Their bias is all too obvious. I haven't listened for so long that I was unaware of Juan Williams. However, Tom liked the fact that NPR had him on because he thought it showed they were more unbiased than people thought if they had a reporter who didn't skew their way.
Guess not so much. The news has flared throughout the blogosphere that Juan Williams was fired by NPR "for telling an inconvenient truth," as Bill Kristol wrote (via Brandywine Books).
Going to my reliable GetReligion to read further, I see that he wasn't even given the courtesy of a face to face conversation.
I don't see that what Williams said was bigoted. It is a statement of fact. Tom points out that this country was built on assimilation for good reason ... it's how we get along and understand each other. The crime was saying aloud what everyone thinks under a similar circumstance. If so, why not turn that into the conversation instead of shutting it down with a thud? Gee whiz, what way is that to cover the news, NPR?
Tom sez, "It's their chance. They must have been looking for a way to dump him."
Too bad they weren't able to muster up a little more class about it.
Update: The Anchoress comments and links around.
I really like Juan Williams. I'm going to miss him on NPR -- which I listen to because I found it to be the least biased news source. Guess I was wrong.
ReplyDeleteThey bash Catholics and members of the Pro-Life movement all the time on NPR and no-one gets fired over the things they say, do they? Where's the fairness in that?
A private company is well within its rights to fire someone with whom they disagree.
ReplyDeleteNational Public Radio, however, is partially funded by taxes, and although the amount is small, those coins are taken from working people without their consent for government radio stations. Thus, the sacking of Juan Williams for a statement that does not violate reasonable norms (shouting "fire" in a theatre, and so on) is a violation of the First Amendment protecting the right of citizens to assemble peaceably and petition their government.
One cannot but notice that certain, oh, "youths" (let us employ the French euphemism) occasionally gather in violent groups in this nation and threaten death to America and Americans, all without sanction of any kind.
Shame.
That when people see someone in Muslim dress on a plane they worry about terrorists.
ReplyDeleteOk, I was under the impression he had been fired for saying something blatantly untrue rather than his comment about his discomfort.
ReplyDeleteUm, that's not me being snarky, btw. I havent' really followed the story closely. Everyone I knew who was upset by it was upset by the comment I referred to.
No worries ...
ReplyDeleteThat's what I took away from the GetReligion quoted part ... the only other thing he said that I saw was that our war with Muslims is just beginning. I don't think that is anything but a statement of fact either.
That's what I've see quoted everywhere anyway.
I've been watching Juan for years. I think he simply isn't "liberal enough" for them anymore. He has always been respectful and polite to his apponents...and I'm someone who loves Brit Hume! They were just looking to dump him because he isn't extreme enough for them.
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten the morning several months ago when Scott Simon and a guest on NPR's Saturday morning show spent some minutes laughing about the possibility of stabbing to death with knives a former White House staffer.
ReplyDeleteSuch class.
I quit listening to NPR years ago when Clinton was president. They often played segments of his speeches. One day I just remember feeling sick to my stomach hearing his voice... and I had voted for the guy! I never listened to NPR again. Now I read headlines off MSNBC, look at Wall Street Journal online and peruse the National Review online. That's enough. Then in my personal realm, I try to make a difference by keeping my opinion to myself and voting for the most fiscally and socially conservative candidates. My life has become a lot less stressful as a result. I don't feel the need to broadcast my opionion constantly or to defend my choices! Juan, join us!
ReplyDeleteNot trying to 'start' anything here, but I find it a bit odd that 1st poster David said he listened to NPR coz it's the least biased news, then in the next line said they were always bashing Catholics and pro-lifers. Me, I haven't been able to stomach NPR since I read "Coloring the News" which wasn't a look at NPR, but a look at bias in the news in general. It wasn't written by any right-wingers either.
ReplyDelete