Keith Olbermann

MSNBC President Phil Griffin slammed one of his network's on-air personalities for denouncing fellow MSNBC host Keith Olbermann's personal attacks on Massachusetts Senator-elect Scott Brown.

In an official MSNBC memo, Griffin warned, "We do not publicly criticize our colleagues," but did not address Olbermann's remarks about Brown that first prompted the opposition.

Olbermann last Monday described Brown as "an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, teabagging supporter of violence against women and against politicians with whom he disagrees."

In response, "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough used his Twitter account to blast Olbermann's rant.

"How reckless and how sad," Scarborough wrote. "It is no longer enough to simply disagree with someone. These days some feel the need to call opponents evil. It happens on both extremes."

Continued Scarborough: "Just as when [Fox News host Glenn] Beck called the president racist, this sort of rhetorical extremism must be discouraged. It cheapens the debate."

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Griffin then fired off the memo, denouncing not Olbermann's remarks, but Scarborough's, as "unprofessional."

Olbermann on Friday night apologized for his comments about Brown one day after the remarks were highlighted by "Daily Show" anchor and comedian Jon Stewart.

In his program, Stewart branded Olbermann's remarks as "the harshest description of anyone I've ever heard uttered on MSNBC."

"You know what, you're right," Olbermann responded on air. "I have been a little over the top lately. Point taken. Sorry."

MSNBC president Griffin released an internal memo on Friday obtained by the Huffington Post addressing only Scarborough's criticism of Olbermann.

Griffin's full memo stated:

MSNBC is THE place for viewers to get the best political analysis and opinion in today's vast marketplace of ideas. We don't tell our hosts what to say. We don't have talking points. We encourage our talent to voice their opinions strongly and smartly, always rooted in fact. All of this has brought us great success, culminating in last year's victory over CNN.

Hosts strongly voicing their OWN opinions can no-doubt lead to spirited, substantive disagreements. This debate is encouraged. What we're doing at MSNBC is something our competition is not. And it is difficult. We have many strong personalities with differing, passionate opinions, but it is important to remember that we are all on the same team. I want to reiterate my long-standing policy: We do not publicly criticize our colleagues. This kind of behavior is unprofessional and will not be tolerated.

Let me be clear: I encourage you to keep doing what you do best. Give the viewers your perspective and a vigorous debate on the issues they care about. But do not turn substantive differences into personal ones.

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