what the fuck is it

[barbtries]

with npr and their political reporting? all i hear is republican republican republican and it is pissing me off. i have to turn it off sometimes. what stake do they have in these upcoming elections that they seem bent on making the news instead of reporting it?

democrats are running too! reid and pelosi are good people doing the people's work; i like their agenda! this is never heard on npr and i am just pissed.

here in nc they're doing their pledge drive and i was going to donate but now i'm just going to go tell them why i cannot.

[blue sky at night]

1. i am done with them....

we should be calling them and telling them why we will never ever pledge to them again. fuck national publican radio.

[barbtries]

3. i actually really enjoy listening to npr

when i'm in the car, and this is new for me (was always music before). but the political reporting is so one-sided. i am going to their page to complain.

[blue sky at night]

22. I listen to radio everyday...

i too like them, well I used to really like them, but now when the "news" comes on I want to smash the radio! Can't the dems do something to clean this thing up, it all went right-wing under the idiot son regime, so why can't we have our radio back??

in the car, I have to listen to sports or DVD books.

[barbtries]

23. that's about where i'm at.

it's infuriating. and wrong. their role is to report the news. instead they make it up as they go along to fit the right wing desire. it is so hateful

[fascisthunter]

2. they have moved to the right since 1998

[Cleita]

4. They were taken over by corporate sponsorship, so your

little $25 donation doesn't count for much any more. They are beholden to their masters who push a corporate friendly Republican viewpoint.

[TheKentuckian]

5. We have a winnah!

[barbtries]

7. thank you

that does make sense. makes me want to cry of course, but it does make sense. public radio brought to us by private corporations. seems the republicans continue to win.

[benddem]

6. Last week I was so angry

at Scott Simon and co. He and White House Correspondent (name?) were talking about the new National Security Advisor and commenting on his lack of military experience and "would that be a problem?" Now when did you ever hear any question that incompetent, obtuse NSA Condoleeza Rice's lack of military experience. WTF. I turned it off.

[barbtries]

9. i have to toss in a cd

on a regular basis listening to that shit. every fucking rightwinger in the country is being broadcast talking about the deficit - never mentioning that it exists because of the fucking bush administration. they get on their and say nancy pelosi like it's a dirty word and never hear from the other side. it's wrong.

[lonestarnot]

8. Just funnel all the brainwashers to the sewer.

[barbtries]

10. they're already in the sewer.

why else would all that shit be spewing out of my radio?

[lonestarnot]

18. good point.

[Strelnikov_]

11. Nice Polite Republcans are pushing Republicans?

Who'da thunk it.

[barbtries]

12. i guess

i just wanted to think there was truly balanced journalism available. wrong again.

edited for spilllllinnn

[Strelnikov_]

14. My 'Dear John' letter to NPR in 2004

Surprisingly, didn't seem to have any effect.

I am writing to express my disgust with the rightward shift of your station, and NPR, over the last year. It appears to me that you have fallen into the "earth is flat, opinions differ" approach to GOP/right-wing journalism. I have heard many comments over the last year that called into question the integrity of your staff, but on today’s ‘Talk of Iowa’, specifically, the ‘Dr. Politics’ show; my ‘line in the sand’ was finally crossed.

On last weeks segment, K. Perkins and Dr. Schmidt allowed an obviously far right individual to rant on for what seemed like 10 min. During this tirade, near the end, the right-wing smear that Sen. Max Cleland was somehow not deserving of ‘decorated veteran’ status because his injuries were the result of an accident (a smear first put forth by Ann Coulter) was presented. The hosts of the program did not intercede at any point during this tirade. Actually, this individual went further than Ms. Coulter in claiming that Sen. Cleland was responsible for killing two other soldiers and blowing up a helicopter in the accident.

Now, on this week’s program, a caller expressed concern that one of the hosts should have questioned the individual denigrating Sen. Cleland regarding the factual basis of the statements. To this, Dr. Schmidt replied that this is an opinion show, and that the caller is responsible for the accuracy of their statements.

My experience with your station, and these two individuals in particular, is that anything stated by the right leaning is taken at face value, while the veracity of any statements by anyone left leaning is called into question. And when I say left leaning, I mean anyone not presenting a party line GOP/right-wing position.

Examples? Well, here is one.

On the June 29th, 2004 ‘Talk of Iowa’ program, with K. Perkins and a stand-in for Dr. Schmidt, the following transpired.

The movie Fahrenheit 9/11 was being discussed. Some (partial) quotes from the above commentators are as follows:

"I would compare it to Oliver Stone's film JFK . . . "

"I haven't seen the film, but the art of propaganda . . ."

A number of people called in supporting the film, noting that it is being misrepresented by the mainstream media, that it is not comparable to "JFK", that it is eye-opening, etc.

After a number of these calls where Ms. Perkins expressed her skepticism with the caller’s position, she stated, "we are journalists, and are supposed to be skeptical."

Later in this program a caller noted that fourteen massive bases are being built in Iraq by the U.S. for permanent basing of U.S. Forces. At this, Ms. Perkins grilled the caller as to the source of this information, and then pontificated again on how she is a journalist and must have sources for information. That is, of course, unless the information supports the GOP/right-wing position.

(By the way, the information on the bases is out there, the same way that it was clear in early summer of 2002 that we were invading Iraq. But if you are looking for a Washington Post article on them, forget it. But I guess since you are modern journalists, you need to wait until there is an ‘investigative’ press release before you report.)

And I am not even going to mention where Dr. Schmidt today noted that the Kerry daughters were booed at the MTV awards, but did not mention that the Bush daughters were also booed. Nor the recent FAIR study documenting NPR's preference for GOP/right-wing leaning guests.

The above incidents are simply the more egregious examples of GOP/right-wing bias that I remember. Like all marriages that end in divorce, the partners gradually grow apart, as result of the cumulative effect of differences, as we obviously have done.

I am a long time contributor to NPR in the various communities I have lived in over the years. I did not pledge the last drive due to my perception of your rightward shift. Basically, I was monitoring to see if this was a short-term aberration.

As of today, I am done with you, and NPR. I request that you remove my name from your membership rolls, and cease any future mailings from your organization, as I have no interest in associating myself with a Fox News knock off. Lets just see how many member contributions you can garner from the GOP/right-wing.

[barbtries]

16. that was a great letter

i was preparing to send something a lot less...rational. lol

this is why i love DU. i feel validated. i think now i will sleep on it and write a well thought out letter like yours, both to npr and to the local station that is trying as we speak to get money from me. i was going to donate; now i know i will not.

[Scuba]

13. Try Wisconsin Public Radio instead...

...

http://www.wpr.org/

This is what "fair and balanced" really sounds like.

[Greybnk48]

15. I was just going to suggest WPR Scuba

:hi: NPR went right wing about 10 years ago. I haven't donated a dime to them since. All of my $ goes to WPR.

[barbtries]

17. i'd love to,

but i don't think i'll be able to get it to come in in my car NC.

[Scuba]

20. Try some nice music then. Recommend classical guitar.

[RagAss]

19. Wake up !!!... They took the cash !!

[spanone]

21. bu$h* turned npr around 180 degrees

if npr ever leaned a little left they have greatly over corrected it. i did not contribute this year.

[Tsiyu]

24. A few stations play other NPR programming

that counters the rightward lean somewhat.

WLRH/Huntsville has BBC World (not quite as bad as NPR News) and some other progressive programs on.

But I agree, All Things Unconsidered and the rest of their "news" is now merely a microphone for Republicans. I just can't support that...Rightie Tighties have enough $$$$ and microphones behind them already.

Still, Americans won't rise up for the return of the Fairness Doctrine. It hurts.


on edit: subject/verb agreement is always nice...