NPR fires Juan Williams.

[Ajidica]

Yep. How dare they believe in a society dedicated to the freedom and equality of each human being.

 

[DinoDoc]

Obviously not! They had every reason to fire that prejudiced fool for his numerous appearances on Fox News where he made sensational remarks to bolster they ratings amongst the bigoted Geritol set.

At least we're finally getting to the heart of the matter in as much as you are starting to agree that the problem wasn't that he violated any part of NPR's code of ethics as they currently employ people who do that on a daily basis. The real problem is that he went on Fox. How is going on Fox a firing offense?

What? That the interview was clipped at some sources? It certainly wasn't taken out of context as a result.

Are you high?

According to the full transcript, immediately after saying, "I don't think there's any way to get away from these facts," Williams continues: "But I think there are people who want to somehow remind us all as President Bush did after 9/11, it's not a war against Islam." That continuation has been conveniently snipped from the excerpt.

A few seconds later, Williams challenges O'Reilly's suggestion that "the Muslims attacked us on 9/11." Williams points out how wrong it would be to generalize similarly about Christians:

Hold on, because if you said Timothy McVeigh, the Atlanta bomber, these people who are protesting against homosexuality at military funerals—very obnoxious—you don't say first and foremost, "We got a problem with Christians." That's crazy.

Williams reminds O'Reilly that "there are good Muslims." A short while later, O'Reilly asks: "Juan, who is posing a problem in Germany? Is it the Muslims who have come there, or the Germans?" Williams refuses to play the group blame game. "See, you did it again," he tells O'Reilly. "It's extremists."

Williams warns O'Reilly that televised statements about Muslims as a group can foment bigotry and violence. "The other day in New York, some guy cuts a Muslim cabby's neck," Williams reminds him. "Or you think about the protest at the mosque near Ground Zero … We don't want, in America, people to have their rights violated, to be attacked on the street because they heard rhetoric from Bill O'Reilly."

 

[DinoDoc]

Yep. How dare they believe in a society dedicated to the freedom and equality of each human being.

There's only Beck and the commie in the clip. By process of elimination you must be talking about Beck.

 

[Ajidica]

I think it is important to remember that Williams wasn't fired, just for this incedent. He had been warned that he was pushing NPRs ethical code, and this was the last straw. When your superiors are fed up with you, they make take offense at actions that previously they would just brush off.

@DinoDoc, I advise you to read Marx before making statements as to the ideology of Communism.

 

[MobBoss]

According to the full transcript, immediately after saying, "I don't think there's any way to get away from these facts," Williams continues: "But I think there are people who want to somehow remind us all as President Bush did after 9/11, it's not a war against Islam." That continuation has been conveniently snipped from the excerpt.

A few seconds later, Williams challenges O'Reilly's suggestion that "the Muslims attacked us on 9/11." Williams points out how wrong it would be to generalize similarly about Christians:

Hold on, because if you said Timothy McVeigh, the Atlanta bomber, these people who are protesting against homosexuality at military funerals—very obnoxious—you don't say first and foremost, "We got a problem with Christians." That's crazy.

Williams reminds O'Reilly that "there are good Muslims." A short while later, O'Reilly asks: "Juan, who is posing a problem in Germany? Is it the Muslims who have come there, or the Germans?" Williams refuses to play the group blame game. "See, you did it again," he tells O'Reilly. "It's extremists."

Williams warns O'Reilly that televised statements about Muslims as a group can foment bigotry and violence. "The other day in New York, some guy cuts a Muslim cabby's neck," Williams reminds him. "Or you think about the protest at the mosque near Ground Zero … We don't want, in America, people to have their rights violated, to be attacked on the street because they heard rhetoric from Bill O'Reilly."

This is why one shouldnt use youtube as a source. Or perhaps its why it is used. /shrug.

 

[Formaldehyde]

At least we're finally getting to the heart of the matter in as much as you are starting to agree that the problem wasn't that he violated any part of NPR's code of ethics as they currently employ people who do that on a daily basis. The real problem is that he went on Fox. How is going on Fox a firing offense?Are you high?

You call making an absurd strawman like that "getting at the heart of the matter"? Williams clearly wasn't fired because he appeared on Fox News. He was a regular guest on that network!

He was clearly fired for making bigoted remarks, not once, but numerous times! And even after he had been specifically warned and even told not to mention his position at NPR when appearing!

 

[MobBoss]

YHe was clearly fired for making bigoted remarks, not once, but numerous times! And even after he had been specifically warned and even told not to mention his position at NPR when appearing!

What other bigoted remarks are you referring to? Do we have youtubes of them as well? Can we see them so we can judge for ourselves the level of 'bigoted-ness' in them?

 

[DinoDoc]

This post applies for Ajidica as well:

You call making an absurd strawman like that "getting at the heart of the matter"? Williams clearly wasn't fired because he appeared on Fox News. He was a regular guest on that network!

It clearly wasn't because he violated any portion of their ethics code given the people still employed there, so why was he fired?

 

[Ajidica]

Have any source to back that assertion up?

 

[Formaldehyde]

This post applies for Ajidica as well:
It clearly wasn't because he violated any portion of their ethics code given the people still employed there, so why was he fired?

Obviously, his boss at NPR doesn't agree with your quite obvious personal opinion in the matter! That is, unless you are accusing her lying now, as you did a few pages ago with me!

 

[MobBoss]

Obviously, his boss at NPR doesn't agree with your quite obvious personal opinion in the matter! That is, unless you are accusing her lying now, as you did a few pages ago with me!

Is asking for proof or examples of his previous misconduct not allowed? 'Cause personally, I would like to see some of those other examples to see just how bad they actually were.....

Thats assuming that they even occurred...

 

[Cutlass]

Wow, adding conservative panelists? All for trying something new are they?

Doing something that they do virtually every day is hardly 'new'

I see liberals offering counter-argument on Foxnews all the time. Don't you?

Why would anyone watch Fox?

 

[DinoDoc]

Have any source to back that assertion up?

Let's pick a convenient example: Nina Totenberg an honored legal affairs journalist at NPR

From the internal memo justifying William's ouster:

may not take personal public positions on controversial issues; doing so undermines their credibility
Quotes from Nina:

"I think Sen. Jesse Helms ought to be worried about the--about what's going on in the good Lord's mind, because if there's retributive justice, he'll get AIDS from a transfusion, or one of his grandchildren will get it."

On Oct. 10, Totenberg--whose beat is the Supreme Court--said this about Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, a free-speech decision that liberals loathe: "Well, you know, really, this is the next scandal. It's the scandal in the making. They don't have to disclose anything. And eventually, this is the kind of thing that led to Watergate."

Just this past Sunday, Hayes writes, Totenberg "told us that Michelle Obama is 'an incredibly graceful surrogate' for her husband who gives people 'warm and fuzzy' feelings."

On Oct. 3, Hayes writes, "she decried Republicans--a 'concerted minority'--for holding up business in the Senate and declared that their willingness to exploit antiquated congressional rules was a 'loony way to do business.' "

"Her most partisan comment," Hayes adds, "came when Charles Krauthammer pointed out that 31 Democrats in the House had written to Nancy Pelosi to call for extending the Bush tax cuts, Totenberg wished them out of the party. 'When a party actually has a huge majority, it has a huge diversity. And that is part of the problem that Democrats have. But would I like it to be otherwise? Of course.' "

National Review Online's Brian Bolduc has other, earlier examples, including Totenberg's describing then-Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito as "some white guy," her saying of the Bush tax cuts "I just think it's immoral," and her dismissing the Tea Party movement on the ground that "any cockamamie proposition in America will have at least 25% of those polled supporting it."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303738504575568171234581384.html

Again from the memo:
“In appearing on TV or other media . . . NPR journalists should not express views they would not air in their role as an NPR journalist. They should not participate in shows . . . that encourage punditry and speculation rather than fact-based analysis.”

She is also a regular panelist on Inside Washington, a weekly syndicated public affairs television program produced in the nation's capital.

Nina's Bio.
Inside Washington is exactly the platform she uses to engage in punditry and speculation rather than fact-based analysis.

 

[DinoDoc]

That is, unless you are accusing her lying now, as you did a few pages ago with me!

I'm accusing her of being a hypocrite. I accused you of being either a liar or a dullard. I haven't decided which yet.

Moderator Action: How about . . . neither?
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[Formaldehyde]

"Is NPR an agent somehow of a jihadist inquisition?"

The Daily Show episode covering this topic is again a must-see.

NPR Staffing Decision 2010

(5:00 in)

Are your crazy NPR? You are picking a fight with Fox News? They gave Juan Williams a $2M contract just for you firing him! You just brought a totebag ful of David Sideris books to a knife fight!

O'Reilly:

I've got your back. Trust me on this. We're not letting this go.

Fox Talking head:

... Carl Rove, Megan Kelly and Glenn Beck will all weigh in on this atrocious action!

This is another incentive for people to vote Republican!

CAIR's intention: Inquisition in Disguise?

"NPR should address the fact the one of its news analysts seem to believe that all airline passengers who are perceived to be Muslims can legitimately be viewed as security threats"

Is NPR an agent somehow of a jihadist inquisition?

Various talking heads:

There was never a more honest man. Ther was never a man of a purer heart.

He is a man of enormous integrity, incredible abilities...

An incredibly gentle and kind man.

I find you to be one of the most open-minded people that I've ever met.

Jon Stewart:

Thank god he's alive!

Of course, the specter of a black journalist, a champion of civil right, who has clearly felt the sting of racial profiling himself confessing prejudices is an interesting jumping off point for discussion... Larry, let's begin with Team Black:

I am a little conflicted. On the one hand I'm a black man but sometimes I am afraid of people dressed in Muslim garb on a plane. Of course, also as a black man, I am afraid of snakes on a plane... But I have to say I am a bit envious. People used to be scared of us, but now they are scared of him.

But I think Aasif would tell you it is not a confortable position...

Well John, to be fair it can be fun. I mean I get on a plane I don't have to do this... (looks around suspiciously) before I put my luggage in the overhead compartment. But I do.

Or, I don't have to count the steps to the bathroom in a Middle Eastern accent.

That is awesome. I used to be able to just glare and white people would freak out! Man, those were the days...

I do the shifty eyes thing...

That's good! That's good! Do you ever raise your voice unexpectedly? HEY!

No, no. You know what I do. I do the opposite. I lower my voice like I got the Qu'ran memorized. <mumbles>

You are just feeding into this? Why don't you try changing people's minds instead?

Well John, if they are not going to make a distinction between Muslims and violent extremists, then why should I take the time to distinguish between decent fearful white people and racists?

Amen, brother!

 

[MobBoss]

Daily shows and edited youtube videos ftw.

 

[Formaldehyde]

In the words of Assif Mandvi, if reactionaries and others aren't going to make a distinction between Muslims and violent extremists, then why should Muslims take the time to distinguish between decent fearful white people and racists?

 

[MobBoss]

Who's Assif Mandvi?

 

[Formaldehyde]

Is it easier to post a question in this forum than it is to google it?

You also apparently didn't read my post before responding to it by attacking the source instead of addressing the issues again. It is even bolded...

 

[civver_764]

In the words of Assif Mandvi, if reactionaries and others aren't going to make a distinction between Muslims and violent extremists, then why should Muslims take the time to distinguish between decent fearful white people and racists?

Two wrongs don't make a right bro.