Bozell Column: NPR's Religion Double Standard
National Public Radio’s firing of Juan Williams tells you all you need to know about the radical, and thoroughly intolerant, Left. Juan Williams is a liberal, but still, he isn’t liberal enough. The idea that he would acknowledge a mere thought of discomfort at the idea of people in “Muslim garb” on airplanes in a post-9/11 world became a firing offense. It didn’t matter that he prefaced it with all the perfunctory and politically correct disclaimers about not being a bigot and we shouldn’t blame all Muslims for terrorism.
Fired.
Today’s Left is void of any principles whatsoever. They can be as astonishingly offensive and insulting as they want toward Christians, and no one gets punished. The indefatigable Catholic League provides the documentation.
On April 30 on NPR’s “Fresh Air,” substitute host David Bianculli raved over the leftist musical satirist and Harvard math professor Tom Lehrer for his Catholic-mocking 1965 song “The Vatican Rag.” It has lyrics like this: “Get in line in that processional, step into that small confessional, there a guy who’s got religion’ll tell you if your sin’s original.” Lehrer also sang “So you get down on your knees! Fiddle with your rosaries! Bow your head with great respect, and -- Genuflect! Genuflect! Genuflect!”
The NPR host raved over how on the recording, he loved “how the audience often explodes with joy -- sometimes in reaction to a rhyme, sometimes to the music, and sometimes because of the sheer audacity of the subject matter.”
Now imagine an NPR host raving over the “sheer audacity” of a Muslim-mocking ragtime song mocking all that bowing to Mecca and the ritual prayers – without them getting fired within 24 hours.
On July 19, 1997, NPR weekend anchor Scott Simon was also a Lehrer cheerleader. “I think ‘The Vatican Rag,’ do you mind me telling you, is your most thoroughly brilliant song?” he proclaimed to this anti-Catholic bigot. “There is a combination of shock and horror and laughter on first reaction at that song. It's just extraordinary.”
If that seems like a mild Sixties tune, consider what about 40 NPR stations aired in 2008 on the daily current events/comedy show “Fair Game with Faith Salie,” distributed by the group Public Radio International. They were joking about Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and his “secret” family recipes. "Boring holy wafers no more," one recipe began. "Take one Eucharist, preferably post-transubstantiation, deep-fry in fat, not vegetable oil, ladies, until crispy. Serve piping hot. Mike likes to top his Christ with whipped cream and sprinkles. But his wife, Janet, and the boys like theirs with heavy gravy and cream puffs. It goes great with red wine." The tag line, delivered by host Faith Salie, was, "Now that is just ridiculous. Everyone knows evangelicals don't even believe in transubstantiation."
That Catholic-insulting episode caused a hubbub in, of all places, Salt Lake City, Utah at NPR affiliate KCPW. But our vigilant national guardians against “Islamophobia” never noticed. NPR never expressed horror. The comedy show was canceled several months later for having no major corporate underwriter, although for a time, the supposedly classy magazine The Economist offered financial support. Salie naturally proclaimed she was mocking herself: "I am proudly a Christian and, specifically, a Catholic," she wrote one angry e-mailer in apology.
If satire is “fair game” – for only for some religions – then consider the news reporters. During the John Roberts Supreme Court nomination in 2005, NPR’s Nina Totenberg infamously proclaimed orthodox Catholicism should be a disqualifier for the high court: “Don't forget his wife was an officer, a high officer of a pro-life organization. He's got adopted children. I mean, he's a conservative Catholic…a hardline conservative.”
Adopting children was a frightening stand? But that’s not all. On the since-canceled show “Day to Day” (a collaboration of NPR and the liberal website Slate), Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick was asked if John Roberts would drift left, and she said nope, he’s too Catholic: “I also wouldn't underestimate the influence of his religion, that Scalia and Thomas, one of the reasons they may not have drifted leftward has a lot to do with very, very strong religious views that pull them to the right.”
With the nomination of Sam Alito a few weeks later, Lithwick suggested too many Catholics threatened the vaunted separation of church and state: “People are very, very much talking about the fact that Alito would be the fifth Catholic on the Supreme Court if confirmed.” No one was fired or disciplined for disapproving of “too many Catholics” on the Court.
But Mr. Williams was fired. When, oh when will Congress have the guts to defund this monstrosity called National Public Radio?
- Brent Bozell's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
Stewart-Colbert are what?
Submitted by okiehawk44 on Wed, 10/27/2010 - 2:35pm.
Did Huntley-Brinkley appear on NBC or the Comedy Channel? Of course nowadays it's hard to tell the difference except that the Comedy Channel has viewers.
Maybe this is the time
Submitted by griv on Wed, 10/27/2010 - 6:08pm.
I do believe that if next Tuesday turns out as hoped that this will be the first REAL opportunity to yank the purse strings from NPR. I firmly believe Americans will find it very difficult to justify continued funding for an obviously hard-left, liberal-biased "public" broadcasting network that has little or no accountability. Especially now since Georgie Soros basically "owns" them.
Ole Juan might end up being a hero before it's all said and done.
China Wholesaler Town -
Submitted by jywhy999 (not verified) on Sat, 11/13/2010 - 6:00am.
China Wholesaler Town - China's most viable wholesale supplier of promotional gifts, Wholesale Umbrella you can customize your own logo, no matter anywhere in the world! Wholesale Lighter Successful corporations realize Wholesale Camera that well-planned and well-executed employee incentives play an important Wholesale Speakersrole in helping reach objectives, Wholesale Razor building company morale, Wholesale Jewelryand rewarding both the employees and the valued customers.Wholesale Socks With promotional and novelty gift items, China Wholesale Town Wholesale Furniture International became a specialist in providing branding services. Recorder Pen We proud ourselves in being fast and accurate. Wholesale Scarf We can put your logo on all the products from our OEM / ODM ection. Wholesale Chair Most of our items can be decorated with logo or personalized with personal engraving. ladies Briefcase We delivering to virtually every country in the world Computer Desk. Our warehouse and office
are staffed by a young team of Chinese and Western staff Vacuum Storage Bag . Our professional staff will contact you as soon as possible to provide you with the best quality service through the mail and the telephone.Wholesale Briefcase We can provide customers around the world with many well-produced goods and good service,Wholesale Toys because of many years of
experience in friendly and Wholesale Stress Ball cooperative relations with many Chinese factories and suppliers. Wholesale Fan Here you can find all the most popular, Wholesale Clocks stylish, high-quality goods. Wholesale Sweatshirt China Suppliers, Custom Logo Imprinted, Wholesale Wallet Promotional Products, Promotional Gifts, Promotional Items, Waterproof Waist Pack Wholesale Suppliers, Wholesale Merchandise, Dropship Wholesale, Wholesale Accessories, Wholesale Directory China Wholesale Town - Most Reliable China Wholesale Suppliers, Wholesale Ashtray Custom Logo Imprinted Promotional Gifts, Promotional Items Products, Giveaway Material!Wholesale Pen If you want to start your business with some daily used items, Wholesale Pillow here is the site you need to check. It offeres many products like Bottle Opener, T-Shirts, Carabiner Wholesale Frisbee and Umbrella, Pen, Wholesale Carabiner ect. Under each product section, there are some detailes classification. For Wholesale Keychain, there are Coffee Mug, Water Bottle. For Wholesale Socks and Wholesale USB Products, there are also some detailed classifications. Wholesale Waterproof Case China Wholesale Town - China's most viable wholesale supplier of Promotional Gifts, you can customize your own logo, no matter anywhere in the world! China Wholesale Town - Most Reliable China Wholesale Suppliers, Custom Logo Imprinted Promotional Gifts, Promotional Products Items, Giveaway Material! If you want to start your business with some daily used items, Wholesale Kitchenware here is the site you need to check. It offeres many products like Wholesale Pom Poms, T-Shirts, Carabiner Wholesale First Aid Kit and Umbrella, Pen, Bottle Opener ect. Under each product section, there are some detailes classification. For Wholesale Cup, there are Coffee Mug, Water Bottle. For Wholesale Clap Hands and Wholesale Water Bottle, there are also some detailed classifications. China Wholesale Town - China's most viable wholesale supplier of Promotional Gifts, you can customize your own logo, no matter anywhere in the world! Wholesale Apron Top China Wholesaler-Buy Wholesale Promotional Gifts Promotional Products from China Our main products are consumer electronics, gifts and souvenirs, Wholesale Lanyard, health care products, beauty products, Wholesale Carabiner, automobile parts, household items, plastic products, metal products, Wholesale Mug, kitchen supplies, stationery, sports goods, toys, Wholesale Christmas Gifts, watches, leather products, etc. Tips for Choosing Sports Wholesale Halloween Gift; One Way To Protect Your Device - Wholesale Waterproof Case; Introduce The Wholesale Lanyard For You; Customized Cheaply Prices Promotional Caps-Wholesale Bag; And the Wholesale Clothes Rack also gradually become recognized best promotional product; Buying A Gift For your Friend Who Likes Reading-Wholesale Golf Products; Customized Printed Wholesale Vase
Personalization/Engraving Services
Some items, such as Crystal Award and Metal Coaster and Metal Money Clip and Metal Luggage Tag and Metal Keychain etc, crystal material or metal material products. Camera Tripod require a plate to be added for engraving. Wholesale Clothing These plates can added as your request.Bean Bag
Debossing/Embossing
Debossing services are offered on leather items. Such as Leather Wallet and Leather Mouse Pad and Conference Folder and Leather Name Card Holder etc, Debossing is a method that depresses yor company name or logo down into the surface of a leather item. Eye Mask Wholesale EarphoneThis method displays your company logo through the leather goods without color, Water Guncommonly known as "blind debossing". Wholesale MatWe use this method to ensure quality of your goods. Over time, Wholesale Keyboardcolor that is added to leather will fade or flake away.
Screen/Silk Screen PrintingWholesale Jacket
Screen or silkcreen printing is popular for our non-textile products. Poncho RaincoatThis screening can be either single or multicolored. such as Pen and and USB Flash Drive and Tape Measure and Mug and Water Bottle and Umbrella and Inflatable etc, plastic material, leather material, metal material, Wholesale Knifesilicone material, rubber material, Wholesale Candletextile material are available.
EmbroideryWholesale Mouse
At Corporate Snobs we pride ourselves in offering some of the best choices of customization in the industry.Wholesale Calculator
Our embroidery options are available for most of our monogrammed Tote Bag and Apron and Cap and Embroidery Coaster and Towel etc textile products.
Decoration styles vary per item. PVC Vase Each decoration style will be listed in the product page. Wholesale Mp3For various products, Wholesale Tie decoration options are available for customer to choose type of engraving desired. BB GunsThis will be noted as a choice with the item.Wholesale Earphone Promotional Products, Promotional Gifts, Electric Shaver Promotional items from China, Toy Guns Custom-made gift Wholesale, Promotional Giveaway Material! Sport Watch Wholesale Merchandise, Safety Belt Wholesale Suppliers, Wholesale Dropship, Door Mat Wholesale Distributors, Wholesale Accessories, Wholesale Watch Wholesale Directory, Discount Wholesaler Flexi Vase