You can't make this stuff up: Olbermann replacement dumped for same reason

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Chris Hayes, tapped Friday by MSNBC to fill in for the indefinitely suspended Keith Olbermann as host of the prime-time political show “Countdown,” gave money to two Democratic campaigns in recent years. Now, following that disclosure, MSNBC says Mr. Hayes won’t get the gig after all.

Mr. Hayes, editor of The Nation, a liberal magazine, made a series of donations to Josh Segall, an Alabama Democrat, who ran for Congress in 2008 and considered running in the Democratic primary for this election. Mr. Hayes donated $1,500 to Mr. Segall in 2008 and $250 in December 2009, according to Federal Election Commission records.

The editor also donated $250 in January 2009 to Thomas Geoghegan, who ran in a primary for an Illinois seat. This summer, Mr. Hayes interviewed Mr. Geoghegan, an author, when he guest hosted The Rachel Maddow Show, another MSNBC program.

Earlier Friday, MSNBC President Phil Griffin suspended Mr. Olbermann, one of the network’s highest-profile anchors, indefinitely without pay for donating to three Democrats running in Tuesday’s election. In one case, Mr. Olbermann donated to one candidate the same day he hosted her on his show, “Countdown with Keith Olbermann.”

Several hours later, MSNBC said Mr. Hayes was no longer slated to take Mr. Olbermann’s place. The network said it would name a new replacement soon.