Joe Scarborough, a co-host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” was briefly suspended Friday after Politico uncovered donations he had made to political candidates.
Mr. Scarborough’s donations to friends and family members totaled $2,000. His suspension will keep him off “Morning Joe” for two days.
Those donations were a violation of a policy at MSNBC and its parent, NBC News, which prohibits political contributions without advance approval. That prohibition also ensnared Keith Olbermann, MSNBC’s highest-rated host, earlier this month, after the same publication reported that he had donated to three candidates. Mr. Olbermann’s donations were all made this year, and they totaled $7,200. Those donations prompted a two-day suspension of Mr. Olbermann — and a rash of criticism of the policy.
In a statement to Politico, Mr. Scarborough apologized “to MSNBC and to anyone who has been negatively affected by my actions.”
Politico found evidence that Mr. Scarborough “gave at least five separate previously unknown $500 contributions while serving as an MNBC host — all to Republican candidates to whom he was close who were running for state legislative seats in or near Scarborough’s hometown of Pensacola, Fla.” The publication reported, “After being contacted by POLITICO about the donations, Scarborough voluntarily disclosed three other $500 contributions to a friend running for county office in Florida.”
Coincidentally, Mr. Scarborough is a columnist for Politico.
It is a surprise that the donations are coming to light now, since another donation by Mr. Scarborough came under scrutiny on the same day that Mr. Olbermann was suspended. That donation, of $4,200 to a Republican candidate in Oregon, happened in 2006; an NBC spokesman said he had asked for permission to make the donation.
He evidently did not ask for permission for the other donations, though.
To some, the suspension of Mr. Scarborough will simply underscore the strangeness of a policy that seeks to protect NBC’s journalistic integrity, but does not differentiate between news reporters and political commentators. Mr. Scarborough is the latter, a former Republican Congressman who shares his opinions every morning on his three-hour program.
There is no love lost between Mr. Olbermann and Mr. Scarborough. But the two men may now find themselves agreeing about a new approach toward commentators’ donations at MSNBC.
The policy toward political contributions “needs debate,” Mr. Olbermann said on the air last week. “It needs to be adapted to the realities of 21st century journalism.”
NBC and MSNBC’s policy states: “Anyone working for NBC News who takes part in civic or other outside activities may find that these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist because they may create the appearance of a conflict of interest. Such activities may include participation in or contributions to political campaigns or groups that espouse controversial positions. You should report any such potential conflicts in advance to, and obtain prior approval of, the President of NBC News or his designee.”
Mr. Scarborough’s donations to friends and family members totaled $2,000. His suspension will keep him off “Morning Joe” for two days.
Those donations were a violation of a policy at MSNBC and its parent, NBC News, which prohibits political contributions without advance approval. That prohibition also ensnared Keith Olbermann, MSNBC’s highest-rated host, earlier this month, after the same publication reported that he had donated to three candidates. Mr. Olbermann’s donations were all made this year, and they totaled $7,200. Those donations prompted a two-day suspension of Mr. Olbermann — and a rash of criticism of the policy.
In a statement to Politico, Mr. Scarborough apologized “to MSNBC and to anyone who has been negatively affected by my actions.”
Politico found evidence that Mr. Scarborough “gave at least five separate previously unknown $500 contributions while serving as an MNBC host — all to Republican candidates to whom he was close who were running for state legislative seats in or near Scarborough’s hometown of Pensacola, Fla.” The publication reported, “After being contacted by POLITICO about the donations, Scarborough voluntarily disclosed three other $500 contributions to a friend running for county office in Florida.”
Coincidentally, Mr. Scarborough is a columnist for Politico.
It is a surprise that the donations are coming to light now, since another donation by Mr. Scarborough came under scrutiny on the same day that Mr. Olbermann was suspended. That donation, of $4,200 to a Republican candidate in Oregon, happened in 2006; an NBC spokesman said he had asked for permission to make the donation.
He evidently did not ask for permission for the other donations, though.
To some, the suspension of Mr. Scarborough will simply underscore the strangeness of a policy that seeks to protect NBC’s journalistic integrity, but does not differentiate between news reporters and political commentators. Mr. Scarborough is the latter, a former Republican Congressman who shares his opinions every morning on his three-hour program.
There is no love lost between Mr. Olbermann and Mr. Scarborough. But the two men may now find themselves agreeing about a new approach toward commentators’ donations at MSNBC.
The policy toward political contributions “needs debate,” Mr. Olbermann said on the air last week. “It needs to be adapted to the realities of 21st century journalism.”
NBC and MSNBC’s policy states: “Anyone working for NBC News who takes part in civic or other outside activities may find that these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist because they may create the appearance of a conflict of interest. Such activities may include participation in or contributions to political campaigns or groups that espouse controversial positions. You should report any such potential conflicts in advance to, and obtain prior approval of, the President of NBC News or his designee.”
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