Conservatives declare WAR on NPR

[nashville_brook]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/10/conservatives-declare-war-npr/


Conservatives declare war on NPR
Juan Williams accepts Fox News gig less than 24 hours after being fired from NPR, accuses NPR of not being interested in racial diversity

Less than 24 hours after NPR news analyst Juan Williams was fired for saying he felt "nervous" and "worried" when he saw Muslims at airports, he has accepted a nearly $2-million, three-year contract with Fox News. And conservative politicians, long opposed to NPR's publicly-funded status, have seized on the opportunity to call for a de-funding of NPR and even a congressional investigation into the media company's activities.

The Hill notes that three potential contenders for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 have spoken out against NPR's decision to fire Williams.

Former Arkansas governor and current Fox News personality Mike Huckabee declared Thursday that he is boycotting NPR over its decision.

(snip)


Former House speaker Newt Gingrich said Congress "should investigate NPR and consider cutting off its money," and added that Williams' firing was "a total act of censorship."

(snip)


While the effort to defund NPR may gain media attention in the coming days, it may not have as much impact as NPR's detractors may be hoping. According to the LA Times, NPR's national operation only receives about one percent to 3 percent of its revenue from federal grants; local stations depend on federal grants for about 10 percent of their revenue.

[marybourg]

1. We danced this dance before. nt.

[Yupster]

11. Why is NPR still taking government money anyway?

It's something like 3 % of their budget.

Since they are government funded, they have to be very careful about what they say and don't say. They have government officials constantly looking over their shoulders and political appointments in their administration.

Why bother?

Why not cut that last bit of government funding and be on their own like every other station or network?

When I was a kid there were only three networks and many people didn't even get them all. If you wanted nature programing or science, British programing, or even Julia Child showing you how to make a caserole, PBS was all there was. Now there's History, Discovery, Food, BBC, and countless more.

It seems outdated for PBS to still be getting government assistance when all those other channels are successful without it.

To me they fund 97 % of their budget on their own. Why not the other 3 %.

[gratuitous]

2. Another war without any danger

Sounds like just the chickenhawks' cup of tea. So to speak.

[RagAss]

3. Good. Maybe that will wake NPR's Ass Up !

[Davis_X_Machina]

4. They're like North Korea...

...they can't declare war, because they never signed a peace treaty in the first place.

[L0oniX]

5. NPR has been moving to the right for a while now so this war on NPR by repukes is just BS.

[Abq_Sarah]

6. They don't listen to NPR

And they're not likely to start listening anytime soon so why do they care who is hired/fired? This impulse by both sides to eradicate all political dissent is getting just a little tiring.

[spanone]

7. censorship my ass newt. he agreed to their fucking policy...piss off

[Radical Activist]

8. What else is new.

[andym]

9. defunding NPR will likely be an important political priority if the R's take the House.

Along with multiple investigations of the White House.

[Hannah Bell]

10. phony war.

[nashville_brook]

12. especially since NPR doesn't get any federal money anymore.