Back from exile: Olbermann thanks fans, criticizes MSNBC

On Monday night, Keith Olbermann finally responded to his two-day suspension, which MSNBC imposed on him after discovering that he'd made unauthorized political donations to three Democratic candidates. In an open letter to his fans, which his management team sent to the Times and other media, the “Countdown” host  criticized NBC for enforcing a donation policy that was "inconsistently applied" and insisted that he wasn’t aware of the netowrk's standards. While he admitted that he should have discussed his donations with NBC executives, he took issue with the fact that, instead of warning him internally, the network suspended him, leaving him to hear about the suspension through the media.

“You should also know that I did not attempt to keep any of these political contributions secret; I knew they would be known to you and the rest of the public,” he said. “I did not make them through a relative, friend, corporation, PAC, or any other intermediary, and I did not blame them on some kind of convenient ‘mistake’ by their recipients. When a website contacted NBC about one of the donations, I immediately volunteered that there were in fact three of them; and contrary to much of the subsequent reporting, I immediately volunteered to explain all this, on-air and off, in the fashion MSNBC desired.”

Olbermann credited his fans for getting him back on the air with what he called a “ground-rattling” outpouring of support from viewers. He apologized for “having precipitated such anxiety and unnecessary drama,” though he also said that the public uproar “should remind us of the power of individuals spontaneously acting together to correct injustices great or small.”

The full text of the letter follows:

A STATEMENT TO THE VIEWERS OF COUNTDOWN
by Keith Olbermann

I want to sincerely thank you for the honor of your extraordinary and ground-rattling support. Your efforts have been integral to the remedying of these recent events, and the results should remind us of the power of individuals spontaneously acting together to correct injustices great or small. I would also like to acknowledge with respect the many commentators and reporters, including those with whom my politics do not overlap, for their support.

I also wish to apologize to you viewers for having precipitated such anxiety and unnecessary drama. You should know that I mistakenly violated an inconsistently applied rule — which I previously knew nothing about — that pertains to the process by which such political contributions are approved by NBC. Certainly this mistake merited a form of public acknowledgment and/or internal warning, and an on-air discussion about the merits of limitations on such campaign contributions by all employees of news organizations. Instead, after my representative was assured that no suspension was contemplated, I was suspended without a hearing, and learned of that suspension through the media.

You should also know that I did not attempt to keep any of these political contributions secret; I knew they would be known to you and the rest of the public. I did not make them through a relative, friend, corporation, PAC, or any other intermediary, and I did not blame them on some kind of convenient 'mistake' by their recipients. When a website contacted NBC about one of the donations, I immediately volunteered that there were in fact three of them; and contrary to much of the subsequent reporting, I immediately volunteered to explain all this, on-air and off, in the fashion MSNBC desired.

I genuinely look forward to rejoining you on Countdown on Tuesday, to begin the repayment of your latest display of support and loyalty — support and loyalty that is truly mutual.

— K.O.

— Melissa Maerz

Photo: Keith Olbermann. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press.

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A STATEMENT TO THE VIEWERS OF COUNTDOWN

by Keith Olbermann

I want to sincerely thank you for the honor of your extraordinary and

ground-rattling support. Your efforts have been integral to the remedying of

these recent events, and the results should remind us of the power of

individuals spontaneously acting together to correct injustices great or small. I

would also like to acknowledge with respect the many commentators and

reporters, including those with whom my politics do not overlap, for their

support.

I also wish to apologize to you viewers for having precipitated such anxiety

and unnecessary drama. You should know that I mistakenly violated an

inconsistently applied rule – which I previously knew nothing about – that

pertains to the process by which such political contributions are approved by

NBC. Certainly this mistake merited a form of public acknowledgment and/or

internal warning, and an on-air discussion about the merits of limitations on

such campaign contributions by all employees of news organizations. Instead,

after my representative was assured that no suspension was contemplated, I

was suspended without a hearing, and learned of that suspension through the

media.

You should also know that I did not attempt to keep any of these political

contributions secret; I knew they would be known to you and the rest of the

public. I did not make them through a relative, friend, corporation, PAC, or

any other intermediary, and I did not blame them on some kind of convenient

'mistake' by their recipients. When a website contacted NBC about one of the

donations, I immediately volunteered that there were in fact three of them; and

contrary to much of the subsequent reporting, I immediately volunteered to

explain all this, on-air and off, in the fashion MSNBC desired.

I genuinely look forward to rejoining you on Countdown on Tuesday, to

begin the repayment of your latest display of support and loyalty - support and

loyalty that is truly mutual.

Comments

[Richard Sirott]

Glad you are back. Could you please cut down on the Thurber readings though.

Thanks for all you have done to counter attack Fox.

[Jeanne021556]

Glad he is back. Republicans don't like him because he highlights their mistakes. I love watching him and I'm glad he is back. GO GET'EM KEITH

[Vanessa Guerin]

I'm very glad that Keith will be returning. I think it's a sad thing that he was suspended in the first place. I think he should have the right to use his money to support whomever he pleases. The 'other' network goes MUCH further than just a contribution from a 'NAMED' source. Welcome back Keith!!!!!

[jyemc]

maybe good maybe not, to suspend your anchor. Keith Olbermann is the VOICE of your weak news channel. This is nothing but pure politics your playing. Dont play with AMERICA LET US DECIDE THE TRUTH....................DONT DO THIS EVER AGAIN...........

[Tea Sickness]

After years of Rush , Hannity, Oriely, Coulter, Ingram, and the other nut jobs, its great to listen to an educated person whose right wheel gumball machine doesn't drag him right.

Will the GOP fox ignarance and hete machine ever go away? The idiot american freakshow keeps on a goin, complete with GOP biggots, Loofa lords, witches, lame brains, grizzly bears, chicked traders, 2nd amendment remedy idiots, all dick army's butt boys.....just keep on marching. Hey all you hate mongers on the right, let go of the neck of that black, Latino gay person, crawl out of your bunker and smell the roses for a change. You have one more day before Keith comes back and you resume suspecting everyone again.

[Eric]

Sad that the network could not stand by their policy and have enough integrity to support their stance.

[jack]

He's a voice of sanity fighting the awful "Dumbing Down of America" by Limbaugh and the Fox "News" Propaganda Channel.

Pill poppin' Rush and whimpering blubbering Beck...two of the biggest con men that ever fleeced the flock of gullible poodles and wimps out there in America. Along with Palin and all the rest...cashing in BIG TIME. They call it "Millions from Morons". The world's oldest profession.

[const]

Sad to see MSNBC still has no principles. Instead of taking a stand, the have reinstated yet another hate monger from the left so that he can spew lies about Republicans on a nightly basis. KO is an ego maniacal manipulator who continues to add to the great divide affecting this country. Bravo MSNBC.