NPR Fires Juan Williams

Two worlds have collided and the fall-out left FOX News contributor under the bus. NPR finally thinks an appropriate excuse for the firing of Juan Williams arose and they leaped at the chance to carry it out. For quite some time now, NPR has been angered over the fact that Williams is a regular on FNC while in the employment of NPR.

A firestorm has arisen and Williams will only benefit from the soft bigotry of hypocritical liberals. Williams had the audacity of stating his own opinion and admitted a feeling of unease if he is boarding an airplane and sees Muslims dressed in traditional attire. He spoke of a very normal reaction by any American after the events of 9/11/01. NPR, however, is unable to allow anything but fake discussions by phony liberals who are unwilling to admit to basic human behavior.

The complete irony is that the program's topic was the problems political correctness presents in regular conversation. The topic was an extension of a discussion about two liberal women standing up and walking off the set of their own television show after feigning offense of something spoken by a guest. The guest, Bill O'Reilly of FOX News, has been a frequent guest on the daytime coffee talk show for liberal, bored, suburban women waiting for talking points from the likes of Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar. O'Reilly didn't preface the word "Muslim" with the adjective "extremist" when talking about the 9/11/01 attacks. Never mind that it was a group of Muslim men who carried out the terrorist acts on our country.

So, devoid of decorum and basic courtesy to a guest on their own television show, Goldberg and Behar decided to generate a little publicity for themselves and walked off the show. It was pathetic, if the clip shown on other shows is a true representation of what happened.

Barbara Walters, the mama of the show, chastised the two the next day on air and had the decency to say it should have never happened. Walters and O'Reilly have a long friendship from earlier days working together in the industry. Though they often have conflicting opinions, they are always civil and respectful towards each other. I truly doubt Goldberg or Behar will ever reach that level of maturity.

So, after Juan Williams was fired for speaking his own opinion on FOX, who came to his side? Whoopi Goldberg. What a hypocrite.

James Rosen from FOX News sent along the internal memo issued by NPR to staffers and Greta put it on her blog:

First, a critical distinction has been lost in this debate. NPR News analysts have a distinctive role and set of responsibilities. This is a very different role than that of a commentator or columnist. News analysts may not take personal public positions on controversial issues; doing so undermines their credibility as analysts, and that’s what’s happened in this situation. As you all well know, we offer views of all kinds on your air every day, but those views are expressed by those we interview – not our reporters and analysts.

Second, this isn’t the first time we have had serious concerns about some of Juan’s public comments. Despite many conversations and warnings over the years, Juan has continued to violate this principal.

Third, these specific comments (and others made in the past), are inconsistent with NPR’s ethics code, which applies to all journalists (including contracted analysts):

It is clearly a vendetta against Williams. NPR "analysts" spout personal opinions all the time on other shows. Nina Totenburg, Bill Moyer, even Maura Liasson on FOX herself. The left in this country is the first to scream about their own First Amendment rights and the need for "diversity" in our country yet this happens time and time again. Free Speech only if it doesn't stray from the liberal vacuum of thought.

The best part of the fallout? Williams, a liberal, is receiving an outpouring from conservative supporters. Conservatives are the Americans who support free speech and discourse in our country. FOX News is soundly beating the competition and the reason is that they allow all views on their opinion shows. Panels are split as evenly as possible between liberal and conservative, unlike the other cable networks or standard networks who all lean heavily and usually unabashedly liberal. Williams is a honest and civil human being during political debates. He doesn't resort to personal attacks or rude behavior as a panel member. The support of good people for Williams is heartening to hear and watch.

Isn't it interesting that the silence from liberals is deafening? Where is the ACLU? Where are all the folks on the left that hand out opinions on everything? No guts? No principles? (By the way - those "intellectuals" at NPR misspelled the word 'principles' in the memo).

Why did NPR do it now? Did the objections of CAIR have anything to do with it? Or is that just a coincidence? CAIR called for action on the "irresponsible and inflammatory" statement from Williams.

"Whatever feelings Williams has for Muslims should be between him and his psychiatrist or publicist". Is that a civil statement issued by NPR? He must be crazy or irrational?

As an update, NPR regrets doing this during fundraising season. My suggestion? If you are a contributor to NPR, sit this fundraising cycle out. Let your voice be heard. Nothing gets attention quicker than money - or denial of it. And, don't forget - NPR receives taxpayer monies. You might like to let your Congressperson know your thoughts on their behavior.