How many FOX news journalists donated to political candidates?

Bloomberg News reports today that News Corp. -- the media giant which owns Fox News and The Wall Street Journal -- has donated $1 million to the Republican Governors Association, the GOP organization that helps coordinate Republican gubernatorial campaigns and pays for independent ads in support of their candidates.

If only one side limits participation, guess who is going to win?

REalAmerican,

Corporations can give, but if you work for one and you sign a contract saying you wont donate, what would you expect?

Journalist are supposed to be objective, not biased, and observe the story not become part of the story.

You know that right?

There is a big difference between corporate donations and an individual journalist donating. GE the parent of NBC donates to candidates and Jeff Imelt is on an Obama advisory committee.

Good riddance to a boring liberal with low ratings. If they ditch the other idiot mathews they might start to get some decent ratings.

Mike, no they are not allowed to have a political view if they report hard news. If they are just opinion people that is different. Obermans contact clearly considers him a hard news reporter, not an op ed person.

No one knew what Walter Cronkites personal politics were until he was long retired. That is how it should be.

Like Fox, NBC can donate, if they like, but rules are rules and if he wants to work there he has to abide by the rules of his employment.

You are confusing the two.

Olberman, Maddow, Limbaugh, Ed (what's his name) O'Reilly, Hannity, Palin, Blitzer, and Huckabee are NOT journalists - they are all commentators. They shouldn't be allowed to have shows that appear to be legitimate news shows when all they are is propaganda for the right or left. These talking heads are the reason why this country is so FUBAR'd right now. Turn them off, and read.

If supporting Democrats gets you fired from your media job, 90% of them would be unemployed.

Of course most of the media don't just hand them money. Most pretend to be unbiased while they spread their liberal propaganda.

Wake up America. By watching their shows and buying their papers and magazines, you are just feeding the beast.

Juan Williams was too conservative for NPR. Think about that. And NPR, just like all mainstream media, pretends to be unbiased.

It's time to think about what they are not reporting. This is why conservative radio does so well. They bring up issues that the mainstream/liberal media refuses to bring up.

This is why and how Drudge can scoop all of them (consistently). It's not that they don't know about the stories (ex. Rev. Wright's comments), but they just are unwilling to hurt their liberal/democrat cause just in the name of the truth.

Left to NBC, PBS, NPR, CBS, ABC, CNN, TIME, NEWSWEEK - we never would have even heard of a man like Rev. Wright (Who Obama sat in his "church" for 20 years {although like the voters on Tuesday, Obama never heard anything that they said}).

Still, it's funny when the left says Fox news is biased.

Compared to what?

When will lefties learn that left leaners can't be trusted. Just look at Sanchez, now Olbermann, look out Rachael and hopefully O'Donnell your guys are next.

Why is it that fox new can contribute to the Republicans??? Tell me where this is fair.

Since when do nightly news faces get labeled as "journalists"? They're all just the talking heads of the owner of their news organizations. As far as I'm concerned, news outlets are just reality TV, sensationalist reporting of twisted facts and opinions to get viewers, ratings, and ad dollars. There is no longer a true subjective news source.

Now you be the judge, is Mr. Olberman a "pinhead" for giving money to liberals or is he a "patriot" for not lieing about it? You make the call. Eitherway his show is still not being broadcast outside of sanfransiko. And please someone find out if madcow did the same thing. NBC must want to get some ratings back by finally standing up to these guys, maybe fox and cnn will move more to the center also.

RE: Post 1.1

FOX is not affiliated with NBC. NBC does not want its news reporters donating to political candidates. I don't know if FOX has a similar requirement.

Real American - First and foremost, Fox has no real journalists. Secondly it has no Ethics policy because Fox News has no ethics!

Corporate America = ModernDay Slavery

What color underwear am I allowed to wear?

Sign here now you are my property.

Great, finally can watch MSNBC again without listing to his propaganda! What a biased reporter!

Does anyone actually take FOX seriously? So, really, it doesn't matter what they do or don't contribute. But . . . MSNBC . . . I expected better of your journalist. So, thank you for keeping Olbermann and your respected journalists on a tight leash. When reputation is all you've got . . .

I agree with its-all-your-fault...And for all you idiots out there calling out Fox and how it is not fair, Fox is not part of NBC, NBC makes its own laws for its employees. Fox did not make NBC enforce this rule, NBC did it on its own. Stop screaming things are unfair!

Perhaps NPR will hire Mr Olbermann.

The difference in the "person" donating vs an "organization, is that the "person" violated a policy, and the "organization" followed the law.

Since Fox likes to contribute to republicans (and lets their bloviators do it), maybe Keith will go over there to balance the right wingnuts.

For all the people who like to brag about Fox's ratings, keep in mind that people want to be ENTERTAINED. Fox is ENTERTAINMENT. People want their information to come in small easily digested soundbites so they don't have to tax their brains. Anything that forces real thought is just not popular. The shows with the highest ratings are the most asinine ones, certainly not the best or most informative. So every time I hear the gloating it makes me think "there goes another uninformed patsy who can't be bothered to think for themselves".

Mr Olberman was suspended by NBC management, not from some conservative conspiracy. He signed a contract with NBC. He knew the restrictions in the contract were there. He violated the terms of his contract. He could have been way more to the left or way on the right. It doesn't matter, his contract dictated he wasn't supposed to make cash political contributions to any candidate or cause. He violated the terms of his employment.

Why the outrage now? Why not the same outrage when Juan Williams violated the terms of his contract with NPR?

To RealAmericansFirst. Read the headline. Olbermann was apparently suspended because he violated NBC's ethics policy. What has that got to do with Fox News?

ROFL. Personally - good to see him go - this guy was a douche. I didnt watch his show, but now i wont have to listen to my more liberal friends spout his nonsense. If only i could get my conservative friends to shut up about Beck and Limbaugh, i could happily talk to my friends without listening to idiot fringe points of view.

Now that ive said that bit- i dont think this is right from a right vs wrong standpoint. Keith Olbermann is NOT a journalist, nor- in ANY way shape or form is he unbiased. I can understand having that stipulation tied to journalists, but as others have said - he is a commentator, hes no more a journalist than i am. The fact that MSNBC considers him a journalist, is sad in its own right. But hes not, so as much as i think hes a moron, i dont think its right to fire/suspend the guy for donating to some lefties, he is one. Hey, by his breaking the rules like that, is he the worst person in the week or whatever that segmant was?

Sidenote- everyone whining about FOX people donating, dont blame FOX, blame MSNBC. FOX apparently didnt have their contracts written by fools as MSNBC did. FOX doesnt have that clause in their contracts apparently, MSNBC does. If you have a beef with that - whine to MSNBC, not FOX. If they do have that clause in their contracts, then people should start digging on FOX commentators and see if they donated money. But if they dont have that clause, they are all good.

Really - You do understand the difference between a corp donating and an individual donating (against policy) Simpl really so the point is moot. he broke the rule and got nabbed.

During the recent elections, Fox simply had better more up to date news, that is why their ratings were better.

Conkite most certainly had an opinion and came out against the Vietnam War on his show on CBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He knew the rules when he gave the money, so stop crying and stop using fox as an excuse. Why when one of these guys does something wrong do you try to push it off on fox???????????? Could it be you have no other answer. I don't love fox either but get sick of people making them out the bad guys all the time when there are bad guys here too.

PBS is probably one of the best middle of the road programs regarding news and how it is reported. Fox and to be fair MSNBC at times can be outlandish. That said, I find MSNBC more middle of the road than Fox.

In the end, Keith Olbermann isn't one of my favorites so not a loss. I didn't find him very objective all the time. I try to watch both programs, but Fox is just painfully obvious that they either are Shock and Jock or lack moral value.

Well, that's the end of the road for me viewing MSNBC's TV station. Sorry Rachel.

As if it hasn't been blatantly obvious for years now which party Keith (and Rachel and most everyone else at MSNBC) generally supports.

.

WOULD FOX tell his viewers that Al-Waleed bin Talal ( the muslim Saudi Prince ) owns a important piece of fox-news ?

Horay! this narrow minded idiot stinks anyway. I checked his ratings and boy they are low along with Chris Mathews who is getting worse and very nasty to his guess by being rude and obnoxious. MSNBC and even CNN are getting more pitiful in their views everyday.

I just hope all the "Good Riddance" commentators don't also hold that opinion what NPR did was wrong, because that would be hypocritical. The same actionNPR took against it's own correspondent violating their policy was as correct as this. It's ok if it's a lib getting the boot, it's not if it is a conservative?

He had to have the president of his company approve his right to donate. He should have followed that procedure. How is this "Journalistic integrity" any different than NPR's policy? Curious.

Apparently someone didn't read the article, but I expect nothing less from these blind lefties. Wouldn't it be nice if instead of always immediately trying to find fault with Republicans, we say "Olberman made a mistake and got punished, follow the rules next time".... but nooooo as soon as a Dem gets in trouble it's always "well Republicans do this" or "Republicans do that" Sheeeesh! If you read the story then you would see that Mr. Olberman would have been allowed to make contributions IF he ok'd them with the President of NBC first; which he didn't and now he's being punished. Sounds pretty "fair and balanced" to me.

Maybe Keith will learn more about his employer now so that this doesn't happen again.

I laughed so hard, I almost fell off my chair. Did they suspend the douche to make the network seem unbiased? It's Keith Olbermann! How much more biased can anyone get?

I agree with the comment above from "it's all your fault" at 11:32 am. None of the people mentioned are real journalists. Basically they're all editorial talking heads with an agenda and a forum. It's not at all surprising that Obermann or any of them gave money to their beloved parties. That they consider themselves real journalists is laughable. Frankly their shows should come with a strong warning label about bias.

now he'll have plenty of time to look up baseball stats no one cares about.

There seemingly is not a problem with major Unions contributing to the election of the people they want in office inspite of what the members want. In the case of Olbermann, he is a news personality and not the head of the news Dept. He must have known the companies policy about involvement in elections. It is bad enough that the major news organizations show an unabashed preferance for a political party. However, it is a different matter altogether when an individual employee acts out.

Marilyn, good riddance then! What the heck where you watching MSNBC if you don't like them. Oxymoron.

He SUCKED, never watched him in the first place!!! Switch channels when either his or that other (tingly leg ) equally BORING MORON Mathews pro-mo ads come. Can't stand the sight of either..........

I obviously haven't read his contract, but let's get REAL, MSNBC - Keith O. is not a journalist, he is a political commentator (and an entertaining one, at that). Can anyone who listens to the guy arguably believe he is anything but a die hard liberal? I think not. Quite frankly, I was shocked to hear that he hadn't contributed to a variety of democratic campaigns before these donations.

His donations do not make him seem biased toward a certain viewpoint - his stated views on his show on a nightly basis DO. For MSNBC to say that his political donations violate ethics rules because they may raise questions about bias is ridiculous. I think that ship sailed looooong ago and it just makes MSNBC look plain stupid. Lighten up. Let David Gregory report and let Keith O comment. The peanut gallery will be mighty quite without him.

So... they're not allowed to have a politcal view? Olberman is no more a journalist than O-Rielley or Hannity.

Mike, O'Reilly and Hannity are not "Journalists", they are "Political commentators." They do not report the news, they comment and participate in discussions about what is on the news.

You're kidding, right? This is hard to understand? The rule says no donations. Doesn't matter that he is a talk show host and commentator and not a reporter. FOX doesn't have such rules (no surprise there), but they're absolutely right to suspend him.

I'm with you Marilyn and won't watch anymore. Looks to me that NBC is folding to FOX like pressure from the RepubliTeas. What happened to all of those constitutional rights they are crying about. Keith is entitled to his first amendment rights to do what he wants with his money. If this were a FOX reported there would be a national outcry of unfair treatment, but on the otherhand FOX has no ethics so this could never be a FOX reporter.

I hear there is an opening at NPR

It doesn't matter what Fox allows or doesn't allow, Obermann violated his employers rules. He also cast a very dark shadow on his own integrity as a journalist. He lied to his employer, or at least hid information. How do we ever trust that he's not doing the same thing every night.

Having said that, everyone knows that MSNBC provides the liberal bias and Fox the conservative bias. Folks tend to watch based on their own political agenda. What Obermann did is to provide evidence of his liberal bias. He shouldn't be fired for that bias, but he should be fired for violating company policy.

MSNBC put ratings in front of integrity by only suspending him.

Wow, its kinda funny seeing all the libs jump to this guys defense. Where was this outrage when Juan Whatshisface was let go for simply making a statement that many people hold themselves?

Was he not liberal enough for all of you? So the lefties only care about this kind of thing if it happens to one you deem your own? Hows that for equality.

Gotta love the hypocrisy of the fringes. Lefties and righties- so blinded by their partizanship they cant see their own glaring contradictions.

"The only difference between a liberal and a conservative is which evils they deem they are going to save the rest of us from."

To the people who keep blaming and complaining about Fox. This is an NBC policy. That is why he was suspended. read the 100 word article and you can see for yourself. If this was a FOX policy and he worked for MSNBC, he woulnd't be suspended. If O'Reilly worked for NBC and donated to the Republican party without authorization, he would be suspended. Stop comparing Apples and Oranges.

This article buried the REAL story!

NBC News has ethical standards? AMAZING!

Is it a big surprise to anyone that Keith Olberman is a leftie? I don't know why it's so shocking. Newsweek ran a story a few years ago tracking the political contributions of journalists. They tracked about 185 such donations and found that ALL of them except 17 were given to Democrats or Liberals. So anybody that thinks there is no bias in mainstream media has their head up their a@#.

Furthermore, let's not compare Olberman to Juan Williams. JW was fired, Olberman has been suspended. JW is a commentator, he is supposed to give his opinion. Olberman has been masquerading as a journalist, what a joke.

US_1967:

I am glad entertainment and ratings are what is important to you when watching these types of shows.

Demar- suspended INDEFINITELY. There is a difference.

There is another difference you are forgetting too- JW was working for BOTH outlets, and wound up just expanding his role at FOX when NPR severed their ties. His commentary should not have been linked to his role as NPR correspondent (though from what I understand, FOX continued to count him as NPR correspondent even after it was requested that they discontinue that practice while he was working under the FOX commentator title).

Good Riddance, I'm sure if they check, Fat Head Ed Schultz probably did the same thing. Two wannabes with the lowest ratings possible and still be on the air.

COLODOMOM

To answer your question. Yes I gave Juan Williams a pass. There were other reporters for that waste of a network that have said a lot worse and are still working there. All Juan did is tell how he felt and it is the same that millions of people in this country as well as the rest of the world have felt. How about Bill Maher and his comments about Muslims?

"Waaaaaaahhhhhh!" (I think that's one way to simulate a baby's--whether they grow[?] up to become a liberal or conservative--cry).

Compare Juan Williams' plight to Keith Olbermann's plight? Williams was fired; Olbermann was suspended. One paid lip service; the other paid money. Need I continue with the disparities?

Well, I think that unlike Fox, NBC, the mother superior of MSNBC is in fact trying to maintain a phony wall between their news reporting and their advocacy journalism. If they eliminate everyone who is less than objective -- i.e., is willing to take a stand for justice, democracy, right over wrong, and all those other things that can become so tedious in modern corporate broadcasting, then MSNBC will cease to exist as the crucial block against a total corporate news takeover by the unmitigated enemies of democracy.

I want to thank, BTW, the writer (1.5 above) who wished good riddance to the pathetic right wing liberal, Chris Matthews. Unlike Keith, Rachel, Big Ed, and now Lawrence, Chris could fall into the Indonesian volvano, and the world of progressive journalism would ne worse off. Al Franken was exactly right about that prick. He could easily slide over to Fox, and instantly become a flaming Teabagger. He's not that far away already.

I wonder if this means he has to return the 3.5 mil dollor raise he got him self after MSNBC parent comapny took 140 bil in tlgp bank bail out funds from the obama administration.

There is clearly a difference between a serious journalist and a pundit. I think most of us know the difference. Yes, FOX can make all the contributions to the Right they choose, because only an idiot would not know that is where there bias lies. It is "dog-eat-dog" on the airwaves and it seems that commentators on MSNBC only began to lean Left because somebody needed to. I am an Independent and rarely watch any political programs because of the polarizing nature of the shows. We have become the "Divided States of America" because of the nastiness of the attitudes of "the party" loyalties. Just read and count the amount of nasty comments on this forum.

I rest my case.

THIS is great news!!!

the biggest POLITICAL HACK in existence, was as DONALD TRUMP would say "YOU'RE FIRED"!!! freaking SA-WEEET!

now to get rid of those HACKS madcow, tingley legs matthews, and the lyeing raging ed!

msnbc might actually make something of themselves!?!

Wow... over 2,700 comments in less than 2 hours.

If MSNBC wants more traffic, they'll now know to suspend another pundit.

I have always watched both sides of the news (fox and MSNBC the most), I may not agree with either, but at least I get two different perspectives and then make my own.

As far as the reporter getting fired, if it is policy and he broke it then he deserved to be fired. As for crying about fox, if it is their policy then the people that violate it should be fired too, but if not then no big deal.

It's hard to do the right thing. Just ask Faux News...

I'm proud of MSNBC for having values and dignity--rare in the "Fox" age of "fair and balanced!"

Keith does a great job. Compare his sense of humor and intellect to any on Fox News. There is no comparison. If he broke the rules, he should be penalized, but not discharged. It would be a great loss to those of us who have tired of fox and CNN.

Cable News has become the World of Wrestlin' Sure ain't real.

Without any "bad guys" like Hanity and Oberman, there won't be any "good guys"

I'm switching to the only "news" show left the Daly show on Comedy Central

I love how this story is about Oberman and MSNBC and yet so many libs try to rip on Fox News. Typical idiots! Try to stay focused...Fox News had nothing to do with this! It was a violation of NBC corporate policy. I know, I know, it makes you feel better if you can just say something negative about the big bad Fox! Oberman was a punk and he got what he deserved. I hope he ends up doing the weekend weather in Anchorage, where he can interview Palin every Sat & Sun at the local bake fair!

As for MSNC having values, please, it is the radical left journalist that have been costing them money and viewers. If you think this has anything to do with anything else but money then you are a fool.

all you people are ok with international companies attempting to control our politics with their SCOTUS approval of them donating ... but think individual AMERICANS should be deprived of their CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS by employers such as NBC and the Federal government as part of their employment agreement. Yup, Feds also place those kinds of restrictions on AMERICANS as a condition of employment and it is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. He made a private donation to his candidates of choice, he didnt get on the air and tell the rest of America to do the same.

All you hypocrites should look in the mirror and see what AN ANTI-AMERICAN really is. I think NBC and it's israeli backers who contributed to republican candidates should be prosecuted for attempting to deny an American his guaranteed constitutional rights!

PS, he isnt accountable as the republican candidates are either since he ISNT a republican (or any other party) politician using international funds to run for political office ... he is an american individual exersizing his constitutional rights!

Calling Olberman or for that matter any of those Pmsnbc hacks "journalists"

is ridiculous

The difference is, unfortunately, that MSNBC is a news organization, but Fox "News" is registered with the FCC as an entertainment organization. This still sucks as we have lost a real strong voice of liberal reason. I still like Ed and Rachel, but my viewership of MSNBC is definitely in question.

Karma: Sure has a way of finding its mark!

Couldnt happen to a nicer guy!

Wait a minute....NBC has ethics?????? Since when?????

Keith who? MS what? The ratings show there is only one king in cable news, FNC. And then the 'hipster doofus' crowd gets theirs from John Stewart. LMAO

Free Keith Olbermann

NBC's probably been pretty pissed at Olberman for a while now, since he's been so vocal in his support of equality for gays, and they've probably just been itching to find a reason, any reason, to fire him, and they jumped all over this little slip-up before it was too late.

This guy should be fired just for donating $ to Raul Grijalva. Grijalva is a threat to our national security since he's against sending the national guard to protect our borders. Instead he is a strong supporter of amnesty and opposes our rights to bear arms. Yet the masses voted him for another term. Thank you Olbermann and voters!

ScoMata1964: Olbermann is a commentator not a journalist .. you know that right?

All, He violated NBC Company policy.....nothing to do with Fox, WSJ, etc....It Company policy....get it

What a great show! Sucks that happened, if it wasn't for him everyone would believe the lies Foxsnews and its affiliates broadcast. Boo on MSNBC's part!

So the Supreme Court says a corporation is a person and MSNBC says a person is a corporation. I hope CNN hires both Rachel and Keith and I will follow them right over. MSNBC can try to be Fox all they want, I would never watch that.

FATHER, May I? I can't do anything without your permission!!!!!!

lib50- Fox news does not work solely with sound bites. They have views from both sides. They give you the facts after they have spent a lot of time and people power making sure those facts are indeed facts. Maybe you should make yourself sit long enough to get the whole story and not what you only want to hear. AS Fox news puts it, "We report YOU decide!" Is is possible you are not smart enough to decide? Keep drinking the Kool Aid friend.

This is the only way they can get ratings. To suspend one of their own.

He's such a donut head!!!!!

Good lord you on the left amaze me...The story is about how Olberman violated his contract...Doesn't matter what other "News" agencies require...NBC says no donations....So instead of just moving on you cry and stamp your feet in anger because it's not fair....
So lets say my Employer makes me sign a contract that says I can't dress casual and yours says you can....I dress casual and get suspended....Should I get mad at you because you are allowed to when I KNEW that I couldn't??

bring Keith Back now

Jemma,

CNN would not hire them to make their ratings GO DOWN !!!!!!!

So does Fox have ethical standards?

I am absolutely giddy with laughter over so many here who complain about how Olberman or Matthews or whoever is on msnbc. Let's do a reality check here. Msnbc is a liberal network! What do you freaking expect? While they do offer some centrists and right-leaning programming, the network is, for all intents and purposes, liberal in its political perspective just as Fox is conservative to the max (with no left-leaning programming at all of which I am aware).

Olberman should have known better than to make political donations without advance approval of the parent company but that, in and of itself, is enough to make me laugh.

"Okay, guys. I know you are all seriously right-wing conservatives with a lot to gain if Republicans take control of the House and Senate but I'd kinda like to make a few donations to the other side of the aisle, if you don't mind."

It is possible that Olberman simply forgot that particular clause in the passion of the campaigns. (He shouldn't have, but it is possible.) I would be willing to bet there are policies where most of you work that you signed off on when you were first employed and about which you have forgotten ... and even violated. Do you now how Olberman to a higher standard than you hold yourself? It should be the other way around but most people seem to find it easier to castigate the other guy rather than look at one's own sins.

Yes. Olberman was foolish on some levels for the failure, but I'll bet many other employees of NBC made similar large donations to one party/candidate or another with no public outcry. Once again, it would seem Olberman's biggest crime is having his donations made public. Obviously, however, he was not ashamed of his contributions and freely acknowledged them.

I cannot imagine msnbc without Keith Olberman. He is one of their strongest anchors. A fact proved out by the number of people here complaining about how much they hate him. He is a compassionate man and not afraid to listen to ... and even consider opposing views - a lesson that would be good to learn by many here. I, for one, hope he will not be gone for long or NBC's hypocrisy may cause me to stop watching ALL NBC programming.

Slanted news is bad news. This is a good thing. Now if only FOX were as responsible and would fire their slanted commentators. Good job by MSNBC. They have to be commended.

no kidding, a news organization that has some standars. fox could learn a few things. considering they have several republican candidates working for them. considering news corp gave the republican governors assoc over a million dollars last month. considering their op-ed people have gone out and actively campiagned for teabaggers. and the fools here still try to defend fox.

I suspect that this has more to do with MSNBC has been looking for an excuse to dump Olbermann and his low ratings.

It was also a mistake to have the "Pundit Panel" on election night. They made themselves look like petulant children.

It's been my observation that people that identify themselves as "liberal" tend to feel themselves to be smarter than everyone else. Olbermann, Maddow, O'Donnell, and O'Riley typify this on TV. O'Riley does it through insults and talking over people. The rest do it with snide comments and laughing at "the common people" and their silly wants and needs. People are tired of being talked down to by those that think they have all the answers. Here's a clue: they don't. Not one of those I mentioned knows anything about economics or history.

Turn your TV off. Throw your newspapers away. Learn to think for yourselves.

This is something the network HAD to do. Hopefully, he'll be back. But what was he thinking? What a stupid thing to do - in an 'image is everything' business.

Bring Keith Olberman back now

ABC has an ethics policy? Yeah right, and Anna Nicole married for love. LMAO!!!

MSNBC had a Contract with OLBERMAN.. That he read...

It states .. He can not contribute,, Or he gets let go!

Simple, He screwed up. Like most liberals, he can't understand the english language,, No Means No.

See ya!

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.”

Perhaps they should get some new journalists and proof readers for the msnbc.com site as well. A "one-sentence-statement" doesn't have a period, 1 space instead of 2, and a capital letter starting a new sentence in the middle.

But yeah, the comments above aren't unexpected. Scream bloody murder if anyone donates to Republicans but defend tooth & nail if someone donates to Democrats.

But wait, all the laws and policies from liberals are for everyone else, not them. Come on man, didn't you know that?

isn't this less about the individuals and policies, and more about the fact that one network actually has a policy and the other doesn't? and if you're a conservative, how can juan have an unmitigated first amendment right, but not the other guy? the truth is, both of these guys broke company policy, and i see nothing wrong with the way either company has handled either.

So lets see: Keith Olberman violated his contract not once, but THREE times, by giving three different campaign donations. Does that make him his own "Worst Person in the World"?

By the way, I would expect any organization, news or otherwise, to suspend or terminate any employee who violates their contract.

drew, that's a 2 way street budy. you can't bang on olberman, and defend carl rove, or glenn beck.

So now corporations can donate to political causes but individuals can't? Where's that in the Constitution? Sort of give a whole new meaning to the Citizens United ruling.

If I violate my company rules I can get disciplined up to and including termination. Mr. Olberman failed to follow his company's rules and must face the consequences. That simple!

Look forget fox , cnn , bush all the above. I started watching msnbc day 1. You people say if keith is gone Im gone. Listen to someone that goes over ratings. For everyone that says there leaving 10 will fill your shoes to watch maybe more.If chris and rachael goes , They wont beat fox just yet but they will beat cnn within 3 months. BUUUTTT , people will come back and thank god they will say buttt msnbc will be under a watch dog to see if it levels out to all being fair.All means anyone working there . To see the hate ,disrespect laughs from the 3 I spoke about killed this station and there ads to sell coke lets say paid the price

I wonder if Madcow is still on, I mean it's hard to distinguish Olbermann from her/him/it. I think they're the same person.

Hopefully they (MSNBC) ultimately can his as$. Compared to Bill O'Reilly, Keith is 5 times more biased than Bill ever was. Furthermore if you (lefties) think MSNBC is middle-of-the-road, and FOX is hopelessly biased to the right, then by definition you've lost all traces of objectivity.

There is another difference you are forgetting too- JW was working for BOTH outlets, and wound up just expanding his role at FOX when NPR severed their ties. His commentary should not have been linked to his role as NPR correspondent (though from what I understand, FOX continued to count him as NPR correspondent even after it was requested that they discontinue that practice while he was working under the FOX commentator title).

I like JW on Fox. I like Alan Colmes on fox as well! I might not agree with them on each of their views but sometimes they make very good points. Its called balance! Something Olbermann will never have!

Per BHO - "Fox News 'Destructive', Olbermann & Maddow 'Invaluable" Obama's comment on these two ass clowns goes down as the most bias comment ever! It's just as bad as "We must pass Obamacare in order to see what's in it"!

I've been saying this for years.

Cable "reporters" are not reporters, they are public relations and advertising representatives.

Suspended? He should be fired and probably will be after they go through the proper procedure and find someone to take his place.

If they don't fire him, that is really a sad commentary on news organizations.

He should be fired. He broke a cardinal rule if he is indeed a reporter.

Both MSNBC and FOX are for the most part puppets for their respective political parties. Yes, both have limited actual news, but not for the most part.

Neither are actual "News" during their Prime Time broadcasting. The "sheeple" who follow the likes of Oberman, O'Rielly, Maddow, or Beck and don't realize they are entertainment (not really news), are the biggest problem in this country.

In reality, any (so called) news from any network should be taken with a grain of salt. Most are just too lazy to do their homework and realize that they are brainwashed from this garbage. If a little time were taken, these "followers" would see the propaganda they are fed to be just that.

Don't get mad at me for telling it how it is, blame yourselves for being so gullible.

These liberal lunatics are hilarious. No one said he cannot contribute, his company has a policy - seems liberals either can't read or just don't care about when someone agrees to do something for money that they abide by the contract.

The Fox News rantings are very funny. Fox wipes the floor with these guys in every single ratings report, and you question if anyone takes THEM seriously? HA!

Truth is they likely wanted to fire this buffoon for a long time due to lousy ratings and the drivel he would spew, and Kiethie just gave them the cheapest out.

Turn your TV off. Throw your newspapers away. Learn to think for yourselves.

Deke - I hear you. I agree with thinking for oneself. However, we do need information in order to think.

I obtain my information from CBS News Radio and newspapers such as the NY Times, LA Times and Wall Street Journal.

This media contains facts. Sometimes you have pry away the opinion to get to the fact, but you can find the facts and analyze them yourself.

NBC policy does not prohibit employees from donating to political candidates -- but MSNBC president Phil Griffin is miffed that Keith didn't get "prior approval' first. Meanwhile, Republicans Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan also gave political contributions -- but are not suspended. We've had enough insanity this week -- we don't need more because Phil Griffin's feelings are hurt.

==============

Source: Petition!

http://act.boldprogressives.org/sign/petition_olbermann/?rd=1&source=e1-5mo

==============

I really find it hard to believe that people actually think Faux News is an ACTUAL news source. It's all fantasy, anyone who turns on the TV to get their "news" just lost a lot of respect in my book. I turn on the TV for entertainment, because besides some local news that's all that is on TV, ENTERTAINMENT! If Olbermann violated his contract so be it. To try an compare MSNBC holding it's employees accountable for their actions with anything at Faux News is laughable. Fair and Balanced HAHAHAHA, gets me every time!

ScoMata1964 -- Yup, you got it right. Olberman can't contribute as it's a contract violation. And you are soooooooooo right about Walter Conkrite. One would have had a tough time trying to determine his political leanings back in the day. I was very surprised when I heard how liberal he was. What a huge difference between the two.

It our right to donate to whom ever we chose, how can MSNBC tell Keith O. that he can't. If BIG corporations can donate UN-LIMITED amounts with absolutley no disclosure, MSNBC is cutting their own throats by suspending Keith for his political rights.

Great!!!now Obermann can go back to ESPN..or better yet broadcasting minor league baseball!!!

Something similar got Dan Rather, a false story about GWB, then being an open Democrat. I don't remember it all but it finished him up. Joe Pa at PSU had a few problems as a Repub, can't remember the exact circumstances, finally PSU said his political choices are his decisions. You can do what you want. They just don't want you telling the world.

the management of msnbc is just like fox - we need another fox like we need more tea baggers. one of the only reasons i watched chan 356 was olbermann. reinstate him now or sell your crap to someone else

Murdoch's FAUXNEWS donated FOUR Million to Republicans...

but you suspend Olbermann for what? exercising his personal rights?

(deletes MSNBC.COM from favorite bookmarks.)

Idiot corporations have too much power!

His rating had dropped below what was acceptable at NSNLSD, He will not return! I will bet on it. NBC used this as an excuse to rid themselves of their biggest contract, and lowest rated show!!! , because nobody was watching him they got lucky. Again, he will not be back.

I guess if it's a written policy..... it's pretty stupid. In this case I agree with Olberman. He was promoting a candidate. He's an opinion guy. He says what he thinks. He's a big liberal. Why is this a problem. I think it's because his ratings are in the tank.

CDL - "What happened to all of those constitutional rights they are crying about. Keith is entitled to his first amendment rights to do what he wants with his money."

Nothing happened to his constitutional rights. He donated the money didnt he? He exercised his right when he donated - it just so happenes part of his employment agreed to not do that. The issue was not that his rights were infringed upon, the issue is he signed a contract agreeing - due to journalistic integrity that they wouldnt do that, as it shows bias. He violated that contract. Its that simple.

He had the right to donate, he did donate, and apparently MSNBC is executing their right to suspend him. Its no different than Juan Williams. If i were a commentator/journalist - i would be going through my contract again with a magnifying glass just to make sure i dont have any clauses like that. Apparently athletes are one of the last groups of people that are allowed to break contracts with no downside.

This will never happen at Faux Noise Network: They haven't an ethics policy, and are devoid of morals.

His ratings are so low this was an easy way to let him go. His ratings are the lowest of all the commentators. He is so vial.

Since Fox likes to contribute to republicans (and lets their bloviators do it), maybe Keith will go over there to balance the right wingnuts.

For all the people who like to brag about Fox's ratings, keep in mind that people want to be ENTERTAINED. Fox is ENTERTAINMENT. People want their information to come in small easily digested soundbites so they don't have to tax their brains. Anything that forces real thought is just not popular. The shows with the highest ratings are the most asinine ones, certainly not the best or most informative. So every time I hear the gloating it makes me think "there goes another uninformed patsy who can't be bothered to think for themselves".

Well, Keith is fun to watch--but he has a bad habit of crossing his employers. As he doesn't do "hard" news--anyone who thinks he does is a nutcase--he probably didn't realize he had to "clear" donations through the president of the company. I doubt that anyone else bothered--but, then, they won't be owning up to it now that he's been suspended.

The numbers for Countdown are a bit skewed because so many people watch the podcast rather than the actual show. Faux News attracts people who don't know how to program their TIVO, much less watch a podcast--so the numbers are not quite accurate. If Keith is actually so little watched and so little known--why are there so many comments on this thread? I imagine he is watched a good bit more than people think--Faux News, on the other hand, has people who tune in, leave it on, and walk out of the room because they are Nielson families and want to make Faux look good.

The fact is that even if Fox is watched 4 (or 10 or whatever it is) times more often than MSNBC, it is still one of the least-watched channels. I think that Discover does better than they do, many times.

One has to wonder if Keith did it on purpose to get suspended--it's possible that he's been offered a different job or has just gotten tired of MSNBC. He has a habit of moving around a lot--as he seems to never be happy with his employers. I really enjoy his show--though I don't by any means take it seriously as "news"--and hope he will be back. It's hard to say.

But, for all those saying that Faux does not support political candidates--ummmm, you may want to go read the transcript of the latest stockholder meetings. Murdoch came right out and said that they were, in fact, going to be supporting Republicans. I will say this for RM, he isn't shy about telling people exactly what he's doing--reminds me a bit of Hitler in that way.

Why it is that people don't understand that RM was unhappy with the influence that the US has on Australia (particularly in making those little darkies think that they are actually the equals of white people), and came over with his many millions to disrupt the political process. He paid people to pass laws to make it legal for him to own umpty-ump media outlets, and he paid people to pass laws to make it legal for him to make donations without having to admit it or without the candidates having to admit it. He is making money while simultaneously destroying our political system--it's delightful that we actually pay him to ruin our country for us.

But, then, people in America aren't capable of telling the difference between real and Faux News. I guess one shouldn't be surprised.

Marilyn could not say any better than you did , they are true losers - no-body gives them a 2- look...................

There's a good and logical reason why Fox News would never do something like this. Somebody said:

How many FOX news journalists donated to political candidates?

I am under the impression that Fox News journalists ARE political candidates--Palin, Huckabee, Gingrich, Rove, and there's a couple of others, that are paif Fox commentators.

Can you imagine if Fox fired Palin because she contributed to her own campaign?

I'll be curious to see what happens during the presidential primaries. Which one will Fox endorse? Will they fire all the others when they do? I can't wait.

NBC, CNN, MSNBC, and the other liberal media outlets have to do something to slow down the bleeding. They are getting killed in the ratings.

Fox had something like 20 million viewers on Nov. 2. CNN had somewhere around 2 million.

Just goes to show people want news without spin. Personally I prefer Fox because of the news is news, not someone who is favorable to a cause.

Once upon a time, in the days of people like Walter Cronkite, major network news programs were (relatively) objective and unbiased. It made sense to make sure that journalists were perceived as unbiased, because the networks were objective, or had a pretty thick patina of objectivity. However, this is not the case anymore.

Everyone knows that MSNBC is liberal, and everyone knows that Fox is an arm of the Republican party. There is no more objectivity, except for occasional individual journalists. The rule against donating to political causes is antiquated and obsolete - and it shold be abolished. This is especially true when the owners of Fox News give millions of dollars to conservate causes.

If you want "news" watch your local news channel, but if you want entertainment, then watch all the cable "news" networks. The funniest thing to me is how people are downing Stewart and Colbert challenging their "news" credibility.

This is one reason why you lost ratings to Fox. Your station is so bias in your political views. Over there I can get 2 sides, and they use common sense.

One week ago stories started about rupert trying to buy MSNBC: I now understand . Let the Nation Magazine know that you are unhappy with their (scab) Hayes jumping right in.

These guys are all doing commentaries not reporting. Anyone fool enough not to understand that is just that, foolish. Fox, CNN, CBS, etc all have news reporting, many of which have reporters offering their biased opinions--Fox and CNN less than the others, their commentary is well defined. If someone does not know Oberman' stripes again is simple minded. If you think print journalism is unbiased, not just in the Opinion (Editorial) page, God help you and please don't vote. (Nor multiply). Students now go into Journalism, not to report but to "make a change"

You're right, if by meaning that MSNBC is stupid. I don't think it is a surprise that KO is promoting the left side of politics, but MSNBC ought to re-think that stupid rule about "commentators" donating. IF KO were reporting straight unbiased news that's one thing, but these commentaries are obviously biased (a good thing as long as it is clear and no claims of "unbiased" such as FOX). He signed a contract and should have thought twice about it, but knowing the rule, he should have not donated ~ though it is a stupid rule since he works as a commentator with biased opinions.

He is a smart guy that probably knew there would be consequences if it got out.

I am so grateful for Keith, Maddow and the rest of MSNBC ~ they are a breath of fresh air. When I get down about all the ignorance on our political scene, I find solace listening to these MSNBC shows and feel better that at least there is some thoughtful ideas coming out of TV.

It is very disheartening to see people that voted for Obama vote in a reactionary mode which makes no sense ~ voted for a guy with ideals that reasonable and thoughtful people would embrace ~ when things don't work out magically in two years (due to the party of "NO" and scared Democrats that value getting re-elected more than sticking to their so called values) ~ so these voters either don't show up or they react by voting for candidates that don't embrace the ideals of the president they elected.

What? Yes, it is baffling. Keith will now have to deal with his own actions. MSNBC needs to re-evaluate its stand on commentators donation on their own private time.

True Dems = love our country and people

Righty repubs = lack of love, compassion, common sense and so much more lack ~ never enough for them. Though honestly, there are some really good people that embrace the Repubs view point. Many of the 'not doing so well financially' republicans still embrace the repubs talking points, even when these people benefit greatly from Demo generated entitlements.

Keith, keep on trucking. Cannot wait to see you again.

Petition here -

http://act.boldprogressives.org/sign/petition_olbermann/?source=tw

The real crime here is this article referring to Olbermann as a "journalist". He is purely an entertainer and a political hack. MSNBC is not fooling anyone by referring to themselves as a "news" organization. They are purely a democrat advocacy group. What a joke to punish ONE entertainer for political advocacy, when that is precisely why MSNBC hired him. Incredible!

From the article: "NBC News ethics policy" as in something the FOX Political Organization is completely lacking. As well as the policy that employees cannot participate in politics.

FOX as an agency openly donated 1 million to Republican governor campaigns, Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin are openly involved in politics with rallies, campaigning, etc. and conservatives in this thread have the hypocritical audacity to post insults against Olbermann.

You people need a major reality check.

Well, enough of all of this flack from both sides of the aisle. Get on the Popular Amendment bandwagon at www.faircampaignreform.us and help circulate petitions calling for two constitutional amendments. The first would bring about major election/campaign finance reform, the second would enforce term limits for both houses of Congress, just as Congress did for the presidency. ECR would drastically reduce the amount individuals can contribute, as well as the amount a candidate can personally spend on a campaign, and ban all corporate, union, PAC, special interest, etc. donations and "third party ads" thereby overturning the SCOTUS ruling. There are eleven sections to that amendment.

Only reason neo-fascist (conservatives and tea partakers) hate Olbermann is because he tells the truth and they don't like it!!! He was the first to call out Bushy Jr. for lying us into Iraq with so-called intel from the CIA that Bushy later accused but gave a medal to for their "service" in the so-called "war" against terrorism. The same ass-hat Bush who made joked about looking for WMD at a journalist dinner while our guys were over there trying to find the ghost munition sites! Yeah, typical conservatives who have NO ETHICS! GOP=Greed Over People.

At least NBC has some ethics. Faux News just doesn't care about ethics. CEO of Faux News is a former Republican Media hack. Repugs are so stupid, many of them think The Colbert Report is a real conservative news show! LOL.

Impartial !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ryan-

Still, it's funny when the left says Fox news is biased.

Compared to what?

Not that you'll ever see this Reply, because hardly anyone on the Vine seems to understand the difference between a reply and a fresh post, and thus we have no less than 152 "replies" to the first comment on this article---

but here goes, anyway:

I dunno - compared to the rest of the entire world, maybe? So many people seem to be oblivious to the fact that the globe doesn't begin and end at the shores of America.

He's suspended not for making a contribution, but for not asking for permission first.

Personally, the fact that he made these contributions makes no difference. He exercised his right as an individual. Read the policy again:

"Anyone working for NBC News who takes part in civic or other outside activities may find that these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist because they may create the appearance of a conflict of interest,” “Such activities may include participation in or contributions to political campaigns or groups that espouse controversial positions. You should report any such potential conflicts in advance to, and obtain prior approval of, the president of NBC News or his designee."

Now, first off, you could debate that he violated the policy. I think you'd be hard pressed to get a jury to say he was supporting campaigns that espoused controversial positions. Any contract lawyer will tell you that without a comma after the word "campaigns", only those that are "controversial" require prior approval. Granted, there is room here for interpretation of what "controversial" means.

Anybody that thinks individuals should be held by their employer to a standard that limits one's civic rights is crazy. This is quite different from using his position on MSNBC to engage in campaigning. Frankly, anybody who thinks Olbermann is a straight news journalist is crazy. MSNBC has never portrayed him or his program as such.

No, this is a case of some corporate jerk off who thinks Olbermann peed on his shoes and he's trying to make an example of him. He's trying to prove that he's the boss. We all know the type. Frankly, I think Mr. Griffin should be suspended. Not that long ago Griffin spoke about Olbermann's show as being in direct competition to Bill Oreilly's. Does that mean he thinks O'Reilly does straight news? MSNBC claims to be "number one in politics". Can you do that without opinions?

Where Keith screwed up is he didn't use a disclosure exempt Political Action Committee. That's the way you cover your tracks. Let's do some digging into Mr. Griffin's contributions both as an individual and as a controller of corporate funds. Seems like this guy has done a really good job of covering his trail.

Sure Mr. Griffin was upset when Jon Stewart seemed to compare MSNBC to Fox News.I'd be upset too, Stewart later on his show cleared up that he was not in anyway equating the two. If these CEOs feel they need to send a message, then have the guts to make a commercial to be aired on your network. Griffen is just another CEO who wants to hide behind the scenes but control everything. Guys like this who throw their weight around but keep themselves inaccessible and hide from the public.

Frankly, all these news organizations should be required to state a "opinion disclaimer" before any show that isn't straight news, not unlike the over the air networks used to do for editorials. In reality, Fox started this approach of putting on opinion shows "disguised" as straight news. Smart people know the difference but based on the election results Tuesday, not everybody is smart!

Until Keith is reinstated I won't watch msnbc, the Today show, and I will definitely change my e-mail provider. Put him back on. And oh yeah, I guess this means Scarborough is out too?

Gee doesn't this sound familiar, Raun Williams was targeted and fired for his edge to the right, well in Keith Olbermanns case his show just out right sucked, he had no ratings no audience and no class, maybe now that the people have spoken and booted the Democrats out of town, MSNBC just might jump over to the true right side of the issues, maybe their lovefest for Obama is over, i wounder if whats her name, ah ah I remember now Maddow, do you think she's sweating a little bit, her ratings ain't much better, Keith Olbermann's Bush blame game came to an end, just like the Democrats control of congress, SHORT LIVED.

liz,

Do you really think that if you stop watching it will matter to them? God forbid you stop using their FREE E MAIL ACCOUNT, I am sure that will bring them to their knees

liz still thinks the left has total power.

If only one side limits participation, guess who is going to win?

This is more like the case where the pbs commentator got in trouble because he violated a clause in his contract. The big O has a contract that states they cannot donate to any political party without the head office approving it in front. Keith did not ask for permission so he gets suspended so he can go work on his many other projects while he is in the penalty box.

Wow 7000 comments guess the RNC has not laid off any trolls yet.

Actually Fred, Countdown is MSNBC's top rated show.

Realamericansfirst, Lib whiner, could you stuff "acorn" up your bum please

You people don't understand that NBC is not FOX. NBC has higher standard, If you compare NBC to FOX is like compare American standard to the Taliban. Fox news commentator can contribute to GOP, said crazy things, lie about anyone anc come up cleans that's up to them, because we all know that FOX news are just bias and propagada for the right wingers. Terrorist and Taliban can totures all they want, but we don't tortures because We're not subhuman like the terrorist and talibans. Same things can be said between NBC and FOX news. Fox news can have their journalist, commentators contributes money to the right wingers all they want, NBC will not allow its employees to do the same because NBC is not FOx news and it has higher standard

This couldn`t have happened to a more cynical POS, I gave this guy his dues and watched the show, fuhuk, incredible.

Don't worry, if MSNBC doesn't let Mr. Olberman come back, with his demonstrated professionalism and unmatched ratings on television,( and provided he knows how to make coffee and sweep floors), he can always go across the street to FOX and probably get a part-time job as an errand boy.

I'm curious how FOX even gets brought up in this discussion. He never worked for FOX. His employer says he cannot make political contributions. I would bet money that it's stated in his contract, which he signed.

The fact that Maddow brings up FOX is just something else for her to try to discredit her competition.

The bottom line is he agreed to the terms of his employment, and then violated those rules. He lost his job, the same as you or I would if we didnt follow our employers rules. Besides, there's always ESPN, he was better at that job than he was at NBC.

I have had the same question and all I can attribute it to is the blame it on somebody else syndrome by tonight it will be Bush's fault.

Couldn't have happened to a nicer Guy, maybe NPR will pick him up (unless he works there already) they seem to have no Ethics either!!!

ha ha ha ha ha ha

too bad maddow isn't going down also

ha ha ha ha ha ha

It amazes me how many of you keep saying things like JW from NPR was fired but Olbermann was only suspended... How quickly we forget the article says suspended indefinitely. Or do we not all realize suspended indefinitely and fired are synonyms? *rolls eyes*

He should have been suspended for his unprofessional hate filled rhetoric not his campaign donations. Still one can be glad he's gone.

Is it possible that MSNBC is trying to clean up their image? Wow! Who would have thought...

The reason MSNBC ratings have gone down is because once Dems took over then there wasn't a need to make light of idiots anymore. If Repubs ever get control again then our ratings will skyrocket an Fox's will dwindle just like when dummy Bush was in office.

That makes no sense at all

Screw you all you right-winged morons! Yeah, I'm sure all the FEUX News Cronies donate monies to the GOP/Tea-Party! This is insane. This country is going to hell!

Seems the people who worked on his staff aren't shedding any tears over his being suspended. Not liked by co-workers either.

Seems some have gotten their feathers ruffled. Yes this country is going to hell and as you liberal meat heads say OBAMA is driving the freaking bus. Straight into the fires of hell. His spend borrow spend will collapse this economy with even a very small misstep. Drive Away King BOBOwe are in the back of the bus where you and your racist rhetoric placed us with your organizer mind and mouth running overtime. Why don't you just hand over the keys to the kingdom to the UN because that's where you are headed.

Keith Olbermann wasn't just suspended for his donation to 3 Democratic nominees.

He is a jerk, and there is some other reason or reasons (watch for it) that he was "canned".

Keith was the worst of what would be called journalism. He name calls, degrades people, and possibly wanted more money for a new contract? There could be many reasons, but he was the most arrogant, insulting host on Cable News today.

I like CNN, so this is not a tainted view from a moderate Conservative.

PS: It would not surprise me if he had a "rumble" with the Heads of MSNBC. Somethiing much nastier than the "donations".

Mr oberman wa never a good professional. he is very disrespect to every one. has no emotional control of his mouth and makes lots of non sense comments. he and matthews should be fired never to return to TV ever. no one needs his oppinion nor looks at this american terrorist in everybody home.

Hawaii2

I think you are on to something Hawaii, to put it in sports terms, if you are supposed to be a big time slugger and a team gives you a long term contract and puts you in the clean-up spot,(8P.M.), in the hopes of winning a pennant, and all you do after a couple of years is hit under two hundred,don't bring in any new fans and start to drive away the fans you did have,well,the team knows they won't be able to trade you, so they are going to find some reason to cut their losses.

J.D. Still:

Correct; thinking beyond the 'box". There is definitely something much bigger than the donations.

Who knows how many Cable Hosts/Journalists donate to their own favorite candidate--they are not suspended. It goes both ways for Dems and Repubs.

My biggest suspicion there are other hard core reasons. I'm thinking of one, but cannot speculate on this board. "Leave it at that".

Olbermann thought he was bigger and more powerful than the MSNBC Network.

Thanks for the great comments..

Better to suck than not to have any ethics or standards like Fixed News. They don't even require their propagandists to have college degrees. If Fox had the same policy there wouldn't be anyone left to turn off the lights.

Comrade Maddow - how can you expect the state to excel when Comrade Olberman doesn't play by the rules of engagement as "dictated" by the Minister of Propaganda? Your ignorance is evident. We show no tolerance because you are a woman. Everyone is the same in the State's eyes. Your family will join you in Siberia where we have a nice chateau waiting for you and all your viewers! Long live the new Communist Union of the once free America you have helped create!!!

Ken:

That is a bad comparison. Keith Olbermann did it to himself. There are no excuses for his unlikeable or unethical ways. MSNBC was correct by suspending him.

and bobo did have one, geuss that goes both ways, having a degree does not make you smart

dr evans:

Anyone can go to "college". One can buy a "degree".

It depends on the information in, information out that counts in life's successes. No one needs a college degree to be successful. Book Smart is not necessarily the best Candidate for anything. Emotional Intelligence is of far greater importance in life and work.

I csan agree with that statement all an undergraduate degree says is that you are trainable

Maddow response .. bash Fox News. That's all MSNBC knows how to do ..bash repubs or bash Fox News. Hope the new management makes them more fair and balanced like Fox News who hires and airs a lot of liberals on their shows.

The point about Fox News is that it is not a NEWS NETWORK. It is a about a corporation that has "NEWS" in its name while presenting reality drama instead. To me it is about selling Kosher beef hot dogs, while the hot dogs contain pork. The idealology is that Kosher is just a word...

Yes, News is just a word that required ZERO standards. It is about profit and buying price...

Keith O violated company rule. So he should be punished. In the same breath, MSNBC and NBC should be clear with their journalism standards to all their hosts...

It should be clear to everyone that FOX NEWS is not NEWS, but Entertainment. Yes, just Entertainment...

PUBLICITY stunt!!! Heaven knows he and msnbc need the ratings

And just what does this have to do with the other 360 (plus) million people in the USA? Nothing, of course. The media will find a way to sensationalize a cow farting just to generate "news."

I agree, Oberman is hateful, I would try to listen so I could get both sides of politics. But it is hard to watch him.. Unfortunate to say, I hope he is gone for good.

I totally agree. If anyone at FOX(assuming FOX has the same rules) did this -- I do believe KO would be the first to scream. So--if he violated a rule then consequenses must be.

However, I not exactly sure if hanging, being drawn and quartered, or being stoned to death would be appropriate punishment. Reprimanded and loss of wages--sure.

As for the future of MSNBC after this -- come on people -- I think you just might be on another one of those hate bashing tea benders. MSNBC will be quite all right with out him. And I am sorry to totally disagree but RACHEL is one of the best news journalist on the cable networks. She has always allowed others to express their view without judgement. Some thing I dare say most of the WHINING viners here can not claim.

Sad to see so much hate for Olbermann out there...but it figures, it must hurt to be on the recieving end of the truth he tells. I agree that he can be smug but if I were able to deliver so much important information to voters, about issues that should matter to all of us, I would be self-satisfied too!

The New York Yankees are looking for another lefty.

I would say I lean left more than anything, but I can't stand Olberman. He is not doing the movement any justice by talking loud and being just as obnoxious as the rest of the talking heads. Again, turn them all off and read....and screw newspapers - read books.

Go back to ESPN! They need some quality sportscasters again.

He is suspended - not fired. He will be brought back.

You mean his half baked opinions don't you.

Quality sportscasters? When he was on Football Night - Sundays on NBC last year, he could not comment on ANYTHING without using a sexual innuendo. The man was ridiculous and if you notice, he's not there this year! After about 6 weeks into Sunday Night Football, we tuned out the pregame show so we wouldn't have to listen to him any longer.

not too soon i hope.

Sad to see so much hate for Olbermann out there...but it figures, it must hurt to be on the recieving end of the truth he tells.

The first time he tells the whole truth on any issue with out spin will be the first time.

I hope they think twice before they bring him back, it make the whole new here crap if they do.

So Keith how does it feel to be the Worst person in the world ?????????????

While I do agree that policy must be adhered to, it is interesting to note that Rupert Murdoch, who owns News Corp., which owns Fox, has given millions to Repubs.

This is a very slippery slope, and those who would chastise MSNBC, or say that "it's the liberals again," need to realize that in truth, it's corporations that are largely funding campaigns, like the owner of Fox, and they are largely funding the Repubs.

Pot, meet kettle. . . .

So anniek....I imagine you would know how it feels. Idiot!!

My God..the fux freaks are really coming out of the woodwork today....LO

karenann-1085590, you need to educate yourself. Every major new outlet and publication (besides Fox News and the WSJ) are far-left leaning. The fact that it drives all of you lefties nuts that now the average American has a tv news station that they can watch without a bunch of commies trying to brain wash them is humerous. However, unions are giving millions of dollars each year to Deomocrats and yet that does't seem to bother you. Why? Corporations pay billions of dollars in taxes every year, they have just as much right to make donations to politicians that will help their causes as you do. To do otherwise would be foolish.

No one who has ever seen Olbermann in action could possibly be surprised by this news. Adios, a-hole.

I agree! I am SICK TO DEATH of Democrats and Democrat Supporters thinking they don't have to play by the rules; while crucifying ANY Republican for ANY Reason! Or even worse, instead of accepting responsibility for "catching their hand in the cookie jar"; they make excuses and drag up any issue they can think of from decades back, to justify a current situation...

Bottom Line, the Media is suppose to be objective; we all know their not and are highly Democrat in flavor. However, a Commentator such as Keith Olbermann, was openly crucifying Republican and Tea Party Candidates nightly; all under the guise of neutral journalism. Yet, he was simultaneously secretly funding Democratic Candidates nationwide. Well, that crosses the line of journalistic integrity and abuses his position as a news commentator.

If you want Republicans or Tea Party Candidates to play by the rules; you have to do the same, Democrats!

bethanyb

if you think madcow is "one of the best journalist" then you must be close-minded and prefer to have your mind made up for you.

madcow is a HACK just like olber,tingley, and ed.

Yes,

This punishment is just one more demonstration of the heavily right-wing bias in the American media. While not a fan of Olbermann, it is interesting to note how massive ccontributions to the Republican party are allowed within the media companies, but not a small personal contribution to Democratic party candidates.

The right-wing bias is strong and blatent within the media.

BethanyB

Very good, I agree.

You know whats great about MSNBC and its "liberal" agenda - all the right wing trolls that pollute the site. If MSNBC was truely "liberal", wouldn't most of the comments follow suit? Yes, in theory...but thats why we have trolls.

Everyone here needs to sign up for FOX's site and start ruining their discussion boards too....

You are right. MSNBC has shown that they will not tolerate biased newscasters. I would like to see FOX do this. Their bunch are the worst, although both sides are not so good. MSNBC wins on this one....big time.

But is so much fun to see a hack like Olbermann get shown for what he is !

And no.......your concept that most comments would follow suit simply demonstrates the weakness of liberal lemmings. Us "right wing trolls", as you cannot accept the reality of other opinions, look at diverse opinions. That's why we already knew of Olbermann's slant.

Olbermann lovers
Do not put the condoms on your heads

harold and deemar, that is an opinion, not a fact. secondly, fox news actively promotes republican candidates, while masking their opinion network as a news organization. not to mention, several members of their on air staff have actively endorssed republican candidates and have attended their rallies, all while making ridiculous "news stories" about democrats. most of which have proven to be false.

I would like to point out as an independant - that both sides play this game with equal fervor, people are just blinded by their own partizanship to see the hypocrisy.

Yes, Republicans tend to get lots of donations from companies -because generally speaking- democrats are less business friendly. But on the flip side of that coin, the Democrats get lots of donations from the Unions, because generally speaking - republicans are not as union friendly.

Both sides get their donations from their special interests- they just cry foul of the 'other sides donations'. Playing by the rules or lack thereof is not a partizan issue - both parties are more than willing to bend, twist, pull and do whatever they can to get an advantage. To beleive otherwise is quite naive.

Personally- i dont care about him donating money- im not sad to see him go because he was a moron -but i dont care that he or anyone else donates money. If you pay tax - be that individual, corporate, sales etc- you have a right to give money and lobby. You pay tax, you have a voice. The issue is not that Olberman gave money and People at FOX gave money and they arent fair blah blah blah. The issue is, Olbermann had a signed contract that he violated. I was upset with the Juan Williams issue as well, but he violated his contract - you reap what you sow. It doesnt matter if you or i or anyone else thinks its 'right', they violated a contract and the business has opted to use a clause to remove them from service due to that violation.

Now if only we can get sports people to honor contract :)

What goes around-comes around! And it did. Love it!

karenann-1085590

While I do agree that policy must be adhered to, it is interesting to note that Rupert Murdoch, who owns News Corp., which owns Fox, has given millions to Repubs.

The owner of the company didn't sign a contract of terms they had to adhere to in order to get a paycheck from the newscaster. Once again, a view completely backwards from reality used in order to bash people who you don't agree with. It makes no sense.

http://www.mrc.org/bmi/articles/2010/Million_Dollar_Babies_CNN_MSNBC_Bash_News_Corp_Donation_Hide_Own_Political_Contributions.html

There, if it bothers you so much, there's the story of how MSNBC's parent company did the same thing for Democrats.

Time Warner gave $2.3 million to Democrats during the 2008 election cycle, and since 1990, 72 percent of Time Warner’s political donations went to Democrats. Essentially, in 2008, a year Yellin conveniently left out, Time Warner doubled News Corp.’s much maligned donation.

you're correct, fox doesn't have the policy, that's the point. it doesn't have a policy disallowing it's employees from campaigning or contributing.

Allen-968499

"Once again, a view completely backwards from reality in order to bash

people who don't agree with you."

You sir have hoisted yourself on your own pitard-

TIME WARNER is NOT MSNBC's parent - GE is the parent - You might have a couple of their light bulbs around - If so I suggest you screw one in and turn it on - then turn off the TV and read - it will be illuminating

If anyone at FOX(assuming FOX has the same rules) did this -- I do believe KO would be the first to scream. So--if he violated a rule then consequenses must be.

Too bad Fox doesn't have the same rules. In fact, they openly give to republicans. So msnbc has more credibility than Fox in this matter.

Remember Dan Rather? Please, the so-called liberal media has long since proved to have journalistic and ethical standards that the conservative media does not have and probably never will.

However, Scarborough is guilty of the same sin. The "Morning Joe" host donated $4,200 to Oregon Republican Derrick Kitts' failed 2006 campaign for a U.S. House seat. LMFAO going back to 06 to justify Keith's actions. Did politico even check to see if Scarborough had permission to donate?

News Corp policy does permit employees to make donations in a personal capacity. Fox News has long said it considers Hannity, similar to Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck, a host not a news anchor or journalist. A search of federal campaign disclosures found no Fox News on-air journalists such as Shepard Smith to have made contributions or donations.

This has got to be a play by msnbc to make potential viewers think that they actually have some ethical standard. If you take the totality of the msnbc nightly lineup it becomes evident that "ethical standard" is not part of their vocabulary. This entire story is a joke and more than likely a decieptful attempt to fool the public. That idiot olberman is probably sipping tropical smoothies in the Bahamas just waiting for msnbc to give him the all clear to return to the apron strings of maddeaux.

"gotta hold him accountable if we want the republicans to do the same."

Well, it seems that he was honest about what he did, no denial, he came right out with the details, honestly, and is being held accountable -- he just got indefinitely suspended.

So, yeah, wouldn't it be nice if republicans just did the FIRST step: Being honest, and owning their mistakes.

But that will never happen, so neither will the accountability piece.

So--DAVID-1102226

Why do you find it necessary to call Ms. Maddow names? Do you feel threatened by her? Do you find that she just might make you look foolish? She is a news journalist. And she is a lesbian. WHOOPEE!! Guys who have to name call anyone - must be a whole bunch insecure in themselves.

BethanyB

Guys who have to name call anyone - must be a whole bunch insecure in themselves

You might want to tell that to the liberals too. There's enough name calling on both sides. Rush, Hanity, O'Rielly and especially Beck get named called all day long but I don't hear any complaints from you about that.

hello ARK

glad to see you

Ha! I wouldn't be surprised if he does that to himself when he returns. He does have a sense of humor.

I thought he decided to stop the "Worst Persons" segment.

he ran out of calling himself names.

He's a moron. His comments were so biased he was unwatchable. He sucks!

All of mainstream media are talking heads, from Olbermann to O'Reilly. They all spew the mainstream left/right propaganda given to them by their handlers!! It's just mind numbing bubble-gum for the masses!!

Patrick -O'Reilly is nothing like KO and you know it. He is fair and balanced and you know that too. You just don't like it because O'R leans more to the right than left. If O'R was that bad then his ratings wouldn't be #1 for so many years. Wise up man and go with the facts for once you might be surprised.

O'Reilley at least has someone on from the left to represent their viewpoints. Olberman was a 1 man show making statements nobody had a chance to refudiate. I don't like the 1 man shows from the right either. If they don't have a panel of all viewpoints, I feel like I'm being talked at rather than taught.

Good Point Allen. :O)

O'Reilly Fair and balanced, WOW you sheeple will swallow anything!

Allen - Only Sarah Palin thinks "refudiate" is a word.

Pay back is a bitch isn't? Good riddance!

O'Reilly's ratings are high because he is watched by all the morons.

correction Greta, his ratings are high because all the morons watch Olbermann.

whut the: O'Reilly is nothing like KO and you know it. He is fair and balanced and you know that too

LMFAO! "O'Reilly is fair and balanced." LMFAO! I didn't know there was going to be a comedy routine here today...

They are like 2 peas in a pod on different ends but still the same. KO is biased extreme left, oriellly is biased right. Exactly the same in two different directions. Both are shock jocks with no journalist credentials. With KO being just a little more sleazy

The part that I think is funny is how easily we have all been played. Do you think for one moment, that the comments they make aren't thought out and measured? The more outlandish the statement, the higher their ratings. Every time KO says something about O'Reilly, or vice versa, both their ratings go up. They have been playing this game for years, and laughing their ways to the bank. Neither one of them are fair or balanced. O'Reilly will have opposing viewpoints on his shows, not that he allows them to get their point across, while KO is usually on by himself.

Now, I really dont get why everyone is so concerned about what FOX does. Olberman didnt work for them, his contract w/ NBC, that he signed btw, spells out what he can and cant do. If he didnt follow his employers rules, then he gets canned, just like the rest of us.

Nice try.

That comment is too funny! It was amazing fun to watch him and Rachel M, melt down live on Tue/Wed. I thought they were both going to hold their breath until the numbers turned in their favor.....:) Grow up and get a real life and job Keith, good luck!

What? Madcow didn't vibrate off her chair again?

Drew: That was Chris Matthews with the restless leg syndrome, an affliction born of those who marvel at the magnificence of utopian Marxists. Rachel's good vibrations are self-induced.

Not enough survival of the fittest in this Country.

Umm. Your wrong. Worst is msnbc TV President Phil Griffin.

However you missed the point of having to get the bosses approval before !!!!!

Why does MSNBC keep an amateur like Rachel Maddow.

She is the biggest basher of anything, anyone on Cable News with no facts to back up her statements. She is an "entry level" intern at trying to convey what IS opinion and news.

"She is the biggest basher of anything, with no facts to back up her statements..."

Sounds like you just described Faux News. Maybe she should work there.

maybe she just shouldn't work.

Rachel Maddow should work for FOX NEWS: Let's see how long she would last with audience ratings to prove her longevity as a Host/Journalist on any level of Intelligent "speak"..

Rednecks! So much hatred, so little brain!

Sounds like you just described Faux News. Maybe she should work there

Its Fox News not Faux News! Why don't you left wing liberals learn to spell!!! Brain dead liberals!

Umm, Bob, "faux" is a french word meaning "false" which is what people mean when they call Fox News, Faux News.

Lucy - I agree. MSNBC has its reputation and Obermann and Rachael M are the most sarcastic folks on TV these days. I watched some election night to see how they would spin it and it was sarcastic remark after sarcastic remark. They especially reveled in showing the concession speeches of GOP losers and each was introduced with "Get your popcorn".

I did gleefully watch them describe what happened as "not all that bad". WHAT! Losing 60+ House seats and the many, many state Houses that were lost - I would describe as pretty bad. Just b/c Harry Reid kept his seat, they are comforted. I constantly switched between Fox and MSNBC. Both clearly favored "their" party but one had a professional demeanor and the other sounded like middle-schoolers.

I'm not a regular viewer of this station but often watch your programs. I tried very hard to be open minded and listen to all sides of the spectrum, but to be honest I'm puzzled how this station stays in business. I find it totally appaling. Maddow, Matthews and the rest should follow Olbermann as soon as possible. Be quick about it if you want more viewers. I guess you are doing so well in the rating that you don't need additional viewers.

Are you kidding me? Are you completely blind to all the money Fox News donated to republicans? Or do you just choose to see what fits your ideals best? Wow, I can't believe you will sit here and argue that Rachel M and Olberman are "the most sarcastic folk on TV these days." Um... have you ever watched Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, or Bill O'Reilly who do nothing but push opinions and have been noted MANY times for flat out lying? And who clearly endorse right wing nuts? I guess what's okay for one stations agenda is flat out "wrong" and "unjust" for another. What hypocrites you are.

Lucy, go back to your Fox news and leave the real world to real people. If you truly can't handle a comment outside your comfort zone, one that actually may make you think, then why are you watching this type of programming in the first place? An open mind, even if void of original thoughts, is still a valuable tool. Accept other ideas, try to learn from them, and then offer an original thought of your own. Who knows, maybe we can learn from you next time.

Looks like some people can not tell the difference between hard news reporting and op-ed. Also cant tell the difference between legal corporate donations and donations forbidden by contract.

Also, MBB Drummer, if you cant handle someone that disagrees with you with respect, that says a lot more about you than them

.

Drummer, based on your comments, am I correct in assuming that you often go to Fox News to gain a different perspective that might make you think or do you always slurp up the drivel that MSNBC spews daily?

Rational Poster-

I totally agree with you- the best performance on the MSNBC panel that night has to go to Lawrence O'Donnell's pissy/pouty schtick- it was priceless- the only thing missing was him face down on the floor doing an arm/leg-flailing toddler meltdown.

Funny, Chris Matthews is a commentator and interviewer - not a journalist. He will quickly lampoon a left leaning politician just as quickly as a right winger. I have always found him to be pretty impartial and even keeled.

its-all-your-fault-

Are you talking about Chris Obama-gives-me-a-tingle-down-my-leg Matthews-?

Fair and impartial- NO F...ing Way-

RE: Post 5.4

FOX news is NOT NBC. I don't know if FOX has a similar policy to NBC's but NBC does not want its reporters donating to political parties.

Beatle Baby-
I think you misread or misunderstood what I wrote. Read again, please.

The problem with "news" is exactly that it is ratings-based. We are given what we want to hear and not what we need to hear. Mocking a news outlet for ratings shows a severe misconception of what the Fourth Estate is supposed to do for us as citizens. It's NOT supposed to be entertainment.

EXACTLY, Sean! The shows with the highest ratings are the ones that don't require deep thought or brain function. People gravitate to the entertainment and listen to the sound bites and eat the pablum spoon fed to them so they can easily digest them and not engage in complicated thought processes.

Suppjaimeee - i think the big difference there is Limbaugh and Beck dont consider themselves journalists, nor do they pretend to. I dont watch either - as i prefer to be entertained with shows that dont suck, but ive heard plenty of sound clips refering to themselves as 'political entertainers" or simply 'entertainers'.

Olbermann, Mathews, Maddow try to present themselves as 'journalists'. They arent. I dont want any of their shows either, as i said above- i prefer to be entertained by shows that dont suck. But the fact that they & MSNBC consider them journalists is the problem. Come out and simply be honest about it. "Hi, im Keith Olbermann. Im a political Entertainer and not a journalist." When you try to sling that journalist title, people are assuming you will be unbias and report news. None of these commentators are that, heck, i cant think of any journalists who are journalists.

When nbc presented both KO and Matthews as their political journalist for the 2008 election, it was a joke. I was so disappointed in Matthews, but saw KO just go way over the edge of reality. Haven't watch him since.

As an independent, I couldn't figure out the strategy as to what audience they were cooooing for, because I couldn't watch it. Maybe Fox started the game, but cnn and msnbc quickly followed to go after ratings?

But the election was framed as our country finding a middle road to go down. If they had played that media strategy, suspect they would have earned more respect for their craft and viewers would have followed. This isn't that hard to figure out. Crappy coooing is coooing crap, and viewers know it.

Hum, figure that's what these newly elected politicians will finally see, but I'm loosing hope fast. This, "I'm in power now" card is a little old when we need answers to today's Jobs and home problems. Again, this isn't that hard to figure out. I am so tired of this fruitless game.

What I thought was sophomoric on election night was the fact that none of the Republicans who were interviewed would answer a single question asked. They spewed talking points without responding to pretty simple questions that even a high schooler would be able to answer.

Bobo -

They may say that (and I'd like to have a tally of how many times they've said that during their TV careers, because I bet it's less than I can count on two hands) but that does not mean that most, if not all, of the people who watch them religiously don't get their news information FROM them, and take everything they say to heart. And I bet it you took a survey of the viewers, maybe 5% of them consider them "entertainers".

You odn't watch Maddow, Matthews, or Olberman... so how can you say what they are or aren't? Obviously you haven't seen the coverage they have done, so making that assumption is ignorant.

Suppjamieee - you dont have to watch their show. Browse videos on MSNBC and they are all of these morons. I also get to listen all about their shows from liberal friends, as ive already stated. Ive heard enough of thier drivel that i dont have to watch their show. I would be willing to bet that you have called Limbaugh, Beck etc some name and you dont watch their shows either. So while i dont watch the shows, im not ignorant, as you say, to what they preach through video, clips, and friends - but your entitled to your opinion.

The fact that YOU consider the right wingers not "Entertainers" doesnt make it so. Thats the facts, if you dont like it- im very sorry- but thats the way it is. Just becuase others get their news from them doesnt make them news journalists, regardless of who gets their news from them. MSNBC apparently considered olbermann a journalist, or didnt bother differentiating between the two with their contracts. Thats their issue, Not FOX's.

i think the big difference there is Limbaugh and Beck dont consider themselves journalists, nor do they pretend to.

Will somebody give the memo to their viewers.

Lucy, did someone force you to watch, or does your TV only get one channel?

We do not consider them journalists just purveyors truth and integrity, something foreign to you on the left

Lib50 - i agree whole heartedly - but sadly there is little that can be done with that across the boards. People take news from things that arent. Beck, Limbaugh, Olbermann, Daily Show - these are entertainment shows that centers around News- but rarely if ever do you get both sides of a story. Thats the world we live in. But honestly? What "NEWS" organization reports the news anymore? Everything has their political slants and their agenda. Its kind of sad.

Personally i would like programs like that to HAVE to say - "This is not a news program. The host is not a news journalist - this is an entertainment program,and the hosts are entertainers. Thank you"

At least then its on the table and people are forced to at least acknowledge- this is not news, its an entertainment show.

Well what do you expect from the MicroSoft News Biasing Corporation. It's by libs, for libs and are there to just character assisinate everyone and anyone who doesn't have the same pseudo-intellectual thought process that they have.

Bobo -

Now you're twisting my words.. I never said they weren't entertainers, I said their VIEWERS DO NOT SEE THEM AS SUCH. And I simply called you ignorant (which just means uneducated on the subject, not stupid) because you said you don't watch them. Video clips can be taken out of context. While I do believe them to be entertainers of sorts, they do have very valid, reputable claims and stories on their shows, and have all been valid journalists for many years leading up to their Talk Shows.

Suppjamjee: You liberals just bristle with arrogance, kind of like Obama today saying we are too dumb to understand him, he needs to explain his agenda better then we will see the light.

You my friend know basically nothing of what you speak, which is par for the liberal course -- peculiar holes and strokes that it has -- you come off as just another snob like Olbermann looking down your Pinnochio nose at us lesser lights.

Almighty suupjamjee claims to know the minds of "viewers" (by the way, Limbaugh is a radio talk show host and never was a journalist, hard to "view" unless you watch his web cam; he nor Beck were jounalists and don't pretend to be now). I am one of their "viewers" when I chance by a television or radio (lol!). I hasten to add, they are a hell of a lot smarter than you. And I assure you, you ain't any smarter than a lot of people I know on the right.

So if you would for me, at least, and I'm sure others of my "ilk" would appreciate it, please talk down to us in a nicer way; the Olbermann style is passé, finished, caput.

Thank you.

Journalists and the media all allow bald faced lies to be aired without a caveat that it is untrue. Lies are treated with the same gravitas as the truth. Now we have republicans throwing out the most ridiculous lies about this trip to India - I think they are testing the waters to see how stupid the people who listen to them really are. I see these viral emails that are lies, and millions of idiots think they are true and pass them on to other dolts. Every single American should take the media to task for allowing lies to go on with impunity. Really pisses me off.

BoBo nailed it for me. I do not equate Limbaugh/Beck with Maddow/Olbermann. Two different formats. Maddow & Olbermann present news stories like they intend to be taken as serious journalists, yet they drip with sarcasm and promotion of left leaning politics almost endlessly, it seems. And O'Donnell, someone earlier said it, I have never seen him so transparent and BAD as election night. And the comment that Matthews will harpoon anyone is pretty true. His bias is clear (as is the bias on Fox), but he is not sour and hurtful constantly like Maddow and Olberman. I too wonder how they stay on the air.

Guess Lucy Tr()ll got her fingers beat up and broke as she couldn't hit the remote key to change the channel back to her BFF Beck or maybe the remote is all gummed up from her slobbering all over it watching her rethuglicans on the FauxHole

Actually, Maddow has the degrees that qualify her for her position as a political commentator. This bio from Wikipedia is also available in many other sites on her background.

Maddow earned a degree in public policy from Stanford University in 1994.^[15] At graduation she was awarded the John Gardner Fellowship. She was also the recipient of a Rhodes Scholarship and began her postgraduate study in 1995 at Lincoln College, Oxford. In 2001, she earned a Doctorate in Philosophy (DPhil) in politics from Oxford University.

How many other cable "news" commentators can present that kind of credentials?

Hmmm, wonder what gives with Newsvine again tonight. My #15.29 was not a post I entered. It is a duplicate of my post #5.29. It did the same kind of post duplications the other day......duplicating entire threads. No wonder there are over 7000 posts so far.

Most of the people on fox news have advance degrees or are PHDs.

But why dont you know that already?

anti - Absolutely, Maddow has the credentials. She also has such a sucky personality and drips of sarcasm. She seems like a very unhappy & angry person.

Evidently you don't like hearing the truth. You must be a Fox "Fake" News lover.

perfect!

To the guy who said firing this clown will be the end of the network.......you must be the only guy still watching.....look at the ratings, the network is dead!!!!

About time

Good riddance to Bad Rubbish! Keith Olberdewsh won't be missed here any more than he is when he got canned @ ESPN.

MSNBC Cable was already headed far, far away. Their ratings are consistently at the bottom. Forget that Fox is #1 in the ratings, that has nothing to do with it. MSNBC is at the bottom of every news outlet on TV, Fox, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNBC, Fox Business, and on and on. Even MSNBC.com wants to distance itself from MSNBC (on cable). They are seperate companies and they want a name change so they can build a unique brand and stop being dragged down by the cable channel.

When the Comcast deal concludes I'd bet that there will be significant changes at MSNBC. I suspect Mr, Olberman is the first of many to feel coming changes. You just can't run a successful operation whether it be news, opinion, op-ed or whatever and constantly remain at the bottom of the pack.

From what I've read, MSNBC is #2 in primetime. CNN is the one in trouble trailing the pack. The bottom of the ratings thing sounds like Fox propaganda.

Let me guess, you read that on MSNBC... BHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I love watching Keith. He would say what a lot of us are feeling. I can't condone his contract violation but I want him back!!! Any of you who don't like him feel free you exercise your right to view another program.

BRING KEITH BACK!!!

We all know that Fox can't even be called news anymore because of the lies and lack of true knowledge that they have. Saying that I think they should have to answer to the courts to prove what they say. No system right or left should be allow to spread lies like they do. They have given shame to the word news. All of the people should have to face the other and prove what they say. I am sure that Fox could not do that. Upon Fox want to take me up on it. We the people should demand this of them. Lets make them do it.

Isn't there something illegal about an employer influencing an employees political interests or activities?

Thank you for Sayin' Just That. Everybody is so critical of what this man did, but no one wants to point out the dirt that other networks do or even the early morning runners on MSNBC (Scarborough). Technically. Keith doesn't need MSNBC as he started his career doing sports, but his political mind is only matched by a few and it would be a shame to see him go. And like I said before... If he goes... I do as well.

Bring Keith Back??? I say 1 down and 300 to go!! Our lives will be better off without these people in the media. They are all slime and do nothing to inform the american people. All they do is hide the truth and keep us divided politically!

They will be very well deserved "snarky comments" and I'm looking forward to hearing them!

The company that owns Fox gave 2 million to the Republicans this year. They should have nothing to say about this.

Cameron,

No one will confuse NBC with "News" either, unless you want slanted left wing drivel. (Does this seem snarky =))

Cameron - Are you saying that if the shoe were on the other foot that we would hear no such comments from MSNBC.

I heard tell FOX makes their show hosts donate to republicans at gunpoint.....

....well...

....it works for them.... :)

It is all about the contract they sign. If the FOX journalists contracts did not say they could not donate then they are ENTITLED to donate as they see fit. I guess he is like Nancy Pelosi and signs things before they read them!!!!!!

I guess it comes down to the employment policy of FOX vs. NBC.

Anyone know if FOX formally prohibis donations by their employees?

BBBwwaaahhh....but but but FOX does it, but but but its not fair, but but his cookie is bigger than mine...wahh wahh wahh. Whiney ass cry babies as usual.

What CBS/FOX or any other company does is IRRELEVENT. This pinhead signed a contract stating he was not allowed to do this and he violated that agreement and is paying up for it. It does not matter what goes on anywhere else.

Sued on what legal grounds?

And prove your statement that the GOP took illegal contributions.

From Politico where this story began. "News Corp policy does permit employees to make donations in a personal capacity. Fox News has long said it considers Hannity, similar to Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck, a host not a news anchor or journalist. A search of federal campaign disclosures found no Fox News on-air journalists such as Shepard Smith to have made contributions or donations."

Take it for what it is worth.

Only the brain dead would think Oberman was anything but a hack for the progressive agenda. There is nothing much conservative about Bill Gates or NBC. Those are the owners of msnbc.

At least MSNBC holds their journalists accountable. Fox does nothing to repremand their puppets for indecent behavior. They encourage it as long as it promotes their agenda and fuels the fire under their mindless viewers.

What indecent behavior are you referring to? Please provide verifiable examples or just admit that you're spewing the MediaMatters talking points for the day.

Don't piss off the slave masters .

Absolutely amazing! The amount of people on this thread defending someone who violated a contract. This is exactly what is wrong with the world today.

When you sign a contract, you are giving someone your word that you will follow the contract and honor said contract. What Mr. Olberman did was go back on his word and bring dishonor to himself by doing so, regardless of how insignificant you or he thinks this is.

Remember the old saying, a man is only as good as his word? Well, there you have it.

Well, it happen frequently. When larry Craig was caught with a bird in his hand....Fox news gave the bad news like him being a democrat.

Mike you give San Antonio & Texas a bad name.

You are just a typical "DITTO" head. Let me guess, you listen to/watch uhhhhhh, RUSH, BECK, HANNITY, the local right wing nut Joe PAGS. Yeah, I can see you are WELL informed. What a tool. Let me guess you are also a Jerry Jones tool as a "DALLAS" Cowboys fan. How's that working out for ya?

msnbc slogan, "lean forward, and take it in the crapper"

Mikein SanAntonio - In 2003, the Florida Court of Appeals agreed with Fox News that it is not illegal to distort or falsify the news in the United States, but there is a lot of gray area.
Wait, did you catch that... AGREED.

here are you examples sir.

Bill O’Reilly stated on his show that the current health care bill would “require American taxpayers to fund abortion” and “we now have taxpayer money linked up with the termination of a fetus.”

Actually, the Senate Bill, before the House, forbids insurers from using federal subsidies to do so, except in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest. It specifically states, “the issuer of the plan shall not use any amount attributable” to the subsidies created under the bill “for purposes of paying for such services.” The bill that passed the Senate requires insurers to collect a separate payment for such services so that federal funds are not used as O’Reilly falsely stated.

In March 2009, Fox News made it seem as of Joe Biden was parroting the line that made John McCain look so out of touch during the campaign to try to inject false hope into the ailing economy. In fact, Biden never said that "the fundamentals of the economy are strong" in March. That clip of Biden was actually from the campaign and selectively edited to seem more recent.

When the false "death panel" rumors started in August of 2009, Fox News reported on a supposed, "death book" by the Veterans Health Administration. In liu of actual reporting, they fanned the death panel flames by promoting a number of falsehoods that would have been cleared up had they actually read the thing.

Maybe you remember this one from the campaign. The New York Times wrote an article that Fox didn't like, so they Photoshopped images of New York Times editor Steven Reddicliffe and reporter Jacques Steinberg to make them look ugly and passed it along as news.

When the 9/12 Tea Party march on DC was being reported by Fox News, the numbers they were parroting were massive: 1.5 million, maybe 1.7 million. In fact, other news organizations were putting the number between 60,000 and 70,000, which was about the size of the National Equality March a few weeks later. Fox News didn't really talk about that one too much. Too many gay people.

I could go on and on Mike. Faux News does nothing but promote Lies, creative edits, and half-truths

NBC ought to do away with the donations thing. Olbermann and others on MSNBC clearly have a liberal bias, so why the donations? If that is their editiorial policy, why be hypocrites about it. I am OK with the bias, it somewhat balances the outrageous bias at Fox.

Sean- they have to do some "token" action to make it seem like they are upstanding.

Have you seen their ratings for election night-? The absolute LOWEST of all the cable programs.

They've got to be bleeding cash due to his consistent bargain basement performance.

Mike in SA.....the lefties are still pissed off about the ass kicking they just took. Its the same old right vs. left crap. Maybe a nice soothing ointment would help. I dont know a thing about Oberman and I dont watch him, but if he violated his contract then he needs to go, he doesnt get a pass just because he is on the liberal side.

Journalists get fired if political donation violates company policy they agreed to. It is ironic since he spent every night campaigning for Dem's anyway.

They can just do another hour of Prison Life to fill the spot and ratings will go up!

I think the biggest joke in this article is calling "Illblowobamaman" a journalist. He doesnt even rise to the level of comentator. Hopefully, the DNC removed the micro-chip they had installed in his head.

Whitey,

It was in his contract, so it sucks to be him doesn't it?

I agree with the fact that is he disobeyed company policy than he should expect to suffer the consequences. However....

Does no one see the irony that and individual chose to support a candidate of his choice and was fired for it yet on the other side of the aisle an entire 'news' organization donated a million dollars to their candidates and had no problems with it?

Does it not seem that MSNBC is standing up to prevent the appearance of being biased while Fox is encouraging the appearance that they are biased?

Just saying that's all.....

Nice! His choice in music was very creepy, like every show was fright night at the graveyard.

I agree. George Soros should disclose all the Left Wing groups he gives millions to and supports. He then could eliminate all his shadow organizations alltogether and step out into the sunshine.

Nothing wrong with your statement. We will see if your views are all encompassing.

Whitey - that's a non-sequitur.

If you sign a contract saying you must get permission for political donations, then you must.

Repubs and Dems raise money as parties, and they must disclose contributors. They also receive support from outside groups that need not disclose contributors. Both parties do. Dems outraised Repubs in 2008, Repubs won the money race in 2010.

This has nothing to do with Keith violating his contract.

You are a "Moderate" GOP?

I thought you all were wiped out during the 'Clone Wars'?

Have you been hiding out with YODA in the "DAGOBAH SYSTEM"?

A lot of things are not "FAIR", but he knew this from the begining when they offered him the contract. He had the choice of not signing and working somewhere else that DID allow this activity.

Its not fair that a US Marine cant where his uniform and attend a political rally, its not fair that a oliceman cant be in uniform or associated with his department if attending anything political. But these are things you know up front going in.

Now if he was canned or disciplined because of his donations and these prior ruls were not in place and it was an act of malice for his views I would be the first to defend him, even though I do not agree with him.

I am not in the entertainment industry. I do not work for a newspaper or any media corporation. I can't donate to ANY campaign. I can't work the polls. I can't discuss my political views at work or even have a bumper sticker on my car that might lean one way or the other because I park in a company lot. I'm bound by contract not to do any of the above mentioned activities or I'll be fired. NO QUESTIONS ASKED, FIRED! The company I work for makes political contributions. They make the rules! If I want to keep my job I have to abide by them. I'm not confused by that and I'm not sure why anyone else is!

Uh, actually the Nazis brutally murdered over 10 million people, and tried to exterminate multiple races of people... NBC is a private organization that has rules within its employment contracts... don't see a difference at all? No? I guess I understand why you love Keith Oberman so much...

Thanks, Jeff. The stupid nazi comments bring zero to the discussion.

Bean - Need to work on your reading comprehension. Everett used a "Nazi" comparison and Jeff simply called him on it.

Come on, everybody knows if you do not agree with the liberal left then you are a NAZI, Racist, KKK etc etc etc.........

BS! BS! BS! O'reilly DOES GIVE TO REPUBLICANS OPENLY!! He's admitted it on FAUX TV!

Folks, the BS meter is running. Be aware.

Yeah it's because msnbc's parent company really IS fair and balanced, but Fox news is openly Republican, and they encourage donations to campaigns.

No.. he hasnt. If so, please post a link with some proof.

How do you know that he hasn't. He just hasn't got caught yet!!!!!!!!

O'billo does this all the time. Do any of you people ever read anything other than books by Beck and platitudes by Palin. The party of no is actually gaining strength because the country is becoming braindead and superstitious.

I agree! Keith would be chasing Bill down with torches and pitch forks screaming for his burning at the stake. He has no business on television. He was terrible at ESPN and even worse now covering what he calls news. In my opinion he's a dispicable, un-American piece of trash!

Please it is easy enough to research go to the FEC web site.

This is not secret info and maybe FOX has a different policy.

ABC employees give openly as they are or at least they were permitted to.

Also I think if Olbermann had asked if he could and they knew about it that might have made a difference

Uh, FOX wouldn't know what ETHICS are.

FOX would only suspend you if you were found to be donating money to someone OTHER than a Republican.

"Giving to candidates is allowed at Fox, Forbes, Time, The New Yorker, Reuters"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113485/

So much for fair and balanced...LOL!

"Donations and other political activity are strictly forbidden at The Washington Post, ABC, CBS, CNN and NPR."

whiteyzx-

GE owned NBC/MSNBC fair and balance? What flavor koolaid have they been delivering to your door?

Anyone who can't see how in-the-tank they've been for the Dem/Libs since like, forever shouldn't be allowed to vote-

What makes you think O'Riely didn't?

Don't understand, What about the Fox news??? mogel who sent millions to the right wing Hate America Groups. What a strange world of one sided thinking.

Alan Colmes (noted liberal) was employed by FOX, do you think he donated to the Republicans......FOX has several very left opinions employed there and their views are voiced frequently, maybe you should watch and see for yourselves instead of regurgitating views of others like an obedient drone.

No american should ever watch or trust any single news outlet, ever. Watch all of them and decide for yourself, or has free and independent thinking also become a victim of the liberal left??

Folks, the BS meter is running. Be aware.

Looks like you need to shut your BS meter off! You Be aware! We don't need any more more left wing drivel!

Damn right. The tri-fecta of Stewart, Colbert and Olberman would be a riot to watch. Well, it'll free up some time in the evening now that MSNBC won't be watched in my house.

you are absolutely right.

obviously you don't watch Fox.

If you believe that, you've never watched Bush Bimbo or Glenn (nazi) Beck!!

Have you forgotten about Glenn Beck?

No more or less of a smug self-righteous git than O'Reilly, Beck, Limbaugh and the rest of the spew monkeys of the far right. 'Fair and Balanced'? Don't insult the intelligence of the American people with such a blatantly untrue banner.

Hey mr smarty pants, there are only two ss's in As*hole. Your spelling is as poor as your analysis.