NPR Defends Firing Williams as Criticism Mounts

New York Times ^ | October 23, 2010 | By BRIAN STELTER and ELIZABETH JENSEN

[JohnHuang2]

Of the thousands of complaints that have saturated NPR in the wake of Juan Williams’s firing earlier this week, some of the most telling have been from callers describing themselves as long-time “viewers” of NPR who warn that they are going to “stop watching.”

NPR, of course, does not have viewers, it has listeners. But the public radio organization has come under severe criticism — largely from people who are not listeners, it believes — for having fired Mr. Williams, an analyst who was employed by both NPR and Fox News when he said on Fox that he felt fearful when he saw people in “Muslim garb” on an airplane.

[JohnHuang2]

NRP expressed shock that its analyst Juan Williams said that when seeing airplane passengers wearing full-on Muslim garb he doesn't feel warm and fuzzy all over.

After 9/11, Fort Hood, Times Square, Detroit, Bali, Madrid, London and the Mumbai bombings/shootings, liberals are in shock that people still make a connection between Islam and terrorism. How many times do Muslims have to blow things up to prove they're peaceful???

Ever since Iranian "students" stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran 31 years ago, 'deceived' normal Americans have kept making such connections, while Democrats have kept furiously denying such connections and screaming that profiling Muslims -- as opposed to Tea Partiers, "right-wing" militias, veterans, Christians, etc. -- is evil. In fact, these darling liberals since 9/11 have privately asked, 'Where's Timothy McVeigh when you need him?'

Juan Williams got canned 3 seconds after Hamas's front group "CAIR" warned NPR to get rid of its only sane analyst. Among the ever-evolving and self-parodizing excuses for firing Williams after saying something rational, honchette Vivian Schiller claimed he was fired in the name of tolerance. And for his "thoughtless" comments about Muslims. She then "apologized" to the press for her thoughtless comments about Juan Williams needing a therapist.

When all that didn't work, the next compelling excuse was that Williams had been repeatedly warned about having an opinion, that it violated NPR's 'ethics code' and its 'editorial' 'standards', which apparently consist of wishing AIDS on Jesse Helms' grandchildren, hoping for the evaporation of 4 million Christians, since it "would leave the world a better place," etc. (George Soros liked these comments so much, he bought NPR.)

When that excuse didn't work, Williams had to be fired because he put the spotlight on himself. If that's the policy, now that NPR has put the spotlight on NPR, it should fire itself.

Say, why doesn't NPR take its fears of Juan Williams up with its in-house psychiatrist?

Anyway, that's...
My Two Cents...
"JohnHuang2"

[J Edgar]

” ... the public radio organization has come under severe criticism — largely from people who are not listeners, it believes ... “

---

Economics will validate this supposition shortly!

[TigersEye]

“And we’d fire more black men if we had any on staff!!!”

[MasterGunner01]

Note to NPR: When digging your own grave, the first chance for survival is to stop digging. Oh, how silly of me to state the obvious!

[The Cajun]

NPR who warn that they are going to “stop watching.”

LOL, But really I hope the NPR fiasco spills over into PBS, another little piggy that needs to be pulled away from the government trough.

[TigersEye]

We have to dig deep and find our compassion, MG01. Let's loan them a backhoe.

Then step back and watch.

[Jeff Chandler]

JohnHuang2, that is the most insightful, cogent post you have made since the heady Bubba Clinton days. Kudos.

[cpanter]

Shocking. The NYT attributes actual quotes to the conservative side of this issue. Oh wait. Nevermind. They only quote the opposition to make them look like morons.

[Waco]

Juan is usually a ‘’modern-day certified snot-faced liberal’’ but the firing of him was uncalled for, and likely will make him a million bucks in the long run,,,,that’s uncalled for too.

[November 2010]

Heh. A snarky piece from the failing and ailing New York Times. Defund NPR and let the “viewers” pony up their money for it. The NPR is racist against blacks and bigoted against anyone that isn’t fully PC. Only PC white people allowed.

[jimbo123]

Contact NPR’s sponsors. This is their most recently released list.

$1 million+

Angie’s List
General Motors Corporation
Lumber Liquidators
Northwestern Mutual Foundation
Novo Nordisk
Progressive Casualty Insurance
Company
Prudential Financial
State Farm Mutual Automobile
Insurance Company

$500,000 - $999,999

Cargill
Citibank
Constant Contact
Constellation Energy Group
Focus Features
iShares
LendingTree
Lenovo
Lionsgate Entertainment Corporation
NetApp
Pajamagram Company
Saturn
Sit4Less.com
Subaru of America
T. Rowe Price
UPS
Vanguard Group

$250,000 – $499,999
Alliance for Climate Protection
American Public Transportation
Association
CITGO Petroleum Corporation
CSX Corporation
Feeding America
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Kashi Company
MasterCard
National Association of Realtors
Netflix
Overture Films
Pabst Brewing Company
PBS
Raymond James Financial Services
Travel Guard
Universal Pictures
Visa
Warner Home Video

$100,000 - $249,999

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
ABC
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
Bantam Dell Publishing Group
Better World Club
CarFax
Caterpillar
Civic Ventures
Dogpile.com
Economist
Enterprise Florida
FIJI Water Company
FX Networks
Gary Group
HBO
HoMedics
Hyatt Corporation
Institute for Supply Management
Intel Corporation
Johnson Controls
Lindamood-Bell Learning Systems
MGM
Paramount Home Entertainment
Paramount Pictures
Philips Healthcare
POM Wonderful
REI
Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
U.S. Bank
Vestas Wind Systems
Walden University
Yahoo!

$50,000 - $99,999

American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association
Anheuser-Busch Companies
Apple
Bank of America
BP
Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Clorox Company
CNN
Columbia University
Concord Records
Consumer Reports
Discovery Networks
Disney Channel
Dow Chemical Company
Earth Share
Ethanol Promotion and
Information Council
FOX Broadcasting Company
Gynecologic Cancer Foundation
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
New Line Cinema
Random House Audio
Sony Pictures
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Summit Entertainment
Toyota Motor Corporation
Union of Concerned Scientists
Universal Music Group
University of Michigan School
of Social Work
University of South Carolina
VH1
VisitBritain
Weight Watchers International

Under $49,999

AARP
Air Products
Alaska Airlines
American Society of Clinical Oncology
American Wind Energy Association
ATO Records
Bear Mountain Master Partnership
Blue Note Records
Bose Corporation
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
CBS
Charles Schwab & Co.
ConocoPhillips Company
CSK Auto Corporation
Dominican University
Elsevier
Epson
FirstLook Studios Home Entertainment
Freestyle Releasing
Global Giving
Harvard University Press
Hatchette Book Group USA
History
History International
Kroger Co.
Liberated Arts
Louisiana Public Broadcasting
MassMutual Financial Group
Miramax Films
National Association of Professional
Organizers
Nettwerk Music Group
New York Times
Ovation TV
Peace Music
Picturehouse
Plume
Premise Media
RED Music
Roadside Attractions
Showtime Networks
Sony BMG
Strand Releasing
Thomas Nelson
Trend Micro
Unity Productions Foundation
University of Chicago
Warner Bros. Pictures
Warner Music Group
WaterPartners International
WGBH
Wild Birds Unlimited
Zale Corporation

[BunnySlippers]

Good article. Check out the stuff about finances. They NEED federal money.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

NPR's fat wad against Juan Williams

[maggief]

Viv is a VICTIM!

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/nprs-schiller-says-juan-williams-was-fired-because-of-ethics-guidelines/

Asked about the intense media coverage of Mr. Williams’s firing, especially on Fox, Ms. Schiller said:

The overwhelming response to this has been, I have to say, quite extraordinary. I’ve had Fox News crews follow me from my home. I’m getting messages on my home voicemail insinuating threats against my children.

Do I think that is an overreaction to a termination of a contract of a news analyst who violated our code of ethics? Yes, I would have to say that that’s quite a bit of an overreaction.

It’s a personnel decision. I don’t see how that warrants threats against my children.

[pettifogger]

I do, occasionally, listen to NPR. Car Talk is hilarious and every now and then I catch something 360. Usually listen on the weekends when my favorite talk stations have the financial guys on. Years ago, I was a contributor and even answered phones once during a pledge drive for PBS.

I flipped to our local affiliate in the car this morning and caught the pledge drive, so, I decided to call in. I spoke with a lovely volunteer, Tracy:

T: Are you calling to pledge to NPR or PBS?

P: I'm calling for NPR

T: OK

P: I was once a member of this NPR station but let my membership lapse.

T: Oh, so you are pledging now?

P: No, can't say that I am. I was very disappointed in NPR's treatment of Juan Williams in the recent controversy and I cannot possibly bring myself to contribute to the organization now. Please pass that information on to the station.

And, I hung up.

I think the more people who register their disgust with this organzation respectfully and calmly, the better. Tie up the lines when they are seeking pledges so they know the American PUBLIC in PUBLIC radio is appalled.

And, gosh darn it, I will still listen to Car Talk when it suits and I am not paying them a dime more than I already pay in taxes.

Keep your stinkin' tote bag and coffee mugs.

That's just MY two cents, John.

[bert]

women like that one should not be allowed to have children.

Are post birth abortions different from pre birth abortions when the life of the Republic is at stake?

[InvisibleChurch]

Good job

[InvisibleChurch]

(( rimshot ))

[NonValueAdded]

"Feeding America" gives between a quarter to half million to NPR? How does that spending square with their purpose? How many mouths could that money feed? They themselves say between 1.75 million to 3.5 million meals ["For every $1 you donate, Feeding America helps provide 7 meals to men, women and children facing hunger in our country."] Perhaps we should ask them why funding NPR is more important than a couple of million meals. Or why they are paying 6 figure incomes to so many people.

[secondamendmentkid]

“I’ve had Fox News crews follow me from my home. I’m getting messages on my home voicemail insinuating threats against my children.”

I’ll bet she’s hearing voices too. I think maybe she should take that up with her psychiatrist. Or better yet, she could ask Totenberg to say that she hopes everyone at FoxNews gets AIDS.