MSNBC Kicks Keith Olbermann to the Curb!

Cable news net indefinitely suspends host due to his political contributions

By Josh Grossberg Nov 05, 2010 7:38 PMTags
Keith OlbermannVirginia Sherwood/NBC

Good thing he temporarily shelved his Worst Persons in the World segment because Keith Olbermann just might have had to put himself on the list.

The Countdown anchor has been indefinitely sidelined by MSNBC after the cable news network discovered he made $7,200 in campaign donations to three Democratic candidates, one of whom was a guest on his show.

"I became aware of Keith's political contributions late last night. Mindful of NBC News policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay," MSNBC's president, Phil Griffin, said in a statement.

Olbermann donated $2,400 apiece to the campaigns of Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway and Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords. Grijalva was the one who appeared on Countdown, but the poltiician's camp says the donation was never a condition of his appearance.

Per MSNBC policy, political donations are only allowed if the person doing so has obtained permission from the president of MSNBC News. (For those keeping track at home, rival Fox News allows contributions without any strings attached.)

"Anyone working for NBC News who takes part in civic or other outside activities may find that these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist because they may create the appearance of a conflict of interest," reads the network's rule.

While the loss of its highest-rated newsman is a tough break for the left-leaning news channel an MSNBC exec told the New York Times that there's a chance Olbermann could still  return.

Olbermann could not be reached for comment. We just wonder what Bill O'Reilly has to say.

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