NPR: being "nervous" about Muslims isn't okay

[retro]

But saying that you wish someone and their grandchildren contract AIDS is.

The following is an internal memo sent by NPR President and CEO Vivian Schiller in regards to the Juan Williams firing:

Dear AREPS,

Thank you for all of your varying feedback on the Juan Williams situation. Let me offer some further clarification about why we terminated his contract early.

First, a critical distinction has been lost in this debate. NPR News analysts have a distinctive role and set of responsibilities. This is a very different role than that of a commentator or columnist. News analysts may not take personal public positions on controversial issues; doing so undermines their credibility as analysts, and that’s what’s happened in this situation. As you all well know, we offer views of all kinds on your air every day, but those views are expressed by those we interview – not our reporters and analysts.

Second, this isn’t the first time we have had serious concerns about some of Juan’s public comments. Despite many conversations and warnings over the years, Juan has continued to violate this principal.

Third, these specific comments (and others made in the past), are inconsistent with NPR’s ethics code, which applies to all journalists (including contracted analysts):

“In appearing on TV or other media . . . NPR journalists should not express views they would not air in their role as an NPR journalist. They should not participate in shows . . . that encourage punditry and speculation rather than fact-based analysis.”

More fundamentally, “In appearing on TV or other media including electronic Web-based forums, NPR journalists should not express views they would not air in their role as an NPR journalist.”

Unfortunately, Juan’s comments on Fox violated our standards as well as our values and offended many in doing so.

We’re profoundly sorry that this happened during fundraising week. Juan’s comments were made Monday night and we did not feel it would be responsible to delay this action.

This was a tough decision and we appreciate your support.

Thanks,

Vivian

Vivian Schiller

President & CEO, NPR

I've bolded some very important things in that memo.

Now you might be asking yourself, where does the AIDS thing come in? Well, I'm getting to that. But first, lets take a hard look at Nina Totenberg.

Over the past month, in her regular appearances on “Inside Washington,” she has: criticized a ruling of the Roberts Court as scandalous; claimed that Michelle Obama gives people “warm and fuzzy” feelings; called Bill Clinton “the most gifted politician I’ve ever seen;” and lamented that the Democratic Party is diverse enough to include moderates that want to extend all Bush tax cuts.

Now, don't all of those things seem to be in direct contrast to the NPR "code of ethics"? The CoE states: "News analysts may not take personal public positions on controversial issues; doing so undermines their credibility as analysts". So why hasn't Totenberg been fired yet? But wait, but wait! What she said wasn't nearly as controversial and hateful as what Juan Williams said.

Now we get to wishing AIDS on people. In 1995, while with NPR, Nina Totenberg appeared on Inside Washington and said...

[youtube]7msrF1V4NeY[/youtube]

 

[retro]

So apparently, it's okay to wish AIDS on someone, but not okay to be nervous about Muslims on a plane. More politically correct crap, going back to the thread I posted about Islam a few weeks back.

 

[Kyle B]

I heard about this on NPR this morning.

 

[Peter Parka]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J---aiyznGQ

 

[BornReady]

In defense of Nina Totenberg, it's not clear to me that she wants Helms or his grandchildren to get AIDS. She may have been laughing at what she saw as a ridiculous man, not at the thought of him or his grandchildren getting AIDS.

I'm not going to defend NPR. I don't see why reporters shouldn't be allowed to express their opinion.

I think getting nervous when you see a Muslim indicates some bigotry. Same thing when someone gets nervous when they see a black man.

 

[Accountable]

It's good to see that the status of black people has risen so far. Now they're even castigated as being racist. Good for them! The next step, of course, would be to drop them from the Affirmative Action lists. This wouldn't affect black women, because they would then become simply women.

I'm eagerly awaiting the release of that sure-fire hit, Black Men Can't Ride Racing Camels.