To close out this blog we provide you readers with a note from Olbermann, which came to NFTOS via email for our support, to which last Friday NFTOS asked for a boycott of MSNBC till this wrong was righted, and now the letter:
I want to sincerely thank you for the honor of your extraordinary and ground-rattling support.
Your efforts have been integral to the remedying of these recent events, and the results should remind us of the power of individuals spontaneously acting together to correct injustices great or small.
I would also like to acknowledge with respect the many commentators and reporters, including those with whom my politics do not overlap, for their support.
I also wish to apologize to you viewers for having precipitated such anxiety and unnecessary drama. You should know that I mistakenly violated an inconsistently applied rule – which I previously knew nothing about -- that pertains to the process by which such political contributions are approved by NBC. Certainly this mistake merited a form of public acknowledgment and/or internal warning, and an on-air discussion about the merits of limitations on such campaign contributions by all employees of news organizations.
Instead, after my representative was assured that no suspension was contemplated, I was suspended without a hearing, and learned of that suspension through the media.
You should also know that I did not attempt to keep any of these political contributions secret; I knew they would be known to you and the rest of the public. I did not make them through a relative, friend, corporation, PAC, or any other intermediary, and I did not blame them on some kind of convenient 'mistake' by their recipients.
When a website contacted NBC about one of the donations, I immediately volunteered that there were in fact three of them; and contrary to much of the subsequent reporting, I immediately volunteered to explain all this, on-air and off, in the fashion MSNBC desired.
I genuinely look forward to rejoining you on Countdown on Tuesday, to begin the repayment of your latest display of support and loyalty - support and loyalty that is truly mutual.
Olbermann re-instated Sunday night, back on air Tuesday.
BREAKING NEWS: In a just released report from thinkprogress.org "Shortly After Major Bush Donor Takes Over MSNBC, Network Selectively Applies Rules To Suspend Olbermann"
SPECIAL COMMENTARY
Today MSNBC Chief Executive Paul Griffin indefinitely suspended the bulwark and pillar of the news organization for donating monies to political campaigns. Keith Olbermann admittedly stated he funded three democratic congressional candidates.
Oblermann also goes on to say “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.”
All the while two other MSNBC show host and or analysts of MSNBC have done the same. Republicans Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan also gave political contributions -- but yet as of 18:43 11/2/210 neither have been suspended.
Tool of the day Paul Griffin stated that because Olbermann did not obtain prior approval for the contributions, “I have suspended him indefinitely without pay.”
In a funny twist of irony MSNBC is replacing Olbermann with Chris Hayes, whom has given money to two Democratic campaigns in recent years, prompting MSNBC to say "Hayes will not get the gig after all."
With all these shenanigans one could conclude that Olbermann has a suit of epic proportions on his hands. If Olbermann can show that higher-ups at NBC News singled him out for punishment while letting Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan skate, he could build a strong case against them, with damages predicated not just on the withholding of his $7 million salary but also on the harm done to his reputation.
MSNBC states that Scarborough had the "all clear" from General Griffin and that Buchanan being a "analyst" doesn't fall into "full-time employee" status, and therefore isn’t "subject to the same rules".
MSNBC's less than stable stance on "ethics" is as diabolical as the tea bags distorting B-ROCKS current trip. Talks about a Ed Shultz "nut job" moment, or a Chris Matthews "sideshow" story!
NFTOS wishes Keith the best, he was one whom stood his grounds and his convictions, and told America about the "REAL" tea bag society. While unpopular by the right, he was the man whom exposed the hillbillies for the trash they are.
In lieu of MSNBC's "policies" and "actions", we at NFTOS cordially ask our readers to BOYCOTT any and all MSNBC programming until this wrong is righted. At the very least MSNBC has some internal documents to audit and rectify. Anyone whom gains funds from MSNBC by speaking for them should all be held accountable to the same standard set forward. So until either Olbermann is offered an apology or is offered his job back, was ask that you refrain from supporting bully CEO's like General Griffin!
As a CEO myself, I tell you it just ludicrous too act with "knee jerk" reactions with regards to employees, especially when they are the backbone of your establishment. Maybe it's the General whom needs to be "checked"?
Today your boss says you can't on your own volition fund a political party of your own choice, tomorrow its whom you can and can't vote for, and the next day it's when you can and cannot urinate.
Roger West
CEO West Media
News From The Other Side
