The Internet is all atwitter (pun unintended), with bloggers and petitions calling for Olbermann's immediate reinstatement.
I, too, would like to see Olbermann back on the air in time for Monday night's show. But my reason is a selfish one -- I enjoy his commentary and his passion for progressive values, and, well, I miss him when he's not on the air.
But I recognize that he broke a rule, and punishment is appropriate. After all, Olbermann has himself criticized Fox News hosts who cross a line in promoting GOP candidates.
And therein lies the difference, as Olbermann's colleague Rachel Maddow pointed out during her own MSNBC show last night.
Danny Shea summarizes at the Huffington Post:
"Let this incident lay to rest forever the facile, never-true-anyway, bull-pucky, lazy conflation of Fox News and what the rest of us do for a living," [Maddow] said. "I know everybody likes to say, 'Oh, that's cable news, it's all the same. Fox and MSNBC, mirror images of each other.' Let this lay that to rest forever. Hosts on Fox raise money for Republican candidates. They endorse them explicitly, they use their Fox News profile to headline fundraisers. Heck, there are multiple people being paid by Fox News now to essentially run for office as Republican candidates.... They can do that because there's no rule against that as Fox. They run as a political operation; we're not."It speaks highly of MSNBC to have acted on the side of ethics instead of letting their biggest ratings grabber go undisciplined for what may be perceived as a conflict of interest.
Perhaps the best next move would be for MSNBC to put Olbermann back on the air as soon as possible, but require that he open his program with a sincere, heartfelt apology.
After all, as Maddow also noted, "the point has been made."
I see your point, but isn't it true that Joe Scarborough has also contributed to campaigns? Why aren't they suspending him too?
ReplyDeleteMauigirl, as Maddow explained, Scarborough obtained the necessary permission first.
ReplyDeleteGE owns MSNBC. Soon, Comcast will own the network. They both give money to the GOP. Olbermann was suspended because management only accepts contributions to the Republicans.
ReplyDeletelibhorn, GE contributes to both parties, and that is no secret. In fact, according to the Washington Post, from last year through August of this year, GE gave $245,000 to Democratic governors but only $205,000 to Republican governors.
ReplyDeleteThat's not the issue in Olbermann's case, since the employee contract is concerned with on-air personalities and their relationships with their subjects.