Come on over Shep. The water's just fine

[CatWoman]

Shep Smith 'On Thin Ice' For Outspokenness, Former Fox News Employee Says

Could Shep Smith's constant independence be getting him into trouble with his Fox News bosses?

The host is well-known for his propensity to say whatever he wants. He's called the killing of Osama bin Laden "illegal," come out forcefully for gay marriage, challenged his own network's coverage of controversial events, and generally done things his way. Sometimes it seems he's operating on a television planet of his own. And he's been rewarded with high ratings and a contract that takes him through at least 2013. He's called Fox News CEO Roger Ailes a "second father" to him. All, it would seem, is well.

But in an article about Fox News' relationships to gay rights, a former Fox News employee said that, despite the public comity, Smith's iconoclasm is starting to grate, especially his comments that Republicans were on the "wrong side of history" with gay marriage and that Chick-fil-A was promoting "intolerance.":

"Shep is on really thin ice," the former employee said. "If he wasn't so popular and highly rated (and highly paid) Roger would have yanked him off the air months ago."

The allegation would go against the more typical theory about Smith's presence at the network: that his independent streak is promoted because it helps deflect the persistent view of Fox News as a right-wing outlet.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/08/shep-smith-fox-news-thin-ice_n_1755454.html

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. But I thought that Fox News was "Fair & Balanced" (i.e. Independent)

Not supposed to be promoting any particular viewpoint, right?

[UnrepentantLiberal]

2. Sounds like he'll be at CNN soon.

[get the red out]

3. I hope so

I like him, I would watch him on another network.

[Wait Wut]

4. I hope they can afford him.

I doubt MSNBC could. CNN could use someone with a personality and a soul.

[Cali_Democrat]

5. What? You don't like Wolf Blitzer and his hard-hitting journalism?

[UnrepentantLiberal]

7. That silly man is on the TV right now.

I have no choice. I'm trying to see what's going on in Syria.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

6. If he's supporting marriage equality it sounds like

he's trying to get fired. The only reason he may not is Fox not wanting him replace Erin Burnett.

[RZM]

8. I'd be very surprised if they fired Shep

So far all we have on this is one anonymous source. All signs would point to keeping him on. He has high ratings, he gives the appearance of balance and not he's not hated by the left, which gives them an in on more liberal viewers at the 7 pm time slot, when MSNBC re-airs Tweety and CNN puts on whatever lame show they have at 7 pm.