»» Columnists

Wheels Within Wheels: Is Keith Olbermann Kerfuffle Just a Publicity Stunt?

by Tommy Christopher | 3:09 pm, November 7th, 2010

» 49 comments

Amid the white hot coverage of MSNBC’s indefinite suspension of Countdown host Keith Olbermann, speculation furious enough to shame Melle Mel’s collegial quintet has emerged. Is this Olbermann’s Waterloo? Does Keith still have the juice to weather the maelstrom? Does the whole thing scream “Comcastic?”

One wrinkle that hasn’t been explored is an intriguing notion that a colleague of mine floated to me. Could the whole thing be an ingenious part of MSNBC’s re-branding effort, a publicity stunt with the dual purpose of drawing a sharper contrast with rival Fox News? Was 11/5 an inside job?

Deliberately or not, the Olbermann suspension is accomplishing great things for MSNBC. First of all, this thing is generating enough publicity to make P.T. Barnum look like Greta Garbo. But more than that, it also appears to have cleverly enlisted its own enemies in a Tom Sawyer-esque fence-painting exercise. Who would have guessed that liberal bogeygal Rachel Maddow would have been beaten to the punch by Michelle Malkin in pointing out the difference between Fox News’ and MSNBC’s ethical standards?

Unlike Fox News (pay attention, Media Matters Soros-bots), NBC ethics guidelines (yes, they do have them) bar their employees from making political contributions.

Zing?

Then, there’s the fact that this publicity supernova comes on the heels of the network’s expensive “Lean Forward” re-branding effort, which, for all the fun that’s been had at its expense, has earned the notice of MCNBC’s two chief competitors.

What really makes you go “hmmm,” though, is the fact that, just days before Olbermann’s indefinite suspension, the Countdown host announced the “indefinite suspension” of the “Worst Persons in the World” segment, in an explicit bid to draw just the contrast that his own suspension has. We’re through the looking glass here, people.

Adding fuel to this little can of conspiracy Sterno is the way in which this story broke. Are we to believe that the staff of Politico just happened to be whiling away their lunch breaks on the FEC website, stumbled across Olbermann’s donations, and had the tingling Spidey-sense to wonder if they violated NBC News’ policies?

Or did someone feed the story to Politico on purpose?

My colleague pointed out, though, that lots of organizations employ Google alert-style algorithms that automatically keep a lookout for story seeds across a variety of databases.

That’s the great thing about conspiracy theories, though, isn’t it? Even if someone denies it, or refutes it with logic, hell, that’s just what you’d expect them to do!

Of course, even sane-sounding conspiracies can turn out not to be true. Witness Crooks and Liars, who reluctantly had to throw cold water on its own grassy Keith knoll. Initially reporting that Comcast currently owns MSNBC, and that Comcast’s “chairman,” Phil Anschutz, had donated to an organization that targets Democrats, C&L had to backtrack a little when Comcast released this response:

The joint venture between Comcast and GE has not yet received regulatory approval. Comcast is not in any way involved with decisions made currently by NBC News. We have pledged that when the transaction is concluded, Comcast will abide by the same policies for NBC’s news and public affairs programming that have been in place since GE acquired the company in 1986. Comcast is committed to the independence of NBC’s news operations.

We hope to acquire NBC Universal in the coming months, but by law we play no role in current operations. Mr. Philip Anschutz is not the chairman of Comcast Corporation, nor is he on its board, or in any way involved with the management of the company.

Of course, as Think Progress notes, that only means that “Comcast has no formal control over MSNBC yet.” No formal control. Yet. (Finger placed meaningfully to side of nose.)

As for the bigger question surrounding Olbermann’s indefinite suspension — namely, will he return to the Countdown anchor desk — I believe that rumors of his demise have been greatly exaggerated. While it is true that his Murrow-esque pose and diluted strength in MSNBC’s lineup cut against him, you don’t cut your cleanup hitter loose just because you’ve added a couple of sluggers to your roster.

Besides, NBC’s policy doesn’t require Olbermann’s dismissal, and it is still unclear whether the policy actually applied to him. A hard wrist-slap will sufficiently mollify MSNBC’s legit critics, and might even have the effect of reining in Olbermann’s epic ego. Friday night’s Countdown may have included a clue to Keith Olbermann’s ultimate fate. Ask yourself if there’s any chance that this paragraph from fill-in host Thomas Roberts wasn’t vetted up and down the line at MSNBC:

“All of you are looking forward to Keith’s return, and so are we.”

It certainly sounds like Olbermann will be back, stilling the dancing feet of his detractors, and drying the eyes of the faithful. It’s a good thing for Keith, too, because in his role as journalistic scold, he’s been enough of a prick to people in this business to make it tough for him to land elsewhere.

Just in case, though, Olbermann’s supporters should still get themselves a Keith Twibbon. They totally make a difference.

Update: Given MSNBC President Phil Griffin’s announcement that Keith’s suspension ends Tuesday, I am now officially re-dubbing this conspiracy theory “The Olbermann Weekend.”

Crooks and Liars, fox news, Greta Garbo, keith olbermann, keith olbermann indefinite suspension, keith olbermann suspended, keith olbermannsuspension, Michelle Malkin, msnbc, News Corp., olbergate, P.T. Barnum, Phil Anschutz, Phil Griffin, Politico, Rachel Maddow, The Olbermann Weekend, Tom Sawyer, Twibbon

writer

New information is coming out every day. I didn’t know Keith’s last name was Kerfuffle.
ModerateMan

Believe it or not Tommy Christopher- some people don’t actually like Keith Olbermann.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-A-Wojtowicz/1471630141 Michael A. Wojtowicz

Talk about ego’s. Could Tommy Christopher be more of an egomaniac? Tommy must be really hard to breathe up there on top of the journalistic mountain that is Mediaite. Jealous much?
Arkansas Steve

This is about the 10th Mediaite story about the “Olberman Kerfuffle”.

Every story has suggested the possibility it is a MADE UP situation, possibly even pre-planned. After all, if I were Keith Olbermann, I’d LOVE to take a couple weeks off right after the drubbing the Democrats took. This way he doesn’t have to answer lots of questions for which he has no sensical answers. It’s a little like Obama’s disappearance immediately after the election, although I think Obama thought his trip would be a victory lap instead of the convenient disappearance it has become.
Arkansas Steve

Hey guys, don’t be too hard on Tommy Christopher.

After all, he’s very young, has probably received the typical liberal indoctrination in place of a scientific education. Give him time to grow a little.

At least Tommy has the occasional courage to put some of his “thoughts” in the comment section.
muddypolitics

http://www.MuddyPolitics.com beat you to the punch on this one, Mediaite. – “The ‘Olbermann Conspiracy’ Is A TV Ratings Dream”
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

by Tommy Christopher | 3:09 pm, November 7th, 2010

I’m in EST, and it’s 2:54 here. Where the hell are you posting from, the Newfoundland?

I think someone’s computer didn’t get set back.
Puter Boi

“”Ask yourself if there’s any chance that this paragraph from fill-in host Thomas Roberts wasn’t vetted up and down the line at MSNBC: “All of you are looking forward to Keith’s return, and so are we.”

TC?…so what you are saying is that Thomas Roberts isn’t a free thinking, intelligent anchor who can speak for himself without some sort of censorship at MSNBC? You believe even an innocuous statement like that was vetted and hashed over?
Basically…Thomas Roberts is a puppet…..with strings being pulled by high ups?
Say it ain’ soooooooooooooooooooo……it’s MSNBC for God’s sake!!!!

My heart is broken….

btw: “First of all, this thing is generating enough publicity to make P.T. Barnum look like Greta Garbo”

Shouldn’t that read….Generating enough publicity to make Greta Garbo look like PT Barnum? The way it is written in the piece makes no sense….
You may send cash….no checks….thanks!!
DonnaK

I don’t care for everything Keith Olberman does, but he was the first one on msnbc to go after Limbaugh, Beck & Palin…have the guts to say what needed to be said!! I think MSNBC is making a mistake if they don’t have him back, they will lose a lot of viewers. He really did a lot during the heath care coverage, having the clinics was a great thing for him to do—he has a lot of people on his side!!
ReFlex76

Somewhere, Andy Kaufman is smiling!
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

Arkansas Steve says:
“Tommy Christopher…has probably received the typical liberal indoctrination in place of a scientific education.”

By “scientific education,” you mean the anti-science narrative fueled by the self-contained, right wing media sphere?
Plllleeeease, that meme has been exposed.

http://www.sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/2010/11/facts-about-glenn-becks-lies-and.html
Tommy Christopher

Puter Boi said:
btw: “First of all, this thing is generating enough publicity to make P.T. Barnum look like Greta Garbo”

Shouldn’t that read….Generating enough publicity to make Greta Garbo look like PT Barnum?

No, it shouldn’t. It is generating enough publicity to make the king of self-promoters look like a recluse by comparison. But thanks, nothing enhances a joke like dissecting it.
TfT

In the circles I run in, this whole kerfuffle is generating bad press for MSNBC. Tied together with the outrageous and over-the-top childish behavior of MSNBC’s election night coverage, if this is a publicity stunt, it is back firing. MSNBC will be just fine as long as Keith is suspended, in fact, it will be finer than it ever has been.
Puter Boi

Tommy Christopher said:
But thanks, nothing enhances a joke like dissecting it.

Oh….a joke….well…..if a joke must be dissected it isn’t much of …..oh nevermind…
Shecky Green doesn’t have anything to worry about with T.C. on the job…..
http://www.anonymousfinch.com AnonymousFinch

I think it’s all a publicity stunt. If you play his last Special Comment backwards, you can clearly hear “Keith is dead” and “I am the walrus” over and over again.
bundesheer

Interesting theory. I didn’t think this suspension would amount to anything serious either. I was hoping Cenk would be fill in though >.<. The fill in they chose was very flat. He should just do news, not Countdown.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

Tommy wrote, “Michelle Malkin in pointing out the difference between Fox News’ and MSNBC’s ethical standards?”

Malkin: “Unlike Fox News (pay attention, Media Matters Soros-bots), NBC ethics guidelines (yes, they do have them) bar their employees from making political contributions.”

“Zing?”

Tommy, Malkin added, “(FNC’s real-world, pro-free speech rules allow donations as long ‘as long as the activity does not interfere with or impair the performance of the employee’s duties for the Company.’)”

The duty for FoxPAC employees is to disregard the rules of journalistic ethics and get Republicans elected. That’s the point of Maddow’s contrast between FoxPAC and MSNBC. FoxPAC is a political operation, a propaganda channel. MSNBC is a news channel with a liberal bias that they are not ashamed of. They also report on Administration actions that liberals don’t really care for like plans to assassinate Americans suspected of being involved with terrorists off the battle field.

Tommy: did you ever stop to consider that the new ad campaign is itself to blame here? What happens when you lean too far forward?

You fall on your face.

HEY! It all fits.
cjd ohio 1

who? off what battlefield?
realitycheck

Wouldn’t a publicity stunt by a self proclaimed news organization just be the final nail in the coffin for MSNBC? After their rediculous election coverage who can take them seriously, its unfortunate that liberals have this representing them, self absorbed & mean are not progressive. I just don’t see how this could ever be a win for either MSNBC or KO if it comes to light as a stunt.
rocky road

Why Maddow should be fired:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txjXBx9-2c0&feature=player_embedded

This is just too much.
rocky road

Rachel Maddow is an idiot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txjXBx9-2c0&feature=player_embedded

After seeing this, the woman should be fired for again, destroying any credibility that NBC has left.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jon-Martin/43100610 Jon Martin

It’s a… CONSPIRACY :O :O :O

Anyway, I had this thought a few days ago. It would be a great idea to pull this because it shows how MSNBC is a real news organization and Fox is not.

And instead of just saying that, they are showing it.

That’s why it’s funny how all the right-wing people are laughing at Olbermann… it was probably his idea XD
tatboy

Tommy’s got a point. This might make Olbermann’s book out sell Rick Sanches’s or Gawd forbid Dana Milbank’s. He can only hope.
Mr.Papshmer

“Amid the white hot coverage of MSNBC’s indefinite suspension of Countdown host Keith Olbermann,”

Half of Mediaite has been dedicated to the Olbermann story since Friday, and it’s been good fun hurling crap at a guy that deserves it. But you guys need to move on, man, or risk ending up like GlennBeckReview.
Tommy Christopher

Mr.Papshmer said:
“Amid the white hot coverage of MSNBC’s indefinite suspension of Countdown host Keith Olbermann,”

Half of Mediaite has been dedicated to the Olbermann story since Friday, and it’s been good fun hurling crap at a guy that deserves it. But you guys need to move on, man, or risk ending up like GlennBeckReview.

I think we’re still at sub-Juan Williams levels, so we’re safe.
notsofast

Tommy Christopher is obviously a 9/11 Truther as well.
Cecelia

Well, it enhances Olbermann with his enthusiastic fans, and of course the meme is that Keith died for Fox’s sins. Olbermann with most certainly riff on that for awhile.

However, if you’re not a die-hard fan or critic, you fall into one of two camps

You either think that NBC policy is an ethical standard and that MSNBC was right to suspend him, in which case you’re not singing his praises and focusing heavily on the “crimes” of Fox. The other camp believes that NBC policy is too rigid, and WANT policy that more resembles the one at Fox.

The end result is still that in any story about Keith, he always gets the fine print telling of the time he was suspended for campaign donations to Democrats.

It’s just one more instance of him being difficult and ultimately untrustworthy for employers, and it’s one more ideological pigeon hole for the guy.

He needs to start wondering how many more of these hits he can handle and still have any gravitas at all.
cjd ohio 1

rocky road, great link
sarainitaly

“Unlike Fox News (pay attention, Media Matters Soros-bots), NBC ethics guidelines (yes, they do have them) bar their employees from making political contributions.”

Yea…gotta love those ethics. This has got to be the best take-down, and the biggest display of hypocrisy I have ever seen.

http://johnnydollar.us/files/101107fhwir.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txjXBx9-2c0&feature=player_embedded

Your conspiracy theory might keep you warm on a cold fall night at 8pm, but if that is what MSNBC had in mind, they pretty much blew it, IMHO. Maddow made a huge error in judgment with her non-sensical attack on FOX.

They can think they are all holier than thou towards FOX, but as this video (and blog post from J$) proves, they are ANYTHING but.
Cecelia

sarainitaly said:
http://johnnydollar.us/files/101107fhwir.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txjXBx9-2c0&feature=player_embedded

Video of the year!
Cancon2

That Video needs to go viral right here at Mediaite. Brilliant!

God, she is a worthless hack.
Latin2

I think it might be a publicity stunt and here is why;

1. Olbermann’s new book is out JUST THIS WEEK, and if not for this controversy I believe he would have as much success as Rick Sanchez or Dana Milbank on selling books.

2. Olbermman was in a MAJOR public fight with Jon Stewart, the most trusted man among Liberals in the U.S., which means Liberals would have turned on Olbermann, especially after just last week Olberamman said that Stewart had jumped the shark.

3. Olbermann’s numbers were slipping in ratings, and Liberals were now seeing Olbermann as a joke, and this revived his Liberal ‘fight the power’, even though the power is MSNBC, and the Liberals are in power.

4. This garnered a lot of Liberals to come out and rally in Olbermann’s defense and now I believe many Liberals who had left Olbermann behind, will come back to him.

SO, IS IT A PLOY…I could just might be to save his career and reputation amongst Liberals.
sdfwefoeo

-ONLINE STORE—“ ==== ( http://simurl.com/voblec ) ====

Christan Audigier bikini $23

Ed Hardy Bikini $23

Smful short_t-shirt_woman $15

ed hardy short_tank_woman $16

Sandal $32

christian louboutin $80

Sunglass $15

COACH_Necklace $27☆

handbag $33☆

AF tank woman $17☆

puma slipper woman $30☆

( http://simurl.com/voblec )

╭⌒╭⌒ ★ ╮╭⌒╮～╭⌒
☆ ╭⌒╮ ╭⌒
our websit: ★∴ ☆
☆ http://simurl.com/voblec
╭⌒╮⌒╮★∵╭⌒ ★∴ ☆
╱◥██◣ ☆
｜田｜田田│ ☆ ★
╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬
sarainitaly

Latin2 said:
I think it might be a publicity stunt and here is why;

who knows… it might be, but i just don’t see it. especially after seeing that video of msnbc/maddow and ALL the onair campaigning/fundraising they actually do. They have to suspend a lot more people then just olby to clean their slate and prove they have *ethical standards*.

also, olby has been fired throughout his career for being an unstable jack ass. if he really refused to apologize, that might have pissed off his bosses enough to say “you’re fired!!”
http://www.facebook.com/people/Nicholas-Wilbur/100001597785910 Nicholas Wilbur

Don’t be too hard on Roberts. He’s a fill-in, and he had the courage to admit that he was pulled in the middle of a dog fight. He didn’t take sides, he did his job.
sarainitaly

well, since he is coming back tuesday, i guess it was just a publicity stunt, as tommy said.

but for me, that just makes them worse. it had nothing to do with ethics – just ratings. all those attacks on FOX, all those criticisms and slams…. phooey. they don’t give a rats behind about journalists donating to candidates, and they don’t have any problems campaigning on their network for dems.

a publicity stunt, coupled with this damning video:
http://johnnydollar.us/files/101107fhwir.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txjXBx9-2c0&feature=player_embedded

they don’t come out of this looking good, in my opinion.
they are hypocrites beyond any i have ever seen.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tony-Westover/1496648721 Tony Westover

I think this possible ratings stunt will backfire. I only watched Countdown a few nights ago to confirm that Keith actually was suspended and to see if they’d address it (which they did, lamely). I don’t really give a crap when he comes back.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

Tommy Christopher says:

“But you guys need to move on, man, or risk ending up like GlennBeckReview.”

And the Glenn Beck Report, and Conservatives Against Beck, and GlennBeckisanIdiot, and GlennBeckSucks and StopBeck who has not persuaded 300 companies to stop advertising on his show, and others focused on this charlatan turning millions of people’s brains into useless trash. What’s a matter Tommy, didn’t like what I pointed out about your weak, out-of-context coverage of what Malkin wrote about this?

Anyway, my wife agrees: this was a publicity stunt to draw attention to MSNBC and to contrast their journalistic ethics with FoxPAC’s utter lack of journalistic ethics.

Finally, cheap-shot-Tommy, do I need to point out every comment that is not directed toward America’s premier huckster, Mr. Beck? I’ll send you notice of every unrelated to Beck comment I make on here if I need to make this point.

I have a suggestion for MediaFight: try replacing Glynis with someone who knows a thing or two about investigative journalism, so that Mediaite (make that MediaFight) can do something useful. Starting fights among partisans is great fun for you, I’m sure; but performing an actual public service by exposing the lies and hypocrisy of media figures you guys cover would provide existential meaning like your shallow reporting here does not. That’s directed toward ALL media figures, not just the obvious one.

To have Beck on friendly terms with the person covering him for these two-three years tells me that Glynis did a really shitty job describing what Mr. Beck is all about. That holds for any “reporter” Beck is on friendly terms with.
keyi92

welcome to :
====== http://dressgoods.us / ======
This is a shopping paradise
dsfjdsgfdsf

-ONLINE STORE—“ ==== ( http://simurl.com/newhow )

Christan Audigier bikini $23

Ed Hardy Bikini $23

Smful short_t-shirt_woman $15

ed hardy short_tank_woman $16

Sandal $32

christian louboutin $80

Sunglass $15

COACH_Necklace $27

handbag $33

AF tank woman $17

puma slipper woman $30

( http://simurl.com/newhow )
writer

In GBR’s case, an obsessive stalker and a concerned citizen look an awfully lot alike.
CAconservative

Would this little MSMBC “dog & pony” show be a form of “plausible deniability, on the part of MSNBC to play the CYA-game?
http:trochilustales.blogspot.com Trochilus

Nail, meet hammer. My own sense id that this ersatz firing was to gin up supporters. They’ll all fall for it.

Following what must have been a harrowing experience for the poor man, I think Keith really needs a nickname . . . how about, “Deuce?”
http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Mangan/100000213524770 David Mangan

Rachel MadCow is the biggest hypocrite with “nickels and dimes” and here’s the proof.

http://johnnydollar.us/files/101107fhwir.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txjXBx9-2c0&feature=player_embedded

Video of the decade!

Ed the Talking Horse is the worst offender, but the Human Torch is also got Tweety-bird right behind him in the site-dropping grand prix that Rachel MadCow claims is only being populated by Fox hunters.
http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Mangan/100000213524770 David Mangan

As in Deuce Bigelow, or Douche, they sound almost the same.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Inboca/1829370356 Dave Inboca

Isn’t that socialist Senator from Vermont threatening to stop Comcast from concluding that takeover?

My guess is that Bernie Sanders is reading too much Crooks and Liars or maybe Think Progress—both ever reliable sources of disinformation!
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

sarainlalaland says:
“they are hypocrites beyond any i have ever seen.”

You close your eyes to watch Mr. Beck?
http:trochilustales.blogspot.com Trochilus

David Mangan said:
As in Deuce Bigelow, or Douche, they sound almost the same.

David,

You get it! I’d say BOTH . . . and more . . . e.g., a popular definition — think Urban Dictionary.

“Deuce Bigelow” fits exactly because or the parallel. Olberman is a sportscaster who has been pretending all along to be something he is not — a pimping political analyst — one whose only appeal is to a long string of loudmouth resentful losers, by “validating” their stupid political views for them. That is the guy’s basic appeal on TV. It is also why he will never hold any appeal at all for normal folks.

And, it is why MSNBC has a continuously dwindling viewership — they made their bed with Deuce and the Deucettes (Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow, Ed Schultz, Lawrence O’Donnell, Contessa Brewer, Chuck Todd, Dylan Ratigan, et al.). Has there ever been a bigger bunch of “Deuces” in one studio?

All these idiots can do rally after the huge lefty losses, is to start railing against Bush again! And Dylan Ratigan has moron number one, Ted Rall, on to talk about the feasibility of violent overthrow of the government!!

The more people catch on to the utterly juvenile nature of these clowns, the more they will drift away.

By the way, I think Tommy Christopher’s basic theme here is spot on. These losers at MSNBC have been desperately looking for a way to climb out of the ratings cellar, and they thought this was a way to distinguish themselves from Fox. So Olberman was set up to take a two day hiatus for the cause. Deuce will have to keep up the front and continue spatting with management.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

Trochilus says:
“And, it is why MSNBC has a continuously dwindling viewership — they made their bed with Deuce and the Deucettes (Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow, Ed Schultz, Lawrence O’Donnell, Contessa Brewer, Chuck Todd, Dylan Ratigan, et al.). Has there ever been a bigger bunch of “Deuces” in one studio?

All these idiots can do rally after the huge lefty losses, is to start railing against Bush again!”

Not that he does not deserve it. I take it that you don’t watch MSNBC. First of all, it’s well understand that liberals are smarter than conservatives. FoxPAC has more viewers because most Americans have two digit IQ’s. They’re not “idiots,” and they’re not “railing against Bush again.”

We understand your conservative “criticism” though: the right is very good at making facts up.