The firing of National Public Radio’s only prominent black male journalist, Juan Williams, is finding its way into a Congressional race in Montana.
The Montana Watchdog’s Michael Noyes has this:
Democratic Congressional Candidate Dennis McDonald said the Republicans are playing politics with the controversy.
“I’m very much in support of NPR and I’m disappointed that my Republican friends are trying to take advantage of an incident that I think has been largely misconstrued,” McDonald told Montana Watchdog on Friday.
McDonald said he supports NPR’s decision to fire Williams.
Rehberg’s office issued the following statement on Friday afternoon, “Denny thinks that all federal funding – not just for National Public Radio – needs to be carefully examined and justified before Congress allocates another dollar. That’s part of the comprehensive plan for spending reform that he’s been fighting for in Congress.”
Noyes reported that Montana Public Radio stations get 15% of their funding from the federal government.
William Marcus, general manager for Montana Public Radio, said his station has received about 15 to 20 emails and around that many phone calls from people about the decision to fire Williams. Marcus said most of the contacts have been critical of the action with about two or three in favor.
“I personally support the decision,” Marcus said. “I believe in the ethical standards that NPR has put forward for all our journalists.”
Of course, Juan Williams was fired after having made remarks that the higher ups at NPR felt were anti-Muslim, even though the full context of his remarks make it plain as day that was not the case. One can only imagine if Williams instead opined about feeling uncomfortable in a room full of gun-toting, tea party, ranchers in North Central Montana- this wouldn’t be an issue at all.
Comments
Mitchell Waylett
Saturday, October 30, 2010 4:09 PM
It’s time to establish the separation of news and state. Journalists should not work for the government. Taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize news and public-affairs programming.”
David Boaz Baltimore Sun, June 27, 2005.
Dear Congressman Rehberg,
David Boaz wrote an article over five years ago detailing why Public Broadcasting should not be funded by taxpayers. I whole heartedly agree. Although this subject has been brought front and center by the recent unwarranted firing of Juan Williams, PBS is well known for its liberal bias.
I am a conservative, and I have listened to Montana PBS for a long time. (I have sent some funding to PBS in the past). Quite frankly I enjoy some of the programs that PBS sends on its airwaves, but the consistent liberal undercurrent reduces their credibility.
Last week William Marcus, General manager of KUFM, said that he fully supported NPR’s firing of Juan Williams. Obviously the local stations management philosophy mirrors the unethical stance of its parent organization, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Please introduce or support legislation that is intended to de-fund all Public Broadcasting, taxpayers should not be subsidizing this extremely liberal organization any longer.
Sincerely,
Mitchell K. Waylett