Today, MSNBC suspended Keith Olbermann indefinitely for violating NBC News' policy and standards. As Politico first noted, Olbermann donated $2,400 apiece to three Democrats and "NBC has a rule against employees contributing to political campaigns."
If NBC News' policy extends to CNBC, the network may have a problem with Larry Kudlow, the anchor of CNBC's primetime show Kudlow & Company and co-anchor of the noon show The Call.
As Salon.com's Alex Pareene noted, in May 2009, Kudlow donated $1,000 to Christopher Shays for Congress (R-CT). Pareene wrote: "Unless Kudlow got explicit permission from the president of NBC News, this places him in direct violation of the NBC News ethics policy that led to the indefinite suspension of MSNBC host Keith Olbermann today.'
In June 2006, Kudlow also donated $200 to Shays. In both instances, Kudlow listed his employer as "CNBC, ABC." Kudlow also hosts a radio program on WABC Radio and is syndicated nationally by Citadel Media.
As Politico noted, a "2007 MSNBC.com story laid out the rules for the network regarding such contributions":
More than 250 news outlets around the world have signed an appeal that calls for the...
