James O’Keefe already brought ACORN down and now he brings down NPR. Nice job Mr. O’Keefe. The truth will always set you free. I’m sure that Smokey and LLPOH will come to the defense of NPR, since what O’Keefe did was unethical and not according to the rules of journalism. Rules are rules.
NPR CEO Vivian Schiller Resigns Over James O’Keefe Video
Benjy Sarlin | March 9, 2011, 9:54AM
“The Board accepted Vivian’s resignation with understanding, genuine regret and great respect for her leadership of NPR these past two years,” read a statement from NPR Board Chairman Dave Edwards.
Ron Schiller (no relation to Vivian), president of the NPR Foundation, had already submitted his resignation on Tuesday evening after the network had placed him on leave and released a statement saying they were “appalled” by his behavior on a tape with a group of phony prospective donors slamming Tea Partiers, nodding politely as conspiracy theories about Jews in the media were floated, and suggesting NPR would be better off without federal funding. Another NPR executive in the video, Betsy Liley, director of institutional giving, is also on administrative leave.
The video proved an uncomfortable and unexpected crisis for NPR, which was already under heavy fire from Republicans in Congress who are pushing legislation to cut funding to the public broadcaster. Majority Leader Eric Cantor seized upon Ron Schiller’s remarks in the video yesterday as proof that NPR could survive without federal dollars while critics pointed to Schiller’s numerous denunciations of the Tea Party as evidence the news organization was biased towards the left. Ron Schiller was not part of the news division of the organization.
Vivian Schiller, who took her position in 2009, had recently weathered another difficult episode in the organization’s history, firing commentator Juan Williams over comments that some critics felt were derogatory towards Muslims. Williams has since taken a position with FOX News, and many conservatives claimed that his firing was inappropriate and more cause to defund NPR. In a speech to the National Press Club this year, Schiller admitted, “We handled the situation badly. We acted too hastily and we made some mistakes, and I made some mistakes.”
Williams, for his part, ripped NPR on Fox News over the latest video.
“This was an act of incredible condescension,” he said on Fox Nation, according to the Huffington Post. “They will say things to your face about how there’s no liberal orthodoxy at NPR, how they play it straight, but now you see it for what it is. They prostitute themselves for money.”
According to NPR, Vivian Schiller will be succeeded by Joyce Slocum, Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel, who will serve as an interim CEO while the board finds a permanent replacement.
The silencing of dissent and thought! Wow! It is amazing how the propoganda machine works isn’t it?! Someone being lambasted and fired for speaking their minds. What message, as a society, are we sending here?! You can have your opinions but keep them to yourself? Whatever happened to the 1st amendment?! I guess when you are on a platform such as NPR and you bash government funding and the commonly known jewish influence within the media and the federal government then you are an anti-semite and anti-American! Many of our grandparents and great grandparents are rolling over in their graves!
“According to NPR, Vivian Schiller will be succeeded by Joyce SLOCUM? This ought to get Smokey smokin.
Umm, NPR is the ilk of YOUR brethren, not mine.
The staunch advocates for the Islamic Freedom Fighters.
The League of Curs.
NPR EATS SHIT
She’s a looker. Jim, please remove the picture, every time I tried to read the article, I see the picture and get all hot and bothered.
O’Keefe is looking like the Trotsky for our generation.
@Plato-puss: The point is that NRP receives considerable tax dollars, and it is passed on to the affiliates. As such, it would be helpful for the people to run it not to have such an agenda of right-bashing. If NPR was solely owned and funded by itself, they can say whatever the market place will support.
It is highly risible that the only successful radio shows favor the right-wing point of view. Witness the implosion of Air America. I try to listen to Sirius Left in my car but after about 15 minutes of their profanity laden, logic-starved and, quite honestly, hateful speech, I have to turn it off. I once counted 78 swear words in a 30 minute show, sorry, but don’t hear that from Rush or Wilkow or Beck or any of the others.
I turned off NPR when Daniel Schorr compared the My Lai massacre to Abu Ghraib. Sorry, but forcing prisoners to parade around in their underwear does not compare to the massacre of women and children.
Fuck NPR. Also, since when did journalists follow any rules?
Admin – I see your feathers are still ruffled. But to extrapolate myy position on military secrets to this type thing is drawing a long bow.
What you hate Car Talk? Wait Wait-Don’t Tell Me, Prairie Home Companion and Will Short “The Puzzle Guy” are all leftie liberal spewers of hate?
Someone needs a warm calming bath and a mild tranquilizer.
C’mon
NPR the bastion of moderation. The executives were revealed for who they really are.
Liberals are scum.
Is it true that Olbermann will be getting a show on NPR? He will fit in perfectly.
Plato_Publius
Hope@ZeroKelvin has just revealed you to be the biggest DUMBASS on this site.
Public radio and TV will always be non-starters, DUMBASS. Regardless of whether they tilt left or right, DUMBASS. Once you get get public tax money into the equation, it’s a non-starter, DUMBASS.
The issue isn’t the 1st Amendment, DUMBASS. It’s about taxpayer money going into programs and viewpoints they disagree with, DUMBASS. If it were private capital, no issue, DUMBASS.
You are a threat to liberty. Do you mind if I call you Plato_DUMBASS_Publius?
SSS, pot meet kettle. But I won’t call you a DUMBASS.