Codes of ethics do matter

There was a massive outcry against MSNBC for having suspended its Countdown host, Keith Olbermann, for having donated monies to three political candidates in contravention to its code of ethics.  I must confess that I am a big fan of Keith Olbermann.  But I must also confess I am a bigger fan of codes of ethics being enforced than of Keith Olbermann.  In fact, one of the reasons that I so enjoy Keith Olbermann is his calling out some of the sleaze that resides in our culture.  For that moral highground to be continually potent, then Olbermann needs to walk his talk.

Are those who are so offended by his suspension from MSNBC really saying that they are in favor of a society in which all of the rules apply to folks, except those that they favor?  Isn’t this really just being in favor of the same thing that they so admire Keith Olbermann for railing against?  C’mon folks, use your head here.  You can’t have it both ways.  Olbermann signed the code of ethics policy of MSNBC.  Any person in violation of the code should have been suspended.  If Olbermann felt that the rules didn’t apply to him then his moral high ground is a facade.

Here’s to Keith Olbermann walking his talk, and here’s to Keith Olbermann returning to the airwaves tonight!

Jason