The right dictates MSNBC's programming decisions

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/09/08/msnbc/

(Updated below - Update II - Update III - Update IV)

MSNBC's announcement that it is replacing Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews with David Gregory as anchors for its main political events (the upcoming presidential debates and election) vividly illustrates several long-obvious facts. First, nothing changes the behavior of our media corporations more easily than vocal demands and complaints from the Right, which petrify media executives and cause them to snap into line. From today's New York Times article identifying some of the causes for MSNBC's decision:

The change -- which comes in the home stretch of the long election cycle -- is a direct result of tensions associated with the channel's perceived shift to the political left. . . . When the vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin lamented media bias during her speech, attendees of the Republican convention loudly chanted "NBC" . . . . Mr. Olbermann, a 49-year-old former sportscaster, has become the face of the more aggressive MSNBC, and the lightning rod for much of the criticism. . . . The McCain campaign has filed letters of complaint to the news division about its coverage and openly tied MSNBC to it. . . . Al Hunt, the executive Washington bureau chief of Bloomberg News, said that the entire news division was being singled out by Republicans because of the work of partisans like Mr. Olbermann.

day and there is a definate softness when it comes to any McCain/Palin story. They are all getting to the point of becoming mini faux news stations. Every negative issue brought to the light about their ticket is quickly dismissed as jibberish or they spin it the other way.

On my local NJ radio 101.5fm, very conservative, generally. But, this was on the chatty "relationship" show and the male host started ranting about how Olbermann shouldn't be covering the conventions because he was a "liberal attack dog." I couldn't believe they were even discussing Keith on this local radio show. I thought, Wow. He's gotten under their skin, alright. So, there I am in my car, screaming at the radio: "So, NO ONE on Fox can cover any of it, because they're all attack dogs, too?"

Then the female host chirps in to tell the male host how he should start watching "Fox and Friends". He says, "What is it. I've never heard of it." She goes: "It's like Good Morning America." He says "Is it syndicated, on affiliates, or what?" She says, "No, it's national, just like Good Morning America. It's just chatty and stupid, but it's pretty funny". He says, "Well, is it conservative, because I won't like that." She goes: "Oh, no! It's not political at all. Just chatty morning stuff, and you'll love it because the woman wears short skirts. No, it's not conservative- it's fair and balanced."

Not just MSNBC.