‘We Are at War’: MSNBC Infighting Revealed During Olbermann Suspension
- Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:06pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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While it‘s no secret that there’s tension between MSNBC host Keith Olbermann and his boss, network president Phil Griffin, we now know just how heated their battle is. In Griffin’s own words, it’s an all out “war.”
In an extensive (and juicy) story on the Daily Beast, Howard Kurtz details the attitudes and actions surrounding Olbermann’s suspension earlier this month, when it was discovered he donated a total of $7,200 to three Democratic candidates.
“We are at war,” Griffin reportedly told Olbermann’s agent Michael Price at one point, after Price asked why Griffin released a statement to the press. That was after Griffin threatened to “fire” Olbermann if he appeared on CBS’s “Good Morning America” to air his grievances.
Griffin apparently isn’t the only NBC employee upset with Olbermann. According to “eight knowledgeable sources” Kurtz interviewed, “there has been a deepening sense of anger and frustration among his colleagues.” Those sources say many at the network are worried that Olbermann has forever damaged its reputation. They’ve apparently used phrases “like ‘scorched-earth policy‘ and ’totally narcissistic response’ to describe how Olbermann has dealt with criticism of his political donations.”
Even Tom Brokaw, NBC’s grandfather of news, has reportedly voiced concerns regarding Olbermann.
Kurtz’s piece has quickly grabbed headlines. The Huffington Post ran an article titled, “MSNBC President Phil Griffin Threatened to Fire Keith Olbermann,” while Mediaite’s Colby Hall had a piece headlined, “FoxNews.com Pundit: Keith Olbermann Clearly Runs MSNBC.” Hall was referring to a Fox online exchange between Ellis Henican and Jim Pinkerton, who debated the issue via a series called “Skype Gripe”:
While Henican asks what we’re supposed to take from the whole thing, Kurtz alludes to an answer:
Olbermann quit MSNBC once before, in 1998, after openly criticizing his bosses. He is, today, a far bigger star. Management doesn’t want to turn him into a martyr, but no one will be shocked if he winds up leaving again.
UPDATE:
Olbermann has responded to Kurtz’s story via twitter:
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Comments (105)
RightPolitically
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 3:03pmHe’s a JERK!
Report Post »standswithafist
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 5:05pmjerk does not even begin to cover olberdummy.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:57pm“Look at me! Look at me!”
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:56pmwhat would happen if TheBlaze stopped reporting on msnbc, well, they might sneak something over on us somehow! we need to keep watch ALL OVER cos there are more media outlets outnumbering Fox & Blaze than you’d guess!
Report Post »nomad360
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:55pmMSNBC is such a sorry example of “news network”. The only audience they have remaining is the Loony Left. Their credibility with us REAL AMERICANS who live west of the Hudson river and outside of the Washington beltway is absolutely zero. The only hope left for them is after the Comcast take-over, the new management excises this boil of scum called MSNBC.
Report Post »mrclean
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 8:03pmyep— new boss sweeps with a new broom
Report Post »TheBigMachine
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:50pmOlbermann is now a “far bigger star”? Say what?! Him leaving can only improve MSNBC. The next phase of their improvement plan should include Chris Mathews, Rachel MadCow and pretty much all the other loons leaving (or being fired, either way). Then, they should change their name completely and try to hire some REAL journalists.
Report Post »IntrepidSI
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:49pmHow much damage has been done to MSNBC status with guys like Chris, Rachel, Ed and Keith on the news? America sees them for what they are, the media wing of the Democratic Party. Keith’s political contributions, his vile, hate filled rants toward the Tea Party aren’t enough to see these Propogandists for what they are?
Report Post »Ed, Chris, Rachel and Keith’s shows are akin to watching a bunch of 12-25 years old stoners discuss politics. Haphazard reporting, lies, omissions, highlighting certain things, ignoring others. And the leaps in logic are incredible.
MSNBC – First to call names, first to act like victims, first to throw stones, and of course first to cry foul.
drbage
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 4:40pmInstead of the new campaign of “lean forward” (which implies that they might actually fall over if they lean too far), they should have been honest and called it “Fear and Smear.”
Report Post »brutom
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:44pmWhy does The Blaze continue to obsess on this moron? Aren’t there more important topics than one bone-headed liberal on MSN-BS?
Report Post »takemout
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:58pmYou are correct!
Report Post »JAPhoto
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 4:24pmI’d say one link out of 87 is hardly obsessing, more of a follow-up to his earlier suspension. About 86 other links at your fingertips should allow you to skip the K.O. reports.
Report Post »moonpeace
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:41pmListen, there is no need to fire this guy. If MSNBC would just call me I can make sure Keith resigns and is never hired by another program. That’s what I do. This work would even be placed on our discount list. Then next comes Butch Maddow and that big ugly goofy faced guy…what’s his name…er Big Ed, I think they call him.
Report Post »historypaper
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:39pm“MSNBC President Phil Griffin Threatened to Fire Keith Olbermann,” but as normal the network of fools could not muster the principle of principles. Olbermann destroys in his own image and Phil cannot gather the strength to do his job.
Report Post »SPOT_OF_TEA
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:39pmI remember the good old days when Don Imus did the morning show on msnbc and on Saturday afternoon,if you can believe it,Michael Savage had a program where he would commonly refer to liberalism as a mental defect….those were the good times.
Report Post »beckwill
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 4:19pmHahahaa! I sometimes have the opportunity to listen to Mr. Savage on the radio and I always get a chuckle when he brings up the mental defect of liberalism. I believe that’s proven scientific data now, right? ; )
Report Post »YesNdeedie
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:39pmIt’s almost time for Comcast to step in……Yippie!! Hopefully, the MSNBC swamp will be drained and something resembling a news station will emerge. As long as people like Oblie, Schmuck, Maaadcow disease etc are on deck their only direction will be down.
Report Post »betterthantv
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:37pmComcast will fix all this early next year. I promise you. They can’t continue to belittle and put down over half the population without some consequences. Olberman, Matthews, Maddow, Schultz, they all use the Lefts favorite tactics. Stay away from the issues and just demonize and belittle. Their ratings prove this tactic doesn’t work.
Report Post »demsaredumb
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 7:57pmDon’t forget little ole Eddie Shultzie. He is as big a moron as Keith.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 12:01amWill someone please publish a score card so we can keep up with all of this?
Let’s see, we have Olberman, Maddow, and Schultz on the list, right? Anyone else who we want to track after Comcast takes over? Maybe they will take over and close it down, sometimes corporations do that as a tax write off. Or maybe MSNBC has reached the point of no return and like AirAmerica will just disintegrate. Now wouldn’t that be special?
Report Post »kathleenhenthorn
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:36pmBurntHills, Sounds like a good plan. Please let me know before you send them here & nuke the San Andreas fault. :) Give me time to get out of this Hippy,liberal,insane state. :)
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:54pmGod bless you in your Freedom Flight out of CA !!!!!!
Report Post »vonryansexpress
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:34pmWhere can he go?
Mr. Olbermann is tainted goods forever now.
As to his bigfoot presence at MSNBC, look what happened to Donnie Deutsch when he made very benign comments about Olbermann and punditry in general.
No, Mr. Olbermann is leaving and the effort will be in how it gets done as Comcast takes the helm.
Report Post »OK3Wire
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 3:18pmWell, let’s see …
Glenn Beck leaves CNN for Fox News.
Juan Williams leaves NPR for Fox News.
Lou Dobbs leaves CNN for Fox News.
I‘m just sayin’ …
;-)
Report Post »spirited
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 3:38pmDon not forget: Don Imus
Report Post »EP46
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:32pmSources say many at the network are worried that Olbermann has forever damaged its reputation.
Report Post »Oh no, your reputation is well known….no chance of ever regaining any respect.
megansmom
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 4:38pmnow, now even as big of a liberal harlot msnbc has become she can redeem herself. Fire everybody, stick to the facts and beg for forgiveness.And keep out of the bed of liberals.
Report Post »Rapunzel
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:30pmWho is Keith Olbermann?
Report Post »dcart888
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:29pmWhy all of a sudden is NBC worried about how MSDNC reflects on their being news worthy? Could the fear of what Comcast may do have something to do with this?
Report Post »ChazD3
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:29pmA fired Olbermanniac becoming a martyr has the same chance as Al Sharpton joining the teaparty.
Report Post »mrmikejohnson
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:24pmWith or without Olberwoman, MSNBC is a joke.
Report Post »Libertarian
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:36pmwalkwithme1966,
Simple, it is news. Anytime you have a talking head like Dan Rather or Rick Sanchez get canned or resign it is news. So why should Fox News cover this story? Simple answer is that it is news worthy.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 11:14pmShort, sweet, and to the point!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:18pmwhy can’t we stick all these psychotic delusional moron dems on California then nuke it free at the San Andreas Fault, have them living on their obamanation on soros island with all their ghetto gangs and illegal slaves.
Report Post »Sandy
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:17pmTheir reputation was ruined before Olbermann, but that just confirmed it all. Now as I tell people not to watch because they are not getting the truth, Olbermann just gave me ammo to get the few listeners they still have away from them.
FOX is where the truth is!!!
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:30pmOlbermann and MSNBC are down in the lower decks yelling “go back to sleep. We are only stopping the Titanic for ice cubes for your coctail. Go back to sleep” This story only confirms that many on on their way to the upper deck and we must keep building life rafts. Be strong all!
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:17pmCouldn’t have happened to a nicer almost blind ego-manical jerkoff.
Report Post »Ronko
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:16pmHe won’t be a martyr if you fire him because he is irrelevent I mean he only has like 20 people watching his stupid program. Its really 100,000 to 200,000 but still its irrelevent.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:26pmWhy does Glenn Beck and Fox News care what happens to Keith – according to O’Reily – Fox’s numbers are always larger than MSNBC so who cares if there is infighting or all out war over there? I don’t understand why the best cable news channel Fox News ( heir words not mine) should care enough to even write an article. http://maboulette.wordpress.com
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:40pmIt is a sign that the people are no longer believing what the talking heads are saying. The talking heads are fighting like the deck hands on the Titanic. It is just worth noting as a confirmation that the progressives are trying to understand the “change of seasons.” It does not really matter to our lives but it does matter when looking at the signs of the changes that are coming.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 3:10pm@walkwithme1966
Because it’s news. That’s what news networks do, they report news. You seem to want ideological blinders on news networks.
Report Post »cotuit
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 3:17pmIt‘s not according to O’reily, it’s according to Nielson.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 6:49pmTo Walk With Me -
Olberman has come out with some lulus in the past. I actually started compiling a list but it got out of hand and I couldn’t keep up. I‘m sure other posters could give you a list with at least ten outrageous statments he’s made.
He’s also been pretty arrogant and condensing towards Fox, members of the Tea Party, Republicans and conservatives in general. When you combine them all together, it’s a significant group. Admittedly, I was surprised when MSNBC suspended him, but figured he’d be back. He is and apparently still willing to pour more fuel on the internal fire judging by his Twitter comment. Tomorrow morning, I am sure there will be some kind of meeting about him in the board rooms at NBC.
Also, the following quote in the article
“According to “eight knowledgeable sources” Kurtz interviewed, “there has been a deepening sense of anger and frustration among his colleagues.” Those sources say many at the network are worried that Olbermann has forever damaged its reputation.”
leads me to believe that he’s made enough enemies that the powers that be have taken notice. I’m sure they read these blogs or have staff that do.
Others have made outrageous comments and gotten yanked off the air (Don Imus, Dr. Laura, and one of a pair of morning radio announcers whose name I can’t remember right now), but I don’t think that any of them have engendered so much negative emotion as Olberman has.
It’s gonna be real interesting to see what happens when Comcast takes over in January.
Report Post »mrdbcooper
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:15pmthis is the only argument for the fairness doctrine…if they remove olbermon, I won’t be able to test the speed of my remote.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 4:27pmYou Liberal Marxist’s can learn something from this … Liberal Marxism is for LOSERS!!!
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:10pmBwakes my widdle heart
Report Post »HKS
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:21pmI think he’s not their only problem, Its a commie network, their all Obermanns. Sorta like a den of thieves pointing at each other.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:23pmLOL .. they can’t beat FOX so I guess that is what they have left … fighting amongst themselves!
Report Post »ron the veteran
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:40pmawwwwwww is the commie all butt hurt? he calls the tea party radical and this nut is saying we are at war. just who is the the crazy ones here? its always the left wing ecocommie nut jobs who are dangerous not the normal americans who are tea party members.
Report Post »Shurmus
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:50pmOlberman vs. Maddow in the Octagon! Our money is on Mr. Maddow! He could submit Keithy with one hairy armpit!
http://www.slugbuddies.com
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 4:11pmJust goes to prove that Progressives do indeed eat their young……
Yummy!!
Report Post »Mike Liberation
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 4:11pm@Untameable Kate: lol was that Barney Frank talking?
Its so great to see MSNBC slowly imploding. They have been railing against Fox for ages, to no avail. They have so much rage, and are now focusing it inwards upon themselves. Their new marketing campaign Lean Forward is a complete joke. Their new night anchor Lawrence O’Donnell is an admitted Socialist. And Olbermann continues to get older, fatter, more egotistical, and more nonsensical as time progresses. It really is a gift to us, as he serves to remind people of the lunacy of the left. We can only hope his ilk remain around a bit to keep the fires lit and the passion strong for 2012, so we can finish what we started :)
http://www.liberationapparel.com
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 4:12pmIt breaks my heart, my achy-breaky-heart, it breaks my heart….ah who cares, its just MSNBC.
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 4:28pmthis subject IS important to the Blazers, because it is news…TRUE news.. We like and need TRUE news. now on to the nest subject..>>>>>
Report Post »Robert W
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 6:26pmInstead of the rats jumping ship, ther biting each other.
Report Post »CultureWarriors
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 6:36pmThey act like this is big news. Nobody watches Keith and he lives in his mom’s basement. What a dweeb. Poor Keith gettin’ all wee-wee’d up. He’s a frothing at the mouth liberal. This is a center-right country. He will never have much of an audience. I’ve got news for NBC, your line-up is full of extreme radicals, only a very small percentage of people will watch lunatic lefties.
Besides he thinks this guy’s doing a good job …
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_CsEgIfUX0
grandmaof5
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 7:34pmI don’t blame them. He and Alan Grayson are neck and neck in the race for the “most vitreous, irrelevant, obnoxious” humans on the face of the earth (maybe a slight exaggeration). We voted Grayson out, MSNBC needs to follow ESPN and fire Olbermann.
thepatriotdave
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:46pmCatB,
We can only hope that they eat each other. Then the world will be a better place.
PatriotShops.com
Report Post »elfinmagic75
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 12:08amYes Olberman it does sound very familiar. Sounds like Standard Operating Procedures for Liberals like you. Welcome to the world of the conservative.
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