NPR CEO Schiller Apologizes For How Juan Williams Firing Was Handled

by Glynnis MacNicol | 8:47 am, October 25th, 2010

» 71 comments

Five days after NPR terminated news analyst Juan Williams and set off a media firestorm (albeit a somewhat gleeful one of the part of Fox News) of criticism, NPR CEO Vivian Schiller has apologized to her NPR colleagues for the manner in which Williams’ abrupt departure was handled.

I want to apologize for not doing a better job of handling the termination of our relationship with news analyst Juan Williams. While we stand firmly behind that decision, I regret that we did not take the time to prepare our program partners and provide you with the tools to cope with the fallout from this episode. I know you all felt the reverberations and are on the front lines every day responding to your listeners and talking to the public.

It’s important to note that Schiller did not apologize for the fact that Williams had been fired, simply the manner in which it was undertaken.

I stand by my decision to end NPR’s relationship with Juan Williams, but deeply regret the way I handled and explained it. You have my pledge that the NPR team and I will reflect on all aspects of our actions, and strive to improve them in the future.

Schiller also reflected on the changing nature of news coverage, but unlike a number of critics who felt NPR’s firing of Williams was a measure of how NPR’s refusal to adjust to the new media landscape, Schiller asserts it’s NPR’s responsibility to hold their ground.

The news and media world is changing swiftly and radically; traditional standards and practices are under siege. This requires us to redouble our attention to how we interpret and live up to our values and standards.

You can read the full statement below, via Politico. On a related note, Schiller has additionally come under some fire for apologizing to member stations for the bad timing of this firing, coming as it does during NPR’s pledge week. But one of NPR’s main roles is to support member stations. Here is how Schiller explained it to me in an interview shortly after she took over at NPR:

NPR is a central organization. We are a news gathering and news reporting, producing and distribution organization. We have 36 bureaus around the world. We produce programs, we also license and distribute programs. We also provide services to the stations in all manner of technology, lobbying — you name it. But each station is run autonomously, so they’re not really affiliates. They are members, which is a nuance…So we enable them and they provide it.

Meanwhile, thus far NPR member stations are reportedly meeting or exceeding pledge drive goals. Full Schiller statement below.

Dear Program Colleagues,

I want to apologize for not doing a better job of handling the termination of our relationship with news analyst Juan Williams. While we stand firmly behind that decision, I regret that we did not take the time to prepare our program partners and provide you with the tools to cope with the fallout from this episode. I know you all felt the reverberations and are on the front lines every day responding to your listeners and talking to the public

This was a decision of principle, made to protect NPR’s integrity and values as a news organization. Juan Williams’ comments on Fox News last Monday were the latest in a series of deeply troubling incidents over several years. In each of those instances, he was contacted and the incident was discussed with him. He was explicitly and repeatedly asked to respect NPR’s standards and to avoid expressing strong personal opinions on controversial subjects in public settings, as that is inconsistent with his role as an NPR news analyst. After this latest incident, we felt compelled to act. I acknowledge that reasonable people can disagree about timing: whether NPR should have ended its relationship with Juan Williams earlier, on the occasion of other incidents; or whether this final episode warranted immediate termination of his contract.

In any event, the process that followed the decision was unfortunate – including not meeting with Juan Williams in person – and I take full responsibility for that. We have already begun a thorough review of all aspects of our performance in this instance, a process that will continue in the coming days and weeks. We will also review and re-articulate our written ethics guidelines to make them as clear and relevant as possible for our acquired show partners, our staff, Member stations and the public.

The news and media world is changing swiftly and radically; traditional standards and practices are under siege. This requires us to redouble our attention to how we interpret and live up to our values and standards. We are confident that NPR’s integrity and dedication to the highest values in journalism and our commitment to serving as a national forum for the respectful discussion of diverse ideas will continue to earn the support of a growing audience.

I stand by my decision to end NPR’s relationship with Juan Williams, but deeply regret the way I handled and explained it. You have my pledge that the NPR team and I will reflect on all aspects of our actions, and strive to improve them in the future.

Please feel free to share your concerns and suggestions.

Respectfully,

Vivian Schiller

Juan Williams, NPR, Vivian Schiller

Firstrate

This does not fix it. Schiller is a knucklehead.
JimBob

OK! Now, fire Schiller’s ass !!
Azarkhan

“Meanwhile, thus far NPR member stations are reportedly meeting or exceeding pledge drive goals”

Excellent! Given this good news, no one should be upset when Congress eliminates funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and NPR.
DonnaK

If Williams hadn’t always tried to be O’Reilly’s lap dog, maybe he would still be at NPR. I don’t blame them for their actions. I have been reading a lot about the circumstances he had with the Washington Post, about how he dealt with women collegues. Seems Williams liked to make comments not welcomed by the ladies!!
More Liberty

I’m not really sure the the US taxpayer is forced to supplement NPRs revenue. The former CEO of NPR, Ken Stern, was paid more than $1.3 million the last year he worked for them which is ’08. The previous year, ’07, he earn half a million. The weekend anchor, Scott Simon, makes $300,000 a year via NPR.

With fat cat CEOs and “reporters” making so much, there is no need to force the taxpayer to supplement NPR.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dronetek-Bulk-Vanderhuge/100000918732763 Dronetek

“albeit a somewhat gleeful one of the part of Fox News”

Why do you lefties get indignant when Fox or “the right” goes after the left really hard, yet when you guys do it, its justified? You guys do an attack story on O’Donnell nearly everyday. You whine about Fox NON-STOP and you wring your hands about one Republican or another on a consistent basis.
More Liberty

DonnaK said:
If Williams hadn’t always tried to be O’Reilly’s lap dog, maybe he would still be at NPR. I don’t blame them for their actions. I have been reading a lot about the circumstances he had with the Washington Post, about how he dealt with women collegues. Seems Williams liked to make comments not welcomed by the ladies!!

Instead of just throwing rumors out there, why don’t you provide proof of such “comments.” I don’t know if he did or not but I sure they hell am not going to believe some anonymous person on the internet. Proof would be nice.
Seeing November From My Window

I read this yesterday and it’s so true:

CAIR is an identity-politics organization that trolls for opportunities to take offense. Whenever anyone acknowledges the nexus between terrorism and radical Islam — not Islam, but radical Islam — CAIR cries foul. Wednesday afternoon within hours of the CAIR complaint, NPR rewarded CAIR’s campaign of intimidation with a scalp.

NPR announced it had severed its contract with Williams, as his remarks “were inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR.”

Original article:

A Witch Hunt for Bigots Singes American Media

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/10/24/a_witch_hunt_for_bigots_singes_american_media_107701.html
VRWC Destruction Machine

Schiller is dismayed at the fact she acted like an idiot with her “psychiatrist” comment about Williams. She did not act like a CEO of a corporation. She acted like a power hungry shift supervisor of a fast food restaurant.
Not Your Typical New Yorker

Hey Schiller, you can stand on your head and blow bubbles out of your ass but YOU ARE STILL GONE!!

Bye, bye! Another Peter Principle example biting the dust.

The only upside to Obama is that he’s destroying the democat party and the left in this country like nobody and I mean NOBODY else could.

Thanks for that barry.
Big Eddie

Who gave Schiller the order to ” get rid of the Fox guy ” ? Axlerod , Podesta , or Bauer ? Soros and Obama aren’t stupid enough to do it directly .
tatboy

Schiller’s “psychiatrist” comment would be enough to get her fired anywhere else in the real world. If my boss had released a statement (or even revealed to my fellow employees) that I should or am seeing a psychiatrist (in her opinion) that boss would be fired. She will not be for 1 reason… she is a white, north east, liberal that fired a BLACK liberal that didn’t tow the line enough for her.
DonnaK

More Liberty–If you would like info about my comment on Juan Williams—search 1991/ Washington Post /Juan Williams. Of course, you won’t believe it, but why did he apologize?
ChrisNH

Is that picture above one of Schiller making the apology? Boy, she looks dreadful. NPR must not be a happy place to be right now, not only because of the Juan Williams thing, but also because of what’s going to happen to ‘their people’ on November 2. It really is disingenuous of them to browbeat Fox News for ‘bias’ when they are precisely that for the other side…and using confiscated tax dollars to do it, too.
More Liberty

DonnaK said:
More Liberty–If you would like info about my comment on Juan Williams—search 1991/ Washington Post /Juan Williams. Of course, you won’t believe it, but why did he apologize?

Like I said, he might have done it or not. I just asked for a little more proof. But it is important to note that it was 19 years ago. I don’t really care for Williams; he’s just another big government liberal.
Seeing November From My Window

Ah, seeing libs like Donna eat their own, priceless!
More Liberty

The fact here is that Juan is just another big government liberal. However, as an African-American Democrat he stepped out of the party line by occasionally disagreeing with the elite liberal whites on certain rare occasions. He got punished for it. This is the message the establishment, AKA the Democrat plantation, is sending to all. They are not tolerant of African-Americans having a differing opinion.
tatboy

DonnaK said:
More Liberty–If you would like info about my comment on Juan Williams—search 1991/ Washington Post /Juan Williams. Of course, you won’t believe it, but why did he apologize?

DonnaK… I’m sorry but sexual harrassment is OK now since you all said so with Bill Clinton. Hell NOW said it was OK so what’s your beef with Juan??? If it was OK then for Bill it was OK for Juan then… right? Hell 1 woman accused Bill of rape… and NOW called her a lier. When was the last time NOW called a woman caliming rape a lier. Hell NOW believed the Duke Rape accuser and she was a lying sak of $hit. But now bought HER story. So please spare me your righteous indignation.
DonnaK

No it’s because Fox news is not a news organization–it’s the arm of the republican money raising machine. Why wouldn’t NPR not like some of Juan Williams comments on Fox, he was trying to play both sides of the road, and he lost. Williams should man-up and take his 2 million–I’m sure he is delighted–I’m already sick of hearing him whine. Of course, some whining makes for a good book, doesn’t it? No doubt, NPR could have handled it better, it’s done, let’s move on–but will Fox let it go–they will work it as long as possible!!
Seeing November From My Window

Donna says:

No it’s because Fox news is not a news organization–

So you get those daily talking point from David Axelrod, I see.
More Liberty

DonnaK said:
Why wouldn’t NPR not like some of Juan Williams comments on Fox, he was trying to play both sides of the road, and he lost.

In other words, an African-American liberal didn’t completely drink the DNC kool-aid 100% of the time – just 95% of the time. So what happened, Juan got canned for that small 5% of disagreement with the liberal elite. The Democrat plantation does not tolerate African-Americans having a diversity of views.
NORBIT

THANK YOU NPR!!

ps) Would it be asking too much to fire Mara Liasson before next Tuesday?

THANK YOU NPR!!!!!
—————————–

WARNING – To Moderate Democrats:

Have you read “Rhinoceros” – The Progressives are coming for YOU Now!
—————————————————————————————————-

To Mortgage Holders:
Those who don’t pay their mortgages give a big shout-out to the FOOLS who still do!
OBAMA’S AMERICA!

—– 11-02-10 —–
pinkerpeach

BP’s CEO Robert Dudley has Okayed the use the BPCares websites to continue its online PR campaign.
This decision was unanimously agreed upon in conjunction with the BPAMA at their recently concluded meeting. The BPAMA marketers were assured of a deeper partnership by CEO Bob Dudley during a one-on-one with the marketers. Mr. Dudley pointed out to the members that they will not be abandoned; rather… they will receive the full support from BP’s marketing machine to crush the competitors like Exxon, Shell and Chevron.
BP will use a bevy of various BPCares websites (said the Marketing V.P) to target specific markets in the US and around the world; “We will crush Exxon, Shell and Chevron… its War and personal”. The domains that BP will use are as follows:
BPCares.com
BPCares.net
BPCares.org
BPCares.info
BPCares.us
BPCares.biz
BP will collaborate with the BPAMA with regards to the execution of specific websites. The websites will be up soon and some of the websites will target the Southern States that suffered heavily from the oil spill.
tatboy

DonnaK said:
No it’s because Fox news is not a news organization–it’s the arm of the republican money raising machine. Why wouldn’t NPR not like some of Juan Williams comments on Fox, he was trying to play both sides of the road, and he lost. Williams should man-up and take his 2 million–I’m sure he is delighted–I’m already sick of hearing him whine. Of course, some whining makes for a good book, doesn’t it? No doubt, NPR could have handled it better, it’s done, let’s move on–but will Fox let it go–they will work it as long as possible!!

And what is MSNBC???
A man without a Country

The news and media world is changing swiftly and radically; traditional standards and practices are under siege. This requires us to redouble our attention to how we interpret and live up to our values and standards.
–Vivian Schiller

Lady, ‘yer living in the Dark Ages. Objectivity and Accountability in American Media went out of style a long time ago. People in this day and age, have no use for facts, honesty, or that most dreaded word… Integrity.

This is America, where we have the right to say and feel whatever we want. No matter, how backwards, incredibility stupid, or unproductive it may be…

—————————————————————————————————————————————————
Fight the rising tide of Christin Fascism…. Vote Democrat!
More Liberty

A man without a Country said:
Fight the rising tide of Christin Fascism…. Vote Democrat!

Way to ignore the actual issues and focus on fear and scare tactics – looks like you could run a modern day DNC campaign.
Big Eddie

A man without a Country

Delta is ready when you are .
NORBIT

If the Dems do hold on to the Senate, has anyone speculated on Reid’s future as Leader?
NORBIT

Seeing November From My Window said:
I read this yesterday and it’s so true: CAIR is an identity-politics organization that trolls for opportunities to take offense. Whenever anyone acknowledges the nexus between terrorism and radical Islam — not Islam, but radical Islam — CAIR cries foul. Wednesday afternoon within hours of the CAIR complaint, NPR rewarded CAIR’s campaign of intimidation with a scalp. NPR announced it had severed its contract with Williams, as his remarks “were inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR.” Original article: A Witch Hunt for Bigots Singes American Media http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/10/24/a_witch_hunt_for_bigots_singes_american_media_107701.html

Picture a bunch of ambulance-chasing, Muslim Sharptons’!
ImJustThatDamnGood

WTF? When did you conservatives began to care if a minority’s rights were being violated or if a minority was treated unfairly? No No No, Juan is just a catalysts for you conservatives to attempt to take out another liberal group. You conservatives should work on your acting skills I can see right through you. A compassionate conservative? Ha, that’s a good one.
Pablo

ImJustThatDamnGood said:
WTF? When did you conservatives began to care if a minority’s rights were being violated or if a minority was treated unfairly? No No No, Juan is just a catalysts for you conservatives to attempt to take out another liberal group. You conservatives should work on your acting skills I can see right through you. A compassionate conservative? Ha, that’s a good one.

Whether he’s a minority or not is irrelevant. When was the last time you saw liberals standing behind a conservative of any color when he was getting a raw deal?
More Liberty

ImJustThatDamnGood said:
WTF? When did you conservatives began to care if a minority’s rights were being violated or if a minority was treated unfairly? No No No, Juan is just a catalysts for you conservatives to attempt to take out another liberal group. You conservatives should work on your acting skills I can see right through you. A compassionate conservative? Ha, that’s a good one.

Way to skirt the issue you bigot. Lumping free and private individuals into hyphenated groups and sub-groups is how liberals abuse “minorities.” They do not care about about the individual, just the vote. When a “minority” such as Juan expressed a slightly differing opinion he was subsequently attacked and harassed by elite liberals. You should be ashamed.
More Liberty

ImJustThatDamnGood said:
When did you conservatives began to care if a minority’s rights were being violated or if a minority was treated unfairly?

So you agree that Juan’s rights were violated and that he was treated unfairly. At least you admit it. I’m sure you will be back tracking in 5, 4, 3, 2,1…..
Not Your Typical New Yorker

DonnaK says:
October 25, 2010 at 9:53 am DonnaK(Quote)

“No it’s because Fox news is not a news organization–it’s the arm of the republican money raising machine.”

This comment right here is Stupidity On Stilts honey…
VRWC Destruction Machine

I don’t know how Schiller got her job as CEO as NPR, but I would expect her to be more skilled explaining her reasons for firing Juan Williams. Schiller was within her rights to fire Juan Williams. Whether it was right or wrong , Schiller should not have left her decision open for national debate. Not complying to NPR’s policy for news analysts was pretty weak considering inconsistencies of this supposed policy. A CEO must be able to put a happy face on any situation a corporation comes across. Instead, she made it into a public relations nightmare.The CEO is the face the public attaches to a corporation. Schiller didn’t look into the mirror before going to work.
Pablo

How many apologies does this make from Schiller? For somebody doing something so righteous, she sure apologizes a lot. And even her bestest employees think she’s dopey. Massive CEO fail.
Pablo

VRWC Destruction Machine said:
I don’t know how Schiller got her job as CEO as NPR, but I would expect her to be more skilled explaining her reasons for firing Juan Williams.

Why, she came over from the New York Times. Because of the diversity of thought, no doubt.
Pablo

A man without a Country said:
This is America, where we have the right to say and feel whatever we want. No matter, how backwards, incredibility stupid, or unproductive it may be…

————————————————————————————————————————
Fight the rising tide of Christin Fascism…. Vote Democrat!

Nicely done. First, you make the assertion, and then you prove it. That’s fine debating there, my friend. Get your spelling together and you’ll be a sure fire winner.
DonnaK

I really don’t see candidates making pleas for money and advertising their websites on any other networks!! Fox anchors practically do the talking points for them, they hardly have to do anything but agree. Case in point, Sharon Angle telling Carl Cameron, that she likes to be interviewed by people that agree with her point of view, and she can raise money very quickly by going on Fox!!
CosmosDan

Seeing November From My Window said:
CAIR is an identity-politics organization that trolls for opportunities to take offense. Whenever anyone acknowledges the nexus between terrorism and radical Islam — not Islam, but radical Islam — CAIR cries foul. Wednesday afternoon within hours of the CAIR complaint, NPR rewarded CAIR’s campaign of intimidation with a scalp.

If this is true the way to confront it is by having an open and ongoing conversation about the feeling Williams expressed , and allowing Muslims and CAIR to voice their side as well. That’s in keeping in free speech and does more to address a serious issue than continued bitching about NPR and CAIR.
Seeing November From My Window

Donna says:

I really don’t see candidates making pleas for money and advertising their websites on any other networks!! Fox anchors practically do the talking points for them, they hardly have to do anything but agree.

Are you freaking kidding me!!? Have you turned on ABC, NBC, ABC, CNN, or MSNBC lately!?
BatBoy

Vivian Schiller will never recover internally and rendered herself as an ineffective CEO.

She shook the soul of NPR’s employees.

I predict she will be gone by the end of the year!
tatboy

DonnaK said:
I really don’t see candidates making pleas for money and advertising their websites on any other networks!! Fox anchors practically do the talking points for them, they hardly have to do anything but agree. Case in point, Sharon Angle telling Carl Cameron, that she likes to be interviewed by people that agree with her point of view, and she can raise money very quickly by going on Fox!!

Yes your right. Only Fox. Olbermann ALWAYS has people of a different view point on his show. No softballs there. He almost NEVER agrees with the people he interviews. How did I miss that? Excellent point as always…
More Liberty

CosmosDan said:
If this is true the way to confront it is by having an open and ongoing conversation about the feeling Williams expressed , and allowing Muslims and CAIR to voice their side as well. That’s in keeping in free speech and does more to address a serious issue than continued bitching about NPR and CAIR.

That is what Williams was doing when NPR canned him. He simply admitted that he sometimes has an apprehensive feeling when he see “middle-easterners” on an airplane. But for the most part he was sticking up for moderate muslims.
Seeing November From My Window

Dan says:

If this is true the way to confront it is by having an open and ongoing conversation about the feeling Williams expressed , and allowing Muslims and CAIR to voice their side as well. That’s in keeping in free speech and does more to address a serious issue than continued bitching about NPR and CAIR.

I agree Dan, but as you can see, when this is tried, people who agree with Juan are labeled Bigots! That’s not surprising though, as the Dem’s STATED goal was to play the race card. Most on the left aren’t interested in having a discussion. That’s just the truth.
Mr.Papshmer

More Liberty said:
However, as an African-American Democrat he stepped out of the party line by occasionally disagreeing with the elite liberal whites on certain rare occasions. He got punished for it.

I disagree. It didn’t matter his politics or opinions, he was fired for appearing on Fox, period. Soros and the fringe left are on an all out campaign to marginalize Fox, and one of their modes of operation is intimidation of anyone appearing there. They would like to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation of people who might consider a Fox appearance, thus making them less and less relevant in the news industry. This has already backfired, big time. Yes, most news people lean left, but I have to think that there is the realization there of what’s really going on.
NORBIT

If I haven’t said it today,

THANK YOU NPR!!
VRWC Destruction Machine

Pablo said:
Why, she came over from the New York Times. Because of the diversity of thought, no doubt.

That, in itself, is a red flag.
Sidhekitten

Thank you NPR! Thank you for finally giving me a reason to pull you off my presets in my car. Thank for stopping my girlfriend from changing my radio channel or turn off my CD so that she can listen to Terry Gross. (See not on my presets) My car is now a peaceful. Thank you taking Sorsos money so I no longer have to wonder if my local station will need my help.Thank you for exposing yourself for what you are, in the bag for all that is left and quelling the free speech of those who ‘go off the reservation”. Now I can just go to Media Matters of Huffpo and to see your points of view, a true time saver. My car CD does not feel neglected anymore.
Say, you should go ahead and re brand yourself as New Propaganda Radio, a subsidiary of Sorros Inc. or Tides or Media Maters. Seemed to work for GE and NBC, oh um sorry, that’s going to Comcast.
WildMan

Schiller should be fired immediately from NPR and the EVIL Rachael Madcow should be canned from msnbc along with fat and angry Edie Schultz. Some people just have NO business being in Journalism and Communications.
tatboy

DonnaK said:
No it’s because Fox news is not a news organization–it’s the arm of the republican money raising machine. Why wouldn’t NPR not like some of Juan Williams comments on Fox, he was trying to play both sides of the road, and he lost. Williams should man-up and take his 2 million–I’m sure he is delighted–I’m already sick of hearing him whine. Of course, some whining makes for a good book, doesn’t it? No doubt, NPR could have handled it better, it’s done, let’s move on–but will Fox let it go–they will work it as long as possible!!

Here you go DonnaK.

http://johnnydollar.us/files/101024challenge.php

Now don’t you feel stupid.
alamo2

Mr.Papshmer said:
I disagree. It didn’t matter his politics or opinions, he was fired for appearing on Fox, period. Soros and the fringe left are on an all out campaign to marginalize Fox, and one of their modes of operation is intimidation of anyone appearing there. They would like to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation of people who might consider a Fox appearance, thus making them less and less relevant in the news industry. This has already backfired, big time. Yes, most news people lean left, but I have to think that there is the realization there of what’s really going on.

I have a great deal of respect for your opinion, even when I do not agree with it. I would like to ask your opinion: What do you consider to be the extreme (or fringe) left, and the extreme right? Thanks.
Seeing November From My Window

HAHA, Tatboy, I was just about to hit submit when I noticed you posted what I was going to. I can’t wait to get Donna’s thoughts. I also asked Mediaite to do a piece on it since they ran with the Hannity/Kasich story. Let’s wait and see what their level of journalistic integrity is.
BlackWidow

NORBIT said:
If the Dems do hold on to the Senate, has anyone speculated on Reid’s future as Leader?

Norbit I have serious doubts about Reid winning. I don’t think we will lose the Senate and I would rather have Dick Durban as the leader anyway. My ONLY agreement with Angle is MAN UP REID. I get tired of Democrats being nice. We need to go after the Republicans like they do the Dems.
BlackWidow

WildMan said:
Schiller should be fired immediately from NPR and the EVIL Rachael Madcow should be canned from msnbc along with fat and angry Edie Schultz. Some people just have NO business being in Journalism and Communications.

These people you name are NOT journalists they are pundits. Totally different.
BlackWidow

Seeing November From My Window said:
Dan says: If this is true the way to confront it is by having an open and ongoing conversation about the feeling Williams expressed , and allowing Muslims and CAIR to voice their side as well. That’s in keeping in free speech and does more to address a serious issue than continued bitching about NPR and CAIR. I agree Dan, but as you can see, when this is tried, people who agree with Juan are labeled Bigots! That’s not surprising though, as the Dem’s STATED goal was to play the race card. Most on the left aren’t interested in having a discussion. That’s just the truth.

You must know different Dems than I do. Sure some on the far left are whack-jobs just like the Republicans whack-jobs. Try talking to people in the center for once.Far lefties are as nutz to us and we admit it. Republicans walk in lock step and will NEVER denounce their far right wingers.
BlackWidow

DonnaK said:
I really don’t see candidates making pleas for money and advertising their websites on any other networks!! Fox anchors practically do the talking points for them, they hardly have to do anything but agree. Case in point, Sharon Angle telling Carl Cameron, that she likes to be interviewed by people that agree with her point of view, and she can raise money very quickly by going on Fox!!

Donna, I see candidates on MSNBC soliciting money through their websites just like on Fox. I may be wriong but the only difference is that NBC (MSNBC) does not donate millions of dollars to the Democrat Party.
Seeing November From My Window

BlackWidow says:

Republicans walk in lock step and will NEVER denounce their far right wingers.

That’s flat out wrong. You should do some research. Karl Rove has been hammered lately. Bush was hammered on the right. The “establishment” R’s have hammered the tea-partiers. There are tons of examples out there IF you choose to look.
Hammer_You

that schiller bitch was smacked with the ugly stick…… twice
Bill Mahwer

She is useless and her actions show poor judgement. She should be canned.

Her time in Communist Russia have probably rubbed off on her actions today.
LATFTP.com

If an employee or contractor is a serial violator of their employers rules and standards they are at risk of being terminated, plain and simple. Williams has been playing a risky game and either intentionally or unwittingly became a shill for his Fox News overlords. His comments were inflammatory at a minimum, bigoted at worst.
alamo2

Hammer_You said:
that schiller bitch was smacked with the ugly stick…… twice

Wow, are you a classy person! And such a brilliant command of the English language….
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ed-Durffee/1311278663 Ed Durffee

DonnaK said:
If Williams hadn’t always tried to be O’Reilly’s lap dog, maybe he would still be at NPR. I don’t blame them for their actions. I have been reading a lot about the circumstances he had with the Washington Post, about how he dealt with women collegues. Seems Williams liked to make comments not welcomed by the ladies!!

Wow, You mean like O’Reilly, he stood up and spoke his mind. There are many things Juan W believes in that I really disagree with, but of all the Liberals I have ever listened to, he was the only one who did not deliver his message with spit and poison. I have always liked him and his ways, even when I disagreed with his message. Juan does not belong working for an outfit like NPR, they are way too vitrolic and hate mongers for someone like Juan, At Fox he can say his piece and debate the issues honestly with people like Bill O, S Hannity or any of the many Fox people. Its the best world for Juan and to tell the truth, it will do more for the Democrat Party as well, I dont like that but its honest.

The one thing left to see is NPR withering on the vine and shutting down its dishonest ways.
Seeing November From My Window

LATFTP.com says:
If an employee or contractor is a serial violator of their employers rules and standards they are at risk of being terminated, plain and simple. Williams has been playing a risky game and either intentionally or unwittingly became a shill for his Fox News overlords. His comments were inflammatory at a minimum, bigoted at worst.

So you also had a problem when Nina Totenberg wished aids on Jesse Helms AND his grandchildren and thought she should have been fired?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Greg-Thrasher/635581836 Greg Thrasher

What about’s Vivian Schiller’s negrophobia and her attack on Juan Williams mental capacity? Vivian’s comments are offensive and only add more shelf life to negrophobia..I thought Black men as “crazy” was no longer a part of the racial discourse to now observe a powerful White Woman and CEO invoke this hate speech is tragic..
CosmosDan

More Liberty said:
That is what Williams was doing when NPR canned him. He simply admitted that he sometimes has an apprehensive feeling when he see “middle-easterners” on an airplane. But for the most part he was sticking up for moderate muslims.

I’d appreciate it if he and his new network could stop talking about his horrible experience and continue to expand on that conversation. The feelings he expressed are real feelings but they are also irrational. What needs to be discussed is how those real feelings become the foundation for anti Muslim sentiment and how that is affecting our society, including American Muslims. I think we need to hear honest feelings from Muslims as well. My local paper just did a story on it because of the protests in nearby Murfeesboro
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20101024/NEWS01/10240374

That’s a far more important and relevant story than either Williams or Schiller and they never got there on the show that started it all.
dahni

The firing could have been handled better, huh? Do ya think? Did you have another touchy feelie with Soros and your psychiatrist and change your tune? No more $$$ from me! I don’t have as much as Soros anyway, so you won’t miss me. Or me miss you… lmao
http://none pyrope

BlackWidow said:
We need to go after the Republicans like they do the Dems.

Eh, what planet you from again?
Morgan

She admitted Juan was fired in the wrong way and apologized to everyone for that.

I read the whole transcript and agree that she had the right to fire him. However, she still owes Jaun Williams an apology, directly, for how she did it, WHETHER OR NOT he is offered his job back.
http://none pyrope

It’s really very simple folks. If you agree that Juan Williams should have been canned, do nothing. HOWEVER, if you DISAGREE with Schiller, get in touch with your elected representatives and DEMAND the Corporation for Public Broadcasting be DEFUNDED, and then call your local NPR (and PBS) stations to let them know you are no longer a supporter. I did that last week.
http://none pyrope

Morgan said:
I read the whole transcript and agree that she had the right to fire him.

What you are saying is correct, even though the “smart” thing to do would have been to just not renew his contract. But, you have to look at the pressures being put on her from her benefactors. George Soros comes to mind. Still, in all, this publicly funded media outlet does not represent ALL American taxpayers, and it seems that I once read about a revolution that was started on the premise of “no taxation without representation.” NPR, PBS, and CPB do not and have NEVER represented my views yet money is confiscated from me to support them.