American media are shocked, shocked, to discover that Keith Olbermann is a Democrat. Like the Vestal Virgins of yore, Journalists are not allowed to have political leanings-unless they work for FOX. There was a former editor of WaPo who even thought that it was his civic duty not to vote.
Much of this nonsense stems from the era when network TV dominated news coverage: roughly 1950 to 2000. Before then it was quite common to have newspapers not only endorse candidates, even champion them. To gain a competitive advantage over TV, newspapers adopted a holier than thou attitude, elevating Journalism to a Priesthood. Universities found it lucrative to start Journalism schools, churning out Master's Degrees by the hundreds every year to staff the Newspapers. Instead of the cigar chomping gumshoe in a trenchcoat we got the yuppies in Brook's Brothers suits. They could condescend to mere politicians as they were paid about a 10 times a typical Congressman. They moved in the same circles as lobbyists while the celebrities who read news on TV consorted with movie stars. The 1987 movie Broadcast News exposed their emptiness.
And then it all changed. First cable TV and then the Internet made much of mainstream journalism irrelevant. While we can get outraged at FOX for being a mouth piece for the Republican Party, there is nothing illegal or unethical about what they do. The problem is that there is no similar mouthpiece for the Democratic Party. Air America tried and failed to counter Right Wing radio. MSNBC is not a counterweight for FOX. NBC under GE or ComCast has a different corporate strategy from FOX. As long you work for them, you are beholden to them .
But this is America. There is a way out. Start our own network. It is not as hard as in the days of broadcast Television. Cable TV is starved for content. Oprah is about to leave her talk show and perhaps concentrate on expanding her network. Perhaps she can be a source of financing for such a venture. Another possibility might be George Soros.
Keith Olbermann already has a loyal audience. His brand is not tied to MSNBC. Just as David Letterman and Howard Stern took their fan base to new venues, Keith can draw an audience to a new number on the dial. Once he establishes a beachhead, Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O'Donnell can follow him there.
Keith has a model to follow: Kos. Just imagine what would happen if the Daily Kos were owned by Washington Post or Viacom.Would we able to raise funds for ActBlue candidates? At the time Kos started this site, Kos was just a struggling lawyer with a wife and baby to support. The national political scene was far more depressing: it was the time of shock and awe in Iraq. Yet we thrived.
Keith Olbermann is much better known and much more financially sound than Kos has ever been. He is funny, charming and has a grasp of facts (even if facts are said to have a Liberal bias) . He does not need to just report news: he can entertain, advocate and organize as well as Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity.There is no way that a Liberal will ever be sponsored by a corporation like those guys. At best they will sponsor a comedian like Jon Stewart, as long as he stays away from advocacy. To speak truth to power you must own your own voice. Corporate mouthpieces like Limbaugh or Beck cannot be countered by someone working for another Conglomerate.
So instead of signing a petition begging some corporation to give Keith is job back, let us pledge our support for Keith in any new venture he starts.
Go for it Keith! Tell MSNBC they can shove their job. We are with you if you start your own Cable Channel.