NPR’s All Things Considered will spend upwards of 20 minutes on one topic and go more in-depth than any other news outlet in radio, T.V. or print. Tell Me More, as the show’s name suggests, also gives second-to-none detail to its listeners. And of course, Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me, is hilarious. Bottom line: NPR is a unique form of radio news that is important, and I’m not the only one who thinks so (see: most progressive Americans).
Count U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., as one who doesn’t agree with us. DeMint announced Friday on his Twitter account that he would “introduce legislation to end taxpayer funding for NPR & PBS.”
DeMint’s hissy fit is stemming from the firing of Juan Williams, a former NPR news analyst who was fired last week after he made racially insensitive comments on The O’Reilly Factor. On last Monday’s show, Williams told Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly that he gets “worried” and “nervous” when he flies with people wearing Muslim clothing.
Personally, I get worried and nervous that a Fox News-inspired militia will take over the U.S. government. I’m kidding, sort of.
DeMint’s argument is that Williams’ firing violates his First Amendment rights. Using this logic, I could go on a massive racist rant in my next blog post and then sue the Garnet & Black for firing me.
For those of you who feel bad for Williams: don’t. He signed a 2-year contract worth almost $2 million with Fox News on the same day he was fired by NPR.
Moral of the story: Pick on a minority group, insult them, get fired from your day job and then get rich.
