*UPDATED* O'Reilly blasts NPR for firing Juan Williams - video link included

WASHINGTON — Longtime news analyst Juan Williams, who has written extensively on race and civil rights, has been fired by NPR after saying on the Fox News Channel that he gets nervous when he sees people in Muslim garb on an airplane.

NPR issued a statement late Wednesday saying his contract as a senior news analyst was being terminated after Williams' comments Monday on "The O'Reilly Factor."

Host Bill O'Reilly brought on guests to discuss his own appearance last week on ABC's "The View" during which Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg walked off the set in protest of O'Reilly's views on Muslims.

"Where am I going wrong here, Juan?" O'Reilly asked.

Williams, 56, responded that too much political correctness can get in the way of reality.

"I mean, look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the Civil Rights movement in this country," Williams said. "But when I get on a plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."

Story here

Wow.:o

**Update**

NPR CEO Schiller said whatever feelings Williams has about Muslims should be between him and "his psychiatrist or his publicist — take your pick." In a post later on NPR's website — where comments were heavily against Williams' firing — she apologized for making the "thoughtless" psychiatrist remark.

On his Thursday broadcast, O'Reilly blasted NPR for what he called "a disgraceful decision" and called on Schiller to resign.

"Ms. Schiller is a pinhead," said O'Reilly.

O'Reilly said Williams was merely describing how he felt, and that "millions of Americans feel the same way."

Williams appeared shaken during an appearance on the show, and when shown Schiller's videotaped comments about him talking to a psychiatrist, asked incredulously: "Now I'm mentally unstable?"

Link to update

O'Reilly defends Juan Williams video link

How dare he give his opinion.

That's not right. Juan is a good dude. I'm more conservative, and I believe he's more of a Democrat, but I like Juan. He's just speaking the truth. Even if it's not something you say out loud and talk about, if you see somebody in a turban or something in an airport, the thought of terrorism pops into EVERYBODY's head, whether they acknowledge it or not.

That's not right. Juan is a good dude. I'm more conservative, and I believe he's more of a Democrat, but I like Juan. He's just speaking the truth. Even if it's not something you say out loud and talk about, if you see somebody in a turban or something in an airport, the thought of terrorism pops into EVERYBODY's head, whether they acknowledge it or not.

BMD004

If i ever have to get on an airplane and happen to be wearing a skull cap or wearing Saudi clothes.

and i see quivering eyes. i just wanna say.

"Boo... get over yourself"

I can't find the Yahoo version of the article. but isn't it ironic that a white person gets all nervous if they see a black guy walking who looks anything like gangster (be they just a fake on for dress up alone) and gets all nervous. and if it becomes an issue or problem, they'll preach to the mountain tops racism.

...........

Should not of been fired for it though, should of been rebuked for it, but that's all.

but i've also heard what Juan Williams has said about the Muslim community in the past... so this does not really surprise me.

I dont understand this one. He shouldnt have been fired. Oh well, who will pick him up?

That's not right. Juan is a good dude. I'm more conservative, and I believe he's more of a Democrat, but I like Juan. He's just speaking the truth. Even if it's not something you say out loud and talk about, if you see somebody in a turban or something in an airport, the thought of terrorism pops into EVERYBODY's head, whether they acknowledge it or not.

BMD004

I'm betting that Fox News will hire him on a permanent basis.

[QUOTE="BMD004"]

That's not right. Juan is a good dude. I'm more conservative, and I believe he's more of a Democrat, but I like Juan. He's just speaking the truth. Even if it's not something you say out loud and talk about, if you see somebody in a turban or something in an airport, the thought of terrorism pops into EVERYBODY's head, whether they acknowledge it or not.

topsemag55

I'm betting that Fox News will hire him on a permanent basis.

If i ever have to get on an airplane and happen to be wearing a skull cap or wearing Saudi clothes.

and i see quivering eyes. i just wanna say.

"Boo... get over yourself"

I can't find the Yahoo version of the article. but isn't it ironic that a white person gets all nervous if they see a black guy walking who looks anything like gangster (be they just a fake on for dress up alone) and gets all nervous. and if it becomes an issue or problem, they'll preach to the mountain tops racism.

...........

Should not of been fired for it though, should of been rebuked for it, but that's all.

but i've also heard what Juan Williams has said about the Muslim community in the past... so this does not really surprise me.

SaudiFury

And the PC police strike again.

[QUOTE="SaudiFury"]

If i ever have to get on an airplane and happen to be wearing a skull cap or wearing Saudi clothes.

and i see quivering eyes. i just wanna say.

"Boo... get over yourself"

I can't find the Yahoo version of the article. but isn't it ironic that a white person gets all nervous if they see a black guy walking who looks anything like gangster (be they just a fake on for dress up alone) and gets all nervous. and if it becomes an issue or problem, they'll preach to the mountain tops racism.

...........

Should not of been fired for it though, should of been rebuked for it, but that's all.

but i've also heard what Juan Williams has said about the Muslim community in the past... so this does not really surprise me.

BMD004

so..... sexualized clothing = culure/religious clothing.

k......

I'm not bending to the will of stereotypes and if they got a problem with that because i 'wear the uniform' then they can go **** off the racist ****s.

And the PC police strike again.

Pirate700

This has nothing to do with PC this is capitalism.. Free speech doesn't factor into this, the business has every right to protect their profits if they feel the statements of their employees can lead to profit loss.

And the PC police strike again.

Pirate700

And the PC police strike again.

Pirate700

I think old Juan is grinning about now, as he'll always have a job at Fox.:lol:

He is right about how PC the world is becoming...and someday that will bit the world in the backside. LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

And the PC police strike again.

sSubZerOo

This has nothing to do with PC this is capitalism.. Free speech doesn't factor into this, the business has every right to protect their profits if they feel the statements of their employees can lead to profit loss.

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

And the PC police strike again.

sSubZerOo

This has nothing to do with PC this is capitalism.. Free speech doesn't factor into this, the business has every right to protect their profits if they feel the statements of their employees can lead to profit loss.

He is right about how PC the world is becoming...and someday that will bit the world in the backside. LJS9502_basic

You mean it will be like the 1950s again?

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

And the PC police strike again.

topsemag55

I think old Juan is grinning about now, as he'll always have a job at Fox.:lol:

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

And the PC police strike again.

sSubZerOo

This has nothing to do with PC this is capitalism.. Free speech doesn't factor into this, the business has every right to protect their profits if they feel the statements of their employees can lead to profit loss.

I thought NPR was a publicly funded non-profit organization?

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

And the PC police strike again.

Oleg_Huzwog

This has nothing to do with PC this is capitalism.. Free speech doesn't factor into this, the business has every right to protect their profits if they feel the statements of their employees can lead to profit loss.

I thought NPR was a publicly funded non-profit organization?

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]He is right about how PC the world is becoming...and someday that will bit the world in the backside. sSubZerOo

You mean it will be like the 1950s again?

[QUOTE="topsemag55"]

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

And the PC police strike again.

Pirate700

I think old Juan is grinning about now, as he'll always have a job at Fox.:lol:

Hey Pirate, you know Hannity will get a lot of mileage out of this story...how much you want to bet he'll have Juan on his show?:lol:

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

[QUOTE="topsemag55"]

I think old Juan is grinning about now, as he'll always have a job at Fox.:lol:

topsemag55

Hey Pirate, you know Hannity will get a lot of mileage out of this story...how much you want to bet he'll have Juan on his show?:lol:

[QUOTE="Oleg_Huzwog"]

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

This has nothing to do with PC this is capitalism.. Free speech doesn't factor into this, the business has every right to protect their profits if they feel the statements of their employees can lead to profit loss.

FragStains

I thought NPR was a publicly funded non-profit organization?

Its a umbrella program that still gets the majority of its funds from the private companies that pay them.. SO yet again, if they see people that are threatening to cut back their profits in which a private company is going to pull out.. They can do so.. Its not a completely public program.

[QUOTE="FragStains"][QUOTE="Oleg_Huzwog"]

I thought NPR was a publicly funded non-profit organization?

sSubZerOo

Its a umbrella program that still gets the majority of its funds from the private companies that pay them.. SO yet again, if they see people that are threatening to cut back their profits in which a private company is going to pull out.. They can do so.. Its not a completely public program.

And the non-profit part?

I like Juan Williams so this sucks. People aren't allowed to express their opinions anymore... nicetestfactor888

I like Juan Williams so this sucks. People aren't allowed to express their opinions anymore... nicetestfactor888

Not to worry...Fox will help him out...I'm willing to bet that Juan doesn't even care, as he knows he'll have a spot on Fox.:D

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="FragStains"]The plot thickens...Oleg_Huzwog

Its a umbrella program that still gets the majority of its funds from the private companies that pay them.. SO yet again, if they see people that are threatening to cut back their profits in which a private company is going to pull out.. They can do so.. Its not a completely public program.

And the non-profit part?

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="FragStains"]The plot thickens...Oleg_Huzwog

Its a umbrella program that still gets the majority of its funds from the private companies that pay them.. SO yet again, if they see people that are threatening to cut back their profits in which a private company is going to pull out.. They can do so.. Its not a completely public program.

And the non-profit part?

Less then 20% last I checked.. The radical majority is through private companies that pay to have their station on it.. You can't seriously try to defend as if its freedom of speech because NPR operates like a business.. Its just like how basic cable works..

Its a umbrella program that still gets the majority of its funds from the private companies that pay them.. SO yet again, if they see people that are threatening to cut back their profits in which a private company is going to pull out.. They can do so.. Its not a completely public program.

sSubZerOo

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

Its a umbrella program that still gets the majority of its funds from the private companies that pay them.. SO yet again, if they see people that are threatening to cut back their profits in which a private company is going to pull out.. They can do so.. Its not a completely public program.

Omni-Slash

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

Its a umbrella program that still gets the majority of its funds from the private companies that pay them.. SO yet again, if they see people that are threatening to cut back their profits in which a private company is going to pull out.. They can do so.. Its not a completely public program.

Omni-Slash

[QUOTE="Omni-Slash"][QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

Its a umbrella program that still gets the majority of its funds from the private companies that pay them.. SO yet again, if they see people that are threatening to cut back their profits in which a private company is going to pull out.. They can do so.. Its not a completely public program.

xaos

[QUOTE="BMD004"][QUOTE="SaudiFury"]

If i ever have to get on an airplane and happen to be wearing a skull cap or wearing Saudi clothes.

and i see quivering eyes. i just wanna say.

"Boo... get over yourself"

I can't find the Yahoo version of the article. but isn't it ironic that a white person gets all nervous if they see a black guy walking who looks anything like gangster (be they just a fake on for dress up alone) and gets all nervous. and if it becomes an issue or problem, they'll preach to the mountain tops racism.

...........

Should not of been fired for it though, should of been rebuked for it, but that's all.

but i've also heard what Juan Williams has said about the Muslim community in the past... so this does not really surprise me.

SaudiFury

so..... sexualized clothing = culure/religious clothing.

k......

I'm not bending to the will of stereotypes and if they got a problem with that because i 'wear the uniform' then they can go **** off the racist ****s.

It's not a donation, it's underwriting, essentially a commercial-type relationship, not to split hairs.xaos

[QUOTE="xaos"] It's not a donation, it's underwriting, essentially a commercial-type relationship, not to split hairs.Omni-Slash

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

Its a umbrella program that still gets the majority of its funds from the private companies that pay them.. SO yet again, if they see people that are threatening to cut back their profits in which a private company is going to pull out.. They can do so.. Its not a completely public program.

Omni-Slash

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Public_Radio#FundingThe wiki article is pretty indepth with reliable sources.. Its a mixture.. Its not just a it includes private organizations and businesses as well.. Its a umbrella system.

Expressing your opinion is one thing, but opinions like "people who identify themselves first and foremost as muslims make me worried and nervous" isn't exactly expert political commentary. -Sun_Tzu-

Expressing your opinion is one thing, but opinions like "people who identify themselves first and foremost as muslims make me worried and nervous" isn't exactly expert political commentary. -Sun_Tzu-

[QUOTE="xaos"][QUOTE="Omni-Slash"] except that it's a non-profit organization......yes private companies have DONATED to them.....there is no threat of money withdraw...LJS9502_basic

No not quite.. The private radio stations under them do this as well as pay dues and other costs.. Its not 100% nonprofit.. the majority of the money is paid through the said dues and related things.. Either way this is nothing new, NPR has done this before and acted like a private business..

Expressing your opinion is one thing, but opinions like "people who identify themselves first and foremost as muslims make me worried and nervous" isn't exactly expert political commentary. -Sun_Tzu-

[QUOTE="-Sun_Tzu-"]Expressing your opinion is one thing, but opinions like "people who identify themselves first and foremost as muslims make me worried and nervous" isn't exactly expert political commentary. LJS9502_basic

Yeah, and it's not like the statement was being broadcast to millions of people.