BREAKING: Keith Olbermann Donated Maximum Contribution to Three Democrats
By Tim Graham | November 05, 2010 | 08:58
For those smug ones on the left who constantly insist Fox News is remarkably synonymous with the Republican Party, they might want to play down the smugness. That might start with MSNBC chief Phil Griffin, who mocked Fox and insisted to the New York Times “Show me an example of us fund-raising." Politico's Simmi Aujla reports that Keith Olbermann couldn't just put Democrats on his show, he also gave to them after they appeared:
MSNBC host Keith Olbermann made campaign contributions to two Arizona members of Congress and failed Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway ahead of Tuesday’s election — a potential violation of NBC’s ethics policies.
Olbermann, who acknowledged the contributions in a statement to POLITICO, made the maximum legal donations of $2,400 apiece to Conway and to Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords. He donated to the Arizona pair on Oct. 28 – the same day that Grijalva appeared as a guest on Olbermann’s “Countdown” show. Grijalva, a prominent liberal who was only declared a winner in his race Thursday night, was in a tight contest against tea party-backed candidate Ruth McClung when he appeared on Countdown – one of several appearances he made on the show...Giffords had appeared on Olbermann’s program in May, as did Conway.
MSNBC clearly has no control over Olbermann, although it's amusing to discover "The FEC filings for Olbermann’s contributions list an address that is a Mailboxes Etc. storefront in New York, and it also lists his occupation as a newscaster for NBC Television." MSNBC merely forwarded to Politico his statement:
"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,” Olbermann said. “I also donated the same amount to the campaign of Democratic Senatorial candidate Jack Conway in Kentucky.”
In his statement, Olbermann said he wasn’t using his influence to solicit any donations for the candidates.
“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.
Politico noted that on October 7, Olbermann had House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) on his show to discuss Murdoch News Corp. donations to Republicans, and asked Clyburn: “Is there a legislative response to the idea that there is a national cable-news outlet that goes beyond having a point of view and actually starts to shill for partisan causes and actually starts to donate to partisan groups of one party?” Obviously, Keith should have been talking into the mirror -- which you just know he does a lot.
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Comments
Ethics, Schmethics....
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 9:12am.
At least he didn't hand Grijalva the check on the air, did he?
I guess even Olbie knew that would be a bridge too far....
nor have I previously donated to any political campaign at any level,” Olbermann said.Well, there you go! Give him a break, Tim; it's his first time!! BTW, wasn't Grijalva the guy who yelled at his own constituents for daring to question him? Sounds like Keith's kind of guy....
Contributions
Submitted by KC Mulville on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 9:14am.
I don't mind him making the contributions. It's the hypocrisy of presenting himself as a neural, non-partisan journalist who follows a code of ethics that abhors any semblance of partisanship.
Here's a guy who mocks everyone else in the universe for hypocrisy, and yet thrives on it himself. I have zero respect for him.
KC, check your PM's
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 9:31am.
KC, check your PM's occasionally! ;-)
Modern Gun Season starts next weekend here!
Submitted by Diesel on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 10:25am.
It galls me to no end that this puking weasel tried to insert itself into Kentuckys affairs!
I could have told olberfreak to save his money (we know how to vote) but I'd like to extend Keefy an invitation to come here and take a nice, peaceful walk through the woods, since he's sooo interested & concerened about Kentucky. I'll even loan him a deer skin to keep warm!
Wabbit Season
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 1:23pm.
Wabbit Season
Duck season.
Submitted by Left Coast Dan on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 1:31pm.
Duck season.
Campaign fodder
Submitted by Cactus Kurt on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 9:21am.
It's unfortunate that Olbermoron's donation wasn't disclosed before the election. His donation to Grijalva and Giffords would have made great campaign fodder for Ruth McClung and Jesse Kelly: "Just look at who's backing Grijalva/Giffords..."
BTW, Arizona has not declared a winner in either race yet. Too close to call.
I hope the GOP in AZ is ready
Submitted by mattm on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 9:44am.
I hope the GOP in AZ is ready to sue, in case another round of Franken-Fraud is going on.
I'd also like to know how many "close" races there were and how many of them were won by Democrats. The Soros-funded "SoS Project" was designed to get left-wing Secretaries of State in all the states in order to promote Democrat-friendly voting laws and registration vote counting rules and methods - it's how they got away with FrankenFraud and how they will try to steal every close election they can. The GOP needs to fight back.
They always keep an extra bag of votes, just in case
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 10:20am.
It's happening in Connecticut. The R won by 8000 votes till a bag of uncounted votes was found. Now the D is ahead.
Right now Renee Elmers is
Submitted by ricklail on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 11:52am.
Right now Renee Elmers is ahead of Bob "Who are you?" Etherdige. I suspect they will find some missing ballots in the trunk of some Democrat poll worker that will all be for "Who are you". That is the way things seem to be done by the Dems. The Dems control the election boards in every county.
Ahhhhh
Submitted by diskinetic on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 9:22am.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!
What! Keith "I am not a
Submitted by ForeverOnTheRight on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 9:50am.
What! Keith "I am not a liberal" Olbermann, donated maximum contributions to three Democrats, I am shocked I tell you, shocked! I don't understand, I am devastated! <sarc off>
Spending needlessly
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 9:52am.
Hm, I dunno, but he might want to hold off on spending any money or making donations if he's got a good chance to get sacked. He might need all he can get.
Water bills can be expensive.
-Jon
"potential violation of NBCs ethics policies"??????
Submitted by no tingly legs on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 9:58am.
Ethics? What ethics? We don't need no stinking ethics!
"a potential violation of NBC’s ethics policies"
Submitted by Dragonsbreath on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 10:01am.
Do they really have any? If so what are they?
'How are we able to secure the borders in Iraq and Afghanistan, and not secure our own as a government?'
Potential violation?
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 10:05am.
Isn't that like saying that a man who admits to sex with a 12-year-old has committed a "potential violation" the law against sex with minor?
Oh, MB, why are you such a
Submitted by Roger the Shrubber on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 10:36am.
Oh, MB, why are you such a Islamophobe?
:P
The hypocrisy at MSNBC is so think...
Submitted by c5then on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 10:12am.
You can cut it with a knife. And with all those hypocrits spreading their BS around, it must really smell awful in their studios. That's probably why they all seem to always have scowls on their faces.
I'm sure that the donation on the same day he had them on his "show" was purely coincidental. I mean that just because it looks like he paid them to come on his "show" doesn't really mean he did, right?
Part time Congress with term limits! - No more professional politicians. Let's start rebuilding the Republic!
I suspect...
Submitted by retrocon on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 10:14am.
I suspect that the reason he gave the money to Grijalva and Giffords is simple.
Payback.
They are his only viewers in AZ.
As much as I hate this guy...
Submitted by ParalegalGoddess on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 10:24am.
As much as I hate this guy... I have to say that I don't believe for one second that none of the other "journalists" in this country don't donate to candidates. Sorry. I just don't believe it. Keith was just so stupid/arrogant he got caught.
On the other hand doesn't Keith repeatedly brag that he does not even vote so as to protect, and I use this term loosely just as he does, his "journalistic integrity"?
I don't look for anything to happen to Keithy boy Phil Griffin is too afraid of him.
Well yes they do
Submitted by Iron Tigers Vet on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 11:19am.
Hannity donates all the time, and he will tell you. Point is, Oralmann lies about it. The hypocrisy from him and the rest of that cesspool of a show is just rediculous.
A waste of air time. But im sure that they receive plenty of gub'ment help when needed.
Hmmmmm?
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 10:32am.
I can't find this on OpenSecrets.org. Why is that?
Search Olbermann
KO needs to spend the money
Submitted by marpel on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 10:47am.
KO needs to spend the money on trying to become a real man.
"Deep within my heart lies a memory. A song of ol' San Antone..."
Ethics for thee, not for
Submitted by WarEagle66 on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 10:54am.
Ethics for thee, not for me.....
Seems to be the NBC way. Starting at the top, with the CEO of GE
Grayson's twin--Olberman
Submitted by iveseenitall on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 11:11am.
Ignorance is bliss. Too bad there's no vote for or against guys like Olberman --- we could then remove him just as we did his ignorant, nasty twin --- Alan Grayson in Orlando.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Does anybody here believe for
Submitted by ricklail on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 11:53am.
Does anybody here believe for on minute that NBC will fire him over this?
97% Media support Ds
Submitted by okiehawk44 on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 12:21pm.
Why? That's the price of working in media. Support for Ds both at the polling booth and with $$$.
Olbermann knows whose butt to kiss and he knows why he needs to kiss it.
Taking odds he's not alone
Submitted by SnapTie on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 12:54pm.
Special Eddy Schultz and his construction company probably donated also. He's received millions in stimulas funding and always a backdoor investment involed
Hmmm...Olbermann's been in
Submitted by Beukeboom on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 1:24pm.
Hmmm...Olbermann's been in hot water with the brass at MSNBC on multiple ocassions. Could this be the straw that breaks the camel's back, so to speak? Will be suddenly be on an extended bathtub break with the usual lineup of emergency guest hosts? Will it be a permanent bathtub break? Or will the MSNBC brass come up with some flimsy excuse as to why they allow Olbermann to violated stated policy?
...keith is busted
Submitted by vrwc13 on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 2:02pm.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/05/olbermann-donated-to-three-dems-in-apparent-violation-of-nbc-policy/
...hehehe
v
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne
uh oh!
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 2:02pm.
He definitely should have saved for his water bill, now what he's going to do?
-Jon
...tingleling
Submitted by vrwc13 on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 2:05pm.
I wonder where he is feeling his 'tingle' now!
v
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne
I can't even begin to say...
Submitted by MightyMouth on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 2:11pm.
...how broken up and sad I am at this turn of events.
NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hahahahahahahhahahahahaha!
Decisions, decisions...
Submitted by vrwc13 on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 2:16pm.
Should we send him a sympathy card or a thank-you one?
What would Ask Abigail say?
v
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne
He's Suspended without pay
Submitted by kch50428 on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 2:07pm.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/keith-olbermann-suspended-from-msnbc-indefini...
wonderful news indeed.
Submitted by sometimesright on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 2:39pm.
wonderful news indeed. couldn't have happened to a nicer "guy"
There is going to be an
Submitted by Thoreau on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 2:08pm.
There is going to be an insanity vacuum at MSDNC. I hope Chrissie Tingles is up to the challenge.
Breaking news: Olbermann suspended 'without pay' ...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 2:10pm.
for donating to Democrats. Wonder why they waited until after the election?
He'll be gone...
Submitted by AgentAmerican on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 2:11pm.
...now he can go back to sniffing Chris Berman's jock.
HE WHAT?
Submitted by sometimesright on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 2:35pm.
he donated to grijalva? the man who boycotted his own state in favor of illegals? are you freaking kidding me? and he says he's no liberal?
i personally dont think a
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 3:00pm.
i personally dont think a persons donations should be reasons for firing or hiring even if they are commentators on the air or write a collumn. I do believe in full disclosure though, something we rarely get. Lets face it we can tell where a person is politically and where their sympathies lie.
i agree
Submitted by sometimesright on Fri, 11/05/2010 - 5:15pm.
but he did preach from his soapbox against it regarding FOX on his nationally syndicated program and it IS against MSNBC policy. i do question "why now?". he's spewed so much vile nonsense over the years, i get the impression MSNBC is just trying to maintain the facade/illusion of professionalism (we know better though).