In an age of $1.5 trillion budget deficits and a national debt about to exceed $14 trillion, can we still afford to publicly fund National Public Radio?
Especially if — as its critics allege — NPR is an extremely biased broadcaster which not only suppresses opposing opinions, but holds in contempt the viewpoints of millions of the taxpayers forced to support it.
Those critics gained considerable ammunition recently through missteps made by NPR Foundation president, Ron Schiller, and his boss, NPR CEO Vivian Schiller (no relation).
When meeting with purported representatives of the Muslim Education Action Center (MEAC) to discuss a $5 million contribution the group wanted to make to NPR, Ron Schiller made a number of derogatory statements about Tea Party members, Republicans, Christians and Jews. The MEAC representatives were actually employees of conservative activist James O’Keefe (who ran similar stings on ACORN and Planned Parenthood), who secretly videotaped and distributed Schiller’s comments.
To whom he thought were members of MEAC (a self-described front group for the Muslim Brotherhood whose stated mission is to “spread acceptance of Sharia Law throughout the world”), Schiller described the Republic Party as having been “hijacked by Tea Party activists” who are “not just Islamaphobic but really xenophobic … They’re seriously racist, racist people.”
Mr. Schiller followed with statements that NPR supporters might consider even more damning. He indicated that “very little of NPR’s funding comes from the government,” and that “we would probably be better off in the long run without federal funding.”
Several months before Mr. Schiller’s recorded indiscretions, Vivian Schiller had fired longtime NPR contributor Juan Williams for commenting on Fox News that he felt nervous when he saw Muslim airline passengers.
The controversy over the Williams firing combined with the uproar caused by Ron Schiller’s remarks ultimately lead to Ms. Schiller’s resignation.
So, as congressional leaders look for ways to reduce the out-of-control spending that’s hurtling the country toward fiscal oblivion, should the federal government continue to write NPR its yearly $90 million check?
Should it keep funding an entity run by people who are hostile toward a grass-roots movement responsible for a 63 seat gain in the House, a five seat gain in the Senate and the addition of six governorships? A series of resounding victories based largely on the candidate’s pledges to restore budgetary sanity.
Perhaps congress should listen to the electorate. . . and to Mr. Schiller.
