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Head of public TV (PBS) to step down after 'gay' cartoon row
Times Online (UK) ^ | February 18, 2005 | From James Bone in New York

Posted on 02/17/2005 10:49:29 PM PST by Jim Robinson

THE head of American public television, known for its British drama and documentaries, is to step down amid attacks from conservative critics.

Pat Mitchell, 62, said that she would not seek a third three-year term next year as head of the non-profit Public Broadcasting System (PBS), which is funded, in part, by the US taxpayer.

But she insisted that she had not fallen victim to America’s raging “culture wars”.

The PBS chief came under fire recently from religious conservatives for a children’s show called Postcards From Buster in which a cartoon bunny drops in on ordinary homes around the country. In a controversial episode, Buster travelled to Vermont, which permits same-sex civil unions, to visit a real-life lesbian couple. Margaret Spellings, the newly appointed Education Secretary, complained about the programme’s use of taxpayer money and said that many parents would not want their children exposed to gay lifestyles. The PBS network then provoked the wrath of liberals by refusing to distribute the episode to its 349 member stations — although the Boston station that produced the series made it available.

Ms Mitchell rejected suggestions that her departure was provoked by the rumpus, saying that she had intended to step down at the end of her present contract in June 2006.

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: culturewars; patmitchell; pbs; postcardsfrombuster; resignation
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1 posted on 02/17/2005 10:49:30 PM PST by Jim Robinson
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To: Jim Robinson
THE head of American public television, known for its British drama and documentaries

That pretty much sums it up. Why don't we just pull the plug on the whole "network" and tap into the BBC feed?

2 posted on 02/17/2005 10:51:12 PM PST by Question Liberal Authority (Dear Howard Dean: Please Protect Me From Your Righteous Followers)
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To: Jim Robinson

Too bad PBS itself isn't going too.


3 posted on 02/17/2005 10:51:22 PM PST by Anti-Bubba182
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To: Jim Robinson

"The PBS chief came under fire recently from religious conservatives"
or as they are traditionally known... PARENTS!


4 posted on 02/17/2005 10:51:34 PM PST by Betaille (Harry Potter is a Right-Winger)
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To: Jim Robinson
Those British comedies and dramas are craptastic. I really hope they have better stuff over there.
5 posted on 02/17/2005 10:54:01 PM PST by bahblahbah
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To: Jim Robinson

It's time that we just completely pull the plug from PBS. They get almost 85%(IIRC) of their funds from private donations.


6 posted on 02/17/2005 10:55:28 PM PST by bahblahbah
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To: Jim Robinson

PostCard to Buster: YOUR FIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111


7 posted on 02/17/2005 10:57:24 PM PST by 1FASTGLOCK45
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To: Betaille

"The PBS chief came under fire recently from religious conservatives or as they are traditionally known... PARENTS!"

ABCNews commentary:

Yes fascinating things these "social conservatives" are. They are defined by the following traits. They pair off into things called "marriages", not marriages as we know them which are between two members of the same gender, but actually marriages between two members of the opposite sex. These strange pairs then have something called "natural intercourse", meaning there are no fingers or anal cavities involved. From this "natural intercourse" these things called "Children" are produced. Now as you can see these "social conservatives" have a very scary lifestyle totally alien to most educated americans. Now for our next segment "Are they trying to take over the country?!"


8 posted on 02/17/2005 10:59:54 PM PST by Betaille (Harry Potter is a Right-Winger)
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To: Jim Robinson

LOL Well this should disappoint their 6 viewers.


9 posted on 02/17/2005 11:00:53 PM PST by ETERNAL WARMING (We have the best politicians corporate money can buy)
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To: bahblahbah

>But she insisted that she had not fallen victim to
>America’s raging “culture wars”.

LOL.

"Tis but a scratch"
"Just a flesh wound!"
"Have at you!"

http://www.mwscomp.com/movies/grail/grail-04.htm





"I'll bleed on you!"


10 posted on 02/17/2005 11:01:38 PM PST by ROTB
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To: ROTB

Any diminishing of PBS or NPR is a benefit to the world and the American public.


11 posted on 02/17/2005 11:08:25 PM PST by ReadyNow (A teacher of math)
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To: Jim Robinson

How sad: Gay America! All Gay! All the TIME!!


12 posted on 02/17/2005 11:10:42 PM PST by ApesForEvolution (I just took a Muhammad and wiped my Jihadist with Mein Koran...come and get me nutbags.)
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To: bahblahbah

You have to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to PBS programming. I'm watching Battlefield:Britain on Hastings 1066 right now; bloody good show. The Island at War drama that's been on the past few weeks is pretty good, for semi-fiction.

It's in the areas of news, politics and children's programming where PBS' leftist slant is most prevalent, it seems.

Notice how between programs, when they do their multicultural "We are PBS" ditty adnauseum, a complete family unit (ie.,man,woman,child) is never shown, only individuals or the implied "single mother" and child.

I scan the listings to see if anything is coming on worthwhile; usually it is only a few shows a week.


13 posted on 02/17/2005 11:51:16 PM PST by wolficatZ (. <'*((((>< cod liver oil is good for you ><))))*'> .)
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To: 185JHP; aculeus; Bigg Red; Calpernia; Davis; Doctor Raoul; DPB101; elbucko; evad; Fiddlstix; ...
*NPR/PBS* Ping list

If you want on or off this *NPR/PBS* ping list, please FReepmail me or just bump the thread
AND indicate your desire to be included. You must opt in! Don't be shy!
This is a low to moderate activty list.

14 posted on 02/17/2005 11:58:41 PM PST by Drango (FReepmal me to get on/off the *NPR/PBS* ping list)
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To: Jim Robinson
Get rid of PBS/NPR once and for all. I'm sick of our hard earned dollars supporting that BS. I'm sick and tired of being forced to support something I have no use for.

The Good Lord gave me enough sense to know how to handle my own money, not the damn government. I'll donate to those causes I personally deem worthy of my support.

(Oh Heck! I better shut up before I get started on a rant that will take up the whole thread)

15 posted on 02/18/2005 12:12:50 AM PST by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: Drango

Please include me on your ping list


16 posted on 02/18/2005 12:14:40 AM PST by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: Jim Robinson
Ms Mitchell rejected suggestions that her departure was provoked by the rumpus

This line struck me as really funny. (Maybe I'm just weird. :-)

17 posted on 02/18/2005 12:15:03 AM PST by k2blader (It is neither compassionate nor conservative to support the expansion of socialism.)
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To: Drango

Below is an exerpt of Barney Franks "feelings" in the WAPost
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33612-2005Feb17.html


....................................................


Since then, Rep. Frank has written a humdinger of a letter to let Spellings know "how deeply I resent your profoundly degrading comments about me and millions of other Americans."

"You have said that families should not have to deal with the reality of the existence of same-sex couples, and the strong implication is that this is something from which young children should be shielded," he said.

"I am a gay man who has had strong emotional relationships with men, and in each instance part of the joy of that relationship has been sharing it with members of my extended family." This includes 10 nieces, nephews and great-nephews, which, Frank said, gives him firsthand experience of the effect learning of same-sex relationships has on small children.

"What I have experienced, directly contrary to the basis on which you have condemned us as being unfit for young eyes, bears out the song from 'South Pacific,' 'You've Got to Be Taught to Hate,' " Frank wrote.

In most cases, Frank wrote, sharing his life with another man has not required much explaining to his younger relatives, "because young people, not exposed to the kind of distaste for us that you embody, did not demand explanations."

Frank noted that no one, not even Spellings, has suggested that anything particularly intimate was shown in the episode, "so it is apparently simply the fact that two women love each other and live together that you find so shocking that it is not fit to be broadcast."

In conclusion, Frank said he was "sorry that young people all over this country who happen to be gay or lesbian have now learned that the person who has been picked by the President of the United States to help with their education has such a fundamentally negative view of their very existence."
~snip


18 posted on 02/18/2005 12:40:28 AM PST by Drango (FReepmal me to get on/off the *NPR/PBS* ping list)
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To: Drango
"I am a gay man who has had strong emotional relationships with men, and in each instance part of the joy of that relationship has been sharing it with members of my extended family." This includes 10 nieces, nephews and great-nephews, which, Frank said, gives him firsthand experience of the effect learning of same-sex relationships has on small children."

The 10 nieces, thank God, are probably safe but methinks Frank's brothers, sisters et al need to get quickly acquainted with Mr Glock.

19 posted on 02/18/2005 1:01:26 AM PST by Selous
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To: Jim Robinson

Ms Mitchell rejected suggestions that her departure was provoked by the rumpus, saying that she had intended to step down at the end of her present contract in June 2006.

Yeah right. Well goodbye Ms Mitchell, you will not be missed.


20 posted on 02/18/2005 2:22:57 AM PST by garylmoore (God Bless you W, you have prevailed.)
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