Here is the reason he was fired according to NPR CEO Vivian Schille: "News analysts may not take personal public positions on controversial issues; doing so undermines their credibility as analysts".
rfenst wrote:
I heard that reason several times the day it happened. Of course, those standards of conduct were also intact when NPR correspondent Nina Totenburg wished Jesse Helms and/or his grandchildren would contract AIDS. That's some good, straight-up, non-commentary news reportin' right there.
I suppose the difference in that case was she was making the comment about a non-PC individual, therefore "journalistic standards" don't apply.
Then there's the comment another NPR individual made about how the world would be a better place if 4 million Christians would suddenly disappear. He's still employed by NPR. As is the "reporter" who referred to Tea Party Members as "teabaggers". But again, that's OK, under their "journalistic standards". I've listened to NPR for years. There's damn little straight up fact reporting without spin or commentary passing for fact. It's constantly mixed with personal observation and little interlude pieces of "whimsical, folksy tripe" to make the pony-tail-knot relics who didn't completely fry their brains at Haight-Asbury feel smart and superior.
Before I go any further with this, I agree with very little of what Juan Williams has said over time. But I have always liked the guy, because he can present his position with class and he can make you think. I used to like Allan Colmes in much the same way, in his early days on Hannity and Colmes, before he became a gotcha soundbite guy in an attempt to raise his radio ratings.
Real reason Juan is gone: It was a constructive discharge. They've been lying in wait for a chance to get him, because he appears on Fox News. His being a high-profile liberal making regular appearances on Fox gives credence to the Fair and Balanced. NPR and their sugar daddy - George Soros - did not like that. So George put the hit out on Juan and paid for it with his latest $1.8 million contribution to NPR. They cherry picked a line, spun it out of context, and then in true liberal fashion, assassinated his character on the way out the door by suggestion he's a wack job who needs a shrink. Heh heh heh - pour me another glass of that heavenly chardonnay.
As an added bonus, NPR doesn't have to deal with any black correspondents now. They got rid of their only high-profile black reporter when they gassed Juan.
