NPR Hates Fox: After CAIR Demand for Action, NPR Fires Juan Williams for O'Reilly Factor Comments
It shouldn't be shocking that as many NPR stations are conducting pledge drives of their liberal audiences, NPR has found a pretext to fire its longtime analyst Juan Williams for an appearance on Fox News. NPR listeners have complained loud and long that NPR analysts should not dignify that right-wing media outlet with their presence. Williams admitted on The O'Reilly Factor "when I get on the plane, 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."
It should be noted that the Council for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) sent around a press release on Wednesday afternoon. CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad called for action against Williams: "Such irresponsible and inflammatory comments would not be tolerated if they targeted any other racial, ethnic or religious minority, and they should not pass without action by NPR." The New York Times somehow omitted CAIR from its Juan-is-gone story.
Saying that Muslims scare you after 9/11 or the failed Christmas Day bombing over Detroit is apparently "inconsistent" with and intolerable of NPR's editorial standards.
"Tonight we gave Juan Williams notice that we are terminating his contract as a Senior News Analyst for NPR News," NPR said in a statement.
"Juan has been a valuable contributor to NPR and public radio for many years and we did not make this decision lightly or without regret. However, his remarks on The O'Reilly Factor this past Monday were inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR. """''''''''''''''''''"''
Alicia Shepard, NPR's ombudsman, told the minorities-in-journalism blog Journal-isms by e-mail, "My office spent most of Wednesday fielding phone calls and emails from NPR listeners angry and upset by what Juan Williams said about Muslims. We got at least 60 emails and that was in response to something he said on another network. My job is NPR’s content – not Fox’s. While this must have been a tough decision since Juan joined NPR in 2000, I think NPR’s management made the right call."
Williams is conferring with his wife and has made no public statement.
Earlier: Fox-Phobic NPR Veep Tells Williams to Scrub NPR Affiliation From His O'Reilly Factor Appearances
- Tim Graham's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
Credibility?
Submitted by Model850 on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 8:54am.
NPR says Juan telling the truth undermines his credibility as a news analyst. Yeah, that's about right. Can't have NPR "analysts" telling the truth after all!
But of course
Submitted by KC Mulville on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 8:57am.
That's journalistic cowardice. They were looking for a way to get rid of Williams as a statement against Fox. The idea that a paid employee would actually express an opinion that everyone has - gasp, get me the smelling salts!
Once again, we wonder why we are forced to fund a desperately liberal media outlet that openly disdains the people who fund it.
Not only NPR
Submitted by jon_torlin on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:20am.
But CAIR needs to be removed/dissolved. Regardless of what NPR is, no organization, especially a terrorist-backed organization like CAIR should have that easy an influence against any radio station and otherwise.
I'm sick to death of them. And even more so of the lack of action against them.
-Jon
PR
Submitted by Joe the Cop on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 10:56am.
The rational recourse would be to not donate to public broadcasting. Of course, they still get government funding; I suppose one could ask their representative to cut it. While we're on the subject, I wonder if CAIR proceeded to make a donation once Mr. Williams had his walking papers.
I don't think they needed to, Joe
Submitted by Galvanic on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 12:00pm.
CAIR merely expresses its displeasure, and the media (and Congress) will jump.
Unfortunately, our tax dollars are the donation to NPR.
Welcome to Journo-terrorism, comrades!
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 10:56am.
When we are a truly Leftist State (which we are fast approaching), this will be the order of the day. Of course, they may add stoning to your dismissal.
Ain't Fascism great?!?!
I think you're right, KC
Submitted by Galvanic on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:58am.
I suspect that NPR has never been comfortable with Williams' assocation with Fox News, and particularly after some MSM types have questioned why any journalist or "progressive" politician would agree to appear on it. Lacking a contractual clause prohibitng his appearances, they needed a reason to swing the ax.
CAIR gave them the excuse they were waiting for .
It would be interesting to see if there are quotes by the likes of Bill Moyers, Tavis Smiley, Gwen Ifill, or others that could be construed as anti-Christian or anti-white, and if so, confront NPR with the evidence and ask why they hadn't terminated the offender.
I guess we will be see more
Submitted by ninerdog on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:21am.
I guess we will be see more of him on fox. I have always thought he was not as liberal as he put on. It would be interesting if fox gave him his own show. Ya never know.
Oh he's a card-carrying liberal water carrier
Submitted by Blonde on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:25am.
No doubt about it.
A few weeks ago, he was spinning the democrat talking points like such a whirling dervish that Chris Wallace actually pulled his plug by uttering "Say Good-Bye, Juan". I may have been imagining it, but I think Chris even rolled his eyes!
NPR no doubt used this "opportunity" to fire Juan in punishment for his association with Fox News. Look out Mara!
While I don't feel sorry for Juan, I hope this little episode will make him consider how mistaken his liberal tendencies are.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
I don’t know about
Submitted by ninerdog on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:01am.
I don’t know about that. I am not saying I disagree with you about him I am saying that sometimes he seems like he does not believe what he is saying. Maybe that is the water carrying you’re talking about. I just get the feeling he is not as big of a lib as he puts on.
You could be right
Submitted by Blonde on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:10am.
Who knows? Everyone is entitled to their opinion, after all.
He sometimes seems very reasonable and agrees with a point conservatives make on the panel. Other times, he just goes off the deep end with the talking points and defense of all things Obama.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Have not been around much
Submitted by ninerdog on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:14am.
Have not been around much lately. How ya been??
Great, niner
Submitted by Blonde on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 2:36pm.
Nice to have you back, here.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Like this morning
Submitted by ckc1227 on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 2:32pm.
"Other times, he just goes off the deep end with the talking points"
On Fox and Friends, he said Tea Partiers are racists.
He's not as radical a Liberal as you think.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:03am.
I just think he's really stupid!
That's the Obama Plan to "fundamentally transform this nation." Get enough ruthless, dedicated communists and Fascists elected or in charge of the unions (note what's happening in Europe), convince the loopy liberal idiots in the press to follow you, and before you know it we're in the midst of a full blown revolution.
Don't you love it when a plan comes together?
All conspiracies ain't theories.
Juan has been a target for a while now.
Submitted by c5then on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:24am.
They have just been looking for a reason. Poor Juan has let his guard down. After being on FoxNews for a while now, he actually was comfortable telling the truth and not always parsing his thoughts through the NPR PC filter.
Hopefully Rodger Ailes offers him a more full-time position to offset the betrayal by NPR.
Mara Liason had better watch out. She is next on the NPR hit list, I'm sure.
The truth about the 9/11 terrorists:
They almost all came from Saudi Arabia
They were all either middle class or upper class
They did it for religious reasons
They were all Muslim
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
Jinx, C5
Submitted by Blonde on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:27am.
I said the same thing about Mara. I think you beat me by a minute. :)
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Juan's not a "real" black.
Submitted by motherbelt on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:54am.
Not only from NPR, but from "real" blacks.
Here, a black radio host calls Juan a porch monkey.
Hopesully FoxNews will pick up Mr. Williams fulltime
Submitted by Deskpilot on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:32am.
It will shore up their "FAIR AND BALANCED" moniker by having another liberal on their staff. Though not as far left as Alan Colmes, Williams is noehteless a liberal and will fit well to FoxNews.
Mr. Ailes should jump at this opportunity.
Except...
Submitted by retrocon on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:07am.
Except, of course, that this will make Juan, who is not stupid, think about what just happened to him. I suspect that he will question the intolerance of the left from which he comes, and move, at least, a little bit to the right.
So, i hope that Roger Ailes does hire Juan, but i suspect they might get a former liberal, burned by the intolerance of those he believed to be the tolerant.
Hopefully this will be a
Submitted by Seashell on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:32am.
Hopefully this will be a blessing in disguise for Juan. Bigger and better things await him I'm sure.
The howler of the piece....
Submitted by motherbelt on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:37am.
From the CAIR statement: "Such irresponsible and inflammatory comments would not be tolerated if they targeted any other racial, ethnic or religious minority.... (sorry, I forgot to insert that the first time)I agree with NPR. We can't have people saying things like that. In fact, I think that, in order to prove that we are not suspicious of Muslims, the TSA ought to exempt all Muslims from security checks at airports. Just to prove that we trust them.
I wonder...
Submitted by retrocon on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:20am.
I wonder, would NPR fire a reporter who defended some of that anti-Christian crap as "art?"
Would NPR censure a reporter or commentator who made negatives comments about any other religion or belief?
One sample, Joe Palca, Nation Public Radio in a segment called:
"God vs. Science: Keeping creationism out of school"
asked Dr. Kenneth Miller, an anti-Creationist,
"...[in the US] the numbers of people who don't believe in evolution are either static or growing. Where's the problem, essentially?"
I don't know, that strikes me as anti-religion, anti-Christian. And it questions the intelligence of many who see evolution only as an an un proven theory. Where's the outrage? Why haven't they fired Palca?
Hey, you can NOT show me definitive evidence of interspecies evolution that ties man to amoeba, but i can show you definitive proof that muslims do bad things on airplanes.
Amen, MB
Submitted by ThisnThat on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 12:34pm.
If they exempt muslims, I'll start wearing a turbine and practice saying "allah is great" through every airport.
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
Williams has been associated
Submitted by Jer on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:35am.
Williams has been associated with Fox News for thirteen years and NPR for eleven.
Why would NPR suddenly wish to "make a statement" against Fox? It's the same NPR; the same Fox; and the same Williams--with the same interrelationship and alignments as have existed for the past decade. On the other hand, if it is believed the decision is the product of a long-standing desire, I'm reasonably certain a pretext could have been ginned up years ago.
Jer
I agree with you, Jer
Submitted by motherbelt on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:39am.
(I'll give you a minute to get yourself up off the floor)
They could have gotten rid of him at any time.
I think it's the fact that CAIR has their jockeys in a wad over this that made them do it.
Except Juan was firmly in the
Submitted by Newsbusterbrown on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:44am.
Except Juan was firmly in the liberal camp 13 years ago, Jer. While still a liberal, he has been to a lesser extent in the past 10 years, however.
“There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Jer, NPR has been looking to
Submitted by bassndude on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:51am.
Jer, NPR has been looking to get rid of Williams sence he took the positions at FOX. When he went to work for FOX, NPR demoted him to "analyst". Williams appearing on FOX has been a sore spot with NPR from the beginning. They were just looking for any excuse to dump him.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal/troll!!
I would pay big bucks to see
Submitted by Ruths husband Ben on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 10:22am.
I would pay big bucks to see Juan go on TV claiming that he was fired for leaving the NPR plantation. :)
An unstable relationship
Submitted by KC Mulville on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 10:52am.
"the same interrelationship and alignments as have existed for the past decade."
That's where (with respect) I disagree. I don't think the relationship was ever stable. It was always in flux, and I argue that this is a sign of NPR's simmering unhappiness with Fox reaching a boiling point. What they were willing to put up with before is now intolerable. All they needed was the slightest cause, and they chose this incident to be the cause.
The reason I argue that is because I can't see any justification in the cause they cited. When they fire you for a flimsy cause, you always suspect that the real reason lies elsewhere. So, since I think what Williams said is hardly objectionable, I suspect the cause lies elsewhere.
You may be right, KC.
Submitted by Jer on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 12:09pm.
You may be right, KC. I note that NPR has been pressuring Williams for the past year or so to cease disclosing his relationship with NPR when appearing on Fox. So this could have been brewing for awhile with NPR waiting for a 'plausible' reason to pull the trigger.
Jer
Agreed
Submitted by KC Mulville on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 12:32pm.
The test, of course, will be Mara Liasson. As someone suggested earlier, she might have to watch out.
If they don't pressure Liasson to avoid Fox, maybe it wasn't just an excuse after all, and they really were upset about this specific remark. Which would only leave us aghast that CAIR has veto power over NPR, a taxpayer-funded station.
Philosophically, it sets up an interesting discussion about the First Amendment. As you know, the freedoms of religion, speech, press, etc., are all covered by the same amendment. Why is the state forbidden to establish a church, but not forbidden to establish a press? Why is the state forbidden to be coercive about religion, but they're allowed to coerce about the press? (They tell Juan Williams what stations he's allowed to appear on, and what he's allowed to say.)
According to legal theory, if the press and religion are totally different worlds, why are they both covered by the same amendment? Do these activities share a common quality that's being protected by law, or are they completely separate? Or were the Founders simply saving on ink?
You overlook the news item yesterday, Jer
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:09am.
George Soros just admitted effectively buying "controlling interest" in NPR for only a lousy $1,000,000!
Personally, I think he paid way too much.
I was just about ready to reply to Jer
Submitted by ThisnThat on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 12:40pm.
by saying "follow the money", when I read your post, bubba. Money is the real reason. Soros is pushing all sorts of buttons these days. Why? Perhaps because he sees his political setup falling apart on Nov 2? I don't know, but he all of a sudden went public with his donation to Media Matters, too.
But I still think NPR has lost its mind. With a republican takeover of Congress; and with NPR publically catering to a CAIR demand -- what makes NPR think their going to remain on the public teat after Nove 2? Soros must be exhibiting a lot of influence over there -- or there's some other reason for this type of insanity.
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
Jer, also don't forget...
Submitted by retrocon on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:25am.
The Obama administration has made it "policy" to criticize Fox, and deride them as "not news." Considering that "greenlight," it only really took 2 years to find a reason, not 10.
wow- 60 emails....
Submitted by notinstl on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:38am.
...that must have been about 90% of the national audience for NPR...
Please add NPR to the list of government functions to dispose of....
and, Juan, you now know how "tolerant" libs are of others opinions....
"...that must have been about
Submitted by ML Stovall on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 10:06am.
"...that must have been about 90% of the national audience for NPR................................ lol. That's what I was thinking, notinstl. Hopefully Juan will finally see the true hypocritical nature of the supposedly 'tolerant' liberal media and the vicious nature of Islamist groups like CAIR. And maybe Juan will have more and better opportunities at FOX News now. I know Juan's a flaming liberal but I like him and think he's an honorable man. I do respect his opinion even if I usually disagree with him, unlike that smarmy creep, Alan Colmes. I'm sure I wouldn't like Colmes even if he was the founder of the TEA Party movement and/or the NRA President.
Flaming liberal? You gotta
Submitted by Jer on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:55am.
Flaming liberal? You gotta be kidding. There are numerous liberal pundits well to the left of Williams.
Jer
Can't Allow Intelligent Reasoning........ CAIR
Submitted by Tomorama on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:39am.
If he said that as a Black man at a tea party rally, he felt nervous around all "those white people" the pussy liberal progressives would have nodded their heads in unison and he would have been awarded a Pulitizer.
National Pubic radio, we pay for it and this is the "ilk" they support??????
I have no problem with what he said, IT IS TRUE and ANYONE with an ounce of credibility FEELS the same way, sorry, after how many 100 or so attacks around the world, WHEN T F are we allowed to "develop a pattern" in our minds?
I am outraged! I disagree
Submitted by Mazzi on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:47am.
I am outraged! I disagree with about 90% of William's opinions, but he has the right to have these opinions, and the right to say them.
In fact, he should (technically) have MORE right to say them, as a journalist employed by a taxpayer funded <cough>news<cough> organization than if he were employed by a private news organization.
On the other hand, consider this - Juan Williams is almost a household name. What other NPR hacks can say that? This is probably the best thing that has ever happened to him, except, since he actually seems to be slightly less brain damaged than most libs, he may realize that his ENEMIES are the ones supporting him, and begin to come around. LOL - what a dilemma.
Hey, this is great! Now, we
Submitted by jdhawk on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:46am.
Hey, this is great! Now, we can fire duhbama . . .
Yeah, didn't he say much the same thing about his grandmother. That she got nervous around blacks . . .
Impeach, duhbama!
Meanwhile, who gives a damn about another liberal finding the unemployment line?
Once again, all the vitriolic
Submitted by Radical1979 on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:46am.
Once again, all the vitriolic hate speech against Tea Partiers and conservatives is free speech, but voice an opinion that offends muslims and it's strike three, you're outta there.
The Liberal Mind = an oxymoron
That's it?
Submitted by mrt721 on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:47am.
"We got at least 60 emails..."
Wow! A virtual avalanche. I'm surprised their servers didn't go down.
But it's still OK
Submitted by Vonu on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:49am.
That Jesse Jackson crosses the street to avoid passing black men?
Juan, buy and hold physical gold. You'll have the last laugh
FOFOA
60 emails
Submitted by Inthe gray on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 9:54am.
Alicia Shepard states "we got at least 60 emails"..60 emails? They react this way to 60 emails? Probably mad as it no doubt overloaded their servers
60 emails meant that every
Submitted by Ruths husband Ben on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 10:19am.
60 emails meant that every listener responded.
No doubt the 60 emails all
Submitted by HockeyKid on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 10:02am.
No doubt the 60 emails all came from Doug "Call Me Ibrahim" Hooper's address.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
It won't help reduce the
Submitted by shannon76 on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 10:10am.
It won't help reduce the deficit, but we need to defund NPR. Make them succeed or fail on an actual business model, not subsidized by U.S. taxpayers.
I don't have much affection for Juan Williams. I think he's basically a RINO, but he's a nice guy, he's fair, he's even-handed; I think he's into compromise for compromise-sake. I'm surprised he wasn't fired years ago from Nationalized Public Radio, honestly, considering the nature of that organization. I wish him the best. I'm sure he'll be fine.
Maybe it'll make independent-minded Americans think more about the true agenda of George Soros and NPR.
I am not concerned with
Submitted by Ruths husband Ben on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 10:24am.
I am not concerned with flying with Muslims. I am somewhat concerned with flying with contagious people (flew recently where the man in the next seat was clearly in the throes of the flu). I am very concerned with this countries response to the Islamist Jihadist threat. In my opinion, they won. They succeeded in changing our lifestyle. Look at the barracades around sports parks, the awful invasion of privacy associated with flying, and the downright surrender of our freedoms in the name of security.
But the real problem with political correctness is that it hampers our ability to discuss concerns. If you cannot air your concerns then you can never get to the place where you can put them to rest. In effect, all this political correctness accomplishes is extending the fear.
Come to think about it, it is analogous to the bail outs. Rather than face the truth about the bad actors in our ecomomic system and deal with that truth, they painted over it (they painted it green, btw). The result was extending the economic impact of the bank and loan system failures.
There are a lot of other analogies out there, America's response to AIDS, the illegal immigration issue, career politicians, etc.
Essentially, the liberals have hobbled the pursuit of truth in their "feel good/I'm okay, you're okay" ideology.
Frankly I would also be more
Submitted by Beukeboom on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:10am.
Frankly I would also be more concerned about someone constantly coughing and wheezing onboard an aircraft than someone dressed in Islamic garb.
But I don't travel by aircraft so it's a moot issue with me.
Is "Hannity & Williams" in Juan's future?
Submitted by rolling_o on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 10:23am.
He seems to have a good rapport with Sean. I've seen him host the "O'Reilly Factor" and he did a fair job of suppressing his liberal tendencies to ask some good questions.That would be a good idea!
Submitted by Red Jeep on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:40am.
I think unlike Alan Colmes, Hannity & Williams could have a civil conversation on issues.
I think Colmes likes to be obstinate just to tick people off.
Perhaps this will be
Submitted by Chris Norman on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 10:46am.
Perhaps this will be Williams' "Bernie Goldberg Moment".
NPR fired a black man with a
Submitted by Roger the Shrubber on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 10:47am.
NPR fired a black man with a Hispanic first name?
*GASP!!*
Someone cal Gloria Allred, stat!
Maybe Juan should change his name.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:14am.
How about Juan Hussein Williams?
Lawsuit!
Submitted by Red Jeep on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:41am.
Lawsuit!
When there is at least one ...
Submitted by 10ksnooker on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 10:52am.
News organization that tells the truth, the truth will win.
Ask Hugo Chavez and why he had to shut down all the dissenting voices in a once proud country. Tyranny does it to your country, as the tyrant silences all dissenting voices.
This is all about
Submitted by kronological on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:02am.
hating a black man in the NPR house.
NPR plus Soros $$$$ =
Submitted by okiehawk44 on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:06am.
Robotica.
Are you a robot? Can you prove it? If you are a Democrat you are a robot. If you are a RINO you are a robot. If you aren't sure you are a robot.
Now I'll ask you again. Are you a robot?
The hypocrisy and feigned
Submitted by Beukeboom on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:08am.
The hypocrisy and feigned outrage at NPR is typical of liberal organizations. We have witnessed time and time again that when a conservative makes a statement of which libs find offensive you can expect libs to demand the conservative be fired (even if the comment was not made on the job nor in relation to the job) but when a lib makes a similar or identical comment (sometimes in the same timeframe) it's sudden silence from the libs, excuses as justification for the lib's comment or a mild slap on the wrist. Even many, if not most, of the NewsBuster lib commenters engage in this practice.
This particular liberal double-standard is habitual, well-documented via multiple sources, and offensive.
I just went to the NPR website..
Submitted by Paul G on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:13am.
I was gonna leave a comment for that Alicia Shepard....the place you can send her comments seems to not be working...hmmmm
FYI
Submitted by zachlind on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:13am.
NPR contact page - http://help.npr.org/npr/includes/customer/npr/custforms/contactus.aspx
It's times like this when you shouldn't..
Submitted by stage9 on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:24am.
sit on this, but push back and push back hard. For all of the idiotic drivel liberals push regarding bullying and the myth that bullying is specific to homosexual victims, liberals do far more bullying than any other group in the country.
If you disagree with their marxist views, you're a racist, a homophobe, an islamaphobe, an extremist, and you're silenced.
This is bullying 101.
Basically, what NPR has said is that Juan's 1st Amendment rights to free speech are not welcome at NPR. There is legal standing here to sue, and I would do just that.
"If God is dead, somebody is going to have to take his place. It will be megalomania or erotomania, the drive for power or the drive for pleasure, the clenched fist or the phallus, Hitler or Hugh Hefner." — Malcolm Muggeridge
I don't like Juan Williams. I usually groan when he...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 12:35pm.
comes on a Fox News show that I am watching, but I don't agree that he should be fired for what he said. I've listened several times to the 'clip' of him saying he gets nervous when he sees people in 'Muslim' garb and hearing them making it clear to everyone that they were 'Muslims'. So what? Since 9/11 if you don't get nervous in that situation, then you most likely have a problem dealing with reality. I think the real reason Williams got fired had to do with the big donation 'Fox News' hating George Soros just gave to NPR. I don't listen to NPR and I don''t even know where to go to listen to it and I don't care. I assume we are supporting NPR with our 'tax money' just as we do PBS. For that reason alone, I refuse to donate to PBS, because I already gave to them with my tax dollars. I agree with Brent Bozell. There should be a 'Conressional' investigation and hearing. A 'lame duck' Congress would be the perfect ones to conduct it.
Often disagree with Juan
Submitted by tribchet on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:45am.
I'm conservative and watch FoxNews quite a bit so I get to hear Juan's opinion quite a bit. I often disagree but he often provokes me to view things from a different perspective. Isn't that what free speech is supposed to encourage? NPR doesn't think so-- much to it's detriment. I would like to see the policy that Juan supposedly broke...expressing a heartfelt personal opinion is wrong? Then what about Barack Obama's documented opinions? Would NPR fire Obama?
I like the idea of Hannity and Williams. Colmes is not very effective in communicating liberal thinking whereas Juan Williams is a pro. I use to enjoy Hannity when there was an opposing opinion once in a while and that move might make FoxNews a little more palatable to non-conservatives.
I too, don't like Juan Williams, but unlike many other ...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 12:23pm.
Liberals, I don't believe he has a mean and nasty bone in his body. NPR was stupid to fire him, because I'm sure he has fans over there and they're not going to be happy.
The key word in Juan's comment is "garb"
Submitted by SickofLibs on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 11:46am.
You can't tell me that most American-born muslims in everyday street clothes don't get the same chill when they see other passengers in muslim garb.
It's hypocritical.
I think that we might as well
Submitted by Franksam on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 12:28pm.
I think that we might as well call this deal 'Sharia-journalism'.
Like most of the conservative
Submitted by Jack Bauer on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 12:47pm.
Like most of the conservative posters here, I think Juan says so many crazy unsubstantiated LIBERAL opinions on FOX, it really makes me want to yell at the TV.
But do we think he should be FIRED by Fox because he states things the majority of the Fox viewers disagree with?
HELL NO. Typical LEFTISTS as exemplified by NPR.
Totally intolerant of ANY dissent. You'll find NO VOLTAIRES THERE.
Only STALINISTS and MARXISTS.
All of the above Mr Obama? --- How about ALL OF THE BELOW, instead.
NPR has been looking for an excuse...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 12:56pm.
to get rid of Juan Willimas for a long while now...It has always chapped their butts that Williams was an analyst and commentator for Fox, and they used his comment on Monday as the excuse to drop the hammer. I have not always been thrilled with Juan, as I have said here before...Ever since Obama's numbers really went south in the Spring, he has increasingly become an apologist for Obama and the Dems, which has annoyed me no end. That said, I think that Williams is generally a good, decent guy, and does not deserve the treatment he has received from NPR. The gutless, lib fools at NPR caved into their liberal supporters and CAIR, and used this opportunity to can Williams...As far as I'm concerned, he's better off without them. I also wonder if he may have have grounds for a lawsuit here...This was clearly an attempt to silence and punish Williams because of his opinion on a subject...That could be a violation of his free speech rights.
It will be interesting to watch the fallout from this.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
This is really unfortunate~
Submitted by GG_NB on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 1:00pm.
Let's say that the 9/11 terrorists -- instead of sharing their extremist Muslim views -- were part of a "Red Bandanas and Pink Sneakers Club."
So what "clues" would there then be to those who may engage in terrorism? Yes, the red bandanas and pink sneakers. So if a person pays a little more attention to these types of "clues" on airplanes (consciously or subconsciously) -- they are then bigots? They are terrible, irrational, hateful people?
There are two unfortunate things here. The first is that yes, many people may be a little nervous/more attentive when they realize others around them are dressed in Muslim garb -- and because of it, perhaps more anxious in situations such as being on a plane. This is unfortunate for Muslims that have no evil intent at all. The second unfortunate thing here is that someone like Juan Williams would be fired because he was honest about how he felt about how he processes "clues" he knows about terrorists involved in 9/11.
I probably agree with Juan 10% of the time...actually, probably more like 5% of the time. So it's not like I share his political perspective. But this is unfair to him.
"If not us, who? If not now, when?"
~Ronald Reagan
I agree...Juan Williams was simply expressing...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 1:10pm.
what many, if not most of us have thought and felt at some time or other since 9/11...I know I have thought the same thing myself, more than once, particularly when I have been in an airport or on a plane. This is a blatant attempt at censorship, and I hope he legally pursues this, because he may very well have a case.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Doesn't meet their "standards?"
Submitted by ThisnThat on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 1:00pm.
And what, exactly, are NPR's standards? Which one did Juan violate -- the "don't offend a muslim" one?
Actually, I looked them up. And here are a few examples:
Sorry Juan -- NPR is right. You had to go.
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
The sad reality is ...
Submitted by pmohbuck on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 3:09pm.
NPR's actions suggest:
1. They would have preferred Williams lie than speak the truth ... or even worse, not speak at all.
2. They believe the POTENTIAL to hurt a person or group's feelings takes priority over the right to live (I have yet to see proof that politcal correctness actually stops the jihad)
3. They are admitting their liberal bias by firing a man who has arguably proved himself to be open-minded, intelligent and generally balanced with his viewpoints
4. The false impression that none of their other "journalists" have issued like-minded opinons toward Sarah Palin, the Tea Party, Christians, George Bush, etc.
In the end, a really stupid move by NPR ...
Defund PBS as well.
Submitted by theprofessor on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 4:06pm.
Gwen Ifill's nasty tweet about Palin the other day is another example of why PBS needs to be taken off the taxpayers dole as well.