Keith Olbermann to Return Tuesday Night.
After nearly 300,000 signatures on a letter to MSNBC from the Progressive Change Campaign Committee asking for the return of Keith Olbermann to Countdown, and countless emails, phone calls, and faxes, the response has come. He’ll be back on Tuesday night after a brief suspension.
Olbermann was suspended for violating company policy and donating a total of $7,200 to candidates, without receiving prior permission from management.
The following was released Sunday evening.
STATEMENT REGARDING KEITH OLBERMANN – SUNDAY, NOV. 7From Phil Griffin, President of MSNBC:
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.
After what was called Friday, “an indefinite suspension” it has apparently now been defined as two shows, and four days, including the weekend. One would suspect the power of public outrage had something to do with it.
The reason he’s back (and I’m glad he is) is to avoid an in depth study of the rest of them, or an expose of who exactly “they” all are and how much they all contribute and where. It was a power play. A very annoying one. Pull the marionette strings there MSNBC or whomever you really are.
So glad the KO is back tomorrow. I agree with everyone that that lock up thing is gross. Who is the supposed audience? I doubt it is anyone that watches Keith, Rachel, Lawrence or the rest.
Hmmmm……could it be that the MSNBC brass were fearing a pitchfork and torchlight procession to descend upon 30 Rock?
Goody Gum Drops! I simply adore and respect Keith Olbermann. Rachael too. It’s refreshing to see and hear intelligent people. It’s like Santa beat up the Grinch and the Grinch took the presents and roast beast back to HooterVille….err….WhoVille.
I was afraid he wouldn’t come back. I wondered about my boycott MSNBC over this. I couldn’t bear the thought of Rachael alone there without Keith. It looked mighty bleak….dark. Now I can hear Keith say about McQuittyPants: ” This woman….is an IDIOT!”
Don’t forget to boycott McQuittyPants and her fake reality show. I already signed the petition. Therefore too again also then again.
IT ONLY SHOWS WHAT THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE CAN
ACCOMPLISH. THANKS MUDPUPPIES AND ALL THE GOOD
PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT “FAIR” AND “EXCELLENT” NEWS
REPORTING.
That lockup thing.
I am another hour west of Alaska and our normal MSNBC programming cuts off at 4PM sharp. That is about an hour before I leave work and a good two hours before I can sit down in front of the goggle box, even if I do my chores and feed the man at a hand gallop.
Effectively MSNBC is a four day a week thing and this maddens me. You can watch Beck and O’Reilly seven days a week if you are that way inclined but those of us who are not, get prison.
I do not understand the fascination with allowing a bunch of convicts to dominate almost the entire weekend programming. It’s not like they are productive members of society or ever likely to contribute anything of value except an awful warning.
Okay, Folks. He violated stated company policy and got caught. How is this different than what JoeMiller did? Violated ethics and got caught – well, JM did lie about it after and it appears Olbermann did not lie. Did Olbermann NOT know this was policy? If he signed on, whether he agreed with the restraint of speech or not, If he signed on, he therefore agreed to follow the policy. I have huge issues with such a policy but contracts are contracts. I’m glad he’s back, I think Juan Williams shouldn’t have been fired, which I think is much more egregious on NPR’s part than Olbermann donating to candidates.
Keith I guess “tweeted” his reasoning for not revealing his contribution earlier – one I feel is very important. Faux pimps for money from viewers, brags about their contributions and to whom. By not filing until AFTER THE ELECTION Keith did not influence anyone to contribute for/against those he personally wanted to support. Had he filed before (asking permission? what are we 6?) it would have gotten out — and then the hue and cry would be that he was influencing viewers — fire his backside. This was a no-win situation but I think it called attention to Faux (not that they care) and perhaps made things clearer at MSNBC. Still I think Keith did the right and moral thing. He didn’t urge viewers to back anyone, didn’t say I sent $$$ to xyz and didn’t disclose until after the election — that made it clear it was not professional but private. I sent a message to Griffin and his boss suggesting they reinstate KO or they’d discover how hard it is to find a new job in this market because their ratings would drop.
Dagnabbit!! i was gonna apply for his job..oh well. i guess i’ ll have to go to Faux and try out for O’Reilly’s gig. they need to hire a token progressive who is fair and balanced like me.
I suspect you’d develop a nasty rash just walking into that studio. There’s bad stuff in the air over there! 😉
Hurray for Keith’s return! I voted to bring him back because he and Rachel are amazing!
I think Oberman should have been canned for making political donations. But I also think that MSNBC and NBC should abide by their own rules and chuck folks, both on air and in management that violated the rules (that’s where the hypocrisy lies). The rules are put in place for a reason and they are good reasons. Paul Jay, journalist and CEO of The Real News Network went so far as to say in his interview yesterday with Bob McChesney (Media Matters), that he had problems with journalists voting. Feel good is not the name of the game in this case.
http://will.illinois.edu/mediamatters/show/november-7-2010/
I always wondered how long “indefinitely” really was.
Now I know, thanks to Phil: two work days and two days of “Lockup.”
Keith’s back in the saddle again. Friday’s with Thurber and righteous rants have returned! Yes!
Can we send Phil, Joe Scarborough, and Pat Buchanan (and his creepy sister) to Lockup indefinitely now. They could learn a lot in four days…..
No they can’t learn a lot in four days, Lee 323. They can’t learn at all. They’re stuck in the 80’s. Eighteen eighties, that is.
Good point Desa, although Bubba and Warthog in Cell Block 4 would reeeeeally like to get their hands on some fresh meat and teach them the facts of life.
(a) Yippiee… I like Kieth
(b) Did you see joe mcginnis may have to sue to get himself out of “sarah palin’s alaska”
(c) Too bad AMC’s walking dead is opposite SP’s AK… I’d rather watch zombies then dumbies.
I think she said what she said about Joe mcginniss so she can ask for more money for her attorney.Ya know she is a millionaire and can’t pay her own bills,she needs the public to pay them for her.
You can send a message to Keith:
http://act.boldprogressives.org/sign/congrats_keith_victory/?akid=2676.89293.9w4-Jv&rd=1&source=e1-olbsigners-subj&t=4
And, just let me say – Happy Dance. 🙂
“Public Outrage”, me thinks, has little to do with Phil’s turn-a-bout. It’s all about the advertising $.
Without KO’s Countdown, which probably represents 50% of ad revenues that keep MSNBC afloat, they have only Racheal , and that’s not enough $ to float MSNBC and their corporate PuppetMasters.
Phil Griffin, may the world pass gas on your every breathe.
I would like to see Phil Griffin spanked for this little tantrum or, possibly, “sent down the road.” I tired of middle and upper management games long ago.
Those dolts……You don’t get rid of your “Logo”. Keith is MSMBC. It’s just like Coke getting rid of the old coke for the new coke, then having to bring back “Classic” Coke. Now we get Classic Olbermann.
Excellent comment..
Dinner with Keith Tuesday evening. Priceless.
So glad he’ll be back.
Why does the phrase “Penny Pingleton, you have been Punished!” keep coming to mind….
I find it bizarre that their hosts have to get permission to donate. Worrisome – doesn’t that allow for the company to say yea or nay based on the corporation’s political interests? Full disclosure, sure. Even notifying one’s superiors, okay. But seeking permission? Weird and disturbing.
This is just proof that every individual person’s vote or voice does really count. I’m glad that word spread so quickly. I was out for the day and had an email waiting when I got home. I promptly signed it and then started looking for more information. Rachel’s comments were good and honest and ethical. I’m glad she didn’t make excuses for Keith. I will be curious to hear what he has to say when he comes back.
So how, again, did Phil Griffin gain control of MSNBC? He should go and take Joe Scarborough with him. Joe is really the only one I won’t watch – pompous and condescending, not to mention I never agree wtih him.
Welcome back, Keith. Your voice was missed, and I’m glad it wasn’t indefinite.
Really…! From your mouth to gods’ ear…!
God be praised.
Go People!! the Human Kind!!!
(not the corp kind)
I am so relieved so many people acted so quickly. I love the internet.
That’s why we risk having the internet being restricted by fees and such by the corporations that own the GOP and some Democrats. We must keep the net neutral.
Thanks to Rachel Maddow for her level-headed comments on Friday. She and Keith are superb, and I believe her discussion moved a lot of people to action!
Lest we forget though – blogs such as this and IM and a host of others linked to that petition and must be honored for their ability to let people know how they could effectively have their outrage heard.
Welcome back, Keith!
P.S. I hope you don’t do an on-air apology, but if you do, I think we all will understand. It’s a small price to pay to have your voice again speaking for a huge percentage of Americans!
Thanks also to all those from other countries who signed the petition, faxed, called or wrote emails. Every one of us is important when something like this happens, and it is so gratifying to know we have great friends in faraway places!
So does the no contribution policy apply on to on air people, or does it also apply to the managers who actually control what can be said on air?
Good one!
or the parent company vis a vis Citzens United SCOTUS decision?
Also too, what about ‘production; grips,, interns, cameramen, etc’………………….?!!! Are MSNBC food delivery services also too constricted?
Phil, may you choke on your own vomitus-wordis.
I just want to go on the record and say that I tweeted at approximately 2 PM today the following:
“I would be very surprised if #KeithOlbermann isn’t back on the air Monday. Tuesday at the latest.”
about 8 hours ago via web
Damn, I’m good! 😉
Indeed. You nailed it, Ripley!
Very good!
Good job!
Woof!
(DYGGWS; dang your good goes without saying)
…and humble, too…. snicker.
Perhaps he should donate an equal amount to the Down Syndrome Foundation on behalf of Ms. Palin.
And twice as much to Planned Parenthood.
I’m so glad. His last Thurday rant before the elections was brilliant. Simply brilliant. Welcome home, sort of. Sort of.
I’ll see how you sort this out. But welcome, nonetheless.
Big Daddy publicly spanks his *naughty* child, and then, publicly again, has to drive home to us all that he’s the Guy In Charge by decreeing the punishment has ended.
“Let that be a warning to all you liberals,” is the unspoken message.
Phil Griffin is an ass.
Right on!
Gimmie-a-break, Sarah, we Alaskans prefer “arse” over ass.
AS noted in multiple Huffpo comments, this probably has to do with the total breakdown of MSNBC fax, voice mail and network servers!!! And possibly the 300,000 or so signers of the petition!!
Hehe . ..adding a bit:
“two shows, & four days, including the weekend” of still-inexplicable prison-based programming.
Yeah, what is with that? What a waste of time that is for a news network.
I’ve never understood the prison thing on the weekend. Even if I can’t find anything else to watch, I don’t want to watch that. Well, it’s good for reading a book, I guess.
I’m glad he’ll be back. I figured it was a publicity stunt on the part of MSNBC. And, yes, I was one of the many folks who signed the petition to get him back. I enjoy watching his show. He’s very entertaining.
I dont think so, maybe I am being naive. I read that he didn’t want to apologize on air. Or acknowledge what he did on air (hence) the problem. I wish they would bring David Shuster back, let him apologize and move on. Geesh, MSNBC suspends a lot of people.
Er – Griffin suspends a lot of people. He was Keith’s producer on a show 1997-1998. When MSNBC brought him on board in 2008, he said he wanted to have MSNBC transform itself into a Fox-like power but would stop short of bringing on a far-right show because he wanted “flow.”
I don’t trust Griffin. He’s gotten rid of other people who had progressive leanings and has boosted Joe Scarborough (who is definitely right-wing oriented).
What was shuster suspended for this time? I hadn’t heard.
Shuster was suspended in April for appearing on CNN.
He better not apologize.
Dito
double ditto and WTF about “punishment”? how childish!
Phil must be projecting how much he want’s a “spanking”. Gross. Ewe. (we’re talking Vittner. Craig territory).
Triple Ditto.