Juan Williams fired from NPR

Bryan · 10-25-2010, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ridley's Own

Since when does the 1st amendment protect your employment from punitive action in private employment?

i agree, but I think an attorney in a civil suit could make an argument about NPR being a public institution since it receives public funds.

JerryLove · 10-25-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan

i agree, but I think an attorney in a civil suit could make an argument about NPR being a public institution since it receives public funds.

I don't see any reason to believe that the first ammendment protects a public service job either. Certainly the President can fire a (for example) Press Secretary who spends his off-time publicly criticizing the administration.

The first ammendment guarentees that the government cannot silence or arrest him. Neither of these has occurred.

Bryan · 10-26-2010, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryLove

I don't see any reason to believe that the first ammendment protects a public service job either. Certainly the President can fire a (for example) Press Secretary who spends his off-time publicly criticizing the administration.

The first ammendment guarentees that the government cannot silence or arrest him. Neither of these has occurred.

fwiw, I agree. just playing devils advocate here

But NPR receives public funds, so it is an extension of the federal government, and by "firing" him they are in some way, "silencing" him

**Ridley's Own** · 10-26-2010, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan

fwiw, I agree. just playing devils advocate here

But NPR receives public funds, so it is an extension of the federal government, and by "firing" him they are in some way, "silencing" him

New contract with Fox =/= silencing in any way shape or form.

Bryan · 10-26-2010, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ridley's Own

New contract with Fox =/= silencing in any way shape or form.

haha so true

JerryLove · 10-26-2010, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan

fwiw, I agree. just playing devils advocate here

But NPR receives public funds, so it is an extension of the federal government, and by "firing" him they are in some way, "silencing" him

Do you feel the same about churhes and religious organizations which receive funds? Are they then part of the government and do they then loose he right to choose whom they employ?

ethan_hanus · 10-26-2010, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryLove

Do you feel the same about churhes and religious organizations which receive funds? Are they then part of the government and do they then loose he right to choose whom they employ?

Yes, it's like with the early 20's gangsters, you take money from them, then you are in debt to them, so you have to do what they say or you'll be swimming with the fishes. If you take, not borrow, take money from the government, then they can and will come back and say, "well, your the one who took the money, so your going to do what we tell you. Oh I'm sorry, was it not made clear to you when you took the money, too bad, you still have to do what we tell you, or we'll make your life miserable."

Plus, it's not the governments money, it's our money, the tax payers, why should we be funding a bias public organization like NPR. That's almost like propaganda used in WWII, both by the US and Nazi Germany.

Bryan · 10-26-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryLove

Do you feel the same about churhes and religious organizations which receive funds? Are they then part of the government and do they then loose he right to choose whom they employ?

one could make that argument. one might also make the argument that since they don't pay taxes they are indirectly getting funds from the government and lose that right.

I disagree, and I don't think that getting money from the gov't automatically requires you to hire someone who's religion disagrees with their own or disallows you to fire someone because of something they said on the radio that you disagree with.

Bryan · 10-26-2010, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethan_hanus

Yes, it's like with the early 20's gangsters, you take money from them, then you are in debt to them, so you have to do what they say or you'll be swimming with the fishes. If you take, not borrow, take money from the government, then they can and will come back and say, "well, your the one who took the money, so your going to do what we tell you. Oh I'm sorry, was it not made clear to you when you took the money, too bad, you still have to do what we tell you, or we'll make your life miserable."

Plus, it's not the governments money, it's our money, the tax payers, why should we be funding a bias public organization like NPR. That's almost like propaganda used in WWII, both by the US and Nazi Germany.

NPR is as fair and balanced as FOX is.

**Ridley's Own** · 10-26-2010, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethan_hanus

Yes, it's like with the early 20's gangsters, you take money from them, then you are in debt to them, so you have to do what they say or you'll be swimming with the fishes. If you take, not borrow, take money from the government, then they can and will come back and say, "well, your the one who took the money, so your going to do what we tell you. Oh I'm sorry, was it not made clear to you when you took the money, too bad, you still have to do what we tell you, or we'll make your life miserable."

Whose face is on the printed bills, Ethan? Or the struck coins?

JerryLove · 10-26-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan

one could make that argument. one might also make the argument that since they don't pay taxes they are indirectly getting funds from the government and lose that right.

I'm not sure of the current state: but there's also the funding, particularly under Bush, of religious groups (such as the abstinance only groups).

Quote:

I disagree, and I don't think that getting money from the gov't automatically requires you to hire someone who's religion disagrees with their own or disallows you to fire someone because of something they said on the radio that you disagree with.

I agree with you there.

Quote:

NPR is as fair and balanced as FOX is.

Having experienced both, I don't find the two at all comparable. When Michael Moore gets a multi-hour show on NPR, then we can talk about parity with FOX.

JerryLove · 10-26-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethan_hanus

Yes, it's like with the early 20's gangsters, you take money from them, then you are in debt to them, so you have to do what they say or you'll be swimming with the fishes. If you take, not borrow, take money from the government, then they can and will come back and say, "well, your the one who took the money, so your going to do what we tell you. Oh I'm sorry, was it not made clear to you when you took the money, too bad, you still have to do what we tell you, or we'll make your life miserable."

So you believe that the government has told NPR that they cannot fire Juan Williams?

Quote:

Plus, it's not the governments money, it's our money, the tax payers, why should we be funding a bias public organization like NPR. That's almost like propaganda used in WWII, both by the US and Nazi Germany.

So you oppose Radio Free America and the other US-government media used in WWII?