Keith Olbermann Suspended Indefinitely by MSNBC

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted Nov 5th 2010 02:50PM

MSNBC has suspended prime-time host Keith Olbermann indefinitely without pay for contributing to the campaigns of three Democratic candidates this election season. Olbermann acknowledged to NBC that he donated $2,400 apiece to the campaigns of Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway and Arizona Reps. Raul Grivalva and Gabrielle Giffords.

NBC News prohibits its employees from working on, or donating to, political campaigns unless a special exception is granted by the news division president - effectively a ban. Olbermann's bosses did not find out about the donations until after they were made. The website Politico first reported the donations.

"I became aware of Keith's political contributions late last night," Phil Griffin, MSNBC's chief executive, said Friday. "Mindful of NBC News policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay."

Olbermann was not immediately available for comment.

His "Countdown" show, which airs at 8 p.m. ET, is MSNBC's most popular program. His on-the-air transformation from the host of a straight news program to a liberal commentator led the network itself to go in the same direction, filling its prime-time lineup with left-leaning hosts and doing better in the ratings than anytime since its 1996 launch.

Olbermann was a co-anchor of MSNBC's election coverage this week. The network's performance drew some criticism, particularly with Chris Matthews' contentious interviews with Republican Reps. Michele Bachmann and Marsha Blackburn.

Chris Hayes will fill in for Olbermann on Friday's program, the network said.

DId MSNBC Make the Right Call? Tell Us on Facebook

2010 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Tags: keith olbermann

Comments

(115)

Friday 05 November

By TB

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

GRREAT!! The bum thought he was untouchable.Bye Bye, back to calling games in the Minor Leagues Keith, you hack. Maybe after a few months Conan will need another clown in the chair next to him.:>)

By cease2exist

Vote down Vote up Report this

typical inept hypocritical lying liberal trash! preaches one thing about "GOP corruption" and does another! this country is better off without him!

By Jim

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

What a prick, see ya a-hole.

Saturday 06 November

By goda

What an awful man participating in the democratic process with his own money on his own time, do you think NBC has the right to tell him how to spend his money and where? If you do, obviously you are a moron.

By David

MSNBC did the right thing. Sunday Night Football got rid of him because he was pathetic.

By x

got what you deserved spunge-bob

By Ed White

How typical. REALLY!! Olbermann spent his time criticizing conservatives and saying how dishonest they were. In the meantime hes breaking a major rule and worse, totally disregarding ethics. Can you say "hypocrit"? He knew what he was doing was wrong, but said "the hell with it, Im going to do it anyway" I always did think he was a disgrace, this just verifies it.

By themeeker

Nice try Ed, but just because Keith is dishonest doesn't make the neocons he called crooks honest. Not by a long shot. They're still a bunch of crooks and everyone knows it.

By James Sharp

Let's see, Rick Sanchez, Juan Williams, Keith Olbermann, it's your turn Fox. May I suggest Glenn Beck for his "Obama is a racist" remark?

By nate

Oh Keith, we will miss you so...NOT!!!

By LIZARD KING

NOW IF THEY COULD ONLY GET RID OF THE GUY WITH THE CHICK NAME WHO FOLLOWS HIM ......

By Scooter

you mean Rachel Maddcow?

By ronoct12

Wish list may include Chris and Ed as well.Chris isn't too "thrilled" anymore and when Ed gets all puffed up turning red and all I can see horns beginning to appear on each side of his forehead. He is really quiet amusing.

By Richard

Now all TV has to do is get rid of Wolf Blittzer.....in the sitution room...he is the other boreing looser and he is the worst news ancor next to Keith. Of course CNN doesn't spend money on smart news casters....

By nilsisboss

Maybe they should fire Rupert Murdoch for donating more than a million bucks to the Republicans too.

By Ronald Thomas

I think it's unfortunate that Mr. Olberman was suspended and I hope he will be re-instated. In a time when you have a conglomerate like Fox news dictating to the political arena and to the American people led around like cattle, it was refreshing to have someone be willing to be the voice for people who realize the republican party will not be satisfied until America has destroyed itself.

By S. Lewis

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

...and they will!

By linda

I know your joking, right??? *she says laughing out loud*

By Marti

AMAN!!!
You are so right..
What he does with his money is nobody's besness!

By Lois Gibb

Trust MSNBC to get rid of one of the best; I think it's wonderful he put his money where his mouth is and supported his political choices.
Very shortsighted of MSNBC, especially since he's one of the few I care to watch.

Page 1 of 6