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

[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. 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.

sSubZerOo

[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. Pirate700

[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

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][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. THE_DRUGGIE

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

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

[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

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..

sSubZerOo

[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

I can be terminated from my current job for things I do on my own time if a reasonable argument can be made that my actions damaged the company's competitiveness.

But then, I don't work for a non-profit organization.

[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

Uhh yeah he was.. He is affiliated with them.. As a public figure.. If he says something extremely insulting publically (not suggesting this is or isn't) they have a reason to fire him.. To make sure that his statement and him are not related in which customers will start boycotting the media.. This is pretty common practice..

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][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. -Sun_Tzu-

That wasn't what I was getting at. What I was getting at was that his remarks were extremely bigoted and that NPR has every right to completely disassociate itself with him by terminating his contract. NPR is trying to maintain its credibility and standards as a news organization by doing this, which is something that not many news organizations do nowadays.-Sun_Tzu-

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

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..

Omni-Slash

It doesn't matter it still has donors to keep a float, if something some how compromises that they have full right to fire him.. Its a MEDIA organization, if one of their members starts saying some crazy stuff in which huge donors threaten to leave it, they are obligated to oblige to a extent if keeping him is a far greater threat then firing him.

It doesn't matter it still has donors to keep a float, if something some how compromises that they have full right to fire him.. Its a MEDIA organization, if one of their members starts saying some crazy stuff in which huge donors threaten to leave it, they are obligated to oblige to a extent if keeping him is a far greater threat then firing him.

sSubZerOo

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="xaos"] It's not a donation, it's underwriting, essentially a commercial-type relationship, not to split hairs.sSubZerOo

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..

Whoa, hold on there. You're mixing the non-profit thing with the public/private thing. It's either non-profit or it's not. 0% and 100% are your only options. It's 100% non-profit.

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

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..

sSubZerOo

It doesn't matter it still has donors to keep a float, if something some how compromises that they have full right to fire him.. Its a MEDIA organization, if one of their members starts saying some crazy stuff in which huge donors threaten to leave it, they are obligated to oblige to a extent if keeping him is a far greater threat then firing him.

[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. Omni-Slash

[QUOTE="Omni-Slash"][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. -Sun_Tzu-

[QUOTE="THE_DRUGGIE"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] But he wasn't on his employers time then....LJS9502_basic

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

When you go on another show for a different company, you are representing the company you work for.

[QUOTE="-Sun_Tzu-"] That wasn't what I was getting at. What I was getting at was that his remarks were extremely bigoted and that NPR has every right to completely disassociate itself with him by terminating his contract. NPR is trying to maintain its credibility and standards as a news organization by doing this, which is something that not many news organizations do nowadays.Omni-Slash

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="THE_DRUGGIE"]

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

THE_DRUGGIE

When you go on another show for a different company, you are representing the company you work for.

And it's very possible to have a discussion about islamaphobia, but nothing productive comes out of a discussion that starts off as "people who identify themselves first and foremost as muslims make me worried and nervous". What if I said let's have a discussion about antisemitism, every time I see someone who identifies them self first and foremost as Jewish I grasp my wallet. It's impossible for intelligible discourse to emerge from that. -Sun_Tzu-

It doesn't matter it still has donors to keep a float, if something some how compromises that they have full right to fire him.. Its a MEDIA organization, if one of their members starts saying some crazy stuff in which huge donors threaten to leave it, they are obligated to oblige to a extent if keeping him is a far greater threat then firing him.

sSubZerOo

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="THE_DRUGGIE"]

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

THE_DRUGGIE

When you go on another show for a different company, you are representing the company you work for.

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

It should also be noted that when Juan Williams appears on Fox News, he is introduced as a political commentator for NPR, so it's not exactly off the clock.-Sun_Tzu-

[QUOTE="-Sun_Tzu-"]It should also be noted that when Juan Williams appears on Fox News, he is introduced as a political commentator for NPR, so it's not exactly off the clock.xaos

As I mentioned above, I am almost certain there is more going on that we are hearing about, having heard much more controversial things said on the air on NPR before by commentators. I'd put cash on either there being "other reasons" or this being some sort of camel back-breaking straw.xaos

[QUOTE="Omni-Slash"]Lessons learned today in this thread... Freedom of Speech is only allowed if you agree with me.....got it....xaos

[QUOTE="THE_DRUGGIE"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] That shouldn't matter. I can understand firing someone for speaking while representing you...but off the clock he's entitled to his opinions.LJS9502_basic

When you go on another show for a different company, you are representing the company you work for.

But if he gets introduced as an NPR commentator, his statements still represent NPR.

That's generally how companies view things.

so it pretty much shows that NPR has becoem Air America....so lets just pull public funding and they can can who they want for whatever reason they want....Omni-Slash

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="THE_DRUGGIE"]

When you go on another show for a different company, you are representing the company you work for.

THE_DRUGGIE

But if he gets introduced as an NPR commentator, his statements still represent NPR.

That's generally how companies view things.

[QUOTE="xaos"][QUOTE="Omni-Slash"]Lessons learned today in this thread... Freedom of Speech is only allowed if you agree with me.....got it....Omni-Slash

[QUOTE="Omni-Slash"][QUOTE="xaos"] Oh come on, Omni,you aren't going to pull out that goofy misreading of what freedom of speech is, are you?xaos

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

If I see three black guys walking up to me in Detroit (where I live) dressed up like thugs and looking kind of shady, I'm going to try and avoid them...sorry, that's just the way it is.

I'd expect a black guy walking through Kentucky who sees three white guys with shaved heads looking kind of shady to do the exact same thing...

That's called common sense.

What he said is completely understandable, and many people agree with him.

It's a shame his employer felt the need to censor his very valid opinion.

This is why FOX news is so great, you can actually give an opinion without having to be PC all the time.

[QUOTE="THE_DRUGGIE"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] I don't agree with that. He was representing himself. Those views were not done under the company umbrella.LJS9502_basic

But if he gets introduced as an NPR commentator, his statements still represent NPR.

That's generally how companies view things.

Yeah, but business is a pain like that. Then again, he was on a national news show so it's not like one of those dumb Facebook firings where they had to look up a profile page to see the statement.

[QUOTE="SaudiFury"]

[QUOTE="BMD004"] People have certain stereotypes and profiles that they are wary of. Ever seen Dave Chappelle's routine about profiling? I'll paraphrase. "You're at a bar or a club, and you see a girl, and she looks good. Not good in the traditional sense. But good as in her ass is hanging out, and her boobs are all mashed together, popping out the top of her turtle neck and ****. (Then Dave calls her over in a very unflattering way). And she says "Just because I am dressed this way, does NOT make me a whore". And Dave tells the audience that this is true... she certainly may not have been a whore. But, she's definitely wearing a whore's uniform, that's all I'm saying.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.

[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.

No, it is PC. This has nothing to do with the 1st Amendment, and no one ever claimed that. It has everything to do with political correctness reaching extreme levels of ridiculousness...

So no one can ever be fired from anyone who receives government funds for any expression? For instance, if the CEO of GM said (Godwin's Law alert) "Gosh, that Hitler guy was right on!" and started wearing a swastika armband and since GM received federal bailout funds, he would be shielded? Just checking :)xaos

That shouldn't matter. I can understand firing someone for speaking while representing you...but off the clock he's entitled to his opinions.LJS9502_basic

I agree...now he doesn't have to dance to NPR's tune anymore.:P

What he said is completely understandable, and many people agree with him.

It's a shame his employer felt the need to censor his very valid opinion.

This is why FOX news is so great, you can actually give an opinion without having to be PC all the time.

p2250

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="THE_DRUGGIE"]

But if he gets introduced as an NPR commentator, his statements still represent NPR.

That's generally how companies view things.

THE_DRUGGIE

Yeah, but business is a pain like that. Then again, he was on a national news show so it's not like one of those dumb Facebook firings where they had to look up a profile page to see the statement.

[QUOTE="SaudiFury"]

[QUOTE="BMD004"] People have certain stereotypes and profiles that they are wary of. Ever seen Dave Chappelle's routine about profiling? I'll paraphrase. "You're at a bar or a club, and you see a girl, and she looks good. Not good in the traditional sense. But good as in her ass is hanging out, and her boobs are all mashed together, popping out the top of her turtle neck and ****. (Then Dave calls her over in a very unflattering way). And she says "Just because I am dressed this way, does NOT make me a whore". And Dave tells the audience that this is true... she certainly may not have been a whore. But, she's definitely wearing a whore's uniform, that's all I'm saying.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.

Exactly. It's human nature and EVERYONE does it, even if subconsciously. You're lying to yourself if you think you don't.

[QUOTE="THE_DRUGGIE"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] Then he shouldn't have been introduced that way and in the future he should be told he can't be. But I have a problem with limiting freedom of speech. I understand when one is being paid AT THE TIME by an entity. But not what is said when one is not at work. LJS9502_basic

Yeah, but business is a pain like that. Then again, he was on a national news show so it's not like one of those dumb Facebook firings where they had to look up a profile page to see the statement.

Yeah, it's one of the reasons why I don't have a Facebook page.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

It doesn't matter it still has donors to keep a float, if something some how compromises that they have full right to fire him.. Its a MEDIA organization, if one of their members starts saying some crazy stuff in which huge donors threaten to leave it, they are obligated to oblige to a extent if keeping him is a far greater threat then firing him.

Omni-Slash

I don't see how dialogue is being killed. He can still talk all he wants...just not on NPR.

I really don't doubt that many people (in general, I'm not thinking of anyone specific) have racist reactions from time to time, including having feelings of unease when on a plane with Muslims. So I don't think Williams was wrong to say this out loud.

But, the problem is he should have expanded further on that statement. Instead of saying, "I'm not racist, BUT," he should have said, "I have these racist feelings and reactions from time to time, and this is an issue I need to address. I need to move beyond having these feelings, because they aren't right."