NBC all for principle, but ratings come first

[Commentary] NBC buried Donald Trump in June. After Trump’s cracks calling Mexicans rapists and accusing them of bringing crime and drugs to the US, the network couldn’t fire him fast enough. It kicked him off “Celebrity Apprentice” and banished his Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. “At NBC, respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones of our values,” the network announced righteously. Funny how those cornerstones crumble when it comes to ratings. The Donald is scheduled to host NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” on Nov 7.

In the months since the peacock network exiled Trump, he has proved to be a boon for every other network he goes near. He’s helped deliver blockbuster numbers for primary debates on Fox News and CNN, which have typically registered figures somewhere between a Saturday morning on C-Span and a coma. All the while, he’s been doubling down on his rhetoric about an immigrant menace. NBC refuses to comment on its reversal, but others are raising their voices.