(CNN) – In the wake of NPR's firing of contributor Juan Williams over comments about Muslims, Mike Huckabee is calling on the next Congress to cut the radio network's funding when it convenes next year.
"NPR has discredited itself as a forum for free speech and a protection of the First Amendment rights of all and has solidified itself as the purveyor of politically correct pabulum and protector of views that lean left," Huckabee said in a statement provided to CNN.
Williams told Fox News host Bill O'Reilly on Monday that he gets "worried" and "nervous" on flights when he sees people wearing "Muslim garb." NPR terminated Williams' contract on Wednesday evening.
Huckabee said he "will no longer accept interview requests from NPR as long as they are going to practice a form of censorship, and since NPR is funded with public funds, it is a form of censorship."
"It is time for the taxpayers to start making cuts to federal spending, and I encourage the new Congress to start with NPR," he said.
NPR says federal funding comprises less than 2 percent of its budget, with most of its financial support coming from station fees, sponsorships and grants.
Like Williams, the former Arkansas governor is also a contributor to the Fox News channel.
Huckabee called Williams "refreshingly honest and candid," adding: "There isn't a more honest and fair-minded person in journalism."
From CNN Politics
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Work for us | Help
huckabee who? This man is another clueless rethug in the long list of wannabes. Who cares what he has to say? Who would want to interview him anyway?
Maybe others, including the half term, will follow suit. We don't care about what you say, do and we don't want to hear about anything that has to do with you and your cronies.
HURRAY! Finally, someone who understands that NPR leans hard to the left and should no longer be funded by my tax money. They should either go private or go out of business.
STOP NPR Censorship! STOP TAX PAYER FUNDING OF NPR!
Get real. When NPR interviews Huckabee I'll bet he gets nervous and worried because he didn't get the script in advance like he does on Faux News. What a jerk.
Huckabee just wants to reduce the amount of more objective news source so we are just left with "Faux News"
I wonder what Gov. Huckabee's reaction would have been if Williams had been fired for making the same remarks about orthodox Jews that wear hats, long black coats and pigtails? They to can be intimidating and have a mixed reputation regarding some of their extreme views and violent reactions. Or, if Mr. Williams had made the remark about evangelical Christians. some who have been known to take the law into their on hands? Would Mr. Huckabee have been so incensed then? Or is it just OK to make derogatory remarks about Muslims and paint them all with one broad brush stroke? I think we all know the answer to these questions. Had Mr. Williams been fired by NPR for attacking Jews or Christians, Mr. Huckabee would be singing NPR's praises.
Well, at least Williams' firing reinforces Fox's narrative that NPR is liberal. Huckabee is obviously thankful for that.
Just one question to Mike H. would you feel the same way if the same comment was directed towards Christians, and Juan got fired as a result. I really need to hear an honest answer from you or any one who is going to comment on this post.
Methinks NPR is not the only party with an "agenda." Huckabee is tapping into peoples' fears by grandstanding on his FOX colleague's dismissal from NPR. He should be ashamed for labeling NPR as leftist when he works for the most right-wing media group in the U.S. Huckabee's good Southern mama should have told him that when he points a finger, there are four aiming in his direction.
Shut up Mike!
I get nervous when I walk down an alley at night and see a large white guy coming toward me, seeing I am only 5 foot 8. I guess I should be fired too.
Then Fox news network should be forced to stop operations as they are always leaning far right. Mike Huckabee is a two faced liar. Who was it that got us into the Iraq war? Who is it who tortured innocent Muslims? The Repub's that's who!
Huckabee only says this because he hates muslims and everyone else who doesn't think and believe exactly he does.
Williams told Fox News host Bill O'Reilly on Monday that he gets "worried" and "nervous" on flights when he sees people wearing "Muslim garb."
SO DO I! SO DO I! SO DO I! SO DO I! SO DO I! SO DO I! SO DO I! SO DO I! SO DO I!
Who the heck doesn't?
NPR was way out-of-line to fire Juan. I agree. Stop the funding.
I do not like Mr Huckabee, but in this case I agree with him, this is an easy call. NPR crossed the line.
Huckabee still think's he's meaningful in the political world. As gov. of my State, he was an embarressment, pandering to the Mexican illegals and ran the State as if it were his own church.
Absolutely. Cut all the funding for NPR and give it to fox. After all, fox is the only network that provides “fair and balanced” reporting. Fox, the entire network is a propaganda machine for the right wing.
Mike you are an idiot so are all the trolls that work for fox. yes, Mike you would love to see NPR off the air because they are truly fair and balanced and thats a huge problem for trolls like you. You and the trolls like you want to make Fox and radio talk shows like Rush the only source of information people get. Well, its not going to happen no matter how much you conservative wackos try. And Mike, you hick, no one wants to interview you anyway, you are a washed up and a has been. You attempted to convince the American people vote for you when your own party didn't want you. I agree that sometimes the speech police is annoying but you and your trolls on fox are the extreme speech police when someone on the left says something you dislike. So don't play the defender of speech when you are member of the 'Right wing speech police".
Here comes CNN to support FOX News point of view. Who cares what Huckabee thinks? FOX is nothing but theright wing Republican propaganda machine sponsored by the corporate bosses and the National Chamber of Commerce. The breed hate and divide. They have nothing constructive to add to the debate. Why is this even news with the econmy and unemployment problems we are facing. All the result of right wing ideology sprewed forth by FOX News.
If this is brought to the floor, there needs to be counter legislation to eliminate FOX, from the airwaves as well.
Huckabee called Williams "refreshingly honest and candid," adding: "There isn't a more honest and fair-minded person in journalism."
Please – Williams is arrogant and it shows in his opinions!!
Williams is "worried" and "nervous" on flights when he sees people wearing "Muslim garb."
I don't remember anyone wearing 'Muslim garb' on a flight and attempted to BLOW IT UP!!! This is the same statement White people make when they see Blacks, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans walking down the street and they have to pass them.
Even though the statement, I think, should not have caused a 'dismissal', people need to remember that we are living in a SENSITIVE world now and 'everybody' is 'touchy'.
This is T'SAH from Virginia and I approve this message!!
Shame on NPR, shame.
Double stranded
“NPR is funded with public funds”
Who receive tax payer money should Know what they are doing what they are saying Mr.Huckabee then
Now its ok they can say what ever they want shame Huckabee
Huckabee wants to institute a "Christian" theocracy, and HE's complaining about free speech? He seems to have forgotten the part of Scripture where Jesus tells liars, hypocrites, and the rich that they will not be welcome in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mike, Ibelieve you suffer the same myopia shared by most estremists, if another person or media outlet does not embrace your narrow views, you demonize them and want them censored. Your ilk is no more the protector of free speech than was Joseph Stalin. Maybe you are just angry because NPR would not let you play your bass on the air.
And that's why Mike Huckabee is a political joke.
This demonstrates what kind of rash fluke Mike Huckabee is he says he "will no longer accept interview requests from NPR as long as they are going to practice a form of censorship" .. uhh hello! They fired someone for making comments on another show ... they did not censor anything... some people just like to make condescending claims and uninformed rants, he would be an excellent tea party candidate... the shoe definitely fits.
Very sad juan is a victim of his own "FREEDOM OF SPEACH". NPA should have$ pilled. Let them run on public funding alone.
Huckabee is about as dishonest as they come. About what one would expect from a christian.
Let me see if I understand Gov. Huckabee. Cut their funding because they fired an at-will employee. Sounds like the American Way. Save the Government money- How much? Show mean the financials on the impact to the Government budget on this one.
So, as per Mike Huckabee, it is OK to speak bad about followers of a certain religion and it is considered FREE SPEECH!
Mr. Huckabee, It is NOT Free Speech, it is HATE SPEECH.
I am GLAD MIKE HUCKABEE has not been elected to lead MY COUNTRY!
I agree. NPR sucks. Let NPR rely 100% on private funding.
Huckabee, you and Williams both work for Fox News. Are you trying to imply that Fox News allows greater freedom of expression than NPR? If you didn't have a financial interest in your statement here, it might be a little more credible.
BTW, Will Juan be OK if I say I do not go to Washington Nationals games because the field is in the middle of a black area and I get scared being around black people??? would you say I am being honest about speaking my mind or would you say I am being a racist? which one is it? I can tell you it can not be both so your answer can not be an honest racist.
Mr. williams was expressing his opinion he said nothing derogatory and he was expressing his honest opinion .
I´m rather shocked by NPR´s actions . I hope free speech does not become a matter of office policy and that
our jobs depend on what we say or don´t say .
Spoken like a true member of the jack boot right. Huckabee calls NPR a purveyor of politically correct pabulum and protector of views that lean left, while hosting a show on the official mouth piece of the GOP, Fox News. What a hypocritical SOS. What's next Mike a lecture on the wonders of the 1st Amendment and freedom of speech?
Go Mike. One of the last open-minded voices on NPR and they sack him. I'm sure Maura Liason will be next.
Funny how this happens right after NPR accepts $.18 Million from George Soros.
Maybe this loser should have quit NPR and went full time at fox because we all know How Fair And Balanced they are. So why is this an issue in the first place. Its just another excuse for the rabid right wing dogs to foam at the mouth and scream Cut NPR Funding. Hey Huckabee if you think this will make you a stronger canidate for the 2012 race better try harder.
Y'know, I've long noticed a left-leaning bias on NPR. I heartily agree with the Governor that my tax dollars should not be used to pay for a stealth member of the MSM.
It's also really cool that the Governor is taking a stand for an individual suffering injustice. Juan Williams has a right to be scared, and he has a right to say so.
Big surprise here. Two FOX News contributors rallying to defeat a publicly funded radio station. I guess the thinking of FOX and its many cronies is if you can knock out any centrist outlets for news, you can further polarize the country.
Let me get this straight, when Rick Sanchez says Jews control the media he gets fired and no one says anything. But when this guy says he is scared of muslims on the plane and he is fired then everyone cries wolf. Make up your mind people, can we talk nasty about other religions/cultures or not....you can't have it both ways.
Williams told Fox News host Bill O'Reilly on Monday that he gets "worried" and "nervous" on flights when he sees people wearing "Muslim garb." NPR terminated Williams' contract on Wednesday evening.....................................................................................So much for freedom of speech. Who listens to NPR anyway?
What kind of Christian values does this ex-governor preach? Williams comments are depicable and no wonder they both belong to fox. This Talibanic attitude will tear this country down.
While as a rule, I tend to disagree with Mr.Huckabee, I believe that NPR went too far in firing Mr. Williams. All points of view should be allowed to be heard, not just politically correct views.
I have listened to Juan Williams for years. Though I may diagree with him on issues, the last thing you could ever accuse this man of is being a racist. It is absolutely shameful that political correctness has overwhelmed common sense.
NPR is irrelevant. I hope Juan sues the hell out of them.
only 2 percent ? good then you shouldn't miss it
I have always respected Juan Williams.Although I rarely agree with him, I have always found his arguments to be well reasoned and fair.NPR is nothing but another Pravda trumpeting the pro-socialist Obama administration.Thank God the American people are rising up to send these big government,big spending,anti-capitalist,pro-Muslim,pro illegal aliens packing!
It is about time that the politically correct people of this country realize that the Muslim terrorists of the world do not like us and are at war with us.
Good for you Mike Huckabee! If it's only 2% of their budget, I'm sure they can live without it. Just like how I can live without NPR and their liberal/PC hypocrisy.
NPR should receive no tax dollars. I don't want my money going toward that propaganda. I don't want to pay to repair mosque either.
I have listened to NPR for years, but the firing of Juan Williams over this comment, tells me that this network neither supports the U.S. Constitution nor free speech. I will cease support of NPR in the future and urge others, including Congress, to do the same.
This guy needs to be LEFT in his pulpit!!! Way to much religion in government. NPR the pwerenial target of teabagging wing nutys. Leave it the heck alone!!! I dont threaten his Fox he can just let mine be if that is possible.
What is it with Republicans thinking the government pays for everything?
Seriously, NPR just ended it's bi-annual fund raising drive.
Somebody tell me that this guy
didn't just come to that realization !
NPR has been slanted far left for
over twenty years for Pete's sake.
Great revelation you gave us Huskster !
Tolerated intolerance. It's a wonder why the rest of the world hates America. I mean, we have nothing but positive views of other cultures and definitely do not single out ethnicities as violent and extreme. That would be something Iran or Israel would do. But not the US. Just like Fox propaganda channel, we are completely fair and balanced. (Sarcasm needs a font, maybe backwards italics)
There are literally thousands of media options today. The government has no business funding one particular outlet. Defund NPR.
There is no Constitutional mandate for public radio, public television, or any such activities. Were NPR only $100 per year, it would be a good thing to eliminate from the budget The firing of Juan Williams is not very surprising. What is surprising is that the taxpayers of the U.S. continue to tolerate paying for the occasionally subtle, usually blatant, bias of such programs as "Morning Sedition" and "All Things Confounded". Personally, I will miss programs such as "My Word" but I have no right to compel you to pay taxes to entertain me. Cut NPR totally, as soon as possible.
In other news, Mike Huckibee is trying to out-Palin other Republicans, as he tries to jockey for the 2012 Republican nomination.
Another GOP with no brain...
The Federal government only supplies 2% of NPR's funding. However, NPR licenses its programming to the hundreds of NPR affiliate stations across the United States. These stations receive federal funding. It's pork the congress delivers to them. The stations then send that money to NPR for the rights to broadcast Morning Edition or All Things Considered.
You cannot just focus on the funds sent to NPR. You have to focus on the funds sent to NPR affiliate stations.
The Juan Williams firing was a disgrace.
The media is dead…….
If NPR wishes not to employ a a journalist who has no problem negatively profiling a whole religion based on "clothing" that many people around the world wear. Effective fanning the flames of " muslim terrorist" propaganda of o'reilly they don't have to. His statements tarnished any inference of impartiality on his part when reporting on such matters for NPR therefore he was fired . End of story.
Defund NPR. Change it to Soros Socialist Radio.
It shouldn't be a surprise that NPR let Juan Williams go over his comments. As far as the left is concern, anything that remotely touches the "muslim" religion will be viewed negatively. If anything, Mr. Williams' comment is honest and reflects his own point of view, not the NPR. For them to terminate his contract because of his comment shows how far left the NPR has grown. Are we at a point where no one can express their view without being judged by the far left? I may not agree with Juan William on everything, but I consider him to be a very fair and honest man. I have watched him on Fox many times and he doesn't hesitate to disagree with Fox News' hosts on various topics.
Open your eyes America. Down the road that Obama, Pelosi, Reid, and Frank are trying to take us lie tyranny and enslavement under their socialist "utopia"
Of course, Huckabee would want NPR funding to be cut. What a surprise!
Let's also quit subsidizing churches with all of their tax exemptions. At least limit it to eliminate subsidies to mega-churches with large broadcasting budgets and corporate jets. That is business, even if it may have some religious value. Make them open their books if they want a free ride.
Take their "2 percent" – or whatever it actually is – from them...it's a bigoted outfit, and needs to be exposed as one!
As a conservative, I respect Williams because he is articulate and thoughtful...even if I disagree with his conclusions. The left eat their own.
NPR has always been a far left tilted organization. Since they also feel censorship is their right, all Federal funding should be pulled.
Huck's problem, like all those religious right wingers, is moderate, objective news organizations like NPR. There is no left or right with NPR and that is the worst possible scenario for a republican news outlet like FOX.
Its a shame when someone tells the truth they are fired.Most people feel that way about this issue and alot of otherissue but wont be honest because of public opinion.
I watch (ed) Juan every Sunday on the weekly news shows. I used to consider him too liberal for my personal taste, but he speaks with conviction, so I respect him.
Good on you, Juan, and onyou Mr. Huckabee. There is plenty of room in our system of morals that allow us to speak freely and not be subjected to forced silence.
FOX News just lost a very loyal viewer.
They should have had all public funding stopped years ago. Now this is just too much. NPR needs to admit publicly that they are an arm the left wing propaganda, and practice censorship.
Really? NPR is the last refuge of true News. Ofcourse he wants to cut funding because he works for FOX News yeah that is really a truthful Network. What a Jerk!!! This man wants to lead us back to Leave it to Beaver Times!! Yes Dear what ever you say! This isn't Mad Med it is the 21st fn Century. Unreal!!!
How are they any different from Faux? Huckabee never calls out anyone on that station....
For years I wondered why NPR was paid by the goverment(me). I hate it.
Better not to have a soul, than to sell it to the devil, Huck.
Got to see my first secretly funded Rove campaign commercial on our local news last night. Lies, with a healthy dose of fear ... didn't expect anything differently. No affiliation as to who is responsible for the content was shown. Kinda wished they would acknowledge who they are, because I am QUITE sure I really do want to know. At any rate, I won't be voting for any candidate who is being promoted this secretly.
I call on congress to increase NPR funding. Not because of J. Williams, but because they are simply the best. No other station even comes close.
As a frequent contributor/and SB underwriter to NPR and PBS, I'm done with them and am ready to join the defund NPR/PBS campaign. I'm tired of my political views being maligned/distorted by government funded media. I can do without Fresh Air and Masterpiece Theatre in order to prove my point.
Huckabee called Williams "refreshingly honest and candid," adding: "There isn't a more honest and fair-minded person in journalism."
Honest, candid and fair minded? Not one of the corporate stooges who appears on Fox news is honest, candid, and fair minded. This is coming from the same stripe of snake that claims the tea party is a "grass roots" movement and Sarah Palin is qualified to be President. These people are busy selling out "the little people" who they claim to be representing while lining their own pockets while "praising God" for their "blessings" in church on Sundays!
We The People need NPR. They give the side of the story that one does not get from other news sources.
Why would firing a bigot call for cutting federal funding? Why would a company want a spokesman to alienate and disparage innocent Americans? Is that not what NPR did? They fired a man who made an ignorant statement about some who possibly listen to their programming. Frankly, it would have been bad business to keep him on staff. What's the problem? We have free speech in this country, which means you're free to say something. It does not, however, mean you are free from the consequences your words bring. The right is walking a dangerous line. Statements and stances that were once taboo and ignorant are now accepted and encouraged by the right.
Hmm...a commentator for right-leaning Fox news is bashing NPR for being too left-leaning. Hypocritical much? I personally think NPR has the right to let an analyst go if he or she doesn't hold to their ethics. And yes what he said was wrong, talk about advocating racial profiling! Sheesh!
Juan Williams is one of the most honest commentators around. He expresses his views openly and doesn't just tout a party line. NPR should loose funding because they have now proven that they are nothing more than a mouthpiece for a singular point of view.
Another great excuse to cut the First Amendment by cutting off NPR. Huckabee apparently doesn't know the difference between cutting off NPR and cutting off NPR. Another Republican Reactionary is wrong again!
If the federal share is only 2% of NPR's budget, they won't miss it, will they?
spoken like a wingnut welfare case....how many millions does hucksterbee suck out of FOX...I am sure they will hire Juan as another racist scumbag within days.
Why wait for Congress – my local public radio is doing a pledge drive now. They will not be getting a check from me.
I would because George Soros is now funding them. They have no shame. Let them live off support from members who support their agenda, not those of us who don't!
If funding represents less than 2 percent, then by all means cut it. i voted R this cycle, but i cant stand huckabee and i actually like juan hahaha! Cut the funding, its chump change anyway, right?