NPR Fires Liberal News Analyst For Non-PC Nervousness

[bfdd]

I see, so it's biased for NPR to fire someone who is paid to be objective but goes and openly admits his bias on national TV. That's some great newspeak right there.

senseamp, objectivity is only required when reporting news not stating an opinion. He was in an opinionated debate with Bill, not a news report. BTW he wasn't paid to be objective, he was paid to make sure the news/information he passed on was objective.

 

[theeedude]

senseamp, objectivity is only required when reporting news not stating an opinion. He was in an opinionated debate with Bill, not a news report. BTW he wasn't paid to be objective, he was paid to make sure the news/information he passed on was objective.

That is not the way his employer saw it. They want objective journalists, not journalists who pass on objective news and information.

 

[bfdd]

That is not the way his employer saw it. They want objective journalists, not journalists who pass on objective news and information.

Then they should have kept him on his old contract. Honestly do you want to keep bringing this in circles? They changed his position in NPR so he wouldn't have to fall under that kind of BS, then they booted him for it anyways. Journalists have to be objective REPORTING THE NEWS, they do not have to be objective in life. That's fucking impossible because we aren't machines.

 

[theeedude]

Then they should have kept him on his old contract. Honestly do you want to keep bringing this in circles? They changed his position in NPR so he wouldn't have to fall under that kind of BS, then they booted him for it anyways. Journalists have to be objective REPORTING THE NEWS, they do not have to be objective in life. That's fucking impossible because we aren't machines.

This was not his private life, he was on national TV. You are free not to listen to NPR if you don't like their personnel decisions.

 

[bfdd]

This was not his private life, he was on national TV. You are free not to listen to NPR if you don't like their personnel decisions.

It wasn't news, it was opinion. So since this had nothing to do with objectivity with NEWS, why was he fired? Because he has an opinion? Seriously I don't see what you're getting at here. We're not saying that they weren't in their right to fire him, they can fire him for whatever reason they feel like I don't much care. It's the fact that they said there was a reason and that reason isn't equally enforced across the board. It is obvious why they fired him, stop trying to spin it.

 

[boomerang]

 

[Rainsford]

It wasn't news, it was opinion. So since this had nothing to do with objectivity with NEWS, why was he fired? Because he has an opinion? Seriously I don't see what you're getting at here. We're not saying that they weren't in their right to fire him, they can fire him for whatever reason they feel like I don't much care. It's the fact that they said there was a reason and that reason isn't equally enforced across the board. It is obvious why they fired him, stop trying to spin it.

I'd say the obvious answer is that there are different levels of opinion. And however much some people might agree with the opinion Juan Williams expressed, the fact is that suggesting traditionally dressed Muslims look like terrorists can be seen as a rather extreme (and offensive) point of view.

In other words, I don't think the problem for NPR is so much that he expressed a personal opinion, it's that he expressed an opinion that represents an extremely controversial point of view. Let's be honest, people in his kind of job are fired for doing that ALL THE TIME...the only reason this is a big deal is that a lot of conservatives agree with the opinion he expressed. If he had said he worries about the safety of kids every time he sees a priest, nobody would give a damn.

 

[SilentRunning]

Yessss the mysogonists and the bigots party together!

This thread died when you labeled Juan Williams a liberal.

Mr Williams, when I walk down the street and I see a black man dressed up in hip hop/gangsta clothing, I fear for my wallet and life.

But hey, I'm just being honest, not racist.

Good day sir.

From Jesse Jackson

Linky

There is nothing more painful to me at this stage in my life than to walk down the street and hear footsteps and start thinking about robbery. Then look around and see somebody white and feel relieved.... After all we have been through. Just to think we can't walk down our own streets, how humiliating

Just keeping it real or racist?

 

[Throckmorton]

Just so non NPR listeners know, NPR shows are covering this story as if it took place at another network. So far every segment addressing the firing has painted Juan Williams in a positive light. EJ Dion (liberal) and David Brooks (conservative) were just on All Things Considered. Both of them said Williams should have been given a chance... One of them, I guess David Brooks, noted that NPR had a granola liberal reputation, but has turned that around through rigorous journalism standards over the past 10 years, but this firing will bring the old reputation back.

 

[bfdd]

Just so non NPR listeners know, NPR shows are covering this story as if it took place at another network. So far every segment addressing the firing has painted Juan Williams in a positive light. EJ Dion (liberal) and David Brooks (conservative) were just on All Things Considered. Both of them said Williams should have been given a chance... One of them, I guess David Brooks, noted that NPR had a granola liberal reputation, but has turned that around through rigorous journalism standards over the past 10 years, but this firing will bring the old reputation back.

nice, I don't really listen to the radio so thanks for the update. i wonder if they'd give me a tour if i walked down the street to their station.

 

[Infohawk]

and however much some people might agree with the opinion Juan Williams expressed, the fact is that suggesting traditionally dressed Muslims look like terrorists can be seen as a rather extreme (and offensive) point of view.

Really? Have you seen the way Bin Laden dresses? Is he not a terrorist and is he not traditionally dressed?

And we can just spin your argument around to say that if he hadn't singled out Muslims (the new favorite alleged victims the left likes to defend) nobody would have cared.

 

[wirelessenabled]

You seem completely unaware of just who is on Fox's payroll.

Juan is but one of a slew of Lefties that Fox hires.

Fern

Yup!! Quite a slew, let's see Alan Colmes, ummm Martin Frost ummm, ummm, maybe that's all. Oh wait, now Juan Williams.

So may Lefties that if the Fox News left leaning hiring rate keeps up they may have enough lefties on the payroll that at least once every couple of months a Leftie question will be asked (probably not answered) on O'Reilly, Hannity, Van Susteren, etc, etc, etc, etc.

Let's see, it took NPR 13+ years to fire Williams, how long have the Lefties lasted on Fox, at least those that ask any tough questions? Ummm wait, the Lefties on Fox don't get to ask any tough questions.

 

[theeedude]

It wasn't news, it was opinion. So since this had nothing to do with objectivity with NEWS, why was he fired? Because he has an opinion? Seriously I don't see what you're getting at here. We're not saying that they weren't in their right to fire him, they can fire him for whatever reason they feel like I don't much care. It's the fact that they said there was a reason and that reason isn't equally enforced across the board. It is obvious why they fired him, stop trying to spin it.

It is obvious they fired him because he is self-admittedly not objective and they wanted someone who is. I am not even going to ask you to stop spinning it.

 

[theeedude]

Just so non NPR listeners know, NPR shows are covering this story as if it took place at another network. So far every segment addressing the firing has painted Juan Williams in a positive light. EJ Dion (liberal) and David Brooks (conservative) were just on All Things Considered. Both of them said Williams should have been given a chance... One of them, I guess David Brooks, noted that NPR had a granola liberal reputation, but has turned that around through rigorous journalism standards over the past 10 years, but this firing will bring the old reputation back.

This can't be true, we were told NPR is biased. There is no way they are going to allow this sort of dissent.

 

[Linflas]

Yup!! Quite a slough, let's see Alan Colmes, ummm Martin Frost ummm, ummm, maybe that's all. Oh wait, now Juan Williams.

So may Lefties that if the Fox News left leaning hiring rate keeps up they may have enough lefties on the payroll that at least once every couple of months a Leftie question will be asked (probably not answered) on O'Reilly, Hannity, Van Susteren, etc, etc, etc, etc.

Let's see, it took NPR 13+ years to fire Williams, how long have the Lefties lasted on Fox, at least those that ask any tough questions?

I guess you purposely choose to ignore Mara Liasson, Leslie Marshall, Ellis Hennican, Kirsten Powers, Marc Lamont Hill, Penny Lee, Doug Schoen and a lot more than I care to bother listing here that regularly appear on the Fox opinion shows to present the liberal point of view.

 

[Rainsford]

Really? Have you seen the way Bin Laden dresses? Is he not a terrorist and is he not traditionally dressed?

Bin Laden doesn't hijack airplanes himself. No terrorist is going to attempt anything in public dressed like a stereotypical Muslim because they stand out. You'll note that none of the 9/11 hijackers dressed that way. So if anything, focusing on obvious Muslims gives you LESS of a chance of detecting potential terrorists.

And we can just spin your argument around to say that if he hadn't singled out Muslims (the new favorite alleged victims the left likes to defend) nobody would have cared.

That was more or less my point. Nobody gives a shit about free speech or anything else they claim to care about in this situation. Conservatives "support" Juan because they also are suspicious of Muslims on airplanes. Liberals dislike what he said because they think it's bigoted and irrational. Surprise is expressed by absolutely nobody.

 

[bfdd]

It is obvious they fired him because he is self-admittedly not objective and they wanted someone who is. I am not even going to ask you to stop spinning it.

That's obviously not the case because he didn't just simply say "Muslims in traditional garb scare me" and it ended there. He went on to explain himself and his opinions and COUNTERED the argument O'Reilly was putting forth which equates to "Muslims in traditional garb scare me". CONTEXT, in the CONTEXT of what was said he was being as objective as one could with their opinion. Like I said, stop trying to spin it. NPR made a poor decision that reflects poorly on them.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

That was more or less my point. Nobody gives a shit about free speech or anything else they claim to care about in this situation. Conservatives "support" Juan because they also are suspicious of Muslims on airplanes. Liberals dislike what he said because they think it's bigoted and irrational. Surprise is expressed by absolutely nobody.

Liberals apparently don't want to listen to things in context. He expressed a gut reaction that he had, but if you watched the entire clip he spent it decrying abuse of Muslims. Ignore the whole thing, select one part and kill him with sound bites.

 

[Double Trouble]

This whole episode truly represents a black eye to the reputation NPR is trying to build. Any ideas they had of building a reputation as an unbiased source of good information went out the window when they fired someone for daring to utter a politically incorrect opinion -- one that the vast majority of americans likely agree with by the way.

 

[BoomerD]

Doesn't appear that this is going to hurt his career...

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/21/news/la-pn-juan-williams-20101022

"In wake of NPR controversy, Fox News gives Juan Williams an expanded role
The cable news network signs the analyst to a new three-year contract for nearly $2 million. Meanwhile, conservative figures blast the public radio network for its response to Williams' comments about Muslims."


"Fox News offers Juan Williams $2 million contract

Within 24 hours, Juan Williams lost his job as an analyst at NPR, only to sign a lucrative $2 million contract with Fox News. "

 

[Lanyap]

Doesn't George Soros give millions in support to the NPR? I could of swore I just read an article saying something as such. Why would George Soros support an institution that employs a woman like Totenberg who is so obviously against democracy?

Yes.

George Soros' War Against Fox News
Posted 07:22 PM ET

Soros: An obsession with silencing Fox?
Media: Does George Soros have a bad case of Fox envy against media mogul Rupert Murdoch? Or has he decided the main reason Americans won't embrace socialism is Fox News? Either way, he's now buying the news.

Soros, the billionaire speculator famous for bankrolling leftist causes, recently declared he was through with politics this election season because "I don't believe in standing in the way of an avalanche," referring to the likely GOP victory in November.

The 80-year-old leftist didn't earn his $14 billion fortune making bad bets. So although he's given "only" $53,100 in 2010 to Democratic candidates and causes (and his 24-year-old son has donated $73,000), it's worth noting that Soros has shifted his attention to influencing the media message, with his cash following.

On Oct. 18, Soros donated $1.8 million to National Public Radio to hire 100 new reporters for a project targeting state governments called "Impact of Government."

With the news industry laying off reporters, his idea is to fill a gap in coverage with all these spare journalists. But the new jobs won't precisely amount to truly independent ones — the reporters will have implicit obligations to Soros, who signs their paychecks.

Soros' idea isn't new. The model for this influence over the media via patronage journalism comes from Soros' allies Herb and Marion Sandler who made their fortune from issuing subprime mortgages. (OP added, interesting read on the Sandlers http://biggovernment.com/mvadum/2010/04/26/the-irresponsible-center-for-responsible-lending/ )

Leaving that business just ahead of the 2008 crash, they set up Pro Publica to conduct investigative reporting and give it away free to the mainstream media.

The strings seem to be showing on the Soros donation to NPR, too.

Days after the Soros windfall was announced, National Public Radio fired liberal news analyst Juan Williams after he expressed an inoffensive personal view on the popular Fox News Channel.

Up until then, opinions by NPR correspondents and analysts had been expressed in abundance, but Williams' statement on Fox, because it was expressed on Fox, amounted to apostasy. The firing sends a message that Fox is beyond the pale and must be silenced.

If it sounds far-fetched, then how does one explain that Soros also made his first direct donation to Media Matters last week, reportedly at $1 million, just after donating to NPR?

Led by disgraced journalist David Brock, Media Matters is a fringe-left nuisance organization that spends much of its time trying to dig up dirt on Fox News. Its Web site actually has a whole section devoted to criticizing Fox opinions and claiming they are lies.

The value to Soros is that it drives the news narrative leftward and attracts attention to its left-leaning message. After all, there's nothing the mainstream media in its vanity likes more than someone writing about it.

Yet another Soros donation worth noting came in September, when he shoveled $100 million to the nongovernmental organization Human Rights Watch. It came shortly after HRW's then-operations director, Suzanne Nossell, was caught on a secretive list called JournoList actively plotting with other Soros-funded leftists to smear the political campaign of then-vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

"I think it is and can be spun as a profoundly sexist pick. Women should feel umbrage at the idea that their votes can be attracted just by putting a woman, any woman, on the ticket no matter her qualifications or views," Nossell wrote to the others.

When news of that broke, Palin had become a Fox News commentator and the Soros donation followed.

These aren't the first forays into media that Soros has attempted.

His Center for American Progress is obsessed with media ownership and using the "Fairness Doctrine" to silence Fox News.

He's also ventured into crazy left-wing radio like Air America, which failed to attract enough listeners and went bust. But this new wave of donations seems to arise out of a desire to seize control of a message in the wake of Democrats' unpopular socialist policies.

We've got news for Soros — Fox News follows what the people think, it doesn't issue its views from the top down. All the same, there's something strange and disturbing about a radical left-wing billionaire so obsessed with the success of Fox News.

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAna...221913/George-Soros-War-Against-Fox-News.aspx

 

[DesiPower]

wow! lol, that was quick!

 

[Infohawk]

Bin Laden doesn't hijack airplanes himself.

That wasn't the question though, unless you're suggesting Bin Laden isn't a terrorist. Your point at best suggests he's not being reasonable. (Because it's bizarre to think people dressed in traditional Muslim garb could ever be violent.) But being unreasonable doesn't make you extreme.

"When I get on a plane," he said, "I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."

How is that extreme? He's just expressing his fears that I'm guessing many people around the world share.

 

[DesiPower]

I feel sorry for Juan Williams, its really very difficult to be liberal in today's society. You cannot speak your mind in this country or in the world for that matter unless you are speaking in favor of some minority group. Forget about any statement against minorities, even if you say something a little bit in favor of a majority group, like say, whites or Christians, you will be brought down no matter who you are.
If you speak you mind and inst exactly minority favoring, your opponents can say anything to you, all bets are off at that point, they can call you names, say the F or N or C words, call you bitch, whore even on prime time and its all OK, it will all be acceptable.

Previously Juan was asked to go back to the porch by Warren Ballentine and nothing happened him. And now a black person was called a psyco by a white woman and nothing happened to her, just beacuse she was liberal and he was conservative. Just imagine what could have happened if it was the other way round.... yes, we do live in a very sad time. Say what you want to say, but the history will look back at Fox news and its ppl as the last stand by humanity in favor of free speech and from being taken over by extremists, forcing things like Sharia law on everyone, even moderate muslims who dont want any part of it.

 

[bfdd]

That wasn't the question though, unless you're suggesting Bin Laden isn't a terrorist. Your point at best suggests he's not being reasonable. (Because it's bizarre to think people dressed in traditional Muslim garb could ever be violent.) But being unreasonable doesn't make you extreme.



How is that extreme? He's just expressing his fears that I'm guessing many people around the world share.

Lets not forget that little bit there isn't even the whole conversation. In context to the discussion anyone who picks out that he's being extreme is really just covering their eyes and ears yelling "NEENER NEENER NEENER I CANT HEAR YOU"