NPR chief resigns in wake of secret video
Those fundraising drives on public radio may last a little longer this year. The head of NPR has been done in by a clandestine video.
NPR announced on its site that Vivian Schiller has resigned. The CEO of NPR came under criticism last year for the dismissal of Juan Williams, a former employee who was fired after making comments about Muslims on a Fox News show.
Tuesday an undercover video of NPR executive Ron Schiller (no relation to Vivian Schiller) brought more negative press to the network. In the video Ron Schiller can be seen saying “tea party people” aren’t “just Islamophobic, but really xenophobic, I mean basically they are, they believe in sort of white, middle-America gun-toting. I mean, it’s scary. They’re seriously racist, racist people.”
The video was surreptiously taped by James O’Keefe, a conservative activist known for his undercover filming. O’Keefe told CNN on Tuesday that he targeted NPR because of Williams’s dismissal.
The Associated Press version of the O’Keefe video:
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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104 comments Add your comment
Lum
March 9th, 2011
10:06 am
For all the criticisms that the Left has had of Fox (a 100% commercial endeavor), they have never seen the the “board in the eye” that is NPR. Outrage washes both ways, so I say good for O’Keefe for proving what we have all known for years..
Engineer
March 9th, 2011
10:12 am
As soon as I saw that video, I expected he would either be fired or resign. Seems I was right. Otherwise, the video really didn’t show anything I didn’t already expect from NPR. :\
TrishaDishaWarEagle
March 9th, 2011
10:28 am
NPR’s CEO just was forced out by the board this morning!!
Ahahahahahaha
TrishaDishaWarEagle
March 9th, 2011
10:30 am
God I enjoy Schadenfreude!
Clinton "Skink" Tyree
March 9th, 2011
10:33 am
O’Keef is a Mike Wallace wannabe who’s a scumbag. And, Ron Schiller did nothing more that repeat the obvious. Anyone with an IQ of 40 can see the Tea Party agenda and the focus of their attacks. The only thing missing is the white robes.
Darko
March 9th, 2011
10:41 am
Typical Liberal attack – instead of defending the indefensible, they blame the messenger.
Tee
March 9th, 2011
10:41 am
He said what a lot of people already think and see, go back to the tea party showing in Arizona where people showed up with guns strapped to there hip.Maybe the right should start using the tactics of the left to show BECK,LIMBAUGH and Hannity true colors !!!!
Centrist
March 9th, 2011
10:46 am
NPR (and PBS) are leftist media outlets which get government subsidies. They shouldn’t.
President Obama has also said Tea party members are racist. He was probably really fired because he also said NPR doesn’t need government subsidies. This is leftist blasphemy, and cannot be tolerated.
Centrist
March 9th, 2011
10:50 am
@ Clinton “Skink” Tyree – aren’t you really the former Governor of Florida, Claude Kirk and live in a swamp wearing a shower cap while living off of road kill?
Splavistic
March 9th, 2011
10:59 am
Well, I don’t see what the fuss is all about, really. The Tea Party IS racist and everything else she said was 100% true, so…..what’s the issue?
Keith
March 9th, 2011
11:04 am
Skink, if the Tea Party folks are racists then why are so many backing Herman Cain for president? Herman is blacker than Obama!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
March 9th, 2011
11:06 am
Looks like PBS is gonna have to hitch some bandwith on the Nimbus 7 oceonographic satellite just like in “A mighty wind”, now..haha
Hur ?r l?get, lilla gumman? Hows It hangin, Grandma
blue dog
March 9th, 2011
11:17 am
Schiller is in NPR’s fund raising arm…not in “programing”. I guess the entire staff including the janitor has to have the same opinions on “everything”. BTW, he actually spoke the truth. The Tea Party is made up of mostly intolerant WASP who are racist…especially against our President.
Centrist
March 9th, 2011
11:36 am
Since liberal name calling is in vogue with president Obama, NPR fundraisers, and posters here -
Anyone who calls TEA party members racists are communists.
Brett
March 9th, 2011
11:45 am
If you really want to talk about a racist, what about this NPR guy in the video? My goodness. He doesn’t realize how foolish he sounds when he bashes people that are “uneducated.” Everyone in this country can’t afford or even attain an Ivy League education, but in his eyes, you are a lesser human without the “education” that he is talking about. And don’t tell me that his “elitism” isn’t just another form of racism.
GaBlue
March 9th, 2011
11:45 am
From what I have witnessed, the Pekoe Heads exhibit no higher percentage of racist behavior than the general population. Sure, there have been signs, slogans, and shouts at their rallies that were clearly racist, but that’s true everywhere to some degree.
On the contrary, most of the Pekoe Heads I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing, hearing, or speaking with seem to be EQUAL OPPORTUNITY HATERS. No need to stand in line, folks! They have enough venom and contempt for everyone who does not enthusiastically support their absurd, delusional rhetoric.
John K
March 9th, 2011
11:47 am
Of course he should resign over saying things like this.
But to equate it to Fox? LOL Yeah, Fox would defend & keep anyone who said similar.
Oh, and where did I first hear about this? On NPR. Wonder if Fox would do that.
Last Man Standing
March 9th, 2011
11:50 am
It’s very easy from reading many of these posts to determine who thinks for themselves and who is “fed” their thoughts ny Mighty Hussein and the democrap party. Hussein and the democraps FEAR the TEA Party because it surely spells political doom for them if it continues to grow. Their tactic is to brand it racist even though it is not. To repeat an earlier question, “Why would a racist group favor the candidacy of a black man, Herman Cain?”
Are there racists in the TEA Party? Sure, there are some. Are there racist in the democrap party? You can bet your a$$ on it! In fact, the ratio of racists in the democrap party far exceeds that of the TEA and Republican Parties combined!
Centrist
March 9th, 2011
11:55 am
Comparing the CPB, NPR, and PBS to FOX is absurd. FOX doesn’t get a half billion dollars a year in a direct federal subsidy, additional grants from federal and state governments, along with donations from taxpayer supported state universities.
How would liberals like it if FOX and Rush Limbaugh were supported by their tax dollars? Reminds me of the union I once was forced to pay for Democrat only leadership and national politics (even though I was not a member).
Just to be clear – I don’t want my tax dollars to go to FOX, Limbaugh, or Republicans either.
Robert Barron
March 9th, 2011
12:02 pm
The South was all Democrat during the MLK Jr years. The Civil Rights movement was mostly fighting Democrat governors like George Wallace. Remember him?
A Georgia Republican named Bo Callaway got the most votes in 1967 but Dems had rigged things where arch racist Lester Maddox somehow wound up governor.
Maddox would not serve blacks in his restaurant.
Nice job Dems putting someone like him in over Callaway.
The Dems couldn’t allow a Republican to show he could do things better like, heaven forbid, spending more on education.
Darko
March 9th, 2011
12:10 pm
Democrats are uinable to understand the differentiation between “disagree with” and “hate”. Many people diagree with Obama’s actions. Few hate him.
To prove that those who disagree with Obama are racist, you’d have to show that someone who disagrees with Obama’s actions would support the same action by a white Democrat president. Go ahead, I’m waiting.
Sounds like a Wimpy Move
March 9th, 2011
12:14 pm
I have no issues with the resignation of the NPR CEO. That is the price to be paid these days. However, when the Gov. Walker was heard agreeing to bring in outsiders to disrupt the protesters against his bill, the right was strangely quiet. If the right wing supporters on this post feel the behavior of this gentleman was wrong, they are right. However, you should also have the courage to call out people like Limbaugh who has consisently made racist and inappropriate remarks over the years.
The distinction between public and private is not the most important issue. We should not tolerate this kind of behavior from either side of the aisle. You can hide behind the fact that Rush is not funded by taxpayers tehrfore his behavior is ok. If this guy is wrong, so is Rush. All I ask is consistency in the application of the rules.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
March 9th, 2011
12:15 pm
^5 Last Man Standing
^5 Robert Barron
The thing is, you can’t shame a lib, because their pavlovian reflex is to ignore the evidence and change the subject.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
March 9th, 2011
12:21 pm
Also, libs are so full of s**t on the race issue, thats they all have brown eyes. I guess Herman Cain didn’t feel I was a Grand Wizardess when i gave him a hug at a rally..
I HATE Hussein-O do to what he stands for..collectivism..bigger government…higher taxes..weak foreign policy…not putting the USAs interests first and foremost in all issues..
NOT for the color of his skin.. Hell, I hate his mom too and she was white..and a liberal nutcase who helped shape his warped views.
A REAL American
March 9th, 2011
12:22 pm
We no longer have the freedom in America to tell the truth about the fascist Tea Party.
I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!
Mystic55
March 9th, 2011
12:26 pm
Notice all of the Conservatives on here condemning their own right wing people caught on video of late doing outrageous things like Scott Walker.
Why, even the ones who say things like “Look, what Scott Walker said was bad but that’s nothing compared to what this NPR guy did!” elicits at least SOME introspection.
Oh wait. No, they don’t.
You see when a liberal is caught on tape saying something the least bit offensive, they are forced to resign, or someone else is forced to resign or the ’serious’ mainstream media no longer takes them seriously.
The moment a conservative says something on tape that’s outrageous, NOTHING happens. Scott Walker is still defended by almost all conservatives.
Until people understand that Conservatives don’t care about any ideology but their own, liberals will loose every time.
NOT everyone can be reasoned with.
Centrist
March 9th, 2011
12:27 pm
@ Sounds like a Wimpy Move – your post has this: “The distinction between public and private is not the most important issue.”
THAT IS the issue. Whether FOX, CNN, CNBC, broadcast networks, print media, Rush Limbaugh, Bill Press, etc. spout left or right politics is their right. The marketplace determines their following.
That is not true for taxpayer subsidized outlets.
Although I don’t listen to Rush Limbaugh (too right wing for me), I doubt he would still be on the air if he “consisently (sic) made racist and inappropriate remarks over the years”. There are lots of examples of TV and radio hosts who have been suspended or lost their jobs for such, but as far as I know Limbaugh is not one of them.
Douglas
March 9th, 2011
12:33 pm
TrishaDishaWarEiggle – “you can’t shame a lib, because their pavlovian reflex is to ignore the evidence and change the subject”.
And you can’t argue with a con, beacause they are so hard-headed that they won’t look at evidence, and just shout all the lounder. (See Cavuto on Fox — I have to turn the volume down so far that I then can’t hear what anyone else is saying on his show…)
I’ve always called it National People’s Republic Radio, but I listen because it is better news coverage than any of the walkie-talkie stations. Today they were talking about the budget impass and the reporter said that “this was the week for posturing and finger-pointing.” Do you suppose that is what it said on the Congressional Schedule?
We need grownups in Washington, not these children who waste time calling their opponants “democraps” or “republimorons.” Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s good to want things.
Ho Longer Republican
March 9th, 2011
12:36 pm
His remarks probably were not politically correct, but nothing he said was untrue. That pretty much describes the Tea Party folks. They are hell bent on destroying the American dream for all but their select few.
Ho Longer Republican
March 9th, 2011
12:36 pm
His remarks probably were not politically correct, but nothing he said was untrue. That pretty much describes the Tea Party folks. They are hell bent on destroying the American dream for all but their select few.
daniel
March 9th, 2011
12:36 pm
Cut all funding!
Mystic55
March 9th, 2011
12:37 pm
@Centrist – If you aren’t aware of the racist and inappropriate remarks made by Rush over the years then you’re not paying attention.
IOKIYAR.
Mystic55
March 9th, 2011
12:38 pm
If it is OK to cut funding from NPR because conservatives think it has a liberal bias, then it is OK to cut funding to Conservative States when Liberals take power.
Not that they will. Because Progressives are WIMPS.
Douglas
March 9th, 2011
12:38 pm
You know what I find funny? The Repubs and the Foxes are screaming bloody murder about the light bulb thing, but the bill was passed in 2007 and signed by…REPUBLICAN President George W. Bush.
I know many of y’all out there on the Right disown him now, but if I recall at the time, you would shout down anyone who had an unkind word to say about him as being un-American. He was your guy, and now you throw him under the bus?
Anyway, from where I stand (kinda in the middle), that’s how it looks to me.
Clinton "Skink" Tyree
March 9th, 2011
12:41 pm
Herman Cain stands about as much chance of getting Tea Party support as a possum’ crossing Aligator Alley.
Douglas
March 9th, 2011
12:42 pm
Mysticc, I’ve also heard Rush cut off people who made innapropriate or racist remarks. I guess it depends on when you listen.
GaBlue
March 9th, 2011
12:43 pm
A REAL American,
I hear you, but the members of the “fascist Tea Party” are not the ones who took our country. They are noisy pawns, organized by billionaires who told them they were “grass roots.” Their purpose is to distract and obstruct.
The people who are taking our country are doing it quietly, behind the noise they’ve created. Their agenda and their progress does not change because we have elections. They own whomever is currently in charge. They couldn’t care less about the little stuff, the wedge issues, and the minor victories or setbacks we fight about. These things keep us busy and divided. THAT is why we will not get our country back.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
March 9th, 2011
12:43 pm
@Douglas
I listen to NPR..I know they bring a total left wing bias, but sometimes I just have to sleep and it does the job. That being said, I want it’s public funding cut off. They will survive..maybe atlanta’s overlapping and redundant PBS stations will have to merge, no loss there..WTF is the APS system doing running a tv station anyway, they cant even educate the kids there..
Proud Liberal
March 9th, 2011
12:45 pm
Why did he leave for telling the truth?
I haven met a tea party member yet that wasn’t extremely racist.
Are we to believe the rise of the Tea Party coinciding with the first black president are merely coincidence
Surely you jest.
Amy
March 9th, 2011
12:46 pm
Last Man Standing: Why do you refer to the President by his middle name only? Is it to try to scare people? It doesn’t.
Mystic55
March 9th, 2011
12:47 pm
If liberals had guts they’d cut funding from all Red States. In fact if the Dems in the senate had any guts, they’d cut funding from every Red State by 2 to 1 for every politically motivated cut the Republicans made.
But see Democrats don’t know how to play hard ball, and they haven’t since LBJ.
Centrist
March 9th, 2011
12:49 pm
@ Mystic 55 – While you are right that I don’t pay attention to Rush Limbaugh (I am NOT a Republican), I know enough that he is a lightening rod for liberals like you. Merely castigating aspersions without examples, and the fact he has not been suspended/fired for crossing a line like so many others tells me you attack him personally because you don’t like his politics. That often happens in debate by both sides, and usually more often from the losing side of the debate.
Proud Liberal
March 9th, 2011
12:50 pm
But see Democrats don’t know how to play hard ball, and they haven’t since LBJ.
As soon as LBJ signed the Civil Rights Bill the south went from Democrat to Republican real quick.
Funny how that happened isn’t it.
Mystic55
March 9th, 2011
12:51 pm
@Centrist – Alright Centrist, I’ll take your challenge. You claim that you’re not a Republican, and that you’re actually willing to pay attention to examples. So if I find examples of things that Rush has said that are more outrageous than what this guy said will you admit that there is a double standard for Republicans vs. Liberals?
Are you actually willing to prove you’re willing to change your mind or are you a Centrist in Name Only?
TrishaDishaWarEagle
March 9th, 2011
12:52 pm
Mystic55 doesn’t seem to understand how our constitution put the power of the purse in the hands of the HOUSE not the senate..Thats why I prefer a government shut down in 9 days..punish the senate and Hussein-O for not getting on board..
Burroughston Broch
March 9th, 2011
12:54 pm
Jim, once again you’re trying to make a “progressive” spin on the news. The NPR execs weren’t done in by a clandestine video. They and their attitudes did themselves in. NPR’s bias has been well known and accepted for years, as has that of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Remember Gwen Ifill’s on-air pandering for Candidate Obama? The video was the straw that broke the camel’s back and exposed NPR in a manner they couldn’t deny or ignore.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
March 9th, 2011
12:57 pm
And before the libs start deifying LBJ as the man who set blacks free and vilifying the tea Party because..well..you are ignorant, let me mention this LBJ quote, which i verified thru the work of LBJ Biographer Caro…”I’ll have those n******s voting Democratic for the next 200 years”?
Clinton "Skink" Tyree
March 9th, 2011
12:57 pm
Ol’ Herman Cain stands about as much chance of receiving Tea Party support as a possum’ crossing Aligator Alley — slim to none.
The Tea Party’s going to exert their mighty influence in finding somebody that’s so conservative they’ll be unelectable. Great strategy!
Mystic55
March 9th, 2011
12:57 pm
@Trisha Disha War Eagle – Actually, Trish, the power of the purse exists in the House only so much as that all bills involving finance must originate in the House, but the Senate is totally free to modify them.
Let’s check some other conservative challenges shall we?
So if you’re conservative, you support state rights, right? What about Oregon’s assisted suicide law that the last Republican administration tried to crush? Do you actually support states right’s or only the one’s you like?
The constitution mandates that treason is an impeachable offense. Would you call outing an undercover CIA agent treason? Probably not. Do you favor impeaching Obama? 56% of All Republicans do, so the odds are you are one of them. Did you favor impeaching George W. Bush? Probably not.
Do you favor the filibuster? Did you know that the filibuster is not in the constitution? But you probably still favor it.
See conservatives favor the constitution when it favors their ideology, but not the parts that they don’t like.
IOKIYAR.
WhiteRabbit
March 9th, 2011
12:59 pm
Of course the man is absolutely right. Angry, racist pensioners who are sucking up government health care and social security are spending their thirty-year holidays after government and union careers chasing around state capitols holding misspelled signs and behaving like brutes–and the women are worse than the men. These idiots should go back to farting around the block on Harley Davidsons. There can be no doubt that the Tea Party people are shockingly stupid attention hogs who do not understand the degree to which they are shills and who ought to get back to playing with their intellectually and fiscally doomed grandchildren rather than imagining they are of political importance.