PBS CEO Calls Romney's Debate Remarks 'Stunning'

[trailmonkee]

Source: Broadcasting and Cable

Paula Kerger, the president and CEO of PBS, said Thursday she was stunned at Mitt Romney's comments during Wednesday's debate promising to pull funding from the public broadcaster.

"With the enormous problems facing our country, the fact that we are the focus is unbelievable to me," she told CNN Newsroom (watch the full video here http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2012/10/04/exp-costello-pbs-ceo.cnn#/video/bestoftv/2012/10/04/exp-costello-pbs-ceo.cnn).

Romney made waves with his debate comments attacking PBS in which he references Big Bird, the popular Sesame Street character.

"I'm sorry, Jim, I'm going to stop the subsidy to PBS," Romney said to debate moderator Jim Lehrer. "I like PBS. I love Big Bird. I actually like you, too. But I'm not going to keep spending money on things, borrowing money from China to pay for it."

Kerger said she was especially surprised Romney would attack PBS' educational programs in light of both candidates pledging to improve the country's education system.

"We're America's biggest classroom," she said. "This is not about the budget. It has to be about politics."

Read more: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/489728-PBS_CEO_Calls_Romney_s_Debate_Remarks_Stunning_.php

[gordianot]

1. Yes PBS and your man stepped right into the manure covered roses with soft ball question no followup

You're just going to have to step up fundraisers if anything remains after the harvest. NPR is next.

[atreides1]

2. Any more fundraisers

And they won't have any air time to show actual programming!

[MinneapolisMatt]

3. When Obama gets re-elected

He should quadruple their budget just to piss off all of the wingers.

[Auggie]

7. +1

[AsahinaKimi]

25. +2

Lets give Big Bird a raise! ^^

[LishaD35]

31. +3

I would love it if he did!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

4. Of course it's about politics... is Ms. Kerger just now figuring that out?

Most of what I watch is on PBS/UNC-TV, and I'm grateful for it (tax dollars and donations!).

In case anyone wasn't aware of this, I'd recommend it:

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/half-the-sky

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide was filmed in 10 countries and follows Kristof, WuDunn, and celebrity activists America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union, and Olivia Wilde on a journey to tell the stories of inspiring, courageous individuals. Across the globe oppression is being confronted, and real meaningful solutions are being fashioned through health care, education, and economic empowerment for women and girls. The linked problems of sex trafficking and forced prostitution, gender-based violence, and maternal mortality — which needlessly claim one woman every 90 seconds — present to us the single most vital opportunity of our time: the opportunity to make a change. All over the world women are seizing this opportunity.

[Indpndnt]

11. She knows that, but she's making it clear for anyone who doesn't get it.

They asked her reaction and it was excellent. This isn't about the budget, it's about politics. Willard wants to kill Big Bird for his knuckle-dragging base.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

18. Yeah, I'm just fed up today.

What our esteemed leaders have planned for sequestration, and possible cuts to Social Security and Medicare, have me on edge. Probably a good time to unplug and walk one of my area's fine taxpayer-funded Greenways.

[Indpndnt]

23. Oh, I can sympathize.

I've felt much the same way at times over the years. Enjoy your walk!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

26. I was "hoping" I'd be feeling less this way once...

the BFEE was out of office, but no such luck. This unraveling has been in the making for 30+ years, and it now seems to really be coming to a head.

Ok, walk time (especially after the Halloween candy I've been knocking back!). Take care.

[yellowcanine]

5. Funny thing is, a lot of conservatives like PBS and NPR. As much as they complain about it,

they like the programs.

[DaveJ]

6. I wonder if he intentionally left out NPR

Since NPR seems lately to have a more conservative bias, I understand why they'd want to ditch PBS instead.

People who can't afford cable or internet can still get PBS on digital antennas for news and other information. Getting rid of that would truly be an assault on the people.

[CBHagman]

13. And the funding is important for rural stations.

I remember former Rep. Heather Wilson (R) used to point that out, and so will other Republicans, if prompted.

But the GOP enmity towards PBS is long-term and deep, dating back to Nixon.

[Nancy Waterman]

8. This was a bone tossed to the right wing

After suddenly becoming a moderate on everything else.

[Monk06]

9. It's like saying, "I'm going to beat Bambi to death with a golf club, even though I love Bambi"

The guy is a sociopath. The yearly PBS budget is roughly half the cost of an F22 Raptor, which as a military expenditure is not even included in the budget IIRC.

The US is paying for the Raptor and every other military development program through deficit financing. In other words by selling US treasury bills to the Japanese and more worrying, the Chinese.

In effect if the US were to go to war with the Chinese they would have ask the Chinese to honor their credit.

What's the better buy PBS or the price of half an aircraft? Give me Big Bird over the Raptor any day.

[L0oniX]

32. more like "I'm going to eat Bambi"

[MADem]

10. America's biggest classroom--can't be letting "The Great Unwashed" get an education, now, can he?

They'd get ideas, get uppity, want to rise above their station...!

Do I need to whip this out for the irony-impaired?

[fasttense]

12. And yet Mittens calling the President of the United States a boy and a liar

made Mittens smile even more. No cringing on his racist comments.

[antigop]

14. it shouldn't have stunned anyone. n/t

[BainsBane]

15. Republicans always make a point of complaining about the smallest budget items

In this case it distracts from the fact that Mitt's plan is a black hole.

[OnionPatch]

16. Why be surprised?

We know the cons want to obliterate PBS. The truth has a liberal bias so they can't have people watching anything but FOX news.

[JNelson6563]

17. Well said Ms. Kerger.

[HuckleB]

19. Liemney is going to see Big Bird at every campaign stop.

And in every nightmare.

It's going to be awesome!

[Donkees]

20. "The kiddies can just as easily learn colors and numbers working in the sweatshops"

[PD Turk]

21. Oh yeah?

well then...

[1gobluedem]

22. He probably thinks PBS and NPR are the same thing

A lot of people who don't actually watch or listen think that.

They also think NPR and PBS get direct funding from the government. Which they don't. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting does and more than 85% of their funds go directly to member stations, not NPR or PBS. They get hardly anything.

[DeSwiss]

24. K&R

[oldsarge54]

27. Oh Spare ME

The Republicans are flat out lying. They are cutting government support because they have a political ax to grind. Pure and simple.

[drynberg]

28. WAIT A SECOND, BOYS AND GIRLS

Willard just likes to fire people, remember? Or at least pretend that if he were President some day, that, yes, he'd fire Big Bird and Jim Leher. In reality, Willard is just a mean version of Thurston Howell...What did the Romney's do to the little Mitten to make him so mean? Anyway, Fuck Him! And the horse he rode in with.

[elbloggoZY27]

29. Intolerance INC

The GOP are about intolerance as you can get. That is their Agenda and it began when the President was elected. Every action they take is based on intolerance. The Debate last night has not changed my view of the GOP.

It's not PBS or Women or anything concrete it all originated from day one. Aid to the poor, jobs, veterans etc. they have passed not a single vote to better our society.

In my opinion the two candidates for President & Vice President are not qualified.


In other words they are two of the most regressive candidates you could find.

[Hugin]

30. Mitt Romney loves Big Bird, the way a tick loves a dog.

Does it work here too?