MSNBC has suspended host Keith Olbermann for making political contributions–even though GE/NBC executives and fellow MSNBC host Joe Scarborough has made similar donations. If you'd like to urge MSNBC to follow a consistent standard, see FAIR's Action Alert (11/5/10). And please post copies of your messages, and/or comments on the alert, to the comments thread here.
Nov
05
2010
Action Alert: NBC/GE's Double Standards on Political Donations
By 73 Comments
About Jim NaureckasExtra! Magazine Editor Since 1990, Jim Naureckas has been the editor of Extra!, FAIR's bimonthly journal of media criticism. He is the co-author of The Way Things Aren't: Rush Limbaugh's Reign of Error, and co-editor of The FAIR Reader: An Extra! Review of Press and Politics in the '90s. He is also the co-manager of FAIR's website. He has worked as an investigative reporter for the newspaper In These Times, where he covered the Iran-Contra scandal, and was managing editor of the Washington Report on the Hemisphere, a newsletter on Latin America. Jim was born in Libertyville, Illinois, in 1964, and graduated from Stanford University in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in political science. Since 1997 he has been married to Janine Jackson, FAIR's program director. You can follow Jim on Twitter at @JNaureckas.
Let me see if I understand Keith Olvermann's suspension.
The Supreme Court ruled this year that corporations, being humans, can make unlimited and undisclosed campaign donations.
If Keith Olbermann were an oil company, he could make undisclosed campaign donations.
Since he is an individual human, the law limits his contributions (and he followed the law). But somehow, his employment means he lost his Constitutional right to free speech – a right expanded to corporations by the Supreme Court this year?
Just disgusting. I hope Olbermann sues. The case could be heard in the most Republican court in the USA and still any fair jury would say that Olbermann's Constitutional rights have been violated. Meanwhile, I'm not watching MSNBC as long as Soviet media tactics are in place.
Shame on MSNBC for their actions to Keith Olbermann! Gross hypocrisy and an insult to his viewing audience. There must be some ulterior motives that are not being disclosed…..??????
Dear Mr. Griffin,
I'm writing to express my concern at the suspension out of Keith Olberman, allegedly in response to the disclosure of a series of political contributions. I don't consider myself a fan of Mr. Olberman, but I do consider myself a fan of fairness and consistency in corporate policy.
It is well known that other employees of NBC have made similar contributions without receiving the same treatment. More importantly, NBC and your parent company, GE, apparently don't feel that corporate political contributions create any sort of conflict of interest in regard to the news. If it is appropriate to suspend Olberman, what would be the proper sanction for the much larger political contributions made by these corporate entities?
Sincerely,
Kevin Murray
Roslindale, MA
Dear Sirs,
I was very disappointed to learn of your suspension of Keith Olbermann. The stated reason, related to political donations, is clearly illogical, as it is well known that previous similar donations by Joe Scarborough were accepted on the basis of his being on the "opinion" rather than the "news" part of MSNBC's lineup. Anyone who has ever watched Olbermann's very popular show knows that opinion, and very strong opinion at that, is crucial to his appeal.
Keith has been a strong and unique voice in a time of increasing uniformity in broadcast news. Your action, immediately following the midterm "swing" elections, appears blatantly political. Please correct this action immediately, restore Olbermann's program, & create a reasonable & transparent policy for both corporate & individual political involvement. I look forward to your response.
Joan Budd
Pleasantville, NY
Shame on MSNBC, Keith maybe should have gotten permission ahead of time, but FOX is filled with political donations, but then they are not a legitimate news organization. Bring Keith back soon.
Dear Sir:
NBC's policies on political donations are un-American and unfair. The owners of NBC, GE, can donate millions of dollars to political campaigns, but Mr. Olbermann is not allowed to exercise his own right to support those that he aggrees with. The Supreme Court has declared that money is speech, and that corporations are persons. So now corporations have the right to contribute as much money as they wish to political causes, with no public record to whom or what they contribute. This allows a corporation, NBC, to essentially fire an employee for contributing to those candidates whom he supports. How does that citizen have any kind of freedom of speech? Furthermore, NBC allows its executives to make contributions….. Executives have freedom of speech but employees (underlings) do not. This is facism, plain and simple. Hitler wins after all.
Sincerely,
Linda J. Vician
Dear Phil Griffin,
You must have some brains, otherwise you wouldn't be president of a major news organization. But judging from this one idiotic decision, you'd never know it.
Oh, I get it, it's not about brains, it's about being clever, right? Get rid of the liberal and you'll garner more favor with the Republicans viewers, Comcast, Tea Party, illiterates, etc., etc.
After all, you're running a business, got to watch the bottom line! How hypocritical can you guys get! Not to mention shortsighted – which is, after all, very, very stupid!
You will definitely lose a great number of your intelligent and caring viewers until you reinstate Keith Olbermann.
Sincerely,
Christopher Sabin
To: phil.griffin@msnbc
I am a very concerned regular viewer of this supposed "bastion of the liberal media". The shows that I feel do an consistently good job of shining a light on and critically calling into question the conventional wisdom on your station are Maddow and Countdown. Although I still feel that too many professional pundits get a lot of air-time while not enough learned voices from academia or from diverse viewpoints trhoughout the political continuum don't get enough of a hearing, I believe that these programs do a much better job than say PBS, which has lost most of it's thought provoking credibility with the loss of Bill Moyers and the NOW program.
I would like to read an explanation of how your news division and the overall corporate bosses can justify the contradictory standards of free political speech for corporate persons and the CEOs at GE (who give generously and frequently to candidates that they favor) while punishing Olbermann for doing the same. To my knowledge he has never been the politcal shill or provided anything remotely similar to the platform for political infomercials that FOX news and its contributors do. Olbermann has a point-of-view, but his criticisms of both Democrats and Republicans usually are thought provoking and perceptive. I understand that NBC News seems to desire to be an actual news organization in many ways, but, again how can you justify. A strong point of view does not equate to lack of objectivity. Olbermann wasn't putting these people on the air to plug their candidacy. I also haven't heard any compelling reasons for the naive statement that corporate doesn't exert a strong cultural and social influence on the content of any network news programming let alone yours. Remember what happened to Phil Donahue when he was so bold as to criticize the decision to invade Iraq?? What network did he work for?
If you cannot explain these contradictions and this hypocritical appeasement of right wing chicken littles and hate/fearmongers then I think that your network is not worth my time–I'll content myself with the alternative voices and sources that can be found with a little more effort on the internet.
Yours truly
Jeffery A. Vogel
Dear Mr. Capus and Mr Griffin,
When I read that you had suspended Keith Olbermann without pay I was distressed. As FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting) notes: "â┚¬Ã‚¦if supporting politicians with money is a threat to journalistic independence, what are the standards for Olbermann's bosses at NBC, and at NBC's parent company General Electric?
"According to the Center for Responsive Politics, GE made over $2 million in political contributions in the 2010 election cycle (most coming from the company's political action committee). The top recipient was Republican Senate candidate Rob Portman from Ohio. The company has also spent $32 million on lobbying this year, and contributed over $1 million to the successful "No on 24" campaign against a California ballot initiative aimed at eliminating tax loopholes for major corporations (New York Times, 11/1/10).
"Olbermann's donations are in some ways comparable to fellow MSNBC host Joe Scarborough's $4,200 contribution to Republican candidate Derrick Kitts in 2006 (MSNBC.com, 7/15/07). When that was uncovered, though, NBC dismissed this as a problem, since Scarborough 'hosts an opinion program and is not a news reporter.' Olbermann, of course, is also an opinion journalist–but MSNBC seems to hold him to a different standard.
"Comcast, the cable company currently looking to buy NBC, has dramatically increased its political giving, much of it to lawmakers who support the proposed merger."
I would like to ask you to explain your inconsistent standards regarding political donations. Are you going after a certain point of view, perhaps? Get the progressive? Is that what this is about?
Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Martin V.
Mr. Griffin and Mr. Capus,
I respectfully request an explanation as to why your organization has placed Keith Olbermann on indefinite suspension without pay. The reason given was his contributing to political campaigns and how these contributions could threaten his journalistic independence. That's almost funny, considering Mr. Olbermann's social and political positions have never been a mystery. Ever. Additionally, in light of General Electric's generosity toward specific political candidates and causes, this explanation sounds hypocritical at best and censorous at worst.
It becomes even more puzzling when one considers Robert Wright's contributions specifically to Republican candidates and his directive that NBC become even more conservative than Fox – if that's even feasbile.
So, please, sir, share with us the factual motivation behind Keith Olbermann's indefinite suspension without pay. You owe your organization's loyal viewers and supporters at least that much courtesy and respect.
Respectfully,
Why suspend Olbermann, even as
– your GE bosses funnel millions into political campaigns?
– Joe Scarborough wasn't suspended for giving to the GOP?
Why?
Thanks,
Julie
In regards to the suspension of Keith Olbermann from countdown on MSNBC, I strongly believe that NBC should not have such a seemingly hypocritical double standard because fellow MSNBC host Joe Scarborough's $4,200 contribution to Republican candidate Derrick Kitts in 2006 was not treated in the same way.
I think that NBC should either immediately reinstate Keith Olbermann with full pay and benefits or, immediately suspend Joe Scarborough equally as it has to Keith Olbermann.
Using the weak reasoning like Joe Scarborough\'s â┚¬Ã…“Morning Joeâ┚¬Ã‚ is somehow merely an opinion oriented show and not an informative â┚¬Ã…“News Showâ┚¬Ã‚Â, and Keith Olbermann's show â┚¬Ã…“countdown with Keith Olbermannâ┚¬Ã‚ is somehow so different is and or would be unreasonable and out of proportion.
Everyone that watches either one of the two shows knows what the likely political leaning opinions are of either host.
It seems to me that NBC is making a veiled threat and also making a discriminatory statement by suspending Keith Olbermann that, 1- its okay to donate to Republicans and so-called â┚¬Ã…“right-wingersâ┚¬Ã‚Â, but, 2- it's not okay to donate to Democrats or so-called â┚¬Ã…“left-wingersâ┚¬Ã‚Â. Not to mention that Keith Olbermann used his own private hard earned personal money.
Has NBC ever considered the likely possibility that Keith Olbermann has other income sources besides from his personality on MSNBC\'s Countdown with Keith Olbermann?… …If so, shouldn\'t, or doesn\'t he, or anyone else for that matter, have the right to his or her political beliefs and therefore the right to donate to any legitimate American political candidate or proposition they so choose?
Actually, I don't think it's any of NBC's business to whom or what party any one of its employees donates their own personal money to.
Maybe Keith Olbermann would make more money and have more fun being a regular on the Howard Stern Show than on MSNBC?
NBC; â┚¬Ã…“The Worst Person In The Worldâ┚¬Ã‚Â!?… …I\'m imagining Keith Olbermann saying that right about now.
Also even if there is a so-called contract that prohibits an employee the right to donate to a political cause or candidate, it can be construed as an unlawful provision of the contract and could be legal a liability to NBC.
My local paper ( The Sacramento Bee) ran a NYT article on Olbermann's suspension. As expected, it failed to mention the donations of the NBC and GE bosses. Using the Action Alert, I was able to send a letter to the editor exposing these donations and point out the class bias of the policy. Thanks FAIR. I hope they print it.
Dear Presidents Griffin and Capus,
From what the media "watchdog" FAIR has written me regarding the suspension of Keith Olberman it seems that MSNBC is demanding that its emplyees meet standards which MSNBC's and NBC's ownership does not itself meet.
We need not debate now whether ownership affects program content, nor whether Mr. Olberman's donations affect programming (though his opinions may), nor whether appearance of favoritism should or should not be grounds for suspension, because what is involved in the immediate matter, if FAIR's information is correct, is the staggering inconsistency.between what MSNBC demands of others and what it tolerates in itself.
Sincerely,
Joseph Maizlish
Los Angeles
I sent the following to the Presidents of NBC and MSNBC:
How come you consider corporations, including your own, to be persons with freedom to contribute to politicians, but Keith Olbermann is not so free. Do you not consider Keith a person like big corporations are?
A regular viewer of Keith and Rachel Maddow – the two best reporters anywhere on television.
David Pease
Santa Fe, NM
Your suspension of Keith Olbermann is completely unwarranted. Fox News contributes to political candidates, as do many others.
If your concern is some kind of false sense of objectivity, then you weren\'t listening to Jon Stewart\'s critique of American mainstream media. Studies have been showing for some time that US newspapers and the cable companies are losing huge numbers of readers and subscribers. It isn\'t all just because of Netflix. Americans like me are tired of being lied to or given trivia about celebrities or about how a politician dresses. These kinds of news stories are served up by media outlets whose main goal is to get advertising money rather than tell the truth about how broken our political system is.
So, you\'re not only grossly unfair to Keith Olbermann, but you are abridging his constitutional right to do what he wants to do, especially if he\'s trying to offset the Citizen\'s United decision, which was another nail in the coffin of democracy.
Your decision will bite you in the rear. People will stop watching MSNBC.
I hope he sues you like Dan Rather did CBS.
Dear Mr Griffin,
Is this some type of a joke? Since the Supreme Court has now conflated money with free speech, you have deprived Keith Olbermann of his free speech rights under the Constitution. Though he is clearly an advocacy journalist, he did not use "your" network to endorse a candidate, nor did he mention on the air the donations he made. You have absolutely no cause to suspend him. In protest, I am boycotting all of NBC's and MSNBS's advertisers. As I make the list, I am writing to each one telling them why I will no longer buy their product or use their services until Mr. Olbermann is reinstated.
Pamela de Maigret
427 North Bundy Drive
Los Angeles CA 90049
demaigretp@aol.com
[To Phil Griffin and Steve Capus]
The suspension of Keith Olbermann is outrageous. He is not a journalist. He hosts a political opinion program. His views are well known.
I will not watch MSNBC until he is reinstated. You owe him and your viewers an apology. Furthermore, you should explain the political contributions and lobbying expenditures of your executives and parent company.
Carrie Lybecker
Olympia, WA
Keith Olbermann is one of the reasons I watch MSNBC, Rachel Maddow, is another. With Keith Olbermann being suspended, Joe Scarborough will be the other reason why I will no longer watch MSNBC , because I cannot stand his snide remarks and Mika's babsitting because of his infantile behavior. Joe Scarborough is 'allowed' to make political contributions, but Keith Olbermann cannot? Is this America? You are cutting off your own nose to spite your own face!
Mr. Griffin and Mr. Capus:
It seems absurd to me that on-air personalities are allowed to broadcast their opinions in support of and in opposition to specific political personalities and issues, but are officially prohibited from expressing those same opinions privately (in the form of financial contributions).
It seems equally absurd that a broadcasting corporation attempts to maintain a demeanor of political impartiality by (unevenly) enforcing a rule prohibiting its employees from private participation in the political process, while at the same time that broadcasting corporation distributes very significant amounts of support with an unmistakable bias in favor of one side of the political spectrum.
Please consider revising your corporate standards and practices such that they neither infringe upon the private rights of your employees, nor hypocritically impose an oppressive standard upon employees while allowing an unfettered standard to the overlords.
Please also reinstate Keith Olbermann in his position of on-air personality, and make public apology for having discriminated against him with discipline for activities that other on-air personalities, and his corporate employer itself, perform without repercussion.
C. Cramer
Missoula, MT
YOU, as a corporation can give as much money as you want to whoever or whatever cause you want to, Your parent company donates millions to further your corporate interests. You have freedom of speech, and yet you dictate to your employees where THEY can donate THEIR money. How dare you!!! They have that same right to free speech. MSNBC as all cable network news is mostly propaganda what isn't is seriously censored. The one bright spot in the sea of crap that you broadcast was Keith Oberman's Program. It was they ONLY MSNBC program I ever watched, It was the only program on all of cable news that I watched. For the truth and accuracy in news reporting, Democracy Now, Link TV, AR , and other independent sources are where I go. Your pundits with the exception of Oberman are idiots.
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olberman just got what he has been unfairly pandering