MSNBC's Olbermann suspended for dem party donations

[Matthitjah]

Quote CNN.com;

UPDATE: Olbermann suspended for Dem contributions (CNN) - Keith Olbermann, MSNBC's primetime firebrand host, has been suspended indefinitely for violating the ethics policies of his employer earlier this year when he donated to three Democrats seeking federal office, MSNBC announced Friday.

"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," MSNBC President Phil Griffin said in a statement.

First reported by Politico and confirmed by Federal Election Commission filings, the primetime television host gave $2,400 the maximum individual amount allowed to each of the campaigns of Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway, and Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords. (View PDF's of FEC filings for Conway, Grijalva, and Giffords)

Conway lost his bid to Republican Rand Paul while Grijalva eked out a win over Tea Party-backed candidate Ruth McClung for a fifth term. Grijalva found himself in an increasingly competitive race after he announced his support of a boycott of Arizona businesses in response to the state's controversial new immigration law and often appeared on Olbermann's show where he found a sympathetic audience. CNN, meanwhile, has yet to declare a winner in Giffords' race, but the Democrat currently holds about a 3,000-vote lead with all precincts reporting.

The contributions may have violated an NBC policy that requires employers of the news organization to obtain permission ahead of any political donations or activities that could be deemed as a conflict of interest. CNN institutes a similar policy.

In a statement to Politico before the suspension was announced, Olbermann defended the contributions:

"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 re-election campaigns of Democratic Representatives Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords," he said in the statement. "I also donated the same amount to the campaign of Democratic Senatorial candidate Jack Conway in Kentucky."

Olbermann, as well as MSNBC executives, was a vocal critic of the $1 million donation by Fox News' parent News Corp. to the Republican Governor's Association earlier this year, saying at the time, "We now have another million reasons Fox News is the Republican news channel."

In a subsequent show, Olbermann also pressed House Majority Whip James Clyburn if there was a "legislative response" to a networks that "starts to shill for partisan causes."

A News Corp. spokesman defended the donation when it was first reported in August.

"News Corporation believes in the power of free markets, and the RGA's pro-business agenda supports our priorities at this most critical time for our economy," the spokesman said.

http://politicaltick...-of-nbc-policy/

I say, leave the guy alone. This Election has proved guy's like this to be just about meaningless anyway. Who cares if he wastes his money on the Leftist Progressive agenda.

[MorningGlory]

I say, leave the guy alone. This Election has proved guy's like this to be just about meaningless anyway. Who cares if he wastes his money on the Leftist Progressive agenda.

I have to agree; he's a little fish in a polluted pond and, while it's wrong to do what he did, he's not the first and he won't be the last. I trust NO media these days. The money from News Corp. was a corporate donation and wasn't made to any specific person but.....I still would like to see the press stay OUT of partisan politics.

[Isaiah 6:8]

Olbermann, as well as MSNBC executives, was a vocal critic of the $1 million donation by Fox News' parent News Corp. to the Republican Governor's Association earlier this year, saying at the time, "We now have another million reasons Fox News is the Republican news channel."

Pot meet kettle

[wyguy]

from the article.........

A News Corp. spokesman defended the donation when it was first reported in August.

"News Corporation believes in the power of free markets, and the RGA's pro-business agenda supports our priorities at this most critical time for our economy," the spokesman said.

Of course NewsCorp/Foxnews defends the right of those who should be reporting the news to show their bias.

Rupert Murdoch donates $1m to Republican party

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7951318/Rupert-Murdoch-donates-1m-to-Republican-party.html

At least CNN and MSNBC have some kind of standards.

Rupert Murdoch is a businessman with other holdings besides Fox. He is well within his rights to donate whatever he wants to whomever he wants. It's not the same as being employed by a news agency that has a policy against it's employees doing what Olbermann did.

[Matthitjah]

Who cares what Murdoch does with his money either?

If a Corporation wants to give to any party, that's okay too. It didn't matter that George Soros gave billions to the Leftist Progressive movement this time. People got tired of it and voted against it anyway.

Of course the Left would never say anything about Soros and his manipulation of Free Elections not tooo mention the more dangerous practice of manipulating the U. S. Dollar .

Hypocrisy is hypocrisy but what is done in the dark will eventually be exposed by the Light.

[MorningGlory]

George Soros would be the source of those strange sounds coming from the left side of politicalville....all that gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair generates a lot of noise. Imagine spending all that money on a bunch of losers!

[Matthitjah]

Who cares what Murdoch does with his money either?

If a Corporation wants to give to any party, that's okay too. It didn't matter that George Soros gave billions to the Leftist Progressive movement this time. People got tired of it and voted against it anyway.

Of course the Left would never say anything about Soros and his manipulation of Free Elections not tooo mention the more dangerous practice of manipulating the U. S. Dollar .

Hypocrisy is hypocrisy but what is done in the dark will eventually be exposed by the Light.

This is about the bias of the press. George Soros is not a member of the press, nor does he own a news corporation.

Who just gave a whole slew of money to NPR right before they fired Juan Williams because of his supposed Political bent?

[Matthitjah]

Who owns the Daily KOS?

[wyguy]

Who cares what Murdoch does with his money either?

If a Corporation wants to give to any party, that's okay too. It didn't matter that George Soros gave billions to the Leftist Progressive movement this time. People got tired of it and voted against it anyway.

Of course the Left would never say anything about Soros and his manipulation of Free Elections not tooo mention the more dangerous practice of manipulating the U. S. Dollar .

Hypocrisy is hypocrisy but what is done in the dark will eventually be exposed by the Light.

This is about the bias of the press. George Soros is not a member of the press, nor does he own a news corporation.

Are you kidding me????

Soros owns investor capital in the Times Mirror Company which "ranks among the top five newspaper companies in the United States!"

[wyguy]

Who cares what Murdoch does with his money either?

If a Corporation wants to give to any party, that's okay too. It didn't matter that George Soros gave billions to the Leftist Progressive movement this time. People got tired of it and voted against it anyway.

Of course the Left would never say anything about Soros and his manipulation of Free Elections not tooo mention the more dangerous practice of manipulating the U. S. Dollar .

Hypocrisy is hypocrisy but what is done in the dark will eventually be exposed by the Light.

This is about the bias of the press. George Soros is not a member of the press, nor does he own a news corporation.

Are you kidding me????

Soros owns investor capital in the Times Mirror Company which "ranks among the top five newspaper companies in the United States!"

7% stock. That is hardly enough to control anything. I own stock in several ventures, don't you?

7% of one of the largest newspaper holdings in the nation is hardly small. And as an investor, unlike one who simply donates money, he has a say in how the company operates!

But the bigger point is, I proved you wrong.