An Open Letter to Keith Olbermann upon the occaision of your suspension

Dear Keith Olbermann,

Apparently you are not permitted to both exercise your First Amendment rights at work and in your personal life. Apparently you should have given at the office. General Electric, the parent company of MSNBC, which suspended you for your less than maximum legal donations to Jack Conway, Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords.

General Electric Affiliates have been more than generous to political candidates this year and in years past. Mr. Olbermann, of all the money donated by GE Affiliates not a dime came from a corporate Political Action Committee. The money came from persons like you, employees. Here's the rundown for 2010.

CNBC gave Democrats $750.00

GE Aircraft Engines gave $2,750, $500 to Democrats, and $2,250 to Republicans

GE Appliances gave Democrats $2,400.

GE Asset Management gave $4,950, $3,950 to Democrats, and $1,000 to Republicans.

GE Aviation gave $12,750, $8,750 to Democrats, and $4,000 to Republicans.

GE Capital gave $93,328, $32,738 to Democrats, and $60,590 to Republicans.

GE Capital Aviation Services gave $1,000 to Republicans.

GE Commercial Finance gave $24,200, $12,300 to Democrats, and $11,900 to Republicans.

GE Financial Assurance gave $4,800 to Democrats.

GE Insurance gave $2,500 to Republicans.

GE Money gave $3,000, $1,000 to Democrats, and $2,000 to Republicans.

GE Plastics gave $1,000 to Democrats

GE Power Systems gave $3,400 to Republicans.

GE Security gave $2,900 to Democrats.

GE Transportation Systems gave $2,000 to Democrats.

General Electric Capital gave $250 to Republicans.

NBC gave $9,650, $5,750 to Democrats, and $3,900 to Republicans.

NBC Productions gave $400 to Democrats.

NBC Sports gave $500 to Democrats.

NBC Studios gave $250 to Democrats.

NBC Universal gave $72,300, $64,800 to Democrats, and $7,500 to Republicans.

Universal Orlando gave $3,385, $3,135 to Democrats, and $250 to Republicans.

Universal Pictures gave $5,400, $4,900 to Democrats, and $500 to Republicans.

Universal Studios gave $89,000, $87,000 to Democrats, and $2,000 to Republicans.

Sure, Mr. Olbermann, I know you're going to lament that you erred in being the only MSNBC employee to do the civic thing and give to candidates you think will best serve the nation. But come on Keith, that's only true of 2010. In 2008 someone at MSNBC Cable gave $2,250 to Democrats and someone at MSNBC.COM gave $3,000 to Democrats. So, since it has been done before, I am sure that MSNBC has a form somewhere that an employee must submit to get approval for making private political donations.

So how does that work anyway, you can only make campaign contributions when the ruling junta at NBC/General Electric says it is okay? If the ruling junta controls your ability to make the contribution, then shouldn't they disclose when permission is not granted?

I mean, it's not like you pulled a Juan Williams, and went on a nationally syndicated television show and made mention of your contributions. I'll still watch Rachel, Ed, Dylan, and Chris. I'll be waiting for you to return, either to MSNBC or another venue.

Oh, and I am guessing that the Phil Griffin that served notice on you is not the same Phil Griffin who gave $250 to the Republican Party of Virginia.

Respectfully,
Michael S. Box
Osawatomie, Kansas

p.s.  The Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.Org provided the data for this letter.