Reply #48: MSNBC suspends host Scarborough for GOP donations

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By DAVID BAUDER

NEW YORK (AP) - MSNBC said Friday that "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough will be suspended for donating to four Republican candidates in local Florida races, two weeks after Keith Olbermann was suspended for making political contributions to Democrats.

Scarborough said he agreed with the two-day suspension, which is the same duration as Olbermann's.

The donations, first reported by the website Politico, came between 2004 and 2008. Scarborough, a former Republican congressman from Florida, made eight donations of $500 apiece to campaigns for Florida offices being run by his brother, George, former congressional staffer David Stafford and family friends Don Gaetz and his son, Matt Gaetz. All are Republicans.

"Because the contributions involved local, non-competitive races - and were given for personal rather than political reasons - I mistakenly believed I did not need approval from MSNBC," Scarborough said. "I also apologize for that oversight."

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20101119/D9JJE0AO0.html

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In this May 9, 2009 file photo, Joe Scarborough attends the 2009 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington. MSNBC says it's suspending morning host Joe Scarborough for two days without pay for making political contributions.The eight donations, each for $500, violate NBC News policy, MSNBC president Phil Griffin said Friday, Nov. 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)