Rachel Maddow defended Keith Olbermann, and said MSNBC should reinstate him. Rachel Maddow has Keith Olbermann's back.
The left-leaning MSNBC host says her bosses made their point by suspending Olbermann for his political donations and should put him back on the air.
Olbermann was benched from his "Countdown" show without pay for giving money to three Democratic candidates in the midterm elections - without permission from higherups.
"I understand the rule. I understand what it means to break it," Maddow said on her show.
"I believe everyone should face the same treatment under that rule. I also personally believe that the point has been made and we should have Keith back hosting 'Countdown.'"
Maddow also sought to dispel the argument that MSNBC is a leftie version of Fox News.
She said the Rupert Murdoch-owned rival has a history of "not just giving money to candidates, but actively endorsing campaigns and raising millions of dollars for politicians and political parties."
"Their network is run as a political operation. Ours isn't," Maddow said.
"Yeah, Keith's a liberal, and so am I. But we're not a political operation - Fox is. We're a news operation."
MSNBC rules state that staff can make political contributions only if given the all-clear from superiors in advance.
Olbermann, MSNBC's marquee name, didn't ask for permission before he gave the maximum legal amount of $2,400 to two candidates in Arizona and one in Kentucky. He was suspended indefinitely after Politico.com revealed the donations.
cboyle@nydailynews.com
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