Olbermann Suspended For Dem Donations

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Media
Posted on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 01:48:33 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

Daily Kos has a lot on this.

I'm not an MSNBC or Olbermann viewer or fan so the part that interests me is why Olbermann did it? He must have known it violated his contract. Is he trying to get out? Is he at war with Phil Griffin, the MSNBC President? And what is MSNBC's thinking on this? Obviously this is not going to help their ratings.

And of course MSNBC has double standards as it has allowed Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan to give to candidates. The whole opinion vs. reporters line is pretty weak, given that Olbermann has not been a reporter for a pretty long time now.

No, this is an office politics dispute for sure. Maybe MSNBC wants to go back to being the Beltway network they were before Olbermann lifted them out from irrelevancy. As I said, I'm no Olbermann fan, but he clearly had the better business strategy for MSNBC than Griffin. Will Griffin go after Maddow next? Will it be a network of Tweetys and Lawrence O'Donnells? That would certainly be a business mistake. Maybe Griffin wants to be the new Jeff Zucker (the guy who destroyed NBC the broadcast network.) Clearly there is more here going on than meets the eye.

Speaking for me only

< The Anti-HOLC | TPM Opposing Pelosi For Dem Leader? >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Olbermann Suspended For Dem Donations | 85 comments (85 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

If they don't keep him, it's got to be (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by andgarden on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 01:57:45 PM EST

about political pressure. I mean, hell, he clearly makes money for them.

Can MSNBC really afford to be the Joe Lieberman of news?

: Best line of the day: (5.00 / 2) (#6)
by Anne on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:04:26 PM EST

"the Joe Lieberman of news."
Laughed out loud until I realized how sad that is.

The MSNBC blowback to the right was so predictable (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by ruffian on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:01:31 PM EST

but I am surprised it happened so fast. I wonder how they found out about his contributions - did some rightie do the research and bring it to management's attention? The info is easily available.

It is interesting in an office politics story way, but I will not cry any tears over Olbermann.

He was the #1 reason (2.00 / 1) (#7)
by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:07:27 PM EST

I would NOT even slow down at MSNBC when surfing the channels.


my point (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:08:58 PM EST

made


Not a good point (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:11:55 PM EST

Olbermann's rating were the highest on the network.

This is suicide by Griffin.


I bet he also (3.00 / 3) (#14)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:12:54 PM EST

had the highest negatives


I wish MSNBC luck (2.00 / 1) (#19)
by andgarden on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:14:31 PM EST

in trying to sell itself as CNN2.


: why would they want to be (2.00 / 1) (#39)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:34:35 PM EST

CNN 2 when they have bee second in the ratings much of the time

That's good in entertainment (none / 0) (#16)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:13:59 PM EST

Just ask Howard Stern.


its good entertainment I guess (3.00 / 2) (#22)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:16:03 PM EST

but its not good news. he had become sort of a joke. honestly he had become the Beck/OReilly of the left.


btw (5.00 / 1) (#38)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:33:39 PM EST

his endless feuding with the likes of Beck, OReilly and Limpbaugh was probably starting to wear thin.


A good friend (early Obama-adopter) (2.00 / 1) (#40)
by oculus on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:35:33 PM EST

records Olbermann, Maddow, Stewart, and Colbert and watches the whole smear the next day. Amazing.


would you think less of me (none / 0) (#43)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:37:49 PM EST

if I admitted I sometimes do the same thing.

but I do that so I DONT HAVE to watch the whole thing


: Ha. Free world. (none / 0) (#46)
by oculus on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:47:04 PM EST

also (none / 0) (#25)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:19:08 PM EST

dont really keep up with this stuff but wasnt Rachel beating him from time to time?


Reminds of line from his movie: (none / 0) (#62)
by steviez314 on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:25:24 PM EST

"Researcher: The average radio listener listens for eighteen minutes. The average Howard Stern fan listens for - are you ready for this? - an hour and twenty minutes.
Pig Vomit: How can that be?
Researcher: Answer most commonly given? "I want to see what he'll say next."
Pig Vomit: Okay, fine. But what about the people who hate Stern?
Researcher: Good point. The average Stern hater listens for two and a half hours a day.
Pig Vomit: But... if they hate him, why do they listen?
Researcher: Most common answer? "I want to see what he'll say next."

Suspended indefinitely is not terminated (none / 0) (#35)
by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:26:34 PM EST

The question is whether Olbermann will pitch a fit....


He was my #2 Reason (none / 0) (#17)
by ruffian on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:14:17 PM EST

Tweety will always be #1 to me.

I regret not being able to watch Maddow, and Cenk Uygar when he subs for people. I do like them. But my boycott is complete.


I've been away from MSNBC long (5.00 / 1) (#26)
by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:20:04 PM EST

enough now that I haven't a clue who Cenk is. :) The ideas and analysis that have been coming out of the cable specialty programming has not been worthy of a moment's attention for years. People repeat those off-the-wall judgments as though they are fact, and look where it takes the country!


I know Cenk from the old Young Turks (none / 0) (#51)
by ruffian on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:55:35 PM EST

radio show on Air America and subsequent web-based show and podcasts. I've never seen him on MSNBC. He just mentions his subbing gigs from time to time on the podcast. I've had my differences with him over the years and don't listen as much since Ben Mankiewitz left as co-host and other frequent guests are less frequent...but overall he has a pretty clearheaded viewpoint and sticks up for fighting Dems. Obama drives him nuts in that regard.


Knowing what I know of you (none / 0) (#53)
by Militarytracy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:59:47 PM EST

You will probably love him


: Perhaps, then, I'll (none / 0) (#60)
by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:18:15 PM EST

look in :)

I actually dont think that it. (none / 0) (#9)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:08:35 PM EST

they have been growing in market share week by week.
heres what I think. they want to be taken more seriously. Olby did not help there.
we will see if Joe or Rachel is the new model. I say it will be Rachel.


Rachel is Keith (5.00 / 2) (#24)
by waldenpond on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:18:40 PM EST

They could be brother and sister. They have identical slapstick styles. Sentence: phony big tooth grin showing bottom teeth to demonstrate sarcasm. Sentence: raise eyebrows to demonstrate sarcasm. Sentence: smirky pursed lip smile to demonstrate sarcasm. Sentence intro: tap papers. Sentence going to break: papers.

If they could get a new head, KO's crew did some decent work with what our govt actually defines a small business needing a tax break is (billion dollar Bechtel)


oops premature epostulation (5.00 / 0) (#31)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:22:31 PM EST

but, no. they are not. she had humor but its not taken to the extremes of his show and she strikes anyone who watches her as 100% deadly serious. she has been doing amazing work. she has been reporting on stuff no other broadcaster would touch.
and doing it day after day after day.

she is quite simply the best journalist on the tube.


Tragic (3.50 / 2) (#36)
by waldenpond on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:30:18 PM EST

If that's the best the left has to offer, that is just so sad.

Yeah, she's obessed with the triviality of C-st.


The mind reels (2.00 / 1) (#66)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:07:39 PM EST

As far as I'm concerned, Maddow is vastly worse than Olbermann, 100 percent unwatchable.


we just disagree (none / 0) (#37)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:31:58 PM EST

IMO C st was a story that needed to be told. and where else did you hear it.


Before Maddow (4.00 / 3) (#47)
by waldenpond on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:50:23 PM EST

Heard of the book before Maddow ever latched onto it. I didn't learn anything new about conservatives from her coverage. They are religious? They, like all politicians, plot in secret? They are corrupt?

These opinion people don't do news, they churn. She churns. One of her latest kicks is mocking people on their unknown disapproval of Holder. Guess what's on her page... mocking people for their views on gun rights. You get maybe 10 minutes of what might be news out of 5 hours of coverage.


: The book was excerpted at (2.00 / 1) (#67)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:09:04 PM EST

great length I think on Salon. Maddow did a terrific job of reading the article and regurgitating it as if it was her research.

no (none / 0) (#27)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:20:15 PM EST

also bet (none / 0) (#11)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:09:33 PM EST

she moves into his time slot


Somebody at Politico was browsing (none / 0) (#65)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:04:53 PM EST

contribution records for I think Grijalva and came across his name, got a statement from Olbermann and published a story about it.


: Politico found it in FEC filings (none / 0) (#71)
by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:23:48 PM EST

Jeesh, Olbermann.

I think that if he signed a (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by inclusiveheart on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:14:20 PM EST

contract that he should have honored it - or he shouldn't have signed it.

I actually don't think that suspending Olbermann - or anyone else in America - for making legal political contributions is okay - meaning that I don't think that anyone should ever have to sign a contract to that effect in order to be employed in the private sector - but if that's what the contract said then he should have honored it.

This story for me goes to the larger universe of employment issues in this country where you supposedly have a "right to work", but that "right to work" is really a euphemism for having the right to be worked over by a powerful few.

But he's Keith Olberman :) (3.50 / 2) (#48)
by Militarytracy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:50:52 PM EST

He isn't just some somebody who isn't Keith Olberman. When he GBCW'd at DailyKos I figured I had seen it all. Keith Olberman tiffs with those covered in cheetoh dust, I couldn't help it....I thought it was pretty funny :) I mean I can see me getting all flushed about cheetoh dust....but Keith Olberman? And then he came back...then I really had seen it all :)


: I actually enjoy him for the (5.00 / 1) (#54)
by inclusiveheart on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:00:43 PM EST

most part. I'm not feeling distraught over this scuffle, though. He'll land on his feet regardless which is sort of what I like about him.
In any case, it should be an interesting show to watch as this thing unfolds.

maybe he is going (5.00 / 1) (#44)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:38:40 PM EST

to run for president.

MSNBC going Right (2.00 / 1) (#23)
by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:17:38 PM EST

Remember who Olberman replaced? Phil Donahue for criticizing the Iraq War in the early stages....

Could Olbermann have forgotten about the need to get permission for the contributions? Smart people can be careless like that....

You think the arrogance of someone like him (4.00 / 3) (#30)
by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:21:41 PM EST

thought the rules applied?


I have met a lot of people who (none / 0) (#33)
by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:24:49 PM EST

are very smart and don't even read the contracts they sign.....

My bet is that he simply forgot....

Call them arrogant or what have you, but the more succesful read the fine print less....


Heh - trying to figure out what you think (2.00 / 1) (#45)
by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:43:57 PM EST

caused me to call him arrogant. I don't think he's smart, or forgetful, though.


: Best analysis of Keith Olberman yet! (2.00 / 1) (#49)
by Militarytracy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:52:53 PM EST

not that smart or forgetful :)

Hope his agent/lawyer read it. (none / 0) (#41)
by oculus on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:36:23 PM EST

If you're supposedly a news person (none / 0) (#68)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:11:48 PM EST

and co-anchor election night coverage, you ought to have enough brains not to make contributions to the candidates whose races you'll be covering.

I don't think Olbermann ought to be co-anchoring news coverage to begin with, but MSNBC's coverage is at least as much of a joke as Fox's is, maybe more.


WTF Harry Saxon? (none / 0) (#74)
by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 07:58:19 PM EST

I have seen a major newspaper's editor (2.00 / 1) (#73)
by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 05:12:55 PM EST

punished because his spouse made political donations. Of course, he was arrogant, too.

Anyone who likes James Thurber (none / 0) (#76)
by Harry Saxon on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 11:27:54 PM EST

and Bob and Ray(as does Mr. Olbermann) can't be all bad.

Also, he has done yeomans' work on the issue of health care because of his own experiences with his fathers' health care problems last year.


Of course. But your ratings (none / 0) (#78)
by Cream City on Sat Nov 06, 2010 at 11:52:03 AM EST

here, and not just for my comment above, suggest that discourse on this with you is not worth it.


Better to remain silent be thought a fool (none / 0) (#79)
by Harry Saxon on Sat Nov 06, 2010 at 12:57:32 PM EST

than to speak and erase all doubt.


But ratings do speak for you. (none / 0) (#80)
by Cream City on Sat Nov 06, 2010 at 01:31:52 PM EST

And that bothers you to no end (none / 0) (#81)
by Harry Saxon on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 06:57:46 AM EST

Nope, I find it just odd (none / 0) (#82)
by Cream City on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 09:16:32 AM EST

if at times interesting to watch how you veer here.


"Do I contradict myself? (none / 0) (#83)
by Harry Saxon on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 09:54:36 AM EST

Very well, I contradict myself,

(I am large, I contain multitudes)"

-----Walt Whitman


Or, in pop culture terms (none / 0) (#84)
by Cream City on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 10:23:40 AM EST

from a favorite cartoon: "I'm of two or more minds on that" . . . and nothing wrong with that, if it means being open-minded.


: From the end of "Song of Myself" (none / 0) (#85)
by Harry Saxon on Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 02:00:53 PM EST

which follows almost immediately the part I quoted:

The spotted hawk swoops by and accuses me,
he complains of my gab and my loitering.
I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable,
I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.
The last scud of day holds back for me,
It flings my likeness after the rest and true as any on the shadow'd wilds,
It coaxes me to the vapor and the dusk.
I depart as air, I shake my white locks at the runaway sun,
I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags.
I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love,
If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles.
You will hardly know who I am or what I mean,
But I shall be good health to you nevertheless,
And filter and fibre your blood.
Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged,
Missing me one place search another,
I stop somewhere waiting for you.

Where are the CAPS? (none / 0) (#1)
by oculus on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 01:56:31 PM EST

TL sidebar: "OLBERMANN SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY."

Clearly the BIG news of the day, (none / 0) (#5)
by Anne on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:02:12 PM EST

going by the sidebar headlines...

Maybe the bosses at MSNBC are reading the election results as a sign they need to start heaving the "progressives" over the side.

Perhaps if Olbermann promises to "work with" the network, he will be back in their good graces.

What a circus.


: I think Pelosi opting to stay (5.00 / 2) (#8)
by andgarden on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:08:21 PM EST

is much more interesting and important news.
But who am I to judge? I haven't watched MSBNC in years.

Tweetys and Lawrence O'Donnells (none / 0) (#3)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:00:16 PM EST

I cant believe they would do that. it would be not only insane but seemingly suicide business wise. at this point it would take them 10 years to get any tea baggers back.
I agree that it more than it seems. but Olby is not the star he once was. many people who loved him early, like me, are totally over him. and his show has become sort of a joke but not a very funny one. I had been thinking that if he stayed on long enough his show would become an hour on sign of and sign off as he added a new things to "track" like the days since mission accomplished or the oil spill before he threw that stupid piece of paper and broke the screen to reveal Rachel.
Rachel who is the star now. and she, unlike Olberman, is serious about it. and she is a helluva a lot better at it.

Not a Maddow fan (none / 0) (#12)
by waldenpond on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:11:32 PM EST

but Cenk is subbing for KO tonight so I'll check him out.


Oh dear, that will drive a faction (5.00 / 1) (#21)
by jes on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:15:36 PM EST

of DKos insane. Who's next "firebagger" Jane? Armando?


: No kidding (3.50 / 2) (#55)
by Militarytracy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:01:57 PM EST

They will lose their damned minds :)

Chris Hayes (none / 0) (#15)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:13:21 PM EST

who I personally don't think has the chops for it at all.

Cenk is too anti-Obama to make sense business wise.

Frankly, this is just plain stupid of Griffin and I assume,his higher ups.


agreed (none / 0) (#20)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:14:35 PM EST

but as you say there must be more than we now know.

I bet the show goes away.


I misread... (none / 0) (#29)
by waldenpond on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:20:44 PM EST

Cenk is subbing for Ratigan and Schultz.


: Oh man! (none / 0) (#56)
by Militarytracy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:04:18 PM EST

Well, he's still on so I'm still watching :)

Wow, I love Cenk (none / 0) (#52)
by Militarytracy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:59:01 PM EST

I will be watching tonight. And Cenk doesn't get very concerned about cheetoh dust kerfuffles. He blows in and then he blows out :)


A wrinkle to this is that (none / 0) (#28)
by andgarden on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:20:23 PM EST

Olbermann claims not to vote.

: Kind of shoots his chance to be Gov. (2.00 / 1) (#42)
by oculus on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:36:53 PM EST

of CA!

: which supports (none / 0) (#32)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:23:28 PM EST

the "theres more to this" theory

He could come back as a pundit (none / 0) (#34)
by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:26:14 PM EST

ala Jonathan Alter. Don't tell me ALTER doesn't contribute to Democrats! Or maybe they contribute to him.

Regardless, the possibility of having him around as a pundit REALLY scares me away from MSNBC. Watching MSNBC would then be like negotiating a field of landmines. You never know when his mugly mug would appear.

Dobbs/Olberman 2012!!! (none / 0) (#50)
by observed on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 02:53:36 PM EST

C&L has more (none / 0) (#57)
by waldenpond on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:05:27 PM EST

Problem not Griffin but Anschutz? C&L here's part of Karoli's piece.

[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).]

The part of the article that lists the actual policy is interesting. 'Should' not 'must', and as Olbermann is clearly partisan, so I'm guessing Anschutz interprets the policy to mean that giving to Dems is in 'conflict' with Anschutz Repub worship.

Via Atrios (none / 0) (#58)
by ruffian on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:11:52 PM EST

Pat Buchanan has also made political contributions. Let's see his suspension soon. Waiting....

Buchanan is a (5.00 / 1) (#69)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:13:41 PM EST

political analyst, not a show host and definitely not a news coverage co-anchor. Come on.


Scarborough? (none / 0) (#75)
by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 07:59:25 PM EST

: Scarborough's (5.00 / 1) (#77)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 11:47:34 PM EST

contribution was in 2006, which I believe is before he had his own show, and he also notified MSNBC brass beforehand, which I believe is all the contract requires. Needless to say, Olbermann did not do that.

My understanding (5.00 / 1) (#72)
by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:35:40 PM EST

is that the rule in place here is that the boss has to be informed of political contributions....

Olbermann did not inform, thus he was "suspended".


He is Safe (none / 0) (#59)
by squeaky on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:15:49 PM EST

R's get a different contract...


He doesn't have a show of his own (none / 0) (#61)
by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:24:06 PM EST

-- correct? The contracts could be different.


He did for awhile.... (none / 0) (#63)
by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:42:06 PM EST

did they cancel it?


: If Buchanan ever had his own show (5.00 / 1) (#70)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:15:08 PM EST

on MSNBC, it's so far in the past that this news junkie has no memory of it.

The C&L story indicates (none / 0) (#64)
by brodie on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:49:11 PM EST

Joe Scarborough also made political contributions.

So I wonder what's going on here. And if this is indeed a political move by primary shareholder Anschutz.

Lots of potential legal ambiguity in that contract language.

But I must be way behind or misinformed about Msnbc. I'd thought it and NBC News were separate entities or considered such by their management and employees.

Also, I think I missed the news about the Comcast deal being finalized -- gov't approval done or are they allowed to operate as owner until then?
