MSNBC Anchor Joe Scarborough suspended for undisclosed political donations
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[img]http://images.politico.com/global/news/101119_scarborough_ap_328.jpg[/img]
[url]http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/45411.html[/url]
[quote]MSNBC said Friday that it is suspending “Morning Joe” co-host Joe Scarborough for two days after he acknowledged giving eight previously unknown $500 contributions to friends and family members running for state and local offices during his tenure at the network, a violation of parent NBC’s ban on political contributions by employees without specific permission from the network president.
“I recognize that I have a responsibility to honor the guidelines and conditions of my employment, and I regret that I failed to do so in this matter,” Scarborough said in a statement. “I apologize to MSNBC and to anyone who has been negatively affected by my actions,” he said, adding that after he was made aware of some of the contributions, he called MSNBC President Phil Griffin “and agreed with Phil's immediate demand of a two-day suspension without pay.”
POLITICO had sought comment from the network after finding evidence that Scarborough gave at least five previously unknown $500 contributions while serving as an MSNBC host — all to Republican candidates to whom he was close who were running for state legislative seats in or near Scarborough’s hometown of Pensacola, Fla. After being contacted by POLITICO about the donations, Scarborough voluntarily disclosed three other $500 contributions to a friend running for county office in Florida.
Scarborough’s suspension, during which he will not be paid, will end Wednesday, Griffin said in a statement, adding, “As Joe recognizes, it is critical that we enforce our standards and policies.”
The disciplinary action against Scarborough, a former Republican congressman who also writes a weekly column for POLITICO, came two weeks after MSNBC announced it was suspending “Countdown” host Keith Olbermann “indefinitely” for three contributions he made to Democratic candidates during the 2010 campaign cycle. The network later reduced the suspension to two days.
After the Olbermann suspension, POLITICO found two other contributions in Scarborough’s name, though the network said he had permission for one and accepted his explanation that the other was actually given by his wife.
Still, Griffin said in his statement that, the Olbermann situation prompted a conversation with Scarborough about political giving, in which the host “did not recall” the Florida contributions.
Olbermann’s suspension provoked outrage from many supporters of the former sportscaster, whose liberal opinions have helped define MSNBC as a counterpoint to Fox News with its conservative show hosts such as Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly. Other critics said it was pointless to enforce the standards of objective news organizations with hosts whose entire appeal is based largely on their ideological viewpoints and their personalities[/quote]
Huh, I would have thought this would have gotten more responses. I guess no one actually cares about Scarborough.
I like Scarborough, but I guess NBC's just enforcing policies on both sides. It's a moronic policy, but at least they're fair about it.
[QUOTE=Xen Tricks;26169233]I like Scarborough, but I guess NBC's just enforcing policies on both sides. It's a moronic policy, but at least they're fair about it.[/QUOTE]
I don't think it's a moronic policy.
[QUOTE=Mr.Dounut;26169892]I don't think it's a moronic policy.[/QUOTE]
It really is. Here, lemme grab a blog post that sums it up better than I can put it: [url]http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2010/11/olbermanns_absurd_suspension.php[/url]
There's also the point, idk if it's in that post, that it's absurd to punish over such a small donation when the explicit support of someone like Olbermann is worth far more.
I guess they just want to make it look like fox has no ethics or integrity whatsoever.
[editline]19th November 2010[/editline]
I don't know how suspending their anchors over petty stuff does that though.
I say suspend the entire channel, the same with Fox too.
I don't watch MSNBC. Is it as bad as fox news, except its liberal?
[QUOTE=Killerjc;26170474]I don't watch MSNBC. Is it as bad as fox news, except its liberal?[/QUOTE]
Much better. They know how to do their jobs for the most part.
they're biased like Fox but they don't lie and make shit up like Fox does
Awesome, you can't donate publicly OR privately.
Oh wow, a whopping two days. What a punishment
[QUOTE=CjienX;26182549]Oh wow, a whopping two days. What a punishment[/QUOTE]
Can you imagine the outcry if it was any longer than Olbermann's?
[QUOTE=Habsburg;26182653]Can you imagine the outcry if it was any longer than Olbermann's?[/QUOTE]
Obermann is out indefinitely.
Nah he's been back for a while
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