Former NBC Analyst Confirms He Quit Due to Network's Move to the Left

April 27th, 2008 11:21 AM

Last February, NewsBusters reported the resignation of retired Col. Ken Allard from NBC News as a result of the military analyst's view the network was undergoing a "precipitous retreat from journalistic and ethical standards."

On Sunday, Allard was more specific, claiming, "I thought they really had moved very slowly to the left, and I also thought that when they had the chance to clarify to the fact that they were not moving to the left, they didn't do so."

CNN's Howard Kurtz set this up on "Reliable Sources":

HOWARD KURTZ, HOST: Last year, you quit NBC and MSNBC...

COL. KEN ALLARD: That's correct.

KURTZ: ...after a ten-year relationship. You indicated you thought they were moving to the left.

ALLARD: I thought they really had moved very slowly to the left, and I also thought that when they had the chance to clarify to the fact that they were not moving to the left, they didn't do so.

KURTZ: How did that effect your other goals as an analyst?

ALLARD: Well, number one, I was not getting on. And, again, that had been a long-standing trend. And, I simply saw the handwriting on the wall and said, "You know what? They're going one way, I'm going the other. Guys, thank you very much. God bless you. I wish you well."

Be sure to read Matthew Sheffield's entire piece on this matter for the full background.