Kieth Olbermann Offered A Position On Fox News... Kinda?

Journalism, as defined by the first thing that came up on my Google search, is "a person who keeps a journal". Now that may be fair and balanced, still recently the idea of "Journalism", (and when I say recently I mean in the last 30 years), has become a hot button issues since the days when The Fresh Prince's "Life got twisted upside down". More recently still, the argument of what exactly is "Journalism" was tested by MSNBC's Kieth Olbermann. The host of MSNBC's Countdown With Kieth Olbermann was suspended "Indefinitely" just last week! But wait! Quick! Don't stir into a panicked rage! The gentleman is due back hosting his show this Tuesday the 9th of November after four solid days in "exile" as he called it on his Twitter update.

While some have turned Olbermann's welcome back to his comfy MSNBC chair into an outward attack on the meaning of the word "Indefinitely", others see it as part of the greater argument as to whether political commentators should be considered "Journalists". Olbermann was suspended from his chair, 'indefinitely', after he reveled to Politico.com that he had contributed to the campaigns of three Democrats in this last midterm election. MSNBC has a clear policy that states that none of it's employees may contribute to political campaigns or organizations without the consent of MSNBC. The rule was put in place in order to avoid the obvious conflict of interest, and as MSNBC political commentator Rachel Maddow said on her own show about the suspension: "The rule applies to us host here at MSNBC and to NBC news staff. CNBC is not under NBC news so CNBC staffers are not bound by the same thing." While the network has been criticized for allowing Olbermann to come back on the air after only four days of suspension, MSNBC president Phil Griffin was reported as saying, "I have determined that suspending Keith through and including Monday night's program is an appropriate punishment for his violation of our policy."

While the network has made it's decision, much to the liking of Rachel Maddow who suggested Olbermann be allowed back on the air before Griffin's public statement made it so, it's obvious that Kieth Olbermann is making a personal mistake by returning to his show on MSNBC. Our friend, and host of Fox News Channel's Red Eye, Greg Gutfeld touched this subject slightly on his November 6th broadcast, which was more than likely viewed by myself, eight other politics geeks, and a cat being strapped down to a chair against his/her will. Gutfeld had this to say on the subject, "Everyone knows, like I said, that he's a pinko comunist. So, why does it matter who he gives his money to?" Furthermore, the satellite guest of Gutfeld's seemingly elusive show that night was commentator Stephen Kruiser who was quite blatant about MSNBC's ethical role in all this. "I was pondering the irony of a network that would hire Kieth Olbermann suddenly claiming it had journalistic ethics and standards and things like that.", he said on Gutfeld's show last Saturday.

While Gutfeld and friends don't come out and say that Olbermann should quit MSNBC and join them over in the Fox News Channel, let's look at the implications here. Rachel Maddow, in the same previously stated segment, revealed that famed Fox commentator Sean Hannity had raised over $7 million to conservative campaigns during the same midterm election. Fox News did not suspend Sean Hannity. If given anything, Fox News Channel president Roger Ailes probably gave Hannity a coke and a hug. The same was to be said about several other Fox News Channel constituents, as provided generously by Mrs. Maddow. These include former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, who host a show on Fox, Neil Cavuto, who's political contribution we partly owe the great mastery of the "Bush-ism", and who hosts a show on Fox, and even former GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin who is a paid Fox News contributor.

That's where I have to agree with the genius Mr. Kruiser when he "ponders" the integrity of MSNBC. Atleast Fox News just comes out and says it, right? Isn't that what they mean by fair and balanced? That they pay a former vice-presidential candidate and prospective 2012 presidential candidate to surf their outwardly GOP supporting conservative airways? Yeah, that's as fair and balanced as you get! So what's the implication? Olbermann should step down from MSNBC and go join Fox News Channel as fast as possible, so he won't be constrained by any types of "journalistic ethics and standards". I doubt he'll get along with his co-workers much, but everyone's got to make sacrifices right?

Still, there is a misunderstanding in the country about the likeness between MSNBC and the genius behind the Fox News Channel. MSNBC is definitely not a moderate news channel. It does in fact, and I say this as an avid observer of all cable news, support liberal ideals because, as Maddow points out, "Yes, Kieth is a liberal and so am I, and there are other people on this network who's political views are shared openly." But the vast and important difference between Fox News and MSNBC is that Fox, counting Roger Ailes and Rupert Murdoch up at the top, is the Einstein to MSNBC's Herbert York in the famed spectra of "spin". Now, if you're yet pondering who Herbert York is.. that's kind of the point.

Kieth Olbermann deserves to be part of an organization that does not limit his ability to do... anything really. So in the great tenure of his suspension, he should have seen MSNBC for what it's worth and left to a place who's "journalistic ethics and standards" are barren, maybe even Sahara-like. Now, look to the person to your left, and then the person to your right. The three of you, if asked of the existence of such a place, would probably have a fast and easy answer.