Posted on 06/25/2005 10:35:31 PM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON - It's home to Big Bird, Arthur, Bill Moyers and Jim Lehrer - and not normally a source of great controversy. But these days, PBS finds itself at the center of a political uproar over whether public television promotes a liberal agenda.
The man alleging the bias is Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, a Republican who heads the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. CPB provides federal funding to public broadcasters including the Public Broadcasting Service, which receives about 15 percent of its operating budget, or $48.5 million, from the corporation.
PBS has denied the charges of a liberal slant. But following the criticism, it moved this month to hire an ombudsman to review its programs and announced a revision of its editorial practices. Among them: a requirement that commentary and opinion be labeled as such.
Democratic lawmakers worry that Tomlinson is angling to turn public TV into a spokesman for the GOP - contrary to the mission of the corporation, which Congress set up in 1967 to shield public broadcasting from political influence.
As CPB chairman, Tomlinson has failed miserably, says Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., a longtime supporter of public broadcasting.
"What Mr. Tomlinson has been doing is very destructive to the interests of public broadcasting," Dorgan said. "The Corporation for Public Broadcasting would be better off with a fresh start with somebody who is not spending their time claiming that the public broadcasting system is unfair."
Adding to the Democrats' unease: the new president of the corporation, Patricia S. Harrison. She was co-chair of the Republican National Committee from 1997 to 2001.
Harrison was named to the post Thursday, the same day that the House voted to rescind proposed cuts of $100 million to the corporation's budget for next year.
PBS says the proposed cuts would have severely impacted "Sesame Street," "Clifford," "Between the Lions" and other popular children's shows.
"That federal funding really acts as a spark plug that causes all of this other money to be attracted," said John F. Wilson, senior vice president of programming at PBS.
Even with Thursday's action, PBS still might end up with less money than in its current budget. The legislation would eliminate $23 million for the Ready-to-Learn program, which subsidizes children's educational programming.
Public broadcasting advocates say $82 million is set to be cut from satellite upgrades and a program to help public TV stations switch to digital technology.
Critics scoff at the notion that public broadcasting can't survive without the federal help.
"These stations are fat and happy. They're sitting on millions, if not billions of dollars, in property and equipment and very large salaries. These people are not going anywhere," said Tim Graham, director of media analysis at the Media Research Center, a conservative watchdog group.
Graham says broadcasters could make up the money with alternative sources of revenue. Donations could also make up some of the difference, says Graham.
More than a dozen senators sent a letter to President Bush this week and urged him to fire CPB's Tomlinson because he "seriously undermines the credibility" of public broadcasting.
The chairman said he had no intention of stepping down. The White House also expressed support for him.
Tomlinson has specifically targeted Bill Moyers, complaining that his work is not balanced. After protests from Congress, the corporation's inspector general launched an investigation into Tomlinson's hiring of a consultant to keep track of the political leanings of the guests on "Now with Bill Moyers."
I think they should be told by Congress to drop all their NEWS shows and stick to children's shows and educational shows or we quit financing them. Tell Bill Moyers that if he wants to spew his Liberal tripe, we should not be forced to subsidize him or his show with our tax money, Moyers should compete in the arena of ideals if he's gonna express his views on the airwaves, just like Rush Limbaugh does. Moyers wouldn't last a month
It's a get what you pay for world. What's really being discussed is whether you'll pay for Big Bird and Clifford via taxes or at the local Circuit City in DVD format. Either way, there's really no free ride.
They probably wouldn't exist without extortion money extracted from tax payers.
"Without the government money, they would belly up in week."
And all those gummint jobs would vanish. I am sure that AFSCME would go nuts. I am sold, where to I sign the death warrant for PBS/NPR?
PBS hit by claims it has liberal agenda
A&E, Discovery, and History channel all sell VHs and DVD editions of a lot of their programmes. Lot at their webstores on their websites.
I like PBS and I even listen to a little NPR now and then. In Cincinnati I have cable, and cable is subsidized for the poor for educational purposes. I think we have access to 4 public television stations (Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton and Oxford). I think that we have access to at least 3 public radio stations (UC, XU, NKU).
I think that the federal funding that these stations receive is around 10% or less of their budget. I am not really sure on those figures, but these stations are largely self supporting without federal funds.
I don't like the thought of either party hijacking public television on a federal level. The threat that conservatives could do that should make democrats more receptive to killing federal funding. These stations can and will survive without federal funding. I would like our politicians in Washington to concentrate on bigger and better things.
Like I said, I like PBS. I have two young boys and they love the programs. I enjoy some of the news and documentaries. PBS does lean left, I wouldn't claim otherwise, but cut the funds and let it take care of itself.
I thought he retired....
And hoping he was dead!
"PBS hit by claims"
I hope it's hit by more than "claims."
My guess is that between them, the Rats and their slavish allies in the MSM will make mincemeat of Tomlinson. But maybe not. I wish him well. He has undertaken an enormously difficult task. Even small successes, if they stick, are occasion for rejoicing. God bless the man.
Yep, he is like a knight without armour in a savage land.
That is proof positive why my tax dollars should not pay for his views to be broadcasted. Moyers should compete in the marketplace, just like everyone else with something to sell. Put Moyers on the radio from 12:00 to 3:00 PM and at 8:00 PM on Cable TV and see how he does. He wouldn't last a month
Somehow, I don't see the History Channel and Discovery Channel being frequented by this population. BET, MTV, and anything else brainless...oh yeah.
Here's a message to the "poor": Instead of paying a lower price for cable, how's about getting off your hind ends, quit watching television, and go get a better paying job! Take some classes, why dontcha??!!! They're subsizidized too. Once you get a better job, you can afford your own cable!!!
Nothing makes me madder...
You insensitive jerk. The lazy should be afforded the same rights as the producers.
I'm going to get flamed for this, but I feel that Sesame Street, Nova, and Mr. Rogers are worth the single dollar that each taxpayer contributes to PBS. As someone who grew up watching those shows, I think the contribution they make to educating children is incalcuable, and these days, there are far to few educational programs on TV.
Does it have a liberal bias? Yes. Does that mean it's funding should be cut off because of it? No. Why not try and get them to change some things instead?
Also, I'm a HUGE Red Green fan. :)
LOL!
Believe me, if PBS were to go bye-bye, the market would demand that Clifford, Barney, Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, and a few other programs find a new home.
And if not...OH WELL! The fact that CPB doesn't finance Blue's Clues doesn't seem to have hurt that show.
And it would be fun to see Charlie Rose panhandling alongside Bill Moyers. It's all they know how to do anyway.
I agree...great programming.
But why not start an educational channel and go for sponsorship that is commercial free? It can be done!
PBS was for the days when people didn't have access to cable and everyone had four channels. Apparently, we are subsidizing cable now for the poor, so access solves that problem...
TRADING DONOR LISTS WITH THE DEMOCRAT PARTY
....doesn't mean their liberal. Does it?
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