Attempts to defund NPR with video sting smells like attempt on Planned Parenthood
What does National Public Radio have in common with Planned Parenthood? They’re both national organizations, both often despised by the right wing, both receive federal funding and both have been singled out by House Republicans as organizations that should be stripped of federal funding.
And now they have one more link: They are victims of sting videos created to discredit the organizations.
Activist James O’Keefe, responsible for defaming ACORN, recently released an undercover video showing former NPR executive Ron Schiller lunching with men posing as representatives of a fake Muslim group claiming affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood and offering to give $5 million to the network. Schiller was caught on tape making inflammatory statements, among them that the tea party supporters are fanatic and xenophobic and that liberals are more intelligent and informed than conservatives.
The story, broken by The Daily Caller on Tuesday, fueled anti-NPR sentiment, particularly from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor:
“„“As we continue to identify ways to cut spending and save valuable resources, this disturbing video makes clear that taxpayer dollars should no longer be appropriated to NPR. Not only have top public broadcasting executives finally admitted that they do not need taxpayer dollars to survive, it is also clear that without federal funds, public broadcasting stations self-admittedly would become eligible for more private dollars on top of the multi-million dollar donations these organizations already receive.
“„“At a time when our government borrows 40 cents of every dollar that it spends, we must find ways to cut spending and live within our means. This video clearly highlights the fact that public broadcasting doesn’t need taxpayer funding to thrive, and I hope that admission will lead to a bipartisan consensus to end these unnecessary federal subsidies.”
According to CBSNews, NPR said it refused the offer from the phony group and that Schiller left NPR last week for another job; though, NPR officials told CBS the decision was unrelated to O’Keefe’s video.
“NPR Muslim Brotherhood Investigation Part 1″ video:
