American National Public Radio Fires Juan Williams

[Coito ergo sum]

"Look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. But 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."

Williams also warned O'Reilly against blaming all Muslims for "extremists," saying Christians shouldn't be blamed for Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.

But strong criticism followed Williams' comments.

Late Wednesday night, NPR issued a statement praising Williams as a valuable contributor but saying it had given him notice that it is severing his contract. "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," the statement read.

Williams' presence on the largely conservative and often contentious prime-time talk shows of Fox News has long been a sore point with NPR News executives.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... 37&ps=cprs

Juan cited the words of the Times Square bomber: “He said the war with Muslims, America’s war is just beginning, first drop of blood. I don’t think there’s any way to get away from these facts."

Weird.... fired for that?

[Coito ergo sum]

Huckabee calls on cut to NPR funding: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/20 ... r-funding/

[drl2]

Anytime a person, as a public figure, feels the need to begin a sentence with "I am not a bigot, but" ... that person should pause to consider the possible career repercussions first. Doesn't matter whether what they're about to say is true or not.

As for de-funding NPR, the right has been calling for that for years... nothing new there.

[Robert_S]

Anytime a person, as a public figure, feels the need to begin a sentence with "I am not a bigot, but" ...

It translates into: "I usually don't make bigoted statements, but when I do they sound a lot like..."

[Coito ergo sum]

Fair point. However, I'm not clear on what about his statement is "over the line." This? "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." I mean, even out of context I can't see what the heck the big deal is. Juan Williams is generally on the liberal side of issues, too and in the context of everything else he said, warning against lumping all Muslims together as extremists, etc., it sure doesn't seem like he said anything wrong.

How can we have a free and open conversation about this issue if people aren't free to talk about the issue?

My guess is they wanted Williams out anyway, and this was an opportunity. It's no wonder, given the plainly liberal bias of NPR.

[tattuchu]

"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."

Is there anyone who doesn't feel this way?

[Coito ergo sum]

"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."

Is there anyone who doesn't feel this way?

[Jay G]

Screw him, he was a liberal

[Coito ergo sum]

Screw him, he was a liberal

That should have guaranteed him employment for life at NPR, LOL.

[maiforpeace]

"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."

Is there anyone who doesn't feel this way?

Lots of people. Me for one.

When I see anyone in Muslim garb I think the same thing as when I see someone wearing a crucifix or a fish. That they are religious.

My stereotype of a terrorist is someone in camo fatigues, army boots, some kind of hat and mask and carrying around an assault weapon.

[Warren Dew]

Lots of people. Me for one.

I don't feel that way either, but I don't think feeling that way should be grounds for dismissal from a job in a publicly funded organization.

[Svartalf]

"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."

Is there anyone who doesn't feel this way?

Given how actual terrorists love to draw attention on themselves, I don't

[sandinista]

"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."

Is there anyone who doesn't feel this way?

Lots of people. Me for one.

When I see anyone in Muslim garb I think the same thing as when I see someone wearing a crucifix or a fish. That they are religious.

My stereotype of a terrorist is someone in camo fatigues, army boots, some kind of hat and mask and carrying around an assault weapon.

Yes, would have to agree, when I see a muslim I have the same feelings as when I see a christian or jew, same shit, pretty much same pile. My stereotypical terrorist is a little different though, for me it is rich white guys working for weapons manufacturers.

[maiforpeace]

Lots of people. Me for one.

I don't feel that way either, but I don't think feeling that way should be grounds for dismissal from a job in a publicly funded organization.

I wasn't commenting on whether he should have been fired or not, just on Tatt's comment "who doesn't" feel the same way.

Like CES I think they had it in mind to fire him for a while before he made that comment, otherwise they wouldn't have agreed to fire him so readily and they would have talked to him first, which they did not do.

Well, maybe Fox will hire him now.

[Warren Dew]

I wasn't commenting on whether he should have been fired or not, just on Tatt's comment "who doesn't" feel the same way.

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you were.

Like CES I think they had it in mind to fire him for a while before he made that comment, otherwise they wouldn't have agreed to fire him so readily and they would have talked to him first, which they did not do.

Shirley Sherrod got fired without anyone talking to her first, too. I originally thought they had other reasons to fire her, but then they wouldn't have offered to hire her back.

Call me cynical, but it's interesting that both are black as well. It's almost as if someone high up in the government has a particular way he wants blacks to act, and has the power to do something about it when he sees something he dislikes on the media.

Well, maybe Fox will hire him now.

Fox is expanding his commentary role, though his views are generally liberal.