MSNBC Violation? Olbermann Admits Donating $7,200 to Dem Candidates
- Posted on November 5, 2010 at 11:54am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
“Show me an example of us fundraising,” MSNBC President Phil Griffin told The New York Times last month. MSNBC Keith Olbermann has come close.
In a Politico article on Friday, Olbermann admitted that he gave $2,400 (the maximum single donation allowed) to three different Democratic candidates this election cycle, for a total of $7,200 worth of campaign contributions.
“One week ago, on the night of Thursday October 28 2010, after a discussion with a friend about the state of politics in Arizona, I donated $2,400 each to the reelection campaigns of Democratic Representatives Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords,” Olbermann said. “I also donated the same amount to the campaign of Democratic Senatorial candidate Jack Conway in Kentucky.”
The donations were personal, he told Politico, and he didn’t encourage anyone else to follow suit.
“I did not privately or publicly encourage anyone else to donate to these campaigns, nor to any others in this election or any previous ones, nor have I previously donated to any political campaign at any level,” Olbermann said.
The donations could violate MSNBC’s own rules on contributions. An MSNBC.com story this summer outlined the network’s expectations:
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.
Whether Olbermann reported, or received permission for, his donations is unknown. The network declined to comment to Politico.
Either way, the donations do seem hypocritical. Olbermann has railed against Fox News and its leader Rupert Murdoch for donating to Republicans in the past:
There’s now way to know what the fallout, if any, will be. But Mediaite has a guess: “this act should evaporate any final appearance of objectivity by the MSNBC host.”
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 707 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 560 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 376 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 367 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 363 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 367 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 376 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 296 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 149 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 367 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (119)
The Nicher
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:34pmGlad to see he ended up ******* it away…
Report Post »djeffcoat
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:47pmHe is as foolish with his money as he is with his tongue.
Report Post »CowboyKate in Montana
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:34pmKeith Olberman is the ultimate violation of America. There isn’t enough ivory soap in the world to clean up his filth so we always carry our ear protectors with us.
Report Post »GRuss
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:33pmHe gave much more to their campaigns than money, he gave them Leftist Propaganda..
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:33pmPer the network’s rues & expectations he had to obtain prior approval of the president of NBC News or his designee before contributing to anything that may be a conflict of interest which would indicate that he may not be impartial. I am laughing.
Report Post »powhatan
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:31pmHe should have donated to a worthy cause……Dems..all talk
Report Post »Slevdog1
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:30pmIt would be nice if he contributed to charities rather than to candidates……Now that I think about, I have never heard one instance of him contributing to charity. I wonder how he spends his $7 million dollar salary.
Report Post »trukmek
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:27pmTalks about others being a shill while he is doing the exact same thing. He is extremely near-sighted. Guess thats why he can’t see the difference. Shows the duality of being liberal, I’d say.
Report Post »Nigel2
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:24pmDid that highlight really say, “this threatens his standing as an impartial journalist”??
BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is the funniest thing I have ever read!!
Report Post »paleoconservatarian
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 1:15amI choked on that line too. To funny
Report Post »ewise69
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:23pmLooks like Mrs Rachel Maddow got his moneys worth because the AP is calling the election for the “worst person in the world” Grijalva as of last night. Imagine that, first he had him on his program to report the “terrorists/nazi“ envelope that was sent to the Grijalva office with a ”questionable” substance only later to find out that it was tylenol and now to find out that he actually contributed to his campaign. If Mrs Rachel Maddow grew his mustache back he and Raul would make a cute couple! I can not believe I grew up living in the district that Paul Ryan represents and I now live in the the district that the “worst person in the world” represents. Life plays some cruel jokes!
Report Post »SnapTie
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:23pmDonated to the two who’s districts covers the entire Mexico border in Arizona. He must be for open borders,You think.
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:22pm“Evaporate any final appearance of objectivity”?? I didn’t know that he had any to begin with. He hates Christians. He hates Conservatives. He hates anybody who does not tow the Progressive line. The word “hate” is appropriate because that is who he is. Ed Schultz and Racheal Maddow are the same. They absolutely hate. MSNBC execs want to throw their hands up in the air and say “Who knew??”.
Report Post »Gimme a break….now I’ve got this “thrill” running up my esophagus…..oh, no!!…..
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRFFFFFFFFF!!!!!
Are those my shoes…….??
Star Spangled
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:21pmHe should be fired but he’ll probably get a raise .
Report Post »Okiegal
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:19pmWhat is right for them is not right for you…double standards abound…he will not feel the wrath of his bosses over this…Olberman will keep his job, ’cause he’s a statist through and through and so is the network he works for…I will eat my OU hat if he is fired!!
Report Post »Okiegal
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 2:55pmHmmmm, suspended indefinitely, do I still have to eat my OU hat??? :-)
Report Post »Amerigo Vespucci
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:17pmK. O. has been KO’d by this not so surprising breech of conduct. No one believed he was an impartial journalist to begin with. Now, he has simply proven it.
Report Post »monkey
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:17pmWhy NOT everyone knows the state run media are liberal activist.
Report Post »dablooz
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:16pmThe real shame in this is that a clueless moron like Olbermann has that kind of disposable cash to sling around.
Report Post »MR2
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:15pmTalk about shills…
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:12pmwouldn’t it be something if they fire him?
i don’t know.
he‘s more of an asset to us when he’s on the air babbling.
Report Post »drbage
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 2:27pmPerhaps he could get a job at the new Soros Network that used to be known as NPR.
Report Post »wilshar97
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 3:11pmThat would be great. Now if only that pastie faced Chris Matthews gets the boot we might be able to make it a National Holiday.
Report Post »TEIN
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:10pmWell, since Keith made it to Libby/Progressive Demo’s, he will probably get a raise and then allowed a 20 min rant of how he was supporting Pres. O’s agenda and how unjust the Repub campaign donations are.
Report Post »DE OPPRESSO LIBER
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:05pmWe already knew his postion. No big surprise.
Report Post »Chicago Ray
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 3:12pm“these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist” I know, it’s like he ever was a journalist to begin with? He‘s nothing but a glorified sports ’reporter’ which puts him a step above Meteorologist frankly.
Most conservative bloggers have more credibility than this sack of %^&*( ……Looks like he gets to headline his own “Worst Human Being” list for a month or so …..loser Capital L.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:02pmMy only question is….. What street corner did he use to earn the $$$$$$ ???
(I’m sorry gang..I just had to)
Report Post »HouseNegro
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:10pmIt was not on a corner. Ever notice they only show the MSNBC news from the waist up. And Chris thought it was Obama who gave him that thrill up his leg. Should have looked down…….
Report Post »Krisie
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:01pmguess he cant claim that he is not bias huh, cause he put his money with his mouth was..
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:04pmPriceless.
Report Post »pothos42
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 1:22pmSo if he put his money where his mouth is, and it’s still attached to his head…..He must be sitting on a lot of dough!
Report Post »A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 1:28pmAre you saying he poops money?
Report Post »butler180
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:00pmNo one is surprised by these donations. Further, no action will be taken against Mr Olbermann by MSNBC because unlike Juan Williams, he speaks the party line.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:07pmOf course.
Report Post »Highland
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 1:21pmExactly. Now if he’d donated to a Republican, he’d be thrown out of MSNBC immediately.
Report Post »felina g
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 2:23pmMore of the puppet show.
Obama moving the gov`t to India ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aocwKUPYI_g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcG6Txf02hk
Report Post »butler180
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:47pmOOPS – KOed by MSNBC. Hope he does not think he is in the same company of Juan Williams. He’s not.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:00pm“this act should evaporate any final appearance of objectivity by the MSNBC host.”
Could not put it any better myself. Once again we see the ‘unbiased’ workings of the May Supirise No Body were Communist Inc.
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 1:08pmIt’s all legalspeak, interpretation of the MSNBC Statement.
“Such activities may include participation in or contributions to political campaigns or groups that espouse controversial positions.”
This could be interpreted as, that as long as the campaign or group does not espouse contoversial positions, any contribution is fine. Typical legal statement with no punctuation or clarification to seperate multiple areas of intent or purpose. You may read this as no political contributions, but legally, that is not what the statement says. And, as “controversial” has no clear definition, it’s left up to personal interpretation, therefore unenforcable.
Smoke and mirrors by BSDNC to give an illusion of credibility.
Report Post »A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 1:18pmIt was a private donation, so it’s a non-issue; Though it can help to know where our anchors stand.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 11:58amNO ONE CARES! thanks
Report Post »WORKS FROM HOME
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:07pmThat was my thought
IF you have the time you need to watch your reps’ every move and make sure people know about what they are doing. If a couple of people in each city got together to watch their reps they could do incredible work.
learn how to blog for free and use google adsense make a passive income with it.
http://whamhost.info/
djhrr
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:09pmWell, we do care, but we are far from surprised. Kind of Apathetic to be honest.
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:12pmhell he could have used that money for an office pizza party
would have actually been a valued expense
Report Post »ARTPF
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:12pmAlways wondered who “NO ONE” was and now I know!
You’re no one!
Report Post »pajamash
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:26pmImpartial journalist = MSNBC
Isn’t that an oxy-moron?
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 12:35pmIt will be a very big deal when Comcast takes over…. Olderham will be without the 4.000.000 plus salery he robs from the company as a biased hack.
Report Post »pajamash
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 1:09pmYes Keith, please, answer your own question!!!! In the scheme of things Murdock donated a lower percentage of his income than you did so answer your own question, please!!!!!!
Report Post »moonpeace
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 1:38pmWhat is WORKS FROM HOME doing on here advertising? Go away, please?
Report Post »CultureWarriors
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 1:39pmWell I think everyone should consider the fact that GE is the parent company. MSNBC is a socialist, left wing, propaganda network that does serious damage to our union. It‘s OK to have different points of view but I don’t think it’s smart for a fortune 500 company to promote a radical point of view this way. Especially one that so potentially damaging as socialism. Everyone should consider this before buying anything from GE. I for one will never buy a GE product as long as I have a choice. Remember all modern tyrants from Hitler to Moa to Stalin were socialists. Socialism is evil at it’s core.
Report Post »No1YaKnow
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 1:42pmAhhh…problem solved. The policy mentions “impartial journalist” which Keith has never been or pretended to be! I don’t wish to see him removed from the air–he embodies what moonbattery is all about, and people NEED to see that out of whack viewpoint to know what they are dealing with.
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 2:10pmToo Late….GONE
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 2:19pmHe threw 7K in the crapper…I hope he digs deeper…
Report Post »A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 3:05pmThere’s nothing wrong with his political donations.
It‘s not like journalists don’t have views of their own. It‘s not possible for ANYONE to be unbiased in the sense that they don’t hear something, and have a history of experience that shapes their understanding of what is heard.
The real issue is if you can acknowledge the pros and cons of all views – THAT is responsible journalism, not denying journalists their own views or their right to express them.
Report Post »mimitweetin
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 3:30pmOf course you libs don’t care you are used to scamming and cheating to get what you want. “The ends justify the means”, Right?
Report Post »menotyou
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 4:49pmI care, now he will be able to draw some of the unemployment and stimulate the economy, remember how useful that money is according to Nancy P.?
Report Post »HouseNegro
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 6:01pm“these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist ” what a crock of Crap
Report Post »KingArthurUp
Posted on November 5, 2010 at 11:12pmWho is Keith Olberman?
Report Post »LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 12:11amThey haven’t really seemed too concerned about impartiality up ’til now, what has changed? Could it be some viewers (lol ‘viewers’ like they have more than one!) actually wanted election coverage instead of commentary and complained? NAAAAAAAAH! That can’t be it.
Report Post »paleoconservatarian
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 1:17amOlbermann “donated” to the democrats every time he gave them MSNBCs air time for free and slobbered all over them.
Report Post »