Relax, there's no petition here. Just venting.
MSNBC said Friday that it is suspending "Morning Joe" co-host Joe Scarborough for two days after he acknowledged giving eight previously unknown $500 contributions to friends and family members running for state and local offices during his tenure at the network, a violation of parent NBC’s ban on political contributions by employees without specific permission from the network president.
This is an outrage. Joe Scarborough is a conservative, but we all knew this. Heck, he's a former Republican Congressman, and he is donating to other conservatives. So what?! Who does this come as a shock to?
And yeah, I know ... NBC policy. And the Olbermann thing. But is this supposed to level the playing field to appease those who thought they were being hypocritical, or is this another use of the policy most here thought was ridiculous in the first place? A policy that didn't make sense two weeks ago can't make sense now. Also, I don't want to draw any comparisons to what Olbermann did, but according to Politico:
The five contributions found by POLITICO all were made since 2005 and went to Republican candidates close to the conservative host and were running for state legislative seats in or near Scarborough’s hometown of Pensacola, Fla. They include a pair of checks to Scarborough’s brother George Scarborough, who twice ran for state House, and three to a father-son legislative duo who have known Joe Scarborough since the mid-1990s
Donations to local politicians in the Florida Panhandle, including his own brother?! Oh dear me. Where, oh where, is my fainting couch? Gee, and I was wondering why David Stafford, who was running for Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, kept appearing on Morning Joe all the time.* What a conflict of interest.
Either way, it seems unnecessary. Two wrongs do not make a right. I thought Olbermann's punishment indicated that NBC's policy was wrongheaded, as many voices from the left and right proved. I don't quite get why NBC is digging in, rather than trying to bury this whole embarrassing episode under the rug.
So, MSNBC, reinstate Joe Scarborough.
*Obviously, that's not true.
Update: Joe Scarborough playsgood soldier:
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.