NYT:
NPR has terminated its contract with Juan Williams, one of its senior news analysts, after he made comments about Muslims on the Fox News Channel…
The move came after Mr. Williams, who is also a Fox News political analyst, appeared on the “The O’Reilly Factor” on Monday. On the show, the host, Bill O’Reilly, asked him to respond to the notion that the United States was facing a “Muslim dilemma.” Mr. O’Reilly said, “The cold truth is that in the world today jihad, aided and abetted by some Muslim nations, is the biggest threat on the planet.”
Mr. Williams said he concurred with Mr. O’Reilly.
He continued: “I mean, look, Bill, I’m not a bigot. You know the kind of books I’ve written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous.”
So NPR would prefer for its employees not to have an instinct for self-preservation, or at least not to be so vulgar as to mention it to anybody.
Do you think NPR would’ve fired Williams if he’d said he gets worried and nervous in a crowd of teabaggers? Just kidding, the only question would be how big of a raise he’d get. Or how about if he straight-up lied about a former Republican congressman? Nah, he’d get off the hook after a mealy-mouthed semi-correction.
I don’t always agree with Williams, but he seems like a good guy. It was only a matter of time before NPR found an excuse to fire him for his real crime: being seen in public with conservatives. I hope he finds another gig where he’s better appreciated.
P.S. This was fine with NPR:
P.P.S. And here’s the video of the awful, offensive remarks:
First he laughed at O’Reilly’s joke, then he condemned political correctness. The Muslim thing was just the last straw, huh?
P.P.S. Commenter etpietro says: “Well, at least now Juan can attend the fake Jon Stewart rally if he wants to.”
P.P.P.S. The Washington Post‘s headline calls Williams’ remarks “anti-Muslim.” Gotta preserve the narrative!
P.P.P.P.S. Speaking of NPR, they report:
President Obama’s aides have reportedly decided that during a planned trip to India in early November, the president will skip visiting a famous Sikh religious site, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, because he’d have to wear a head covering resembling what Muslim men wear.
The New York Times reported that White House officials are loathe to have photos and videos of the president wearing such headgear because they would play into the “Obama is a Muslim” myth.
Sounds like they’re saying that Muslim garb, or even something that could be mistaken for Muslim garb, makes them nervous. Send that resume to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Juan.
P.P.P.P.P.S. His boss at NPR fired him over the phone. With her finger hovering over the Send button on the press release about it, no doubt. All the more reason that: Williams firing, Soros donation spark new calls to end NPR taxpayer subsidies.