Olbermann Offers Apology to Fans, but Not to MSNBC

In an aggressive statement questioning the legitimacy of his two-day suspension from MSNBC, Keith Olbermann told his fans that they were responsible for his scheduled return to the air Nov 9 after revelations that he had contributed to the campaign funds of three Democrats in last week's election.

In an open letter to "Countdown" viewers, he blamed NBC for creating a donation policy that was "inconsistently applied," and said he did not know the rule existed. Referring to what he called a "ground-rattling" outpouring of support, he said the viewers' efforts "should remind us of the power of individuals spontaneously acting together to correct injustices great or small." He acknowledged that there should have been a conversation with NBC executives, saying that the donations had merited public acknowledgment and perhaps an internal warning. Instead, he said, he had been suspended even after one of his representatives was told he would not be, and he learned about the suspension through the media.