NPR Makes Light of Death Threat Against Business Bearing Koch Brothers Name
NPR's Renee Montagne apparently didn't take an alleged death threat seriously, as she practically chuckled during a report on Friday's Morning Edition about anti-Koch brothers protesters mistakenly calling a Des Moines, Iowa business named Koch Brothers office supplies.
Substitute co-host Mary Louise Kelly, noted that "Charles and David Koch are the billionaire owners of a giant industrial conglomerate based in Wichita, Kansas. They've poured millions into conservative and anti-union causes. People who don't like their politics have sent many critical e-mails and letters, even death threats, to Dutch Koch."
Before she injected her bizarre sense of humor into the report, the NPR personality continued, "You could also say that Dutch Koch is a Koch brother. He runs Koch Brothers Office Supplies in Des Moines, Iowa."
After playing a sound bite of the Hawkeye State's Mr. Koch, one could perceptibly notice that Montagne barely contained her snicker as she stated that "Dutch Koch says it's not the first time he's been mistaken for the other Kochs. People have also confused him with the big soda maker."
Kelly gave a more straight delivery as she ended the report by furthering its unserious tone: "He says he wants people to know he is not a billionaire, sadly, nor politically active. He does not say which cola he prefers."
On Tuesday, Michelle Malkin highlighted how the "real" Koch Companies' president for government and public affairs, Philip Ellender, blasted NPR for its apparent inconsistency in "promoting a civil conversation" over the past months: "There is nothing even remotely funny about a person’s life being threatened and NPR ought to be ashamed that simple fact of decency has to be pointed out....I would like to ask for some formal explanation of how NPR could have allowed a segment on this subject to be presented on the air in this fashion?"
The full transcript of the report from Friday's Morning Edition:
MARY LOUISE KELLY: Our 'Last Word in Business' is the Brothers Koch. Charles and David Koch are the billionaire owners of a giant industrial conglomerate based in Wichita, Kansas. They've poured millions into conservative and anti-union causes. People who don't like their politics have sent many critical e-mails and letters, even death threats, to Dutch Koch.
RENEE MONTAGNE: You could also say that Dutch Koch is a Koch brother. He runs Koch Brothers Office Supplies in Des Moines, Iowa.
DUTCH KOCH, KOCH BROTHERS OFFICE SUPPLIES: Well, it's not business as usual for a little office supply company to have to field people who are virulent in their opinions regarding matters other than office supplies.
MONTAGNE: Dutch Koch says it's not the first time he's been mistaken for the other Kochs. People have also confused him with the big soda maker.
KELLY: He says he wants people to know he is not a billionaire, sadly, nor politically active. He does not say which cola he prefers.
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Comments
Cute
Submitted by nkviking75 on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 5:48pm.
Aw, isn't that cute. Liberals acting like thugs. Ya gotta love it. (sarcasm off)
“Always love your country — but never trust your government!" -- Bob Novak (1931-2009)
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Not the only journolistic sin of the day...
Submitted by andrew - des moines on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 6:09pm.
NPR did a story on Iraq violence and ended by reviewing three possible motivations for an assassination as put forth by people interviewed. One of the possibilities was that the U.S. was behind the assassination. The reporter stated that in today's Iraq, any of the possibilities could be true.
Overplaying
Submitted by Caringwhiteguy on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 7:56pm.
Thugs continue to overplay their hands. The media chuckles. The public finds both the thugs and the media offensive.
Regardless of the misapprehended identities...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 8:12pm.
the party to whom the actual death threats in question were directed is Dutch Koch, not Charles and David Koch. And any complaint about the light-hearted tone of NPR's report would be more appropriately his to make rather than the highly offended Mr. Ellender whose thundering and creative outrage at NPR is telling but unsurprising.
Jer
So, Jer,
Submitted by 26CX on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 8:21pm.
it's not appropriate to render an opinion on a news organization's commentary unless you are the direct object of whatever activity is the subject of the commentary?
CX...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 8:49pm.
To render an opinion, yes. To criticize, absolutely. To "blast" NPR with overblown indignation in this case, misguided.
Jer
Jer,
Submitted by 26CX on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 8:58pm.
So when you wrote "And any complaint about the light-hearted tone of NPR's report would be more appropriately his to make rather than the highly offended Mr. Ellender... ' you didn't mean any complaint, just complaints accompanied with overblown indignation?
CX...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 9:10pm.
I meant any grievance more appropriately belongs to Dutch Koch since he is the one who was actually targeted, but I can see how my wording may be construed as denying Ellender's right to complain at all. So your point is well taken.
Jer
What are you saying Jer?*
Submitted by cajun2 on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 8:16pm.
If a client had his money stolen by a crooked lawyer and went after you instead of the guy across the street, would we be over reacting if we offered some outrage or concern?
cajun...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 8:41pm.
If NPR aired a "the lives of the right-wing billionaire Koch brothers are being threatened...isn't that hilarious" report, it would then be an indisputable matter for serious concern and condemnation.
In this case, there may have been grounds for some measured criticism, but it seems to me Mr. Ellender allowed his anti-NPR animus to twist the context and manufacture far more outrage than the circumstances warranted.
Jer
Not me Jer*
Submitted by cajun2 on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 8:46pm.
I am often outraged by the callousness of people toward others. As we become more and more emotionally detached and self serving, then we could become a society where "anything goes" as long as it doesnt affect me. And the degree of "anything goes" is what scares the helloutta me.
I am too, cajun...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 8:55pm.
Do you believe NPR was callous toward Dutch Koch, the recipient of the death threats? Do you know whether or not he has fired off a letter to NPR blasting Ms. Montagne for her callousness?
Jer
Ok Jer*
Submitted by cajun2 on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 9:05pm.
When a poster at NB makes a blatant racist comment do you respond? Of course you do because I have seen you do that even though it was not directed at you.
When Wonkette belittled Trig Palin and Wonkette actually defended their actions were you ourtraged or should just Sarah and Todd be outraged?
We have taxpayer money paying to murder unborn children. Do you accept that an unborn has no right to life or are you outraged?
When our own DOJ chooses not to enforce our own federal laws, are you not outraged?
I can be offended for Dutch Koch never having met him, heard his comments, or know his thoughts on the matter.
Atrocities and offensive behavior in our society do cause me to be outraged at times. Is that because I am "overly sensitive" or "intolerant" or because I fear the boundaries of what we tolerate and dont is ever changing to the least involved, ever growing detached society.
This should be good
Submitted by Boudin on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 9:14pm.
No doubt we have a parody coming soon,
cajun...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 9:55pm.
Are you offended by the sexist, disrespectful, disparaging mockery of Michele Obama which occurs at this website? Do you respond to it? How about Rush's mockery of Michael J. Fox? Coulter's mockery of the Jersey Girls? Were you upset by it?
Are you outraged by the selective enforcement of laws by the DOJ during any administration or just this one? Or does it depend upon the law in question and your ideology? Would you be outraged by your taxes funding a war which you believed to be immoral and unjustified?
We can bounce this ball back and forth all night. But, I think you and I both lament the general coarsening of behavior and the troubling decline of civility. But I don't consider this rather trivial instance involving NPR and the three Kochs to be a worthy case to advance the cause toward a more harmonious and genteel society.
Jer
I am an old lady Jer*
Submitted by cajun2 on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 10:05pm.
You keep moving the goal posts and I am too old to be chasing you for another 100 yards.
Murder threats are not trivial but we can agree that it does seem to be a general decay in our society on many different levels. With that, bon soire Jer.
Just a minute there "old lady"...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 10:16pm.
I'm trying to confine the discussion to NPR and the Koch guys, and you bring up Wonkette, the Palins, abortion, and the DOJ...and you say I'M moving the goal posts? My goal posts weren't moved an inch. It just appeared that they were because you're zigging and zagging down the field like a 19 year-old halfback. :-)
Jer
What did I tell you Deuce
Submitted by Boudin on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 10:16pm.
Jer wont defend his ideology or the folks who push it. He will simply find some vague comparison and call it a day. He is as predictable as mud, after a Louisiana rain.
Always good to see you, Boudin...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 10:20pm.
A day without you stalking me is like a day without sunshine.
Jer
Agree or not, Jer---
Submitted by matthewdean on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 10:29pm.
Boudin makes some interesting points.
Other than Boudin, though, I think you have most of the rest of all NB conservatives wrapped up tight and coming around to your liberal viewpoints.
Press on.
MD
Yes, matthew...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 10:39pm.
Boudin is very capable of making some interesting points. Unfortunately, very few of the interesting ones are about me or my posts.
Jer
I was going to predict you would try to marginalize me
Submitted by Boudin on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 10:31pm.
But I then I figured you might name call instead, so I guess you got me there Jer. BTW, is it still stalking when you reply to me? Yea, thought so.
Shame you haven't the courage to defending your crummy ideology.
Jer, Are the Newsbusters
Submitted by JoeBob on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 11:42pm.
Jer,
Are the Newsbusters posters, Rush Limbaugh, or Ann Coulter subsidized by taxpayer dollars? And how many strikes does NPR get before they are finally called out?
JoeBob...
Submitted by Jer on Wed, 04/27/2011 - 3:06am.
I support NPR and Public Broadcasting, but I also strongly believe that the very concept of taxpayer funding demands ideological neutrality, and to the extent it fails in that regard--and, moreover, reflects a liberal bias--conservatives have every right to complain about it, to insist upon change, and in lieu thereof, to move to defund it.
Having said that, I just don't see, IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, any glaring evidence of egregious conduct or ideological tilt.
Jer
Jer, somewhat off topic
Submitted by Par for the Course on Wed, 04/27/2011 - 7:39am.
Jer, somewhat off topic, but I saw the following and thought I'd pass it along.
Vivian Schiller Urges Commercial Media to 'Embrace Audience as Partners
Thanks, PftC...not too much off topic.
Submitted by Jer on Wed, 04/27/2011 - 8:43am.
I appreciate the link. Overall, Schiller's remarks are impressive for their essential reasonableness in contrast to her stunningly inept authorship of the Juan Williams Disaster which may very well represent the single most damaging blow to the integrity of National Public Radio in its fifty-year history--while the could-not-have-been-worse timing of her blundering severely compounded its calamitous effects.
Personally, I hope the future will prove the incident served as a catalyst for serious introspection and re-evaluation of the programming and philosophy of NPR and Public Broadcasting from which a policy of strict ideological neutrality in reporting and unwavering fidelity to balance in opinion will have emerged. Prospects for continued survival are tenuous as it is. A failure to address those issues will guarantee its eventual demise.
Jer
Fair enough on your rating of
Submitted by JoeBob on Wed, 04/27/2011 - 2:31pm.
Fair enough on your rating of this as inconsequential. To the extent, however, that NPR failed to decry the treatment of Mr. Koch (or even the other Kochs) with the same vehemence that they reserved for all those ill-treated on the other side of the political spectrum, their bias is showing, inconsequential or not.
Along with all the other indicators of bias that this site details (the William's affair you mentioned below, for example), is it any wonder that sentiment has moved into the caution zone where even supposedly inconsequential moves can push a system past an unrecoverable red line?
Ah... the diversity of NPR's
Submitted by PeskyDane on Wed, 04/27/2011 - 8:34am.
Ah... the diversity of NPR's lineup:
Today on Morning Edition: The great job Obama is doing and the reasons you are just to stupid to see it.
Today on All things considered: The great job Obama is doing and the reasons you are just to stupid to see it.
Today on Fresh Air: The great job Obama is doing and the reasons you are just to stupid to see it.
Today on On The Media: The great job Obama is doing and the reasons you are just to stupid to see it.
Today on On Point: The great job Obama is doing a the reasons you are just to stupid to see it.
Today on Talk of the Nation: The great job Obama is doing and the reasons you are just to stupid to see it.
Today on Tell Me More: The great job Obama is doing and the reasons you are just to stupid to see it.
Today on Weekend Edition: : The great job Obama is doing and the reasons you are just to stupid to see it.
Today on Marketplace: The great job Obama is doing and the reasons you are just to stupid to see it.
Today on Arts and Life: The great job Obama is doing and the reasons you are just to stupid to see it.
Today on Car Talk: The great job Obama is doing and the reasons you are just to stupid to see it.
Today on Radiolab:The great job Obama is doing and the reasons you are just to stupid to see it.
Today on Snap Judgment: The great job Obama is doing and the reasons you are just to stupid to see it.
Today on Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me: The great job Obama is doing and the reasons you are just to stupid to see it.
Today on This American Life: The great job Obama is doing and the reasons you are just to stupid to see it.
And my personal favorite - Today on A Prairie Home Companion: Well, you get the idea.
That's generally true, Pesky...but in the interest of accuracy
Submitted by Jer on Wed, 04/27/2011 - 8:54am.
it should be pointed out that on "Talk of the Nation" Obama's golf game was rated as only "fair...but with the clear potential for greatness".
Jer
Jer - you know I love you,
Submitted by PeskyDane on Wed, 04/27/2011 - 10:43am.
Jer - you know I love you, bro.
And yes, any listener to NPR will know that I'm totaly reaching with "Car Talk." :-)
Is this a surprise? Liberals
Submitted by talkradio55 on Wed, 04/27/2011 - 11:48pm.
Is this a surprise? Liberals are morally depraved thugs who believe that any criminal behavior they engage in is justified.
Their new motto: If you lie, cheat, steal; rape, pillage, plunder; break things, burn cities, and kill people, you will have a bright future in the Democrat Party.