Ron Schiller

Krauthammer Asks Totenberg: 'Why Does NPR Have to Live on the Tit of the State?'
By Noel Sheppard | March 12, 2011 | 10:55 AM EST

After the public shaming of NPR this week, Nina Totenberg was given the option of taking a day off from PBS's "Inside Washington" so that she wouldn't have to face the music concerning the so-called "news organization" she works for.

Demonstrating admirable spunk, Totenberg showed up to "defend the product" her radio station produces only to have Charles Krauthammer say in the midst of a lengthy discussion about the issue, "If the product is so superior, why does it have to live on the tit of the state?" (video of entire segment follows with transcript and commentary):

CBS Gives Zero Coverage to NPR Scandal
By Kyle Drennen | March 10, 2011 | 12:10 PM EST

Since an undercover sting video was released on Tuesday showing National Public Radio executive Ron Schiller calling conservatives "seriously racist people" – for which he resigned – CBS News has failed to utter a single word about the controversy on its broadcasts. That despite NPR President and CEO Vivian Schiller (no relation to Ron) also being forced out on Wednesday.

In contrast, ABC had a full story on Wednesday's Good Morning America and it led World News that night. On NBC Wednesday, Today only featured a news brief on the scandal, but a full story was featured on the Nightly News.

Jon Stewart Calls NPR Wussies - Or a Word Like That - For Not Fighting Back
By Noel Sheppard | March 10, 2011 | 9:56 AM EST

It certainly wasn't at all surprising that comedian Jon Stewart was displeased about NPR getting exposed by James O'Keefe as the liberal shills most Americans knew this supposed news organization was.

But during Wednesday's "Daily Show," the host used the occasion to slam Fox News while calling the disgraced radio network "p--sies" for not fighting back (video follows with partial transcript and commentary):

NBC's Andrea Mitchell Sticks Up for NPR: 'Nobody Is Suggesting That Their Journalism Has Been At All Biased'
By Geoffrey Dickens | March 9, 2011 | 3:55 PM EST

Andrea Mitchell joined Democratic Representative Steny Hoyer in sticking up for NPR as the NBC correspondent, on her MSNBC show, declared: "Nobody is suggesting that their journalism has been at all biased."

On Wednesday's Andrea Mitchell Reports she regretted that outgoing NPR executive Ron Schiller's controversial comments about its own funding and the Tea Party were going to make it harder for Hoyer and his ilk to keep funneling tax dollars its way. Mitchell whined: "We're talking about pennies on the budget, so this isn't really a cost-saving move, but now it's become so politically fired up" and then added, "Nobody is suggesting that their journalism has been at all biased."

(video, audio and transcript after the jump)

It's Time for Big Bird to Fly on His Own
By Rebekah Rast | March 9, 2011 | 12:24 PM EST

Worried that ending taxpayer funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) will result in Sesame Streets’ demise?

NPR’s former senior vice president for development was not. “Well frankly, it is very clear that we would be better off in the long run without federal funding,” said Ron Schiller. Yes, those words came out of the mouth of a senior vice president at NPR. In light of the current battle to end federal funding for NPR, Ron Schiller makes a compelling statement contrary to the views of his own employer.

What more do Congress and American taxpayers need to understand that funding this media outlet is unnecessary and, according to Schiller, potentially hurting its bottom line?

CBS Ignores, NBC Downplays Sting Tape of NPR Exec Slamming 'Racist' Tea Party
By Scott Whitlock | March 9, 2011 | 10:32 AM EST

Only ABC's Good Morning America on Wednesday highlighted claims by a NPR executive, caught in an undercover sting operation, that Tea Party members are "seriously racist" people. CBS's Early Show completely skipped the subject. NBC's Today allowed a brief mention during a news read.

GMA's Jake Tapper extensively highlighted quotes by the outgoing Ron Schiller: "The current Republican Party, particularly the Tea Party, is fanatically involved in people's personal lives and very fundamental Christian." In the tapes he can be seen adding, "They believe the term, white, middle-America, gun-toting – I mean, it's scary. They're seriously racist, racist people."

Tapper noted that shows such as Sesame Street and Frontline are award-winning. He explained, "Republicans say, then, fine. They should be just well and good without federal funding."

Juan Williams Calls Disgraced NPR Exec Racist, Bigoted, Sexist and Anti-Semitic
By Noel Sheppard | March 9, 2011 | 10:29 AM EST

In the wake of a stunning video revealing the truly deplorable opinions of one of its executives, NPR has accepted the resignation of President Vivian Schiller while putting Ron Schiller (no relation) on administrative leave.

Fox News's Juan Williams, who was disgracefully fired by the radio network last year for having the nerve to voice his opinion, lashed out at NPR Tuesday evening on the "Hannity" show (videos follow with transcript and commentary):

NPR Puts Exec Ron Schiller on 'Administrative Leave' Following Comments About Tea Party
By Lachlan Markay | March 8, 2011 | 6:17 PM EST

National Public Radio further distanced itself Tuesday afternoon from embattled outgoing executive Ron Schiller saying that he would be put on "administrative leave" following the release of a video in which he bashed Tea Party activists as "racist" and said that NPR would be "better off" without federal funding.

It was unclear from NPR's first statement, released early in the day, which of Schiller's many comments the radio network had disavowed. The second statement offered some clarification, specifically addressing the claims that the organization would fare better without federal dollars. But it did not highlight or specifically denounce any of Schiller's comments regarding the Tea Party movement, the Republican Party, or the American people generally - though it did broadly condemn his comments.

Schiller's impending departure for a post at the Aspen Institute makes the move to place him on "administrative leave" mostly symbolic.