Huckabee calls on Congress to cut NPR funding

CNN ^ | 10/21/2010 | Peter Hamby

[Qbert]

(CNN) – In the wake of NPR's firing of contributor Juan Williams over comments about Muslims, Mike Huckabee is calling on the next Congress to cut the radio network's funding when it convenes next year.

"NPR has discredited itself as a forum for free speech and a protection of the First Amendment rights of all and has solidified itself as the purveyor of politically correct pabulum and protector of views that lean left," Huckabee said in a statement provided to CNN.

Williams told Fox News host Bill O'Reilly on Monday that he gets "worried" and "nervous" on flights when he sees people wearing "Muslim garb." NPR terminated Williams' contract on Wednesday evening.

[Snip]

"It is time for the taxpayers to start making cuts to federal spending, and I encourage the new Congress to start with NPR," he said.

NPR says federal funding comprises less than 2 percent of its budget, with most of its financial support coming from station fees, sponsorships and grants.

[Qbert]

"NPR says federal funding comprises less than 2 percent of its budget..."

If it's really less than 2 percent, then I'm sure they won't miss it much when it's slashed...

[raccoonradio]

Agreed. Is there a need for fed funding of NPR or PBS at all? I say no, especially since there are so many other sources of media out there. Look at all the educational/cultural shows on various TV channels. In radio, college or even commercial radio can provide good content.

Let “public” TV and radio go fully commercial—some of their donorships sound like ads anyway—and get the money that way.
Take ads and also support from “listeners and viewers like you” not fed money.

[basil]

This is one thing Huckaby has has gotten right.

[almcbean]

What a great example of political opportunism. NPR should be defunded for the simple reason that the Federal government has no business, and no authority for, doing so.

For Huckabee to suggest an ad hoc, punitive reason for defunding indicates that he’s no true conservative, just a political power broker.

Hey Mike the revolution’s coming’ get on board.

[lurk]

NPR and Fed funding for the arts, though small, would be a good start for de-funding.
Then return the car companies to their rightful shareholders.
Then let Fannie & Freddie die quickly.
Then Education.
Then EPA.
Cut the State Dept. by 80%.
Reduce support to the UN to $1000/yr.

[raccoonradio]

(in other words VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS not money from our taxes...a Boston area station playing “nice music” is
licensed to be commercial but basically has a fundraising drive every year since the owner doesn’t want “snake oil
salesmen” on his station. Like the station? Give a donation
voluntarily and it survives without ads. So should NPR.
I don’t want my tax dollars subsidizing liberal bias.)

http://wjib740.com/ is the station btw

[GeronL]

If its less thasn 2% then they won’t miss it anyways.

We’ll have to start sending letters to the corporate sponsors too, urging them to pull their funding

[Lazamataz]

Juan Williams has a VERY good Wrongful Termination lawsuit. For a company to fire you because you express an opinion without using company property to do so, is a possible violation of one's First Amendment right, and is certainly an legally actionable affair.

[Lazamataz]

We’ll have to start sending letters to the corporate sponsors too, urging them to pull their funding

Besides, what the hell is a "Chubb Group"?

[freespirited]

Insurance companies.

[jiggyboy]

It’s a big question as to whether it’s a First Amendment issue, as it’s not obvious that NPR (”please don’t call us National Public Radio”) more like a street corner or more like a real radio station.

[Calvin Locke]

I all but tune out JW, so how does BOR introduce him? As a affiliated specifically with NPR, or as a "generic" commentator?

That may be an issue.

[raccoonradio]

...a group of fat people? :)

When Air America flopped, Boston conservative talk host Howie Carr said, “Nobody listened because we already HAVE a liberal radio network, and it’s taxpayer funded. It’s called NPR!”

[Tex-Con-Man]

Using the liberal’s argument about government and religion, the fact that NPR receives any government funds means firing Juan Williams would amount to the government suppressing free speech.

[Pessimist]

Political grandstanding.

Why didn’t he call on them to cut it beore?

It’s not like this is the first example of their nature.

Not to mention the whole question of gvt media to begin with.

[skeeter]

Huckabee thinks he's a player in the upcoming elections. All he'll accomplish is diluting the conservative vote - again.

Nothing is more irritating to me than political gamesmanship while the country burns.

[NorwegianViking]

George Soros gave NPR $1.8 Million to buy reporters...
http://bigjournalism.com/wthuston/2010/10/18/george-soros-millions-buying-political-reporters-for-npr/

[Lazlo in PA]

Lets be real here. Juan was hoisted by his own Petard. He has been dealing in race politics and PC nonsense his whole life.

Now he gets to enjoy the fruits of his lib ideology. Hows it feel to be the evil racist Juan? It suits him well.

[MrB]

That’s what you ALWAYS hear from the left when you object about NPR’s bias and getting tax dollars to project that bias -

“they only get X% of their funding from the government”.

Perhaps, but TAX DOLLARS almost wholly subsidize them,
through grants through universities, etc.

Cut ‘em off. We don’t need a government mouthpiece. That’s what the Soviets had.

[Qbert]

“What a great example of political opportunism. NPR should be defunded for the simple reason that the Federal government has no business, and no authority for, doing so.

For Huckabee to suggest an ad hoc, punitive reason for defunding indicates that he’s no true conservative, just a political power broker.”

—Agree on both points. But people do need to be more vocal about expressing their beliefs. Nothing will get cut without immense pressure and popular support.