NBC has lifted its suspension of Keith Olbermann. The sports highlights presenter turned deranged political commentator reportedly will return to the air on Tuesday night.
A number of excellent conservative bloggers have criticized the suspension of Olbermann, but I think it was well deserved. Olbermann violated the unambiguous policy of his employer. If the policy is a senseless one, which I think it is, NBC should change the policy. But past violations should not go unpunished.
Olbermann’s arrogance is legendary, and his employer acted reasonably in trying to remind him that he is not exempt from its policies. My guess, though, is that the suspension will prove too brief to serve that purpose.
UPDATE: According to this report, Olbermann got NBC to apologize for suspending him. The report doesn’t say whether his lost pay was restored.
In any case, if NBC really did apologize to Olbermann for enforcing its rules, then he has demonstrated that he’s bigger than his employer. That would make his employer very small indeed.
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