh I see, so it's OK for a presenter to display extreme political opinions so long as they're being paid to do so in public by a massive media corporation, but it's not OK for them to support a political cause they personally believe in, privately!
Got it!

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 05:12 PM

While I don't agree with their policies, in fact it's rather hypocritical to have him on as an op/ed liberal and to say he cannot make contributions, still it is company policy, one many news media have and I understand their take on it. My Rog was born and bred by a journalist and, being in media all of his professional life, refuses to ever discuss politics outside of our home. He has to maintain a journalistic integrity as far as he is concerned.

There is a fairly good explanation of it and what other companies do HERE at Bloomberg.

I hope he will be back.

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 05:04 PM

He'll be back....

Its about the ratings.

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Bobert
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 05:02 PM

This ain't about FOX...

What it's about is Keith Olbermann... If he fully understood that it was against company policy and as long as others weren't doin' it and the company pretending not to see then, yeah, Keith deserves being suspended...

Firing offense??? Don't think so...

Bad policy on MSNBC's part??? Yeah...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 05:01 PM

Beck?

Quite possibly Jack.
There was a fat little middle-aged schoolboy blubbing anyway (we get those in the UK too).
But the thing that struck me was the amount of *other* people blubbing over the same "my beautiful country" guff!

Presumably Beck is an example for hysterical boo-hoo blubbers everywhere!

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 04:56 PM

Saw this programme about the Tea Party the other night, I felt like I was intruding on a p.. p.. private m.. m.. moment.


Beck?

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 04:55 PM

suspended, not fired.


But that ain't the half of it. He openly campaigns for Democrats on his show but was suspended to prevent the "appearance of conflict of interest."

It seems to me that all he did was give the appearance of having the courage of his convictions.

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 04:52 PM

Would it have helped his case if he c..c..cried?

Saw this programme about the Tea Party the other night, I felt like I was intruding on a p.. p.. private m.. m.. moment.

Cynical much? Nawwwww..

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 04:44 PM

I'm a bit confused about USA TV stuff here. On the one hand we see masses of *on-air* politically partisan hysterics and weeping from that nutso geezer on Fox ..then someone who make *off-air* private donations gets fired.

Eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Mrrzy
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 04:38 PM

Oh, for crying out loud, why didn't he disclose it? Hardly a deep dark muddy secret...

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 04:31 PM

I am not confident in MSNBC's ability to hire journalist. One would think that they should at least be able to count sentences in their own reports.


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."

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 04:18 PM

Couldn't have happened to a better sportscaster.

I watched about a half hour of MSNBC on election night. It was nearly comical watching Chris Matthews become almost apoplectic at the gains the combined Republicans and Tea Party were making, expecially in the House and Governors' races. His face was so red, I thought maybe he tippled a bit that night, or suffers from rosacea.

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: MarkS
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 04:13 PM

OK Fox doesn't care. Thats the point. They shouldn't care!
It makes no matter if the recipient of the contribution is right, center, left, or from the moon, it is none of their damn business and MSNBC is seriously in the wrong here.

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Greg F.
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 04:09 PM

I'm not sure - but "ShitSlingers" seems appropriate to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 04:06 PM

FOX "News" doesn't call them "journalists" does it?

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Greg F.
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 04:04 PM

Wheras FOX doesn't care HOW much cash their shitslingers donate to looney right-wing causes.

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 04:02 PM

The highest of all deities in the USA. Contract law!

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 04:01 PM

He is not fired, yet. He is "suspended."

Is it about to be ratings season?

I think it must be.....

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: MarkS
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 04:01 PM

Man, MSNBC must be some opressive place to work if their policy is to limit to whom an employee may contribute their own personal property ($$$).
Not to put too fine a point on it, just when did God pass on his title to them?

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: GUEST,999
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 03:58 PM

Many news sources have made it an offence that could cost a person his or her job. Period. Not all, but many. Olbermann was working for an organization that made what he did a firing issue. He`s fired. That`s that.

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: gnu
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 03:49 PM

But he is employed by a media company that requires it's emploees to divulge such info. He broke the rules of the peeps that pay him. They have that right. He has the right not to be stupid.

And, FWIW, he ain't stupid... well...

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: MarkS
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 03:48 PM

Why should Olbermann not have the same opportunity to contribute money as do we all? If I contribute money to "x" I do not risk my job or ability to post on Mudcat!
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 03:46 PM

I don't see how giving money creates a conflict of interest.

Receiving money (i.e. bribes) would definitely create a conflict of interest.

Giving money shows that he prefers one party over the other--but we knew that already, didn't we?

Subject: BS: Olbermann suspended
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 02:54 PM

I see a little stupidity and hypocrisy here on MSNBC's part. Stupidity at calling him a journalist. Hypocrisy at letting him shill for democrats but not to have him donate.

Jon Stewart is right, compared to Fox MSNBC isn't even double A ball.

Olbermann suspended for undeclared donations to Dems