Joe Scarborough Suspended

MSNBC had a PR nightmare when the network suspended Keith Olbermann. MSNBC is repeating itself with the suspension of Joe Scarborough. Many progressives and Republicans can't stand Scarborough. So MSNBC will not experience the same kind of pressure to bring back Scarborough. Conservative bloggers will make political hay with it. The Pajamas Media crowd hearts won't be fully into supporting an MSNBC anchor who his viewed as a traitor to the Republican Party. Mostly, the Right will accuse MSNBC of hypocrisy if Scarborough's suspension is longer than Olberamnn's.

Does anyone actually believe any of the anchors on MSNBC are nonpartisan? Scarborough and Olbermann wear their political allegiances on their sleeves. MSNBC has a right to enforce it's rules of anchors not giving campaign contributions without consent. It seems MSNBC doesn't want to deal with the backlash or keep anchors off-the-air that help networks make money.

Press release sent out by MSNBC President Phil Griffin.

Statement from Phil Griffin, President of MSNBC:

This morning Joe Scarborough informed me that he made eight contributions of $500 each to local candidates in Florida between 2004-08. In my conversation with Joe two weeks ago, he did not recall these contributions. Since he did not seek or receive prior approval for these contributions, Joe understands that I will be suspending him for violating our policy. He will be immediately suspended for two days without pay and will return to the air on Wednesday, November 24th. As Joe recognizes, it is critical that we enforce our standards and policies.

Scarborough press release.

Statement from Joe Scarborough:

It was recently brought to my attention that I made political contributions over the past several years that are not consistent with MSNBC's guidelines. These contributions were to close personal friends and family members and were limited to local races.

Despite the fact that these races were local and not relevant to my work at MSNBC, I have been told they violated MSNBC guidelines.

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. I apologize to MSNBC and to anyone who has been negatively affected by my actions.

I gave a number of $500 contributions to my brother and three longtime family friends. These contributions were nothing more than simple acts of friendship. I gained nothing personally, politically, or professionally from these donations.

To be blunt, I had no interest in their campaigns other than being kind to longtime friends.

Because the contributions involved local, non-competitive races--and were given for personal rather than political reasons--I mistakenly believed I did not need approval from MSNBC. I also apologize for that oversight.

After learning of this situation, I called Phil Griffin and agreed with Phil's immediate demand of a two-day suspension without pay.

I am proud to work for the NBC News family. There is nothing more important than maintaining the integrity of its highly respected brand.

I apologize to Phil Griffin, Steve Capus, and my colleagues. This will not happen again.

MSNBC needs to figure out how they want to handle their pundit anchors.

Kos Banned From MSNBC

Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas Zúniga has been banned from MSNBC. The reason is a stupid fight Kos got into with Joe Scarborough on Twitter. Scarborough tweeted the White House job offer to Joe Sestak was of Nixon proportions. That was rather overblown but Kos brought up the conspiracy theory about the death of Scarborough's Congressional aide Lori Klausutis.

markos: Like story of a certain dead intern. RT @JoeNBC: Luckily for the White House, the media has been negligent on this story since Day 1.

Kos blogged that he doesn't believe Scarborough is responsible for Klausutis's death. It is in poor taste for Kos to bring up the death of a young woman whom Scarborough knew on Twitter.

Scarborough fired back.

JoeNBC: @markos Unbelievable. You have a long history of spreading lies suggesting I am a murderer. This is the 3rd or 4th time by my count.

I don't think Kos was accusing him of being a murderer. However, there are several crackpots on the internet that have conspiracy theories about Klausutis's. It is easy to see why Scarborough would be so sensitive.

Kos was told by MSNBC president Phil Griffin via e-mail that he will not be invited to MSNBC.

Markos,

Blog if you must, but here is my on the record statement to you which I ask that you print in full:

Yes, after I became aware of the ugly cheap shot you took at Joe on Twitter, I asked the teams to take a break from booking you on our shows for a while. I found the comments to be in poor taste, and utterly uncalled for in a civil discourse.

I'm hoping this will be only temporary and that the situation can be resolved in a mature fashion, but until then I just don't know how one could reasonably expect to be welcomed onto our network while publicly antagonizing one of our hosts at the same time.

The DailyKos community has been among the most supportive of MSNBC, and we continue to appreciate that support.

I find it fascinating that Twitter has become so powerful that two high-profile political figures and MSNBC can get entangled into a high school-level chat room fight. I don't have a horse in this fight but Kos and Scarborough really need to chill out on Twitter.