POWIP Piece of Work In Progress

In case you haven't heard there's allegedly a cable news network called MSNBC that employs an arguably insane person named Keith Olbermann.  Yes, in front of the camera.  News broke today that he has been suspended without pay after it was uncovered that he made donations to 3 Democratic candidates in this weeks midterm elections. This has been a wonderful day.

When the initial ecstasy wore off, voices on the right and the left started with the debate over if this really is a conflict of interest, Olby's free speech, whether we punish the insane for crimes directly caused by their insanity, etc.  In my opinion, there are four facets to this.

Is Olby a journalist or a commentator?  Well, I know he's not a journalist, but what I think about that doesn't matter.  Do MSNBC and Olby, himself, think he's a journalist?  If he is then he should be gone... period.  The news business has changed so much, perhaps the time has come to hammer these things out once and for all.  Is activist journalist a real thing?  And what's his contract say?

Beyond what he did, the issue with this for me is non-disclosure.  It's my understanding that he made these donations then had the candidates on his show without telling the audience.  That's fishy, straight up.  It's also a bunch of crap since Olby went after Rupert Murdoch for donating $1 million (which equals about 5 Murdoch bucks) to the Republican Governor's Association.  Olby didn't donate to the DNC or admit something makes him nervous, he donated to specific candidates.  That reminds me of the difference between a minister preaching that homosexuality is a sin from the pulpit or blatantly endorsing a candidate from the pulpit.  This goes beyond bias.

The bottom line is that, I believe, there's no way MSNBC did this to protect the integrity of their network.  There were 2 reasons.  Olby's a nightly embarrassment.  So embarrassing it's not even fun to watch, just sad, thus the low ratings.  The second is that the American people sent a clear message this week.  So clear even MSNBC couldn't ignore it.  This is a desperate gesture of faux credibility and to give the biggest thorn in their side a "crazy sanchez".

One more thing is nagging at me.  Is Olby the only one?  Whatever conclusion is drawn from this should apply across the board.  If Sean Hannity gave money to a candidate then had them on his show without a disclaimer then he needs to answer for it too.

If anyone find issue with the facts I've stated, like if they aren't factual,  please let me know, and I'll update.  I'm not a journalist or a masochist, so I don't feel obliged to look these things up.

crossposted at KillTruck