It only took a petition with 300,000 plus names attached demanding the reinstatement of Keith Olbermann by his bosses at MSNBC, but he did return on Tuesday night, first disclaiming that the suspension was a publicity stunt, and closed the show talking about the events, and offering both thanks and apologies where he saw fit.
One of the more interesting aspects of Olbermann Suspension Affair was the demand by many petitioners that Keith's boss, Phil Griffin, be fired for suspending Olbermann because of his contributions to the campaigns of three Democratic candidates in last week's midterms. On further review, it should be said that Phil Griffin and Keith Olbermann go back a long, long way, nearly thirty years. Griffin and Olbermann first worked together at CNN in the early days of the first 24 hour news channel. Griffin, it seems, was an early supporter of Olbermann in those days, a producer who saw his talent when others had doubts about the young eccentric sportscaster turned newsman.
An interesting portrait of Olbermann and his relationship with Griffin, and others in the world of broadcast news, was published by The New Yorker on June 23, 2008. Titled One Angry Man; Is Keith Olbermann Changing TV News? the piece by Peter J. Boyer gives a warts and all look at Keith Olbermann and his brutal honesty that some might find over the top and even hurtful- co-worker at ESPN Suzy Kolber was said to have locked herself in the ladies room to cry on occasion after run ins with Olbermann.
Years later, Olbermann's brief tenure at Fox Sports was ended by none other than Rupert Murdoch himself. A few years ago Murdoch was heard to say "He's crazy", regarding Olbermann.
It's an interesting but lengthy read; and it's fairly objective. It won't change your opinion of "KO" if you're a friend or fan, but it will give you a clear portrait of a very complex guy, maybe even a slightly mad genius.
To progressives like me Keith Olbermann is one of the good guys fighting the good fight. Having said that, one can be one of the "good guys" without necessarily being a "nice guy" in the true sense of the word. And to be candid, after reading the New Yorker piece it's clear that KO has moments when he is not a nice guy. And in today's political climate that's not necessarily a bad thing.
For too long progressives whined after they were slapped around by the Righties. Olbermann punches back, and hard. And maybe that's why the Right detests.... and even fears him.....as much as they do.
Keith Olbermann responded to his suspension in an open letter on Monday, and credited the uproar created by his supporters to his return to the airwaves on Tuesday.
Below, a link from The New York Times for the full article.
After suspending Keith Olbermann for making contributions to three Democratic candidates, and breaking MSNBC's ethics policy, the cable news network's chief Phil Griffin said that Olbermann will return to his show this Tuesday.
Griffin released the following statement.
“After several days of deliberation and discussion, I have determined that suspending Keith through and including Monday night’s program is an appropriate punishment for his violation of our policy. We look forward to having him back on the air Tuesday night.”
Almost 300,000 people signed an online petition presented by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee to urge Olbermann's reinstatement by Mr. Griffin. Senator Bernie Sanders and others across the spectrum of politics and political commentary have also made statements regarding Olbermann's suspension and have asked for his return to MSNBC.
Surely, a very memorable Special Comment will follow.
I'm going to just go and ask my progressive brethren- and all others who might of had the same thought- the question I'm sure all of asked sometime in the past 24 hours.
"Do you really think Keith Olbermann was so dumb he didn't think he would be caught for contributing to the campaigns of three Democrats, violating MSNBC's ethics policy?".
My answer is.....no, he is not that stupid, or arrogant enough to think he would not be discovered, and not dealt with by management.
That being the case.....why did he contribute to three campaigns, in states where he didn't live and had no obvious connection other than political sympathy, and leave a trail that could very easily be traced?
I can think of no other reason other than he wanted the contributions traced back to him. He's a smart guy; he knows that what he did violated MSNBC's ethical standards. He knew that management would have to come down on him. But Keith Olbermann is also well aware that he is the biggest star of the left leaning cable network, and is the person who might be most responsible from rescuing what was in the early part of the decade the perennial bottom feeder of the cable news networks. Olbermann is the first person to give MSNBC an identity, a presence, and a voice.
Keith knew he would be disciplined, but not shown the door. Hence, he was suspended indefinitely.
I believe he was setting himself up for this confrontation, and he did so knowing the outcome. By doing this Keith Olbermann made his statement not about his actions, but about the role FOX NEWS and right wing media has as a money making machine for Republicans and right leaning candidates and causes.
Below, Keith's colleague and friend Rachel Maddow talks about Keith's suspension.
Here's a quick rundown about some of the contributions made by FOX NEWS hosts and contributors to various candidates and contributors, taken from MEDIAMATTERS.
Sean Hannity- gave $5,000 to Michele Bachmann's (R-MN) PAC. He also gave $4,800 to Republican candidate John Gomez, a childhood friend. Hannity has hosted GOP fundraisers, and was to tape a show at a Tea Party event in Cincinnati where admission was to be charged. FOX pulled the show.
Mike Huckabee- the former governor of Arkansas and presidential candidate is a weekend host at FOX. He's contributed to the campaigns of Daniel Webster (FL), Doug Matayo (AK), and Beth Ann Rankin (AK). More information here.
Sarah Palin-regularly gives money to the GOP through her Sarah PAC.
A more detailed accounting of contributions and possible conflict of interest at FOX can be found here, with the names Dick Morris, Oliver North, Andrew Napolitano, and Neil Cavuto being prominent.
* Fred Barnes, Fox News contributor * Glenn Beck, host of Fox News' Glenn Beck * Eric Bolling, host of Fox Business' Follow the Money * John Bolton, Fox News contributor * Tammy Bruce, Fox News contributor * Elaine Chao, Fox News contributor * Monica Crowley, Fox News contributor * Mike Gallagher, Fox News contributor * Newt Gingrich, Fox News contributor * Sean Hannity, host of Fox News' Hannity * Mike Huckabee, host of Fox News' Huckabee and Twentieth Television's The Huckabee Show * David Hunt, Fox News contributor * Laura Ingraham, Fox News contributor * John Kasich, former host and contributor * Brian Kilmeade, co-host of Fox News' Fox & Friends and host of Fox News Radio's Kilmeade & Friends * William Kristol, Fox News contributor * Michelle Malkin, Fox News contributor * KT McFarland, Fox News national security analyst and host of FoxNews.com's DEFCON 3 * Angela McGlowan, Fox News contributor * Dennis Miller, Fox News contributor * Dick Morris, Fox News contributor * Rupert Murdoch, CEO and chairman of News Corp., parent company of Fox News * Andrew Napolitano, Fox News senior judicial analyst and host of Fox Business' Freedom Watch * Sarah Palin, Fox News contributor and host of Fox News' Real American Stories * Dana Perino, Fox News contributor * Dave Ramsey, listed Fox Business personality and former host of Fox Business' The Dave Ramsey Show (through June) * Sandy Rios, Fox News contributor * Karl Rove, Fox News contributor * Rick Santorum, Fox News contributor * Doug Schoen, Fox News contributor * Andrea Tantaros, Fox News contributor * Stuart Varney, Fox News contributor and host of Fox Business' Varney & Co.
In his way, Keith Olbermann is now putting the spotlight on FOX and contrasting how MSNBC conducts business, and how FOX is the business of Republican fund raising. The GOP has their own "news" organization that shapes its message and raises cash at the same time.
