NPR's Mara Liasson Takes Heat Over Fox News Appearances

Daily Finance ^ | 21 October 2010 | Johnathan Berr

[Racehorse]

Mara Liasson, National Public Radio's award-winning political correspondent, is taking heat over her appearances on Fox News Channel after Juan Williams' made comments about Muslims on the cable network that cost him his job with the public broadcaster.

The liberal media watchdog group, Media Matters for America, argued on its blog that NPR needs to address the "thorny issue" of Liasson's work for Fox in light of the Williams controversy. Senior fellow Eric Boehlert stressed that Williams, a frequent guest on "The O'Reilly Factor," had a far more problematic history with Fox than Liasson. Many NPR listeners have complied about Williams' statements on Fox for years, and he was asked not to identify himself as an NPR journalist while appearing on Fox. Liasson, however, appears on "Special Report with Brit Hume" and "Fox News Sunday", shows that are a far cry from Bill O'Reilly's controversial talk show.

NPR declined to comment for this story.

"I'm not suggesting Liasson has said anything as offensive as Williams, or that she has that kind of track record while appearing on Fox," Boehlert writes.. " I'm just saying that if you look at NPR's code of ethics, there's simply no way Liasson should be making appearances on Fox."

[Wally_Kalbacken]

It should be a race to see who can fire her first - FNC or NPR. I’d be glad to see her off FNC, I seldom find that she adds anything new.

[Freedom56v2]

Seems like an NPR inquisition has begun.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Seeing this kind of crap going on might just be enough to get people off their behinds and to the polls in November..we have to stop this insanity because if we don’t, this is just the beginning and I don’t even want to imagine how bad it will get. Time to take back this country NOW

[The_Media_never_lie]

Why are we, the taxpayer, funding National Proleftist Radio?

[jessduntno]

“Seems like an NPR inquisition has begun.”

National Public Radio’s firing of Juan Williams and its acceptance of a $1.8 million gift from left-wing billionaire George Soros’ foundation have put the spotlight on the NPR’s taxpayer subsidy.

[Sarah Barracuda]

I have no idea. I had no idea til today. When I read it I was like “What the hell” why are we paying for National Progressive Radio

[loveliberty2]

How can a people who have watched the government schools censor out references to family, faith, and the philosophy of the nation’s Declaration of Independence be surprised that NPR would censor its employees?

[Sarah Barracuda]

Soros is pulling the strings..the “Muslim” comment from Juan was just an excuse they used to get rid of him. The second Soros became their backer, he is now in charge of them..and hearing that moron Vivian(Whatever her last name is) I think she is the one woman who makes Meghan McCain look like a member of MENSA

[BookmanTheJanitor]

Both Media Matters and NPR got huge checks from George Soros this week...Hmmm,

[liberty75]

The liberal media watchdog group, Media Matters for America, argued on its blog that NPR needs to address the "thorny issue" of Liasson's work for Fox in light of the Williams controversy.

Both Media Matters and NPR get a cool million bucks from Soros recently (openly) and now this purge of Fox-affiliated commentators? Not too hard to read between the lines here.

[screaming eagle2]

This is why elitists should never be in charge of anything

[Slyfox]

I have watched FOX News on Sunday morning for years, and I have constantly been amazed at Mara's objectiveness. I believe that she is an old school journalist who can present facts without confusing anyone about her personal political opinions.

Giving Mara any flack should be the very last straw.

[TBP]

Ironically, these are the saem people who claim that there are no liberals on Fox.

[TBP]

Ironically, these are the same people who claim that there are no liberals on Fox.

[Sparky1776]

PICK UP THE PHONE ON PLEDGE NIGHT........& Breath deeply!

[mountn man]

Interesting, the left screeches that FNC is a right wing group think, and that they aren't really "fair and balanced", and yet they have a problem with anyone from NPR on Fox.

If FNC was a right wing group think, and NOT "fair and balanced" why would they even allow anyone on NPR to come on?

And if NPR were open and tolerant, why is it they have such a problem with people being on FNC or with what is said on FNC?

Cognitive dissonance: This is the feeling of uncomfortable tension which comes from holding two conflicting thoughts in the mind at the same time.

[celtic gal]

I tend to agree with you. I think she is like some of the others who appear on FOX who are Democrats..we know who they are. Yet some can be objective enough to criticize their own party..sometimes I find I agree with her other times i do not at all.

[milagro]

How DARE they! I cannot believe how brazen these people are to even THINK they have ANY right to silence people who do not march in lockstep with their thinking when they are a PUBLIC broadcasting entitiy--not a private one. If they were private--I would think they were being foolish to fire Juan, and criticize Mara--but they would have that right.

But as a partially taxpayer-supported entity, they better realize they are showing themselves to be not just a foolish entity, but a dangerous one, because their gestapo-like mentality and tactics serve not to enhance, but hinder the free and unfettered exchange of ideas that is vital to the preservation of our democratic form of government!

[Slyfox]

What I like about Mara is that she seems to have respect for others even though she may not personally agree with them.

I don't know where she stands politically, and I really don't care. I think she adds substantial points to the discussions.

I would rather listen to her than Eleanor Cliff.