Majority Does Not Support PBS Funding Cut: Poll

[Turborama]

Last edited Wed Oct 10, 2012, 06:31 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: Huffington Post

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Fifty-five percent of likely voters, including about a third of Republicans, said PBS was a worthy cause for taxpayers' dollars, while 35 percent said the government couldn't afford to subsidize public television.

The poll surveyed 800 likely voters by phone between Oct. 5 and Oct. 7, with a 3 percent margin of error.

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In a statement released after the debate, PBS said it was disappointed that it had become a "political target," and noted another study showing broad voter support:

A national survey by the bipartisan research firms of Hart Research and American Viewpoint in 2011 found that over two-thirds of American voters (69%) oppose proposals to eliminate government funding of public broadcasting, with Americans across the political spectrum against such a cut.

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Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/09/pbs-funding-cut-poll_n_1951830.html

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Wingnuts are probably stockpiling guns & ammo leading up to the election, I wonder how many people around the world are panic buying box sets of Sesame St. DVDs & books now, just in case - Kolob forbid - Romuloid "wins" the election.

[alp227]

1. A third of Republicans still have brains?

This poll confirms how deep in the crazy zone the modern RepubliCON party has gone so much that the reasonable conservative voices like PBS newshour regular David Brooks is regularly dismissed among the Fox Boobs/hate radio fans. William Buckley, the conservative icon who hosted the PBS debate show "Firing Line" for the last three decades of the 20th century, would never be invited to FNC.

PBS threatens the cultural authoritarianism of the right so much that every time Republicans take over the House, SOMEONE introduces a defund PBS bill. See this fascinating reddit post "The real reason conservatives hate PBS": http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021484833

[BeyondGeography]

5. I know a few who really like Frontline, American Experience, American Masters

the Ken Burns documentaries, etc. They're older, Dole Republicans. Still pull for the R's 99.99% of the time but they're really into genuine history and wish things worked the way they used to (but, of course, they blame the Democrats more for that...).

[SleeplessinSoCal]

2. That 35% doesn't think. They listen to voices from the radio and they obey.

[davidn3600]

3. But I doubt very many people will base their vote on whether PBS gets government funding

[exboyfil]

4. The point Obama should have made

at the debate was that Romney's only two specified cuts (ACA and CPB) would yield less than $400M (what the Pentagon spends in 6 hours). Another way to describe it would be you would need 2000 of such cuts to close the budget deficit. In other words Romney, when given the opportunity, refused to identify any substative cuts to the budget. His magical plan is that the cut in taxes will not only make up that shortfall in taxes, cover the additional defense spending he is proposing, and also close the budget deficit.

Why he did not make this point clearly is beyond me.

I wish each candidate would be given the opportunity to show 3-5 slides so we could add some quantitative visualization to what we are discussing.

[lunatica]

6. PBS is educational and we all know how Republicans feel about educated citizens

Romney and Ann think the 47% are too lazy to help themselves, so why should the government pay to educate them? Make them work in the service to the 1% industry. If you teach them how to read, like Sesame Street does it gives them that entitled feeling, like they deserve something.

[rainlillie]

7. By the end of the day Mitt won't either...

.

[HereSince1628]

8. As compared to what? These things are all relative. n/t

[Iris]

9. It's a reasonable, middle-of-the road position.

n/t

[TomCADem]

10. Romney's Proposal Is Pandering To Corporate Media and Right Wing

Corporate media does not like the competition and the right wing does not like a media outlet that is not dependent on corporate sponsorship dollars.

[Missycim]

11. I understand funding non-money making shows on PBS

but what happens to all the money thats made on Sesame street toys etc? That money should be rolled back into PBS.

[1gobluedem]

12. PBS doesn't produce Sesame Street

They distribute it. The Children's Television Workshop (I think that's the correct name) produces it. PBS doesn't produce much, if any, programming; they primarily act as a distributor to member stations.