Great question…
Via Mediaite:
Geraldo Rivera sees a double standard at work in ABC News’ decision to stand by George Stephanopoulos after the network’s chief anchor apologized for failing to publicly disclose $75,000 in donations to the Clinton Foundation over the last three years. In a Facebook post Friday morning, Rivera claimed he was fired by ABC News in 1985 for making a $200 political donation and wondered why Stephanopoulos isn’t getting the same treatment.
“In 1985, after fifteen great years, I was fired by ABC News,” Rivera wrote. “The official reason for my firing was a non-disclosed $200 donation to a family friend running in a non-partisan mayoral campaign in New Bedford Massachusetts.”
He went on to say that the “real reason” he was fired was a dispute with network head Roone Arldege over a spiked 20/20 story involving Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedys.
“The point is ABC treated my undisclosed $200 donation harshly because the network wanted me out for that unrelated reason,” Rivera continued. “Now ABC is bending over backward to minimize and forgive George Stephanopoulos’ $75,000 donation to the Clinton Foundation because he is central to the network’s recent success.”
Rivera referred to Stephanopoulos as “very pleasant and talented,” but said, “still, he is in major trouble.” While he can forgive the anchor’s “personal biases” towards the Clintons, he wrote that “donations cross the line for a good reason. Money raises the specter of Pay for Play.”