NPR Check: Q Tips

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Q Tips

NPR related comments welcomed.

58 comments:

Anonymous said...: NPR news description this morning during their report on Hairi, briefly describing what happened to Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004 (direct quote): Aristide was deposed "...when opposition groups seized control of the government." (Which is partially true, when you completely ignore the essential US role in that coup.) These off-hand comments and descriptions aggregate over time into a coral reef of public ignorance regarding America's behavior in the world... and NPR plays a role.; 1/25/10, 8:19 AM
Boulder Dude said...: And yet another friend banned:

Dave P (ExiledCrow); 1/25/10, 10:20 AM
b#$%p#$%f#$#%b#$% said...: ^ Yep. Our Comments Section Reserved for Stepford Fans Only. Migrate your criticism/rebuttals/frustrations over to NPR Check. Ohhhhh, sooooo sorry - they've gone dark!

"And the kingdom grows...
the kingdom grows, right before our eyes"
-Crack the Sky; 1/25/10, 3:05 PM
gDog said...: Crack the Sky sounds good!

...meanwhile, over at PBS, Ascent of Money concludes that Milton Friedman's rescue of Allenda's catastrophic experiment with communism was "worth it."; 1/25/10, 4:22 PM
gDog said...: In What Keeps The Counterterrorism Chief Up At Night National Counterterrorism Center director Leiter told NPR 'We're Not Going To Stop Every Attack'.

However, this article Flight 253 Cover-Up: “No Smoking Gun” Claims Undercut by New Disclosures appearing today in Dissident Voice, Tom Burghardt points out that

CongressDaily reported on January 22 that intelligence officials “have acknowledged the government knowingly allows foreigners whose names are on terrorist watch lists to enter the country in order to track their movement and activities.”

Leiter told the Committee: “I will tell you, that when people come to the country and they are on the watch list, it is because we have generally made the choice that we want them here in the country for some reason or another.”

This didn't quite make it into NPR's report on the hearing, unless I missed it.; 1/25/10, 6:52 PM
Nate Bowman said...: Ari Shapiro tries to tell us that the judicial system is confused in finding that Gitmo prisoners need to be released. He all but says "let's not let them go through the civilian court system."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122821765; 1/26/10, 9:54 AM
gDog said...: Here's some intensely in-depth investigative journalism just breaking: Root For Home Team With MLB Stadium Grass Seed

Looks like some gum shoe tough turfing sling blade groundskeeping lawn order fourth estate action in traction!; 1/26/10, 7:10 PM
Anonymous said...: I stopped listening to NPR around 2000, 10 yers ago. It turned to the right wing about then. I used to listen to Red Barber and Morning Edition and Talk of the Nation and Fresh Air. Oh I stopped watching CNN in 2005.

Today I watch CSPAN, NBC Nightly News and Bill Moyer's Journal.; 1/27/10, 7:35 AM
Unknown said...: This morning, the headline on NPR was that the president is going to give a speech tonight.

Think about that, please.

While America slept, the rest of the world kept going. Europe woke up and went to work. Things happened.

But does America wake up to a summary of what it missed while it slept?

No.

But. What is the news supposed to do? Isn't it supposed to inform us of things that happened? Are we really so naive as to believe that nothing happened while we slept?

But it's even worse than that.

Remember - the headline is that the president is going to give a speech.... The speech hasn't even happened yet. So the headline is "reporting" on an event that has yet to happen.

Please think about this.

Just step back and think this through.

Our Morning Headline isn't about ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ON...

It's about a MEDIA EVENT.

Is this news coverage?

NO. NO, IT'S NOT!

If you accept this as news, then you have been co-opted and are part of the problem, because your standards have been destroyed...; 1/27/10, 7:40 AM
GRUMPY DEMO said...: On this Wednesday NPR is in fine GOPartisian form. All GOP all morning, interview with Rep. Bohner, quotes by President McCain and McConnell.

Inskeep still is a GOP boot licker, here's my comments:

Not so polite:

"Hey Steve!

At the very lest you could have reported if Bonner's rear end is as orange as his face? You spent almost five minutes kissing it."

More polite:

"I do love me some Inskeep biGOPartisianship worship in the morning. Nothing says bipartisanship like:

-Bohner intentionality insulting the opposition party by mispronouncing it name (childish and churlish but bipartisian, right Steve?)
-Boehner embracing racist Tea Party movement that equated Democrats with Nazis.
-Boehner spreading lies that no jobs ever creates by the stimulus as numerous reports by NPR have documented. (Maybe Boehner don't listen to NPR, but what's Inskeep's excutse?)
-Boehner claims the "American people" support him, when polls clearly show half the support for his policies than Obama's.
-Boehner led his party in sneering at President Obama during his first speech to Congress.
-Boehner embraces "Birther" lies, delegitimizing Obama citizenship and election.

Since the prior behavior appears to not bother Inskeep, I wonder what behavior he would consider partisan?

Better yet Inskeep has no problem challenging Democrats, see his interview with Rep. Rangel and Franks, and yet with GOP he's as passive as a kitten."; 1/27/10, 8:10 AM
gDog said...: How is it that we hear from the minority party exclusively? Inskeep is clearly sticking to the Republican script here and lets Boehner's lies go unchallenged. Based on this interview alone (though it's perfectly consistent with his other "work"), Inskeep should be sent packing as either inept or an obvious Republican shill. Instead he gets more than a $300k salary and a Dupont award for reporting on race. This is ridiculous!

Oh, and *is* Boehner's butt as orange as his face?; 1/27/10, 9:09 AM
pamela said...: "Now ACORN is back in the news, but as part of the "back story" linked to O'Keefe's arrest. In reporting on O'Keefe's arrest, however, the mainstream press continues to botch the ACORN story. In her report for National Public Radio, for example, reporter Eileen Fleming said that in reaction to the controversy over ACORN, Congress had blocked federal funds going to the group, without mentioning that a Federal court ruling had overturned Congress' action on December 12, 2009. The Associated Press omitted the same important fact."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-atlas/acorn-is-back-in-the-news_b_438324.html; 1/27/10, 9:57 AM
Anonymous said...: Amy Goodman interviewed Michael Moore.

In response to Goodman's question about the Supreme Court decision to allow coporations to spend essentially unlimited amounts on campaigns

moore says
"What do we have [to counter this]? We have your show..."[Democracy Now!]

I'd add that we also have a few blogs like this one (by Matthew Murrey) and Glenn Greenwald's.

We certainly DON'T have NPR -- "Always on" [the side of corporatism] and "Always on" [the wrong side of democracy].

or any of the rest of the mainstream media.

What strikes me most about all of Amy Goodman's interviews (and the one of Moore is no exception) is that they are so unassuming.

She does not talk down to her listeners like they are children (as NPR announcers are so likely to do).

She does not presume that she has all the answers to be dished out to her listeners on a sliver plate (as NPR announcers are also so likely to do).

If there is any hope left for journalism -- and for our democracy -- it is going to come from people like Goodman, Murrey, Greenwald, and yes, Moore.; 1/27/10, 11:39 AM
byg!pynk!fuhhzi!buhhni! said...: That was rich there, Grumps - nearly snorted green tea out my nostrils over the Steve Inskreep: Agent Orange query.; 1/27/10, 12:34 PM
Grace said...: Good job on Inscreep, Grumps.
Maybe he'll jump in an admonish you as Mr. Rude did to BD!

Anon, agree on Amy Goodman. I recall her reading her news items off in a small room and going out for breaks every so often. She was good then and she's only gotten better and better, imo.

Does anyone recall the Daily INN Report that was on FSTV??
That was another fav of mine and a great complement to DN.
Sadly, it seems even FSTV has moved towards mainstream in their new whatever.
You were very well informed with both those shows. Daily INN even had several interviews on the coming economic collapse back in April '07 after Intl Currency Setlement Bank made announcement but was kept out of MSM or minimized on PBS/NPR.
5 months before the meltdown!; 1/27/10, 6:25 PM
Grace said...: goopDoggy.
Inscreep is certainly sporting orange lips from the arse kissing!

What's with these salaries that Insreep, Simon and the rest receive?
I probably won't be in Tucson too much longer but while I am I am going to encourage our affiliate to drop at least one of these expensive programs and replace it with D.N. or a Link TV show. Any of which are free to carry.; 1/27/10, 6:42 PM
gDog said...: Grace said, I am going to encourage our affiliate to drop at least one of these expensive programs and replace it with D.N. or a Link TV show. Any of which are free to carry.

This is a great idea! Just think of the amount of local programming you could produce with that kind of money!; 1/27/10, 10:20 PM
gDog said...: Frumpy Demon (goopDoggy) wrote:

An NPR moderator has removed this comment because it does not adhere to the discussion guidelines

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 10:08:54 AM

Recommended (11)

Report abuse; 1/27/10, 11:11 PM
gDog said...: To be sure, Grumpy was the lead domino. It's an honor to sit at the same lunch counter.; 1/27/10, 11:29 PM
gDog said...: Grumpy:
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 08:40:13 AM

Frumqy:
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 10:08:54 AM; 1/27/10, 11:33 PM
gDog said...: National Counterterrorism Center director Leiter told NPR 'We're Not Going To Stop Every Attack'.

I can't help noticing that in the WSJ Article of a few days ago, The Anthrax Attacks Remain Unsolved they reproduce the letter Ivins supposedly put into one of the anthrax letters and the first line is "You cannot stop us". Seems to be kind of a talking point. Just saying.; 1/27/10, 11:46 PM
George said...: Inskeep and the gang hit on Obama pretty good this morning with their "Fact Check" segment. While they said they do it every year, does anyone remember NPR "fact checking" Bush? I sure don't.; 1/28/10, 6:09 AM
GRUMPY DEMO said...: Thursday Morning Edition, Andera Seabrook slips and reveals NPR agenda.

She concludes her report stating that this time the GOP didn't boo Obama.

Waaaaaait a minute?

Andrea Seabrook states the big difference between last night and Obama's prior speech was that the Republicans "didn't boo him like last time" he spoke.

Why did Ms. Seabrook and NPR NOT report on the GOP booing last time? No mention by NPR on the air at all (love the SEARCH feature)
Here's the proof [LINK HERE].

The "Bipartisan" GOP boos the President during a speech and NPR cover up for them; Dang Liberal NPR!

"NPR: Where your donations have been protecting the GOP since 2000."; 1/28/10, 7:50 AM
GRUMPY DEMO said...: Well I knew at the time my Boehner "The Orange" comment about Inskeep kissing his orange hid parts won't pass muster.

But my yoga teacher says we're suppose to push our limits.

YOGA? ME? I know: Think how bitchy/crotchety I would be without yoga?; 1/28/10, 8:37 AM
Anonymous said...: "does anyone remember NPR "fact checking" Bush?"

I don't, but then again, with Bush fact checking was completely unnecessary.

Everyone knew that everything that came out of his mouth (that was not gobbledygook) was necessarily a lie (by definition)

Besides, checking Bush's "facts' was especially difficult because of the language issue (he was talking a foreign one most of the time, understood by only a few people in remote areas of Texas.

Just try to run a google search to check a claim about the number of "nookyalur" plants in this country.
(In this country? I thought those only grew outside Chernobyl??); 1/28/10, 9:01 AM
gDog said...: I call on Inskeep to resign. This blatant partisan spot cannot be allowed to stand. I call on him to make an example of himself and do the right thing: acknowledge your incompetence and go back to school where you learn there is more to journalism than reading from a prepared script.

For example, this would have been an excellent opportunity to ask Kyl why he put a secret hold on the OPEN Government Act of 2007 (S.849) — the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in Our National Government Act of 2007?

It was the Society of Professional Journalists who used "the power of the blogosphere to find out whose legislative bludgeon was buried in the back of open government", calling "every senator, one by one, until at last – when it became clear he could hide no longer – Sen. Jon Kyl came blinking and grimacing into the sunlight and admitted that it was he who placed a secret hold … on a bill that addresses secrecy in government." http://www.spj.org/ogahold.asp

Of course, Inskeep doesn't travel in the same circle as professional journalists.; 1/28/10, 9:49 AM
gDog said...: I call on Inskeep to resign. This blatant partisan spot cannot be allowed to stand. I call on him to make an example of himself and do the right thing: acknowledge your incompetence and go back to school where you learn there is more to journalism than reading from a prepared script.

For example, this would have been an excellent opportunity to ask Kyl why he put a secret hold on the OPEN Government Act of 2007 (S.849) — the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in Our National Government Act of 2007?

It was the Society of Professional Journalists who used "the power of the blogosphere to find out whose legislative bludgeon was buried in the back of open government", calling "every senator, one by one, until at last – when it became clear he could hide no longer – Sen. Jon Kyl came blinking and grimacing into the sunlight and admitted that it was he who placed a secret hold … on a bill that addresses secrecy in government." http://www.spj.org/ogahold.asp

Of course, Inskeep doesn't travel in the same circle as professional journalists.; 1/28/10, 9:49 AM
GRUMPY DEMO said...: I used the NPR search engine using the terms "Bush" "Fact check" and "State of the Union" it came back with no hits.

Called out Inskeep, he replied:

"NPR STAFF:

Steve Inskeep (Inskeep) wrote:

Dear Dances with Typos: Thanks for listening, and for asking if NPR ever fact-checked President Bush. Our fact-checking of the State of the Union speech began in 2005, when Mr. Bush was President. We also fact-checked President Bush in 2006, 2007, and 2008. All these reports remain available to you at npr.org. In early 2009, we continued the practice with President Obama's speech to Congress; and we did it again in 2010, as you heard. Every year the length and approach of the reports has been roughly the same. We have also, by the way, fact-checked Presidential debates and many other high-profile events. As a citizen, it's my duty to listen to what public officials say, and also to inquire into whether their statements are true. Thanks again for your question. Best, Steve"

Funny thing is that Boulder Dude then provided links to the prior reports; maybe he can train me on Boolean logic?

Can anyone spot the funny part of Steve post (maybe it's intern being funny, in view of his lap dog interviews of Boehner and Kyl.; 1/28/10, 3:15 PM
Anonymous said...: I listen to Morning Edition less and less, mainly because I find their sound irritating. I can't stand Innskeep's manufactured inflection. Listen to how he makes content seem agitating by word emphasis. And how he must think a snide in-your-face tone of voice proves he's an investigative reporter. And Renee's predictable technique to ask a question during an interview with jerking, rising pitch, to seem both sensitive and persistent. Not to mention the assault of their too-long music fillers...I guess younger listeners don't notice these things.; 1/28/10, 3:58 PM
Nate Bowman said...: Anon

I agree about the inflection thing becoming more prevalent. I most object when it is used to "mock by emphasis".

I think it is a way to editorialize and entertain while being able to fall back on the words themselves as justification, especially now with the transcripts.; 1/28/10, 8:23 PM
Nate Bowman said...: I can't believe more has not been made of this. (I did see boulder dude's and grumpy's comments).

"INSKEEP: Okay, it maybe tacky to think about money when youre speaking of fine art, but BEING TACKY HAS NEVER STOPPED US BEFORE."

I wrote: I'll say!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123055647#commentBlock; 1/28/10, 8:26 PM
gDog said...: Sorry to repeat the whole thing a third time, but I'm wondering what part of this was not adhering to discussion guidelines?

Frumpy Demon (goopDoggy) wrote:

An NPR moderator has removed this comment because it does not adhere to the discussion guidelines

Thursday, January 28, 2010 10:47:10 AM

Recommended (13)

Report abuse

I call on Inskeep to resign. This blatant partisan spot cannot be allowed to stand. I call on him to make an example of himself and do the right thing: acknowledge your incompetence and go back to school where you learn there is more to journalism than reading from a prepared script.

For example, this would have been an excellent opportunity to ask Kyl why he put a secret hold on the OPEN Government Act of 2007 (S.849) — the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in Our National Government Act of 2007?

It was the Society of Professional Journalists who used "the power of the blogosphere to find out whose legislative bludgeon was buried in the back of open government", calling "every senator, one by one, until at last – when it became clear he could hide no longer – Sen. Jon Kyl came blinking and grimacing into the sunlight and admitted that it was he who placed a secret hold … on a bill that addresses secrecy in government." http://www.spj.org/ogahold.asp

Of course, Inskeep doesn't travel in the same circle as professional journalists.; 1/28/10, 8:27 PM
gDog said...: Mebbe it was the last, bit, huh?

It wasn't very polite. Worse, it wasn't true: Inskeep does in fact, or I imagine, run in professional journalistic circles in that he traffics with professional journalists at all sorts of events. Parties, award ceremonies, conferences, think tank indoctrinations, etc.

But meybe they're applying this definition of polite:
b : marked by an appearance of consideration, tact, deference, or courtesy

Or was it considered "bullying" to ask Inskeep to resign? I would think that in polite society, if a professional disgraced himself publicly to such an extent as Inskeep has, he would resign. But then, Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilley, Hewitt, ... wait, this list will take too long - they would have resigned long ago, huh? So much for polite society.; 1/28/10, 9:51 PM
Nate Bowman said...: There's a new post up at the ombudsman's blog.
http://www.npr.org/ombudsman/2010/01/npr.html

"NPR pays an independent journalist, John Felton, to evaluate its Israeli-Palestinian coverage quarterly."

I started reading the most recent report. This should tell you how it goes:

"The items reviewed for this report generally met NPR's high journalistic standards, notably for accuracy and fairness."; 1/29/10, 9:17 AM
gDog said...: I enjoyed this story from Haiti on ME this AM: Lolo Beaubrun: A Voice Of Hope In Haiti.

"Lolo says the dramatic images of the collapsed National Palace, Supreme Court and ministry buildings — which housed a corrupt and dysfunctional government — raise hopes for him that a new society is coming."

Well enough. Lolo's music is wonderful, but his politics are a bit murky. It looks like Lolo was manipulated by the coup plotters who brought down Aristide in 2004.

Look at these articles, for instance:
http://www.haiti-info.com/spip.php?article933
and
http://thwapschoolyard.blogspot.com/2007/06/haiti-aristide-and-some-liberals.html

which document that Lolo was a leader in the anti-Aristide protests, a kind of CIA astroturf movement that led to coup d'etat that ousted Aristide in 2004. Why does NPR not ask Lolo's thoughts about Aristide? The question is so obvious that the failure to ask it strikes me as the loudest voice in this story.; 1/29/10, 11:42 AM
Boulder Dude said...: ~snort~

Inskeep's skin is getting extra thin today.

Todays deleted comment.:

Huh, Inskeep has never heard about the Prisoner...well that certainly explains much about his rampent smarmy incuriousness.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123020391; 1/29/10, 11:43 AM
Boulder Dude said...: Nice find GoopDoggy.; 1/29/10, 11:46 AM
GRUMPY DEMO said...: Just when I thought NPR couldn't be worse, they prove me wrong. I missed hearing this story yesterday (go thing it would have resulted in instant road rage), but stumbled across it this morning:

"Historian Howard Zinn Remembered"

Less than 24-hours after his death who does NPR have to "remember" Dr. Zinn?

DAVID F***ING HOROWITZ!

According to Horowitz:

"there is nothing in Howard Zinn's intellectual output that is worthy of any kind of respect"

"a fringe mentality which has unfortunately seduced millions of people at this point in time. So he did certainly alter the consciousness of millions of younger people for the worse"

Yours truly had this to offer in the comments section:

In the interest of accuracy NPR needs to change the title of this story from:

"Historian Howard Zinn Remembered" to

"Recently Deceased Historian Howard Zinn's Character Assassinated"

Wow NPR now promotes McCarthyism and Red Baiting. Further proof there's nothing the Right can say that NPR won't overlook.

David Horowitz; Really NPR? David “Ann Coulter is a national treasure” Horowitz? Really? NPR thought it was a good idea to permit some to denigrate Howard Zinn less than 24 hours after his death? Really NPR? David Horowitz? The guy who said, “Cornel West is a black airhead”. Really? The David Horowitz who called former President Carter an "anti-Semite" and blacks "the human shields of the Democratic Party"? You really thought David Horowitz was the appropriate person to give commentary on Liberal historian who was a WWII veteran who was an early civil rights activist?

Here’s a nice link to more of David Horowitz's“wit and wisdom” (Warning: NSF people with functioning cerebellums).

I don’t know which is sorrier: Sad little people, like Horowitz that spit on a patriot, scholar, and teacher’s grave or a network that’s that gives these sad people an open uncritical microphone. This was beyond the pale for even NPR and sets a new low for unprofessional, naked slanted Right Wing bias.

My local station is having its pledge drive; they will be getting a call and a letter, and not one penny of my money.

-----------------------------

Let NPR know what you think, include an email in the contact us, also contact your local station.

For 2010 for NPR it seems that McCarthyism is the new black.; 1/29/10, 11:52 AM
gDog said...: Here's what I wrote to my local station:

I will give you clear evidence of why I can't support KCRW as long as KCRW supports NPR. This grieves me, as I once was happy to give and still love the station.

On yesterday's All Things Considered there was a remembrance of Howard Zinn ( http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123081519 ) that concluded with the bilious opinions of rabid anti-intellectual David Horowitz claiming that "There is absolutely nothing in Howard Zinn's intellectual output that is worthy of any kind of respect. " and "Zinn represents a fringe mentality which has unfortunately seduced millions of people at this point in time. So he did certainly alter the consciousness of millions of younger people for the worse."

Less than 24 hours after his death, NPR remembers this great American with that? I hope you share my disgust and will consider seeking another news source.; 1/29/10, 12:52 PM
Boulder Dude said...: Wow, Nate got some love from Alicia today, I'm jealous. =P; 1/29/10, 1:20 PM
GRUMPY DEMO said...: Still pissed at NPR's smearing Dr. Howard Zinn.

"There is absolutely nothing in Howard Zinn's intellectual output that is worthy of any kind of respect." -David Horowitz

Do NPR reporters ever bother to do any research for their stories or even listen to NPR?

From NPR.org, "Democracy Library: Suggested Reading for an Educated Citizenry". As part of the Public Radio Collaboration Whose Democracy Is It?, Talk of the Nation has assembled a "library of democracy," compiled from suggestions from both guests and listeners: "A People's History of the United States, by Howard Zinn

From the NPR Weekend Edition story ”Mike Cahill, The Only Civilian To Die At Fort Hood”

“BERNIER: On the day he and 12 other people were killed in the Fort Hood shooting spree, Mike Cahill was working as a physician's assistant. He had just returned after a heart attack.

Outside of work, Joleen says Mike was a voracious reader. He loved history and telling stories and debating politics. His daughter, Kerry, shows off his bookshelf in the living room.

Ms. KERRY CAHILL: I mean like "Foxtrot," "Calvin and Hobbs," big fan of Calvin and Hobbs. We have William Shakespeare, we have Antietam. We have the "IRA: A History." We have, you know, "A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn. These is, again, example of, like, my dad love liked, you know, everything. “

Who ever booked David Horowitz should be fired, after NPR apologizes to Dr. Zinn's family.; 1/29/10, 2:50 PM
GRUMPY DEMO said...: Nate and Alica sittin' in a tree K I S S I N G, . . .

You can't be in this club unless you've gotten banned.

Speaking of which where in the world is Juan Insalade?; 1/29/10, 2:59 PM
pamela said...: Wow, I missed the Horowitz slam. The AP obit of Zinn was extremely negative, quoting Arthur Schlesinger as saying Zinn was "a polemicist, not a historian."

Zinn's books and lectures changed my life, but then I am easily "seduced."

Nice work, Grumpy.; 1/29/10, 3:56 PM
beeg!peenk!fuuzy!buuny! said...: Just rec'd FAIR action alert on the Zinn slag. Sign, sign, sign!

it's only FAIR; 1/29/10, 4:40 PM
b!p!f!ps! said...: (sorry, goofed on the syntax - well, you know where to find 'em); 1/29/10, 4:41 PM
JayV said...: Here's what I wrote: Speaking ill of the dead is wrong, not even 24 hours after the person has died. Your program with that ultra right commentator was disrespectful. After having heard a near hour-long tribute on Democracy Now! early yesterday - with Naomi Klein, Alice Walker (a former student of Dr Zinn), and Anthony Arnove (who made the film about Dr Zinn, "The People Speak") - I wondered if NPR, given it's own right-wing slant, would even remember Dr Zinn. Robin Young's thoughtful tribute yesterday, "Remembering Howard Zinn" (Hear and Now on NPR station WBUR), acknowledged that not all historians agreed with Dr Zinn (Note to NPR: David Horowitz is no academic historian) but not in the hateful way your guest did. I will be writing my two nearby local NPR stations to complain about this program, too.; 1/29/10, 4:54 PM
JayV said...: Just saw this: FAIR an important Action Alert asking people to contact the NPR ombud to ask why "All Things Considered" brought on David Horowitz to trash Howard Zinn.

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=4009; 1/29/10, 5:01 PM
Xelcho said...: Howard Zinn is one of my most favored authors his passing is a personal loss of mine. I heard this particular report on ATC (Obit if you want to call it that)and immediate response was a wtf. You can read more of what I am speaking about at:

http://www.fair.org/blog/2010/01/29/action-alert-npr-brings-on-david-horowitz-to-trash-howard-zinn/; 1/29/10, 7:33 PM
little.rose.downy.lupine. said...: heh. 'm i talkin' to the wall here?; 1/29/10, 7:57 PM
Woody (Tokin Librul/Rogue Scholar/ Helluvafella!) said...: I musta missed it because I don't listen to NPR that much anymore.

So it was only second hand that I learned that NPR had provided time to that oozing, feculent, festering blister of right-wing spite, David (W)Horowitz to gratuitously and spuriously attack Zinn on the very day of his death.

David (W)Horowitz is not worthy to lick crusty shit off Howard Zinn's rictic asshole.

I have sent them my last cent, ever.; 1/29/10, 8:31 PM
JayV said...: Here's my letter to Alicia Shephard, the NPR omsbud:

'David Horowitz ruthlessly and verbally attacked Dr Zinn on public radio a day following his death, when people were mourning. That is disgusting behaviour for a guest on ATC and your Ms Keyes should have called him on it. As a commenter wrote on this ATC story, "The question is: Does NPR deserve underwriting support from thinking and feeling people?" A very good question, especially since Vermont Public Radio and North Country Public Radio tell us continually that their listeners are sensitive and caring people – they donate generously to underwrite NPR programming! I am writing the management at those stations, demanding them to consider dropping your expensive programming.'

[And in nanoseconds, I Shepard's formula reply, familiar to y'all.]

I included the above in my letters to VPR and NCPR management, adding,

"I urge also that you contact Ms. Shepard, Vivian Schiller [NPR's President and CEO], and Ellen McDonnell [NPR's Executive Director of News Programming] and demand NPR issue an apology to Dr Zinn's family - in national print media and broadcast it on NPR and the local stations.; 1/29/10, 9:38 PM
Nate Bowman said...: Grumps

I think you may have hit on the reason that I haven't been banned.

It's the old Groucho Marx thing about not wanting to be the member of any club that would have someone like me as a member.

Anyway, I would be honored.; 1/29/10, 10:09 PM
Nate Bowman said...: Thanks for the heads up and on the great comments over at the Zinn obit.

I left this:

Listeners shouldn't be surprised that NPR took this opportunity to be Fair and Balanced.

They had to be Fair and Balance their Perceived insensitivity to the Tea Party movement, an icon of conservatives, by being purposely insensitive to the memory of Mr. Zinn, an icon of progressives.

And even then, they had David Horrorwitch carry their water for them.

boulder dude:
loved the "villagers love to punch hippies" comment; 1/30/10, 4:19 AM
Woody (Tokin Librul/Rogue Scholar/ Helluvafella!) said...: I think I figured out the NPR slander of Howard Zinn by NPR: Zinn was not an all-Israel, all-the-time acolyte for Israeli and American Zionism. He was, in fact, a fairly choleric critic of Israel policies in Palestine. So Siegal could not let him rest in piece, he had to be 'despatched,' and who better to slander the memory of one of the best minds of his generation than one of the worst of ours....; 1/30/10, 8:38 AM
Anonymous said...: More words of winsome from the Ombutt: "The items reviewed for this report generally met NPR's high journalistic standards, notably for accuracy and fairness."

Kinda like the "high journalistic standards" they applied to their pre-invasion reports that Iraq had tons of WMD.

There is no hope for NPR.

They have gone into "Level 10 denial mode"

Pull the plug on public funding for the member stations (which will effectively pull the plug on NPR).; 1/30/10, 9:55 AM
Anonymous said...: Crowely(?) filling in for Scott Simon (please, no jokes about searching for a spine in a NPR presenter) said that Michael jordan was criticized for not speaking up concerning NIKE and China. Shw quoted him as saying "Republicans buy shoes too". Huh? I thought Jordan was being criticized for not helping Harvey Gant in an election aginst Thurmond or Helms (I am going with Helms) and that was his reply. My guess is that Audey would rather offend the one Chinese shoe manufacturing baron that is listening than the active racists NPR counts as among their listeners/supporters.

And it is FundRaising time at WHYY!!! And it is all about YOU! And the wonderful job that WHYY is doing for YOU! Since the right-wing Inquirier and the racist Daily News collapsed WHYY has taken them on and of course the entire station is now pointless cause they have more "reporters" than stories. I am going to tally up the "stories" that appear because I suspect that they repeat, on a taped loop stories for days at a time.

And for all you Rudin "fans", don't forget that this is the same guy that believes and states that Columbus "discovered" America.

edk; 1/30/10, 10:07 AM
gDog said...: Sigh. Today's Debunking Conspiracy Theories In 'Voodoo Histories' includes in it's title the unfortunate demonizing of voodoo culture. That was just glossed over in favor of demonizing those who don't buy MSM government fed stories hook line and sinker.

David Aaronovitch is a professional dupe - witness his Those weapons had better be there ... from April of 2003. Seems so long ago!; 1/30/10, 9:34 PM
gDog said...: oops: clinked the link: Those weapons had better be there ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,5673,945551,00.html; 1/30/10, 11:37 PM

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Sunday, January 24, 2010

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