MSNBC Suspends Keith Olbermann: Too Many Political Contributions to the Democrats or NO RATINGS?

Why MSNBC continues to pay Keith Olbermann $7 million a year to attract no ratings is beyond me. Let's not forget as the channel wastes its money on this dolt, GE, its parent company took a huge bailout from the federal government. Maybe, MSNBC is on its way of kicking Olbermann out the door. They have at least suspended his contract and he is no longer a commentator on Sunday Night Football. Let's look at the suspension.

(CNN) - Keith Olbermann, MSNBC's primetime firebrand host, has been suspended indefinitely for violating the ethics policies of his employer earlier this year when he donated to three Democrats seeking federal office, MSNBC announced Friday.

"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," MSNBC President Phil Griffin said in a statement.

First reported by Politico and confirmed by Federal Election Commission filings, the primetime television host gave $2,400 – the maximum individual amount allowed – to each of the campaigns of Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway, and Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords. (View PDF's of FEC filings for Conway, Grijalva, and Giffords)


The contributions may have violated an NBC policy that requires employers of the news organization to obtain permission ahead of any political donations or activities that could be deemed as a conflict of interest. CNN institutes a similar policy.

In a statement to Politico before the suspension was announced, Olbermann defended the 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 re-election campaigns of Democratic Representatives Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords," he said in the statement. "I also donated the same amount to the campaign of Democratic Senatorial candidate Jack Conway in Kentucky."


Suspended indefinitely? I think MSNBC is saving face for the lack of ratings of the Olbermann show. Oh well, I am not going to cry about it.