difference between Olbermann & Fox pundits is diff between operation & partisan political machine

Lean Forward? from think progress

MSNBC host Keith Olbermann made the maximum legal campaign contributions to Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), and the now-defeated Senate candidate Jack Conway (D-KY). After learning of Olbermann's donations last Thursday, and ever "mindful of NBC News policies and standards," MSNBC President Phil Griffin "acted quickly" to temporarily suspend Olbermann, who will return to host his show this Tuesday. While Olbermann's role as an opinion host does not require his personal impartiality, he should have disclosed the donation according to NBC's policy and admitted to a procedural error. But MSNBC -- which has embraced the new tagline "Lean Forward " -- was too hasty in shutting out its most popular and effective news host. Even conservative publications deemed the suspension "ludicrous." While Olbermann should and will return to host Countdown, the incident illustrates a vital difference of integrity. While MSNBC suspended Olbermann for a private campaign donation, Fox News is encouraging its commentators to launch, create, endorse, promote, and raise funds for Republican candidates while the parent company is donating millions directly to the GOP. As Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) pointed out, "We live in a time when 90 percent of talk radio is dominated by right-wing extremists, when the Republican Party has its own cable network (Fox) and when progressive voices are few and far between." Olbermann is a long-standing progressive champion who always shares his opinions openly, but also takes seriously his role as a responsible conveyor of facts. The difference between Olbermann and a myriad of Fox pundits -- and the difference between MSNBC and Fox News itself -- is the difference between a news operation and a partisan political machine. 

PLAYING BY THE RULES:  According to NBC's policy, "anyone working for NBC News who takes part in civic or other outside activities" such as political contributions "may find that these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist because they may create the appearance of conflict of interest." Thus, NBC requires journalists to "report any such potential conflicts in advance to, and obtain prior approval of, the President of NBC News or his designee." As the Washington Post's Greg Sargent points out, as a long-standing opinion host, Olbermann "doesn't pretend to be an 'impartial journalist'" and, as part of MSNBC's progressive political mission , isn't "necessarily required to follow NBC News rules." Certainly, other MSNBC figures like Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough and contributor Pat Buchanan have made several political contributions, with Scarborough giving a local Alabama Republican candidate $5,000 as recently as this year. CNBC host Larry Kudlow donated $1,000 to Republican Chris Shays in May of 2009 and serves on the Leadership Council to the Club for Growth, a conservative group that has donated over $2 million to Republican candidates this year. However, unlike Olbermann, Scarborough cleared his contribution in 2006 (and presumably did so this year). Buchanan is a contributor rather than a host, and CNBC is exempt from NBC's policy. Ultimately, while the description of Olbermann as an "impartial journalist" isn't exactly correct, he -- like Scarborough -- is bound by NBC policy, and thus should have disclosed his donation and -- despite his reported reluctance -- admitted to his error.

THE FOX FOIL:  In attempting to maintain a standard of journalistic integrity, MSNBC's suspension of Olbermann marks a clear delineation between the traditional news outlets and the growing political influence of Fox News. While NBC, MSNBC, Newsweek, the New York Times, Reuters, ABC, CBS, NPR, Dow Jones, and U.S. News & World Report all either forbid or restrict political contributions to prevent appearance of partiality, Fox News has shrugged off the thinly-veiled "fair and balanced" slogan to become a powerful propaganda network delivering a comprehensive platform for the GOP. This year's midterm elections alone illustrate Fox's ubiquitous influence in boosting Republican candidates by fundraising, donating, endorsing, and even grooming most of its on-air "talent" to contend for Republican victories. Right-wing host Sean Hannity, for instance, has become a one-man RNC fundraiser this year. Fundraising comfortably from the "back pockets" of failed Senate candidates Christine O'Donnell (R-DE), Sharron Angle (R-NV), and Carly Fiorina (R-CA), Hannity also created the candidacy of defeated House candidate John Gomez (R-NY) and "maxed out" the individual contribution limit on his campaign. Hannity and fellow Fox host Glenn Beck also doled out the dough for the doyenne of the Fox News favorites, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). While Fox host Glenn Beck specifically asked Bachmann "how can I help you raise money" on air, Hannity and his wife each offered a $5,000 contribution to Bachmann's PAC. Like MSNBC, Fox News received flak for the contribution and promised Hannity would declare his contribution on-air when he next interviewed Bachmann. Hannity, however, did not comply and appears to have received no penalty. Still, no other candidate has benefited more from the network than Ohio Governor-elect John Kasich. A former Fox anchor himself, Kasich benefited from multiple fundraising sessions on Hannity's television show and even received a $1 million contribution from his "personal friend" and the News Corp. CEO, Rupert Murdoch. Indeed, as if to ensure that the network is a foil to any credible news standard, News Corp. donated an unprecedented $1 million to the Republican Governors Association because its "agenda" supports "our priorities."  

THE NEWS STANDARD: As Fox's fluid role in politics proves, today's news media present an "ever-evolving petri dish of political/journalistic ethics." As Slate's Dave Weigel explains, "over the past thirty years, we've seen an explosion of talk radio and cable news journalism which politicians, candidates and interest groups use to get their message out without an 'objective' filter." While Fox has become the chief "talking point conveyance device" for the GOP, "nothing quite like" Hannity, Beck, and the 2012 contributors "exists on the left right now." Olbermann is certainly the "unabashedly liberal-leaning counterpart to cable television's conservative hosts" who personally champions many progressive issues and shares his opinions openly on the air. But unlike Fox pundits seem to do, he has never brought on political figures to personally raise funds, endorse, or create their candidacy for office. In an age where "you've got an electorate and television audience who watch some shows because they think the host is on their side politically," the difference between what Olbermann does on air and what those like Hannity do is the difference between point-of-view journalism and political manipulation. As fellow MSNBC host Rachel Maddow points out, Olbermann's temporary suspension should "lay to rest forever" the "facile, never-true-anyway, bullpucky, lazy conflation of Fox News and what the rest of us do for a living." While many might dub MSNBC as the "mirror image" of Fox News, this incident makes the difference clearly black and white. Fox "is run as a political operation. [MSNBC] isn't," said Maddow. "Yeah, Keith's a liberal, and so am I. But we're not a political operation -- Fox is. We're a news operation. The rules around here are part of how you know that." 
 

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