With all the sexual harassment accusations flying around – from Hollywood to Washington – you may have missed one.
It seems one of America's aberrant state-controlled and state-sponsored media enterprises is also facing a similar crisis – none other than National Public Radio.
NPR's board of directors met this week to deal with the mess.
So what happened?
- NPR Board Chairman Roger LaMay announced he was high-tailing it out of town – quitting at the end of his second one-year term. But he's not leaving the gravy train of taxpayer-funded radio. He's just spending more time at NPR affiliate WXPN in Philadelphia. He is, however, the subject of a complaint filed alleging inappropriate behavior.
- Earlier this month, Michael Oreskes, NPR's senior vice president of news and editorial director, was forced to resign after accusations surfaced that he had previously sexually harassed women. Two women who said they had been seeking jobs at the New York Times when he was Washington bureau chief there nearly two decades ago accused him of forcibly kissing them. Multiple younger female journalists at NPR said he left them deeply uncomfortable by embarking on intimate conversations over extended dinners or by engaging them repeatedly in exchanges via unsolicited private messages. Oreskes offered a general apology on the day he resigned: "I am deeply sorry to the people I hurt. My behavior was wrong and inexcusable, and I accept full responsibility."
- NPR placed David Sweeney, recently promoted to the position of chief news editor, on paid administrative leave as recent allegations about his conduct are reviewed. Sweeney is among the network's top five news executives. The network has declined specific comment but says it takes allegations seriously and takes the responsibility of reviewing them seriously as well. Three female journalists – two of whom are still NPR employees – confirmed that they had filed complaints against Sweeney.
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Keep in mind, NPR is limousine liberal central – a government-financed, government-controlled, politically correct propaganda front. You will never hear a report on NPR suggesting government is too big. You will never hear a report on NPR that the Constitution limits the power and reach of government. What you will hear daily at NPR, if you are willing to listen, is that if there's something government isn't doing yet, it's time for Washington to get on the ball.
I know. I know. Many people like the soothing, calm tones of NPR. They like the erudite chit-chat. Fine! Let those people support it the way other enterprises are supported in America – through advertising or donations. But, please, not with my money.
So, I have a simple cost-cutting measure for the Trump administration and Republican Congress to seize: How about pulling the plug on NPR?
If it's so popular, privatize it! Why are taxpayers forced to pay for it?
It's simply un-American for the government to be in the media business. This is not the Soviet Union. It's not China. Is there any shortage of news and information in this day and age? Why would the government need to be involved? The central role of a free press in a free society is to be a watchdog on government, not a gilded handmaiden of government.
While it may have been fruitless to even suggest dumping NPR and PBS during the Obama administration or the Bush administrations or the Clinton administration, it shouldn't be in the era of Trump.
It's not only a waste of tax dollars, it's an inappropriate use of them.
There are plenty of privately held media companies puffing government already. Why do we need a state-sponsored enterprises doing the same thing?