Is NPR About To Be "Acorned"

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Now, there's talk of defunding it.

That's messed up.

[louis-t]

1. My thought also.

[marmar]

2. They were talking about that before Juan Williams opened his trap

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. They Have Been Talking About That For Years

I like the programming. In fact they did a nice piece on "useful idiots" on both the left and right who were intellectually seduced by vicious tyrants and then manipulated.

[FSogol]

3. They get so little direct Federal Money that it probably won't matter much.

It is more likely, the the Neo-Conservatives and the Fox-ilk are trying to skew their coverage more to the right.

[arbusto_baboso]

5. This is all starting to smell of "set up" to me.

Do any of us doubt the rethugs would plan something this low?

[Warren Stupidity]

6. They are rallying their base for the election.

Thus that Thomas idiot publicly scolds Professor Hill.
Juan Williams falls on his sword.
...
stay tuned.

[iscooterliberally]

7. I heard they arleady defunded the crap out of NPR years ago.

They only get like 7% of their budget from the government. The rest comes from private donations from the listeners to local stations. The Bush Administration apparently did everything they could to take down NPR for 8 years. Don't take my word for it though. I'm only typing off the top of my head here.

[sabrina 1]

8. Why, because they fired someone who violated the terms of his

contract by spreading fear and hate for American citizens? I think he'll be fine, he'll fit in better at the Faux News network where bigotry is probably in their contract, especially against Muslims.

Otoh, I'm not a big fan of firing people for expressing their opinions. I would prefer to know where people are coming from and then have discussions that educate people. Give them a chance to explain why they feel they way they do. Nothing is accomplished by firing him as he will end up being a martyr and Muslims and Liberals will be blamed.

[truebrit71]

9. That has ALWAYS been the goal of the rethuglicans...

...

[BonnieJW]

10. They only get 2% of their funding from the fed.

The rest comes from donors. As soon as I heard Juan was fired, I gave them $25. If they fire Mara, I'll send another $25.

[Zen Democrat]

21. If they get rid of Mara, I'll send $100.

Juan Williams has been needing to go for YEARS!!!

[derby378]

11. Oooooh, I'm so scared!

A whopping two cents out of every dollar. Wow.

[Happyhippychick]

12. That's what I'm thinking.

[rucky]

13. My radar's been up from the moment the Juan Williams news hit.

And offered a 2-mil contract from FOX the same day.
And select, FOX-friendly congress critters bring back the defunding issue.

Next up: Juan broadcasts an NPR exposee on the O'Reilly show. Glenn Beck puts it up on the chalkboard.

[nashville_brook]

14. jokes on them -- NPR receives NO funding direct from federal sources.

According to the 2005 financial statement, NPR makes just over half of its money from the fees and dues it charges member stations to receive programming. Public funding accounts for 16% of the average member station's revenue, with 10% of this coming in the form of grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a federally funded organization. Some more of that money originates from local and state governments and government-funded universities subsidizing member stations' fees and dues to NPR. Member stations that serve rural and "minority" communities receive significantly more funding from the CPB; in some cases up to 70%. About 2% of NPR's non-membership created funding comes from bidding on government grants and programs, chiefly the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; the remainder comes from member station dues, foundation grants, and corporate underwriting. Typically, NPR member stations raise funds through on-air pledge drives, corporate underwriting, and grants from state governments, universities, and the CPB itself.

NPR receives no direct funding from the federal government. The amount of funding NPR receives from groups like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which does receive federal funding, is less than two percent. During the 1970s and early 1980s, the majority of NPR funding came from the federal government. Steps were taken during the 1980s to completely wean NPR from government support, but the 1983 funding crisis forced the network to make immediate changes. More money to fund the NPR network was raised from listeners, charitable foundations and corporations instead.

[AtomicKitten]

17. Pfft: Truthful details!! They get off on threatening to defund.

Thanks for the detailed info!!

[gratuitous]

15. Luckily, Congress isn't in session

So this latest tempest-in-a-teapot will blow over before the World Series begins, and the latest right wing tantrum over Juan Williams' contract negotiation will be nearly as interesting as a 25 pound bag of fertilizer.

[cilla4progress]

16. YEAH --

WHINERS!!! :nopity:

We need to call these asses out for their whining every time something doesn't fall into their grubby paws! Can we rely on ANYONE in the media to do so? I can't wait to listen to Ed when he comes on. I'm so sick of this...

[thewiseguy]

18. They should defund it

I am not supportive of their idiotic philosophies that a News analyst can not give his opinion on a divisive subject.

That is what the president of NPR said yesterday.

Defund NPR until they get their act together.

[Warren Stupidity]

23. Williams has a long history of atrocious commentary on Fox

really inflammatory stuff, such as his divisive opinion that Michelle Obama is 'stokely carmichael in a dress'. This sort of stuff is against NPR's rules, he was warned, he continued to act out on Fox News, he got fired.

What is the problem with that?

[toddwv]

19. No "about to be " about it.

The attack is already in full force and making the rounds.

[Bitwit1234]

20. Without the help of the Democrats it can't happen and I don't

think the Democrats are going to get "burned" twice. I know they better not.

[cilla4progress]

22. Here we go - Ed Schultz:

"Man up, Juan." :)