NBC military analyst Ken Allard, a former army colonel, has resigned from the network, citing a general drift to the left at MSM outlet, especially following NBC's inaction over scurrilous remarks made by one of its other analysts, a leftist named Bill Arkin, that implied the military was full of "mercenaries" raking in "obscene amenities."
(This was the same Bill Arkin who has hated the military for years and released a book called "Code Names" in which he exposed classified military codenames to the world. Of course, the same media that has clamored about "treason" and "scandal" in the Valerie Wilson nonsense has no such compunction when it comes to this type of exposure of military secrets.)
After NBC failed to take action against its rogue analyst, Allard decided that he would, detailing why he has resigned in a column for a San Antonio newspaper:
Has anyone else noticed the network's precipitous retreat from journalistic and
ethical standards? Not only were no apologies given and no pink slips
issued for Arkin's outburst, but on his MSNBC show last week, Keith
Olberman went out of his way to defend this "valid criticism" of our
military.Story Continues Below Ad ↓In January, Conan O'Brien was allowed to escape without apology after airing a particularly tasteless gay skit deriding
Christianity: "Oh, Jesus, I love you, but only as a friend." (Just try
doing that sometime using Mohammad's name!)And only this
week, questions have been raised about the cozy relationships between
CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo and the companies she covers as a
supposedly objective journalist. The response by Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of
GE and godfather of the NBC family: "Substantially, I don't think she
did anything wrong."Fine: Let's hope he's right. But sometimes the only way to show where you really stand is to vote with
your feet. And so with great reluctance and best wishes to my former
colleagues, with this column I am severing my 10-year relationship with
NBC News.
[Transcript and video of what the soldiers said which so enraged Arkin.]
—Matthew Sheffield is Editor of NewsBusters.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
A 'drift'??? Kenny, thank g
February 15, 2007 - 23:35 ET by Scout FinchA 'drift'??? Kenny, thank goodness you've seen the light. But to the MSM, it's just business as usual.
Allard better get ready f
February 15, 2007 - 23:37 ET by mlongAllard better get ready for his WPITW award from KO soon.
Is there any real dought now that NBC/MSNBC is nothing more than the left-wing media arm of the DNC?... I mean atleast CNN has Glenn Beck on to give a conservative view of thing while MSNBC only has the neuterd conservative twins of Tucker and Scarbrough who are only allowed to stay on the air if they bash Bush and FOX news.
Tucker
February 16, 2007 - 08:54 ET by allanfI beg your pardon. Tucker is not a conservative. He just played one on TV. He also stayed at a Holiday Inn Express
NBC has two of the five team members for its "Washington Generals" conservative team.
Well I did refer to Tucker
February 16, 2007 - 13:40 ET by mlongWell I did refer to Tucker and Joe as neteured to make the point about their lack of "ability" to fight for conservatives on MSNBC but your right...Tucker wasn't really a conservative even when he had a pair.
Good for Colonel Allard.Votin
February 15, 2007 - 23:54 ET by BlondeGood for Colonel Allard.
Voting with his feet....which is what we ought to do to NBC and it's subsidiaries.
Arkin should have been publicly chastised for his mercenary remarks, and then summarily fired. He also disgustingly implied that we were keeping the troops in the lap of luxury with "obscene ammenities". Hardly.
Ratings
February 16, 2007 - 16:08 ET by Jerry MackBlonde: Do not know if this means anything. This morning I saw the top 20 programs listed in my local paper. For the wek of Feb. 5-11, Nbc programs only ratings were # 10 & 17. I already voted with my remote.
The colonel is quite an e
February 16, 2007 - 00:09 ET by kevcadThe colonel is quite an eloquent man, reminiscent of William F. Buckley. How’s that for military people not having an “education” John Kerry?
I salute fellow retired comra
February 16, 2007 - 01:04 ET by GalvanicI salute fellow retired comrade-in-arms Ken Allard for his resignation from NBC. His action and press statement demonstrate to NBC that we will not compromise our integrity and sit silent while they entertain and underwrite the vile utterances of scum like William Arkin.
Good for Ken Allard. I don'
February 16, 2007 - 02:33 ET by blarsenGood for Ken Allard. I don't condone anything Arkin has ever said. If soldiers are willing to fight and die for something they believe in they don't need to be critcized for it. As for NBC, there are plenty of ex-military analysts who oppose the war and I'm sure Brian Williams knows them all. Ken Allard will be much better off on Fox.
Blarsen
February 16, 2007 - 14:08 ET by Jimbo"If soldiers are willing to fight and die for something they believe in...."
Can we presume you don't share in their belief?
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
Colonel Allard points out:Kei
February 16, 2007 - 07:57 ET by ThisnThatColonel Allard points out:
Keith Olberman went out of his way to defend this :valid criticism" of our military.
In January, Conan O'Brien was allowed to escape without apology
Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of GE and godfather of the NBC family: "Substantially, I don't think she did anything wrong."
So now I'm wondering: When will NBC come out with a comment praising the Colonel and saying he's right?
a man with integrity. i wil
February 16, 2007 - 09:12 ET by buddyca man with integrity. i will remember that name and face. scarborough and carlson could learn from this example. i have emailed them repeatedly that they are there only because they are being groomed as the next pat buccanan (sp). pat buccannan the angry mean conservative as nbc views it. they will get smaller budgets for their shows and will have their guests picked for them. they are token's. their failure is the goal. they should get some integrity and quit.
Democrats and integrity
February 16, 2007 - 10:38 ET by ronny117Democrats and intergity, talk about two words clashing. Remember, cabinet members, Albright, Daley and Rubin on the front steps of the White House claiming that President Clinton looked into their eyes and told them that "He did not have sex with that women?" They all say they believed him. Intergity what a joke.... My hat is off to Col. Allard... If only there were more like him. I have to ask the question, "When is enough, enough?"
cut an run?
February 16, 2007 - 10:38 ET by foolnomorethe rank stench from being in the front lines of defeatisim has woken up another good ,honest ,man.. the days ahead can only get better sir,
thank you Colonel Ken Allard
Col. Allard
February 16, 2007 - 16:36 ET by saurusIn case nobody read Kens article, his email address was listed.
May I suggest all right thinking Americans write to him with our thanks and congratulations for his rebuke to NBC?
WARHEADS6@aol.com
Colonel Ken
February 17, 2007 - 07:46 ET by Chicagoray40My hat off to you colonel and we all salute you're decision to tell NBC to take their job and shove it up Arkin's A#@
I wonder if the next military
February 17, 2007 - 23:37 ET by missvotingforreaganI wonder if the next military analyst they hire will ask why the last one quit.