Very brief diary but just saw this on twitter from Chris Hayes:
OK: I'm not filling in on Countdown tonight because I didn't feel comfortable doing it given the circumstances. <1/2>
My not hosting tonight has nothing to do with several donations I made to two friends before I ever signed an MSNBC contract <2/2>
update to change fired to suspended
Here's a link to the tweet:
http://twitter.com/...
As for the whole Olbermann situation, I have trouble getting outraged. I like Keith, watch the show sometimes, though since late 2008 I've felt the tone was such I didn't care to watch it much. But that doesn't change my great respect for Keith speaking truth.
Here's the thing, though: The media, including MSNBC, is controlled by our corporate masters. So they suspended fired Keith, I hope no one's shocked. Whether he did or did not explictly violate their policy, whether they gave Scar and the Nazi racist a pass, almost doesn't matter. This is what the media does. They're making a decision and we can make counter-decisions not to watch and to call/write them if we so choose.
But outrage just doesn't seem like it should enter into it. I'm outraged when our leaders get us deeper into unwinnable wars. I'm outraged when both parties in Congress in congress roll over on telecom immunity and start undermine the bedrock of our constitutional protections. I'm outraged that the majority of Americans don't care that much if we waterboard terrorist.
Firing Keith? It's a shame. It's a symbol of our problems. I support those of you who DO feel it's important enough to speak up. But to me, it's just not outrageous.
UPDATE: from commenter GlowNZ - a link to bernie sanders' statement. He is outraged :) http://www.commondreams.org/...