home

Bill Kristol Supports Olbermann

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Media
Posted on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:37:22 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

And he actually makes sense:

MSNBC’s suspension of Keith Olbermann is ludicrous. First, he donated money to candidates he liked. He didn’t take money, or favors, in a way that influenced his reporting. Second, he’s not a reporter. It’s an opinion show. If Olbermann wants to put his money where his mouth is, more power to him. Third, GE, the corporate parent of MSNBC, gives money to political organizations. GE executives and, I’m sure, NBC executives give money. Why can’t Olbermann?

Perhaps Olbermann violated NBC News “policy and standards.” But NBC doesn’t have real news standards for MSNBC—otherwise the channel wouldn’t exist. It’s a little strange to get all high and mighty now.

He's right.

< Friday Afternoon Open Thread | Ex-Bart Cop Gets Minimun 2 Years for Killing Oscar Grant >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Bill Kristol Supports Olbermann | 55 comments (55 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    I loved Billy Kristol in When Harry Met Sally (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:01:41 PM EST


    Doesn't contract law (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:22:25 PM EST
    mean something? at least, here?

    NBC's contract required adherence to NBC's (i.e.,  SPJ's) code of ethics -- although NBC has a process for requesting an exception.  Olbermann did not even use that out.

    Instead, his bosses had to be surprised by Politico.
    And the number-one rule in the code for getting bye with bosses is: no surprises.

    Now, when bosses use contracts and codes to deal with employees can be arbitrary and capricious, but a smart employee does not give a boss the goods.

    NBC standards (none / 0) (#11)
    by IndiDemGirl on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 04:31:49 PM EST
    and code of ethics apply to NBC and do not apply to MSNBC or its new division.  Or so says some of the news stories.  


    Parent
    Well, they could find (none / 0) (#12)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 05:09:10 PM EST
    the February 2007 news release on his current  contract as easily as I found it.  What does it tell you?  NBC issued the news release that says NBC, quoting NBC's president, saying that it covers not only KO's MSNBC show but also work for NBC, etc. . . .

    "Countdown" host Keith Olbermann and NBC News agreed to an extension of his contract through 2011.

    "It (Countdown) is obviously an incredibly important franchise for us," NBC News President Steve Capus said.  "It is something that has really put MSNBC back on the map."

    In addition to his nightly newscast -- which counts down the day's top political and entertainment stories with Olbermman's signature wit -- the MSNBC host will contribute occasional "essays" to the "Nightly News with Brian Williams" and host two "Countdown" specials a year on NBC. . . .



    Parent
    If it is not found in the Olbermann (none / 0) (#25)
    by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 08:34:24 PM EST
    contract itself but in some other written policy that pertains to NBC (or even MSNBC), Katie bar the gate.....

    Olbermann could have a valid lawsuit...

    Parent

    Even so, employment contracts (none / 0) (#36)
    by Cream City on Sat Nov 06, 2010 at 11:38:01 AM EST
    usually have, do they not, standard boilerplate about obeisance to corporate policies, etc., etc.?

    Parent
    Boilerplate not always that helpful (none / 0) (#41)
    by MKS on Sat Nov 06, 2010 at 12:08:00 PM EST


    Parent
    Really? Interesting (none / 0) (#43)
    by Cream City on Sat Nov 06, 2010 at 12:27:29 PM EST
    as I have seen it used by lawyers against colleagues.  But maybe the colleagues lost because they ran out of money first.

    Parent
    It will always be used (none / 0) (#56)
    by MKS on Mon Nov 08, 2010 at 10:38:59 AM EST
    The question is how effective is it and is their a way around it....

    Parent
    Contract Law if Fine (none / 0) (#13)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 06:03:04 PM EST
    But why didn't Scarborough get even a slap on the wrist for donating about twice as much this year to people on his program ?  

    Olbermann should not be donating money to people on his program, or at the very least it should be disclosed.  Ditto for all political media persons.

    This is the same network that employed Dobbs, who donated heavily and if memory serves me right, even campaigned for a couple of folks.

    It's my understanding that Comcast is in the process of acquiring MSNBC, they are waiting for government approval.  Comcast donates heavily to R's and I suspect that Comcast had far more to do with the suspension than anything else.

    Parent

    "But mom, he did it first!" (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 08:13:36 PM EST
    Uh, yeh.  Never worked on me when my kids tried it, but go ahead and give that line to Keithie.  

    Parent
    It works.... (none / 0) (#23)
    by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 08:21:11 PM EST
    sometimes....

    It goes to interpretation of the contract....Were others fined instead of suspended....

    Parent

    Is it a material breach? (none / 0) (#24)
    by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 08:28:16 PM EST
    or just a ticky tacky thing....

    Would Griffen have given Olbermann permission if he had asked?  There is no good answer to this given the Scarborouugh precedent.

    Yes, if he had asked, I would have given him permission, so I am just on a power trip.

    No, I would not have given him permission.  In which case, the next question is why not, given the Scarborough prededent...

    If they fire Olbermann, they could get sued....

    They hire an opinionated talk show host, and fire him for this?  Trivial breach?  

    Non-lawyers are often more in love with legal technicalities than judges or juries.   The issue in most lawsuits boils down to is it fair?  The rest often just rationalization.

    I would not want to be GE right now...

    Parent

    Of course, Keithie on the stand (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 08:41:18 PM EST
    would have to explain his hypocrisy.  I would think that NBC might just have in its vault the video of Keithie preaching about how horrible it was that Murdoch did . . . exactly what Keithie did.

    Picture the cross-examination, as the pontification about ethics is parsed into question after question for Keithie to explain why he's so special that the same ethics don't apply to him.

    Parent

    Not seeing the hypocrisy (none / 0) (#30)
    by waldenpond on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 11:00:12 PM EST
    He plays a liberal with a liberal show.  He donated to liberal candidates. &nbs