Was Juan Williams fired unfairly?
Yes, his comments about Muslims smacked of intolerance. But were they a firing offense for a commentator paid for his opinions? Howard Kurtz on NPR’s politics and Fox’s counteroffensive.
Did National Public Radio really fire Juan Williams for his remarks about Muslims—or the forum in which he made them?
I suspect that if he’d said the same thing to Charlie Rose, rather than on the O’Reilly Factor, he’d still have his radio job.
It’s no secret that some NPR folks have been uncomfortable with Williams’ role on Fox News, where he’s also a part-time commentator. Last year, Politico reported, NPR tried to persuade its White House correspondent, Mara Liasson, to give up her Fox gig.
What Williams said makes me uncomfortable, but it isn’t close to being a firing offense—not for someone who is paid for his opinions.
Read More: By Howard Kurtz, The Daily Beast
Please share this post with your friends and comment below. If you haven’t already, take a moment to sign up for our free newsletter above and friend us on Twitter and Facebook to get real time updates.
Follow @WestJournalism
Loading ...
Obama's Eligibility : COLB & Birth Announcements Vs. The Research
Floyd Brown interviews Obama Eligibility Attorney Gary Kreep. What you will not hear in the Lazy Mainstream Media http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZhbjzPTrr8
I'll betcha' a dollar to a doughnut that there will be NO media coverage of Phil Berg's "birther" march on DC to demand proof of citizenship or step down! NONE, ZIP, ZILCH, NADA! Too bad that so few people value truth.
Maybe–but I wouldn't be surprised if MSNBC covers it, if it's as small as I expect it to be.
MSNBC?
Maybe if Lindsy Lohan or Britney Spears is there.
True, that would increase the odds. And not just for MSNBC–after all, it's Fox News that has the "Pop Tarts" segment on its website.
I believe you mean MSNBC James!
Not at all–and I wasn't kidding, sadly. Go to the Fox News site and type "pop tarts" into the search box. I just did, and got 7,285 hits! Check it out and tell me what you as a woman think of it.
James i was not referring to Fox Entertainment!
Glee & it's girls posing suggestively has been a news media issue not exclusive to Fox News only. Fox News did not originate the Term Pop Tarts! That is a term for young girls or ladies in Hollywood or the T.V. industry who pose suggestively. So cut the BS by trying to trash Fox over this!
But it was Fox that used to have a daily section specifically called "Pop Tarts" on the front page of its website every day. Now the posts are less prominent, but still there, as anyone (or at least anyone other than you) can plainly see. And they number in the thousands, so your "Glee" reference is irrelevant. Are you defending them?
Dumb shit!
Read my post again!
To even try & spin this on me makes you look even dumber than you are!
James you are the ultimate ass & jerk!
Read it again, more slowly, or have someone else explain it to you. I won't bother to try to help you with this one again.
NPR's Vivian Schiffer, I understand, loves the socialists. That explains everything. Just like all of the people around BO. They love: Castro, Chavez, Stalin, Mao, and all of the other delightful dictators or tyrants.
Good grief. Do we really need to hear more from the view? It seems that they change their opinions more ofthen than underwear. If the opinions that they express on this show is any indication of the sentiments of America, then we are in deep trouble.
Of course, they rallied around a more leftist commentator, which in this case was the right thing to do, but as the saying goes, "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then."
I totally disagree with your comment that "his comments about Muslims smacked of intolerance" BULLSH***!!! It's pathetic the way some people, particularly liberals, want people to deny common sense. In the last 20 years, our country has been attacked by Muslims over 20 times. Islam has, as one of its core tenets, the idea that we should be killed or conquered/converted. So WTF is wrong with feeling uneasy when you see Muslims dressed in full Muslim garb boarding a plane? You have to be a brain dead lobotomized idiot (or in denial) not to. What would be intolerant is if he said that he thought Muslims should not be allowed to fly. That's intolerant. Simply being cognizant of your surroundings and learning from the history of what Muslims have done to us and their plans for world domination… is not being intolerant.
Aside from religion and ethnicity, here's an analogy – I have a small 10lb dog. When I'm walking her, and I see a pit bull approaching us, I pick her up, or walk to the other side of the street, or if its owner is in talking distance, I ask if their dog is friendly. Why do I do this? Because pit bulls are known to be vicious dogs that have killed small dogs like mine. And, for all you clueless liberals, yeah, I know, not all pit bulls (as not all Muslims) are dangerous. But I'm not being intolerant for being on heightened alert around either of them.
Another example, what if America had been bombing the hell out of Jamaica for decades. And Americans have been on TV declaring "Death to Jamaicans"… now, what if I were to vacation to Jamaica. I should not be offended by their scrutiny and suspiciousness of me. And I also probably wouldn't wear a USA flag as a shirt! I obviously look like I'm an American and I would expect they'd want to stop me and ask me some additional questions, check my luggage. There is nothing wrong with that. And there is nothing wrong with closer scrutiny of Muslims boarding our planes. Get over it!
Although I'd never wish this to actually happen, ya know what would wake up these liberals (or the execs from NPR) is if they were all killed on a plane by Muslim terrorists, then afterwards, upon interviewing airline personnel and witnesses, learn that everyone suspected the Muslims in their full Muslim garb who prayed together before boarding BUT NOBODY SPOKE UP out of fear of being called intolerant or bigoted or prejudice. That would be perfect irony. Or the perfect video would be a shot of the airport personnel insisting a white haired grandmother removed her shoes, while, in the background, Mohamad Achbad is walking by security with an AK47 sticking out of his turban!!!
Ha! I suspect that you truly are "Always Right". If I had read your comment before, I wouldn't have bothered with my post. Great points.
This post is priceless. You're spot on!
Seems to me this was a first for Juan Williams .. actually telling the truth. Poor guy, and he got fired for it. That's what happens when you're dealing with the lefties.
lets start work in earnest on getting the npr pigs defunded, I am tired of these self righteous idiots feeding at the public trough and its time tio kick their behinds out
Perhaps, though public funding provides well under 20 percent of the average station's budget. And NPR stations in in big cities (typically more liberal) get less than that, while stations in rural (typically more conservative) areas get far more (up to 70 percent) of their operating budgets from public funding.
In short, cutting off government funding won't kill NPR in liberal areas, but it might in conservative ones. Maybe that's OK with you–but those rural areas also have fewer other options for the classical music, jazz and opera that can be found on many public stations but which the market is less likely to support. And it's not just liberals who appreciate those forms of the arts.
James i disagree with public funding of radio!
With our country in debt & economy in shambles we need to cut everywhere that we can. The arts including classical music, jazz & opera as you mentioned will survive just as it did before the invention of radio.
Yes, those things will survive. But not nearly as many people in rural areas will hear them. Before radio many people had pianos in their homes and even small towns frequently had bands, orchestras and/or playhouses. But again, that's a choice that won't affect me much because I live in a place that will support public radio even without the limited government support it gets here.
BS. It's government sponsored propaganda, plain and simple. If you have a business selling peanuts to peanut farmers it's quite likely you won't survive. Companies who make poor business decisions go out of business. That's as it should be. I find it amusing that you assume that people living in rural areas have no other technological alternative other than a propagandistic NPR for Jazz and Classical music.
I didn't say there were no other alternatives for folks in rural areas. I said there are fewer–which is true. But if you want NPR to be profit-driven, you can expect it to be far more partisan than it is now.
Sound good to me!
Thay should be allowed to fail if that is to be NPR'S destiny.
Sounds good to me–we wouldn't want to do anything to counter that stereotype about rural folks being uncultured.
James just because they do not live in the city or urban areas does not mean that they are uncultured! Gee! What are you thinking about?
What NPR did was shameful and vindictive, especially the part saying that Juan Williams should consult with his psychiatrist or publicist. This is yet another example of the mean-spiritedness of the far left…and it's nice to see someone act so shamefully. In fact, Juan was a wonderful representative for NPR in that you could have a reasoned conversation with him without getting pursed lips, red-faced, eye-bulging bull, or demonstrations of pique. Oh, what bimbos these bile sucking folks are!!
This is getting ridiculous. We are entering a time when we have no free speech rights. I believe per the Constitution Mr. Williams has a right to express himself. Perhaps when his lawyers get through with them he will own NPR. I have fought (almost to the death) for ones right to express himself. I pray we never loose it.
The Constitution protects his right to say something, but doesn't affect contractual obligations. Could you go to the floor or your workplace, for example, and start running down your boss. Sorry, maybe Williams shouldn't have been fired, but he has no legal case based on the First Amendment. Just ask Don Imus.
Well they take federal money and should be required to abide by federal law. If not don't take the money. Also, Juan didn't "go to the floor" of his work place he did it off the clock and there has been worse said on the floor by others at NPR. It's a clear double standard.
What is "federal law" in this case? The "floor" comment was a reference to the fact that your employer can tell you what to do. And neither you nor I know what was in Juan's contract.
James NPR has no legal standing pertaining to the part of the contract which they referred to for cause to terminateJuan's contract due to precedence on their part.
James true but he does in fact have a lawsuit under precedence under his contract.
Ok, here's the problem…that last thing you said, "What Williams said makes me uncomfortable…" Really?
Why are we are all so careful about political correctness now that someone can't admit their realistic fears out loud? It's ridiculous. Lots of people have issues with people dressing to show their association with a certain religion, especially when it is a religion that has shown hostility to the American way of life. When we can't say what we think and feel, we no longer have freedom. What scares me is that journalists like you are giving in to the pressure to be PC and acting like someone is "unstable" if they express a realistic viewpoint.
What do you mean "His comments smacked of intolerance"? The majority (read that again please) the vast
MAJORITY of Americans are sick and tired of "political correctness" and what you refer to as intolerance.
Never mind. I just read the post by "Always right". He is pretty much spot on as far as I am concerned,r at least on most things. One exception might be his attitude of allowing Muslims to fly. Unless of course it is helping them to fly back from whence they came. Please accept comments from "Always Right" as a "ditto" from me unless you hear to the contrary. Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.
Juan williams comment was right on the money. I am a combat pilot, with 9000 hours and I love to fly, but I will NEVER fly in an airliner again. A poll recently reflected that 85% of the respondents also felt uneasy flying with mulims. When the truth become puncorrect it reflects badly on America's loss of freedom. If this Howard Kurtz is offended by Juan's remarks he is affected by the same PC bias I speak off. We are at war with these people and the sooner idiots like this accept that fact the better our chance of not being taken over by them. Eagle
Juan Williams was unfairly terminated!
Though i am no fan of Juan Williams due to his liberal opinions he was most definitely terminated unfairly. NPr's reasons for terminating Juan were null & void due to precedence which had been establishe over a period of years by NPR'S management..
Corrections: NPR'S-established
Actually, when you think of it, it's kind of funny when an ultra left wing entity fires an ultra liberal. Don't feel too sorry for poor Juan, he's still got a job. And most likely he will garner so much favorable and sympathetic publicity over this that he'll soon have another job on another liberal program AND he'll get a raise!!
This is Freedom of Speech and it does not bother me at all. He feels the same way many of us do.
NPR is now overseen and supported by Soros, so what's new? Let's focus on those scum bags.
"What Williams said makes me uncomfortable" Now there's the problem. The political correctness BS… call it like it is, Not all muslims are terrorists… but all terrorists are sure as hell muslim. See any suicide Christian bombers lately? Me neither….
Though i am not a Juan Williams fan i am glad to see a wide spectrum of support from the media coming to his defense!
Every one have a nice & safe weekend!
Yes James McPherson you are included as well.
I will be flying out for Vegas on Saturday to attend a required Seminar this coming week on behalf of my University. Hopefully i can get in some fun time as well?
Go fuck yourself you dogshit tramp
To "thetruth": Do you think your anonymous ad hominem attacks somehow make you look any smarter or more credible that the folks to whom you're responding?
Admittedly you're responding mostly to misguided and frequently obnoxious folks. But being equally obnoxious hardly seems productive.
Typical liberal response and you know you Socialistic Liberals do it all the time like thetruth,he wouldn't know the truth if God told told him.I guess he must be a journalist for Media Matters like you were.I never read Cougar writing stuff like your cohort did.
edward like i said james mcpherson is behind this! he is nothing more than a candy ass hiding behind aliases!
the truth must be a liberal because they are always saying something vicious,He must work for Media Matters or CNN or NPR or The Times.When speaking of obnoxious folks have you looked in the Mirror oh Great Journalist.
edward this crap is nothing more than jerk james mcpherson & another aliase that he uses.
You're lying again.
james do not even pretend!
you are such a jerk!
the truth/James i do not find this to be funny at all!
go play with yourself dirt bag!
I don't find it funny, either. And I also find it a bit offensive that you would accuse me of writing the sort of crap thetruth did. You know me better than that by now, even if you choose to keep lying about it.
James you are a dirt bag in addition to being a jerk!
But I don't use language even as bad as yours, let alone that of the nitwit above.
James the only nitwit is you!
you had better hope you never meet me in person or you may not have any eyeballs later!
Candy ass gay!
So now you're threatening me, over comments made by someone else? That makes sense.
Hoist by his own petard.
see this: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=218237
Juan Williams spoke the truth. We do not fly anymore because we do not want to be on the same plane with the muslims….
I feel the same way as Juan – muslims in full muslim garb are "creepy", because they represent hard core radical Islam. Thanks to President Bush who let a bunch of them come in from Lebanon and Iraq we're starting to see a lot more of them in my area. The reality is they can't be trusted. It's like Vietnam or Iraq and Afghanistan – you don't know who you can trust! Islam is a world domination religion – it demands supremacy. As such it is a totalitarian system. NPR is a travesty. Thank God for Bill O'Reilly who's got so much money and is so near retirement he doesn't have to care whether he gets fired for speaking what he thinks. People who don't see the real danger of Islam are self-deceived and living in a fantasy world. It may come as a surprise to them that Islam doesn't share their vaunted sense of tolerance.
Wayne.. I 'm with you with all that you wrote here, except I don't get the part where you said Bush allowed them to come here from Lebanon and Irag… that made no sense.. did you mean the Bush administration ? or the immigration dept.? or exchange students ? I can assure you that Bush did not single handedly allow muslim into the USA with a takeover in mind.. Obummer , sure, but not Bush
Members of the Democratic controlled majority demanded a cultural exchange program
as a stipulation to pass Bush's war funding bill.
Did you see the one about a week ot two ago about alQueda members having to be
allowed to attend Pentagon briefings?
Sorry, didn't save the link.
What Juan Williams does at an airport is no different from what I or millions of other Americans do because, in case you've forgotten, the U.S. was ATTACKED by muslim radicals on 9/11/01. Juan Williams has the right (1st Amendment) to express his opinions freely. The fact that NPR and NPB is run by socialists should tell everyone all they need to know about Juan's situation. They are attempting to stifle Juan's right to free speech, plus Fox News doesn't exactly fit into their socialist agenda.
first .. the article said that what Juan said made you uncomfortable… that statement speaks volumes of your position in all of this, your as bad as NPR… you can honestly say that when your on a plane and a muslim or two walks on board , that you don't even have a second thought about it ??? If you answer yes, I will know that you live on the moon by yourself, I would also know that you should not be writing articles about NPR … that said. I like Juan, I disagree with his politics but it disagreement in a cultured sort of way. I think NPR needs to go away and I am shocked that my tax dollars may go toward supporting a left wing organization that I would not support.. If the constitution allows us to contribute to a radio station I would be shocked.. so knock it off washington no more money for NPR
As someone raised in the NY metro area I am surprised at the isolation of East coast commentators. 60% of Americans think twice when they see Muslims on board – the other 40% don't fly. How many more years of this? NPR, The View, NY Times – they all need to get out of the office. America is living in the future – not the past.
It is better to feel "uncomfortable" ( your word) rather than be dead. You liberals are absolutely NUTS (my word)!!!
Why is what he said so bad? If a snake bites you, the next time you see a snake, any kind, are you going to hug it & pet it? I don't think so. Call me intolerent if you wish, but I don't want any part of the type of lifestyle these people lead. Can you imagine killing your sister/daughter because someone forceably raped her? If this is what you want, then get the h*ll out of the USA, and take obummer with you.
Put ALL MUSLIMS into camps as we did with the Japs. If they are here Illegally Jail them or send them home.
How Constitutional minded of you.
Still no solution to the problem James?
How Constitutional-minded of you.
James what is you'r solution to the problem then?
Lol! This i have to hear!
Not that it's relevant to the Constitutionality issue I raised, but which problem?
The Muslim issue that Thomas raised dumb shit!
James you know very well what i was relating to gay boy jerk!
James why must i repeat myself to you!
Are you just stupid or incompetent?
Nothing Juan Williams said was wrong and anyone who feels uncomfortable with what he said is too politically correct for my liking. You can take your PC and shove it.
What NPR did was as much of a kneejerk reaction as Whoopie and Joy's outburst with O'Reilly. One must ask who will be next?
Mr. Williams voiced what many Americans feel post 9/11. Some may want to pretend that nothing changed but the fact is, it did. At the very least, it makes you take notice.
why does it make you uncomfortable Howard? Was any other religion or persons of any other religion except Islam involved with the 9/11 incident? Was it not Muslims that flew the planes into the towers and pentagon on 9/11? One of the Palestinian leaders said the US's political correctness would be their downfall..
I don't believe his comment come anywhere close to intolerance, he simply expressed an opinion about how he felt. Many people since 9-11 feel the same way. Now is it right to lump all Muslims into the same category, I don't think so. Nor should any religion, race or group be either. But how you feel is just that. Nothing bad about it. To much political correctness in this country.
I do not think his comment was intolerant of anything but terrorists.
Juan Williams spoke a truth most American citizens feel. Just this morning, I read in the Sunday morning local newspaper that an American citizen who ALSO is a violent Muslim furnished a video to fellow al quidans encouraging and instructing them to commit violence and terrorism in America and European communities. Enough of this blind tolerance. Muslims must be called to account for their violence and hatred of Americans. One of the devil's favorite tricks is to take a good concept–which kind and good people of good will cannot deny–and then force it down the road to such a ridiculous extreme that what started out as a good idea becomes harmful to the point of insanity and evil. Take a look around and you will see other examples of this, such as, feminine modesty is GOOD, but when taken to the extreme of wearing burquas where women can only see out of a slit for their eyes, it becomes a ridiculous extreme that is harmful to women. NPR has also gone to an extreme and I pray the new Congress defunds it pronto,
"Smacked of intolerance?" "Makes you feel uncomfortable?" Oh, my God, what is wrong with you?? You are as bad as NPR and the rest of the wacko liberals in this country. How can not wanting to be on the next plane to go down due to Muslim Extremism be intolerant?? How can someone speaking the truth about their personal FEARS be wrong and make you feel uncomfortable? Just how can someone not wanting to die / be murdered in the next two hours and leave their family without be intolerant? Oh booo hooo – he's only speaking the truth and stating what most good Americans also feel. You have a huge problem, buddy, HUGE! Wouldn't I love to see you belted into a plane seat with a half dozen middle eastern wackos – MUSLIMS – running around with guns and just see how quickly you change your liberal wacko tune. You make me sick. SICK.
He said what most Americans believe. What happened to our first ammendment rights. Have they gone the way of political correctness? Where is the NAACP when you need them?