Keith Olbermann Suspended From MSNBC for Contributing to Democratic Campaigns

(Fox News) MSNBC host Keith Olbermann was placed on an indefinite suspension Friday after the bosses at MSNBC learned that he had donated to three Democratic candidates, including one who had appeared on his show on the same day, in violation of the network's rules.  "I became aware of Keith's political contributions late last night.  Mindful of NBC News policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay," Phil Griffin, president of MSNBC said in a statement.  The three candidates who received the maximum legal amount of $2400 are Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords, both of Arizona and both who won tough re-election bids.  Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway was the third recipient.  However, he lost to Republican candidate Rand Paul. 

The donations were made on October 28, the same day Grijalva appeared on the MSNBC show "Countdown with Keith Olbermann."  Politico, which was first to report the contributions, published Olbermann's confirmation of the donations.  "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 in a statement to the newspaper.  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.  Olbermann was a co-anchor of MSNBC's election coverage this past Tuesday.  The network's performance drew some criticism, particularly with Chris Matthews' contentious interviews with Republican Michelle Bachmann and Marsha Blackburn. 

Olbermann was seen laughing following Matthews' conversation with Bachmann.  Matthews had criticized the Congresswoman for failing to answer his questions. 

I found it amazing at first when I first heard on the news that Keith Olbermann was suspended indefinitely without pay due to contributing to three Democratic candidates for Congress.  MSNBC is very supportive of President Obama and his administration.  I classify MSNBC as a lapdog for the Obama administration.  Olbermann has been very critical of the Bush administration, Fox News and commentators such as Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck.  Olbermann has also made numerous derogatory remarks about former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.   He pokes fun at conservatives in general.  Given the fact that MSNBC's rating are down in the tank, Olbermann's comments he makes on a normal basis on his nightly program doesn't help the ratings.  No doubt he's played a major role in MSNBC's low ratings.  Olbermann pokes fun at the Tea Party quite often.  He draws ire from many conservatives.  I wonder how many other anchors from MSNBC contribute to the political campaigns of Democrats?  I wouldn't be surprised if more MSNBC anchors have donated to the political campaigns of Democrats given their liberal track record.  Keith Olbermann gives MSNBC a very bad image.