NPR: National Propaganda Radio

This isn't the first time I have heard of a news reporting being biased, I have heard countless more and I especially hate it when it's a political agenda pushing it. We should hear both sides in every situation but it's common to see just one side....

As long as NPR is recieving even a penny of tax payer's money, they should be required to give both sides.

NPR provides the best journalism available to radio listeners, PERIOD. If their ethic includes liberal values that question unfair modes of justice, so be it. The problem with American conservatives is that they dumb themselves down with talk radio and FOX news rather than taking advantage of the kind of quality journalism like NPR that makes a concerted effort to get remain incisive and professional while being objective and open to diverse voices. Perhaps good journalism is an inherently liberal commodity. Look at Bill Moyers, for example. There is no TV journalism that beats PBS NOW, and few journalists of left or right persuasion are willing to give the upper hand to their opponents by allowing them the most fair platform to speak.

In this case, I can't see what having the family of the victims call for the death of this killer would do in the way of responsible journalism. This conflict is between the convicted man and the state that failed in subjecting him to the correct procedures of justice. The victims family have no role in this any more. The state is morally obliged to follow the proper course of justice for everyone. When it fails to do so and the life of a man is at stake, an error has been made, regardless of how terribly or wrongfully someone has acted.

You really capture the Liberal mythos quite well there Saint Ying.

You see, left-wingers aren't radical. They simply are more civilized. And it is up to them, as our betters, to educate the babaric slobs of the world (like me) how to be more civilized.

There is no need for NPR to provide equal time on many issues because some views don't deserve equal time. If there is a report on torturing small animals, does NPR need to bring on a pro-animal torturing person? Of course not.

In the same vein, NPR doesn't need to bring on people with incorrect ideas like those who might make capital punishment look okay.  Or those who believe abortion is murder (those freaks). Or those primitives who believe in some sort of magical super being they call "God" (or something like that).

NPR's report today focused on capital punishment and how everyone (well everyone who's civilized, not knuckle dragging conservatives mind you but they're too busy driving their pickup trucks listening to Rush Limbuagh to appreciate the civilized reporting of NPR anyway) is against it.  Sure, he may have brutally murdered innocent people while robbing them but that's really not the issue. This poor man, "a man who came to America penniless looking for a chance to make a better life for himself" (from the NPR segment) has had his legal rights infringed. And because of that, the barbaric act of capital punishment, which, like we said, no civilized person is in favor of in the first place, may actually happen to him.

It is NPR's job...nay..it's moral duty, to enlighted the ignorant sheep masses of America as to the correct line of thinking. And if those masses don't agree, it matters not because we'll make them pay for this message with their tax dollars because those of us who are enlightened must help guide our flock to the path of wisdom and civility.

Some day, god willing (and I mean that figuratively because, after all, as civilized liberals we don't believe in voodoo and magical imaginary friends), PBS will act as a template so that once we control all of the means of production and information distribution we can create a better world. A world where correct thinking is the norm.

Truly a paradise...

I agree with Saint Ying. It's best to shy away from any mention of the man's murderous background, as that would undermine his claim to innocence.

Saint Ying..heres a thought.... liberals are the intellectually superior (or at least they think) to conservatives....wouldnt they be better served have at least an ounce of personal responsibility instead of seeking to blame the behavior of a murderer because of his enviroment, upbringing, etc...last i checked if you did the crime...you do the time....as for fox news and Rush Limbaugh, well with regards to Rush, half his viewers/listeners are dems/libs...are they included into that whole dittohead bs wich is just code for dumb conservatives or do they get a pass...and as for Fox, is it the left is pissed at them for bitchslapping every other network out there in ratings or is it that they give news from a slight conservative point of view....to counter the overwhelming liberal view out there in both print and electronic media....but wait that would mean giving the general public balanced reporting from both sides....cant have that...as for liberal talk radio..lol the much hyped liberal Air America is already hurting as their audience dwindles by the day....but frankly if that network was designed for anything more than bolster the left slant for the presidential election I'd be shocked and we will see it disappear after that election anyway

You really capture the Liberal mythos quite well there Saint Ying. You see, left-wingers aren't radical. They simply are more civilized. And it is up to them, as our betters, to educate the babaric slobs of the world (like me) how to be more civilized. There is no need for NPR to provide equal time on many issues because some views don't deserve equal time. If there is a report on torturing small animals, does NPR need to bring on a pro-animal torturing person? Of course not. In the same vein, NPR doesn't need to bring on people with incorrect ideas like those who might make capital punishment look okay. Or those who believe abortion is murder (those freaks). Or those primitives who believe in some sort of magical super being they call "God" (or something like that). NPR's report today focused on capital punishment and how everyone (well everyone who's civilized, not knuckle dragging conservatives mind you but they're too busy driving their pickup trucks listening to Rush Limbuagh to appreciate the civilized reporting of NPR anyway) is against it. Sure, he may have brutally murdered innocent people while robbing them but that's really not the issue. This poor man, "a man who came to America penniless looking for a chance to make a better life for himself" (from the NPR segment) has had his legal rights infringed. And because of that, the barbaric act of capital punishment, which, like we said, no civilized person is in favor of in the first place, may actually happen to him. It is NPR's job...nay..it's moral duty, to enlighted the ignorant sheep masses of America as to the correct line of thinking. And if those masses don't agree, it matters not because we'll make them pay for this message with their tax dollars because those of us who are enlightened must help guide our flock to the path of wisdom and civility. Some day, god willing (and I mean that figuratively because, after all, as civilized liberals we don't believe in voodoo and magical imaginary friends), PBS will act as a template so that once we control all of the means of production and information distribution we can create a better world. A world where correct thinking is the norm. Truly a paradise...

I'm glad you're beginning to get our drift. As long as you continue to charicature liberals, that charicature is going to spit in your face and tell you that you are wrong. Honestly, you can't expect alot of Americans to know, or even appreciate, good journalism, journalism that is principled and incisive and mature. You can't expect them to take any sort of challenge to broaden their minds or think outside their social boxes when it comes to the media and entertainment they consume. This article is the perfect example of your incapacity to understand the abstract issue of justice, designed to give fair process to even the most sinister criminal. This goes beyond revenge, punishment, or 'off with his head'. It's about loving your enemy by being fair to him, by letting him know that justice is something bigger than hate, racism or revenge, something that is fully right in consuming him or taking his life or liberty. Justice is a secular god if ever there was one, and she behaves in a secular manner, obeying the system of laws and rules that have elevated her above the society. Think I'm making this up? Wrong, these are the beliefs that the people (people who conservatives hate with a passion) who created our great country held to be dear. Are we too caught up in our own wretched lives to give a shit? You are, but not me. That's why you need to be put in place and listen more than you talk. And you should start with the upper end of journalism, the BBC and CPB. Skip Fox News and CBS, NBC, ABC. Listening to news shouldn't be fun and entertaining. Commercial news never goes deep enough, and too often pleases its consumers by giving them their ideological kicks or sentimental drivel that makes them feel good.

But of course you conservatives are addicted to your ideological kicks aren't you? That's why you watch Fox News, which always leaves you with a feeling that history cares about you, that your values and illusions are affirmed by the great machine of journalism. Of course, everyone knows that its really not about politics, it's about the fact that NPR and PBS bore you silly and talk over your heads, and Fox News is your trusty colorful passifier, keeping you safely subdued in your dogmatic slumber while big media (yes, the same liberal media that you abhore) wraps the FCC around its little finger.

Should we tax people for NPR? Why not? The government is wasting enough money as it is on old fashioned social programs, bloated cold war defense contracts, and all sorts of corporate welfare. I sure as hell didn't ask my government to loosen its restrictions on media corporations so that they can get bigger and more powerful, did I? Nor did I ask my government to defy the constitution by spawning faith based initiatives and wasting my money on religious education. So if the good liberal secular humanist from Massachusettes wants to spend some of your tax money on secular humanist radio and television, I say why not?

I'm glad you're beginning to get our drift. As long as you continue to charicature liberals, that charicature is going to spit in your face and tell you that you are wrong. Honestly, you can't expect alot of Americans to know, or even appreciate, good journalism, journalism that is principled and incisive and mature.

Good journalism, of course, being journalism with views with which you agree, right?

You can't expect them to take any sort of challenge to broaden their minds or think outside their social boxes when it comes to the media and entertainment they consume. This article is the perfect example of your incapacity to understand the abstract issue of justice, designed to give fair process to even the most sinister criminal. This goes beyond revenge, punishment, or 'off with his head'. It's about loving your enemy by being fair to him, by letting him know that justice is something bigger than hate, racism or revenge, something that is fully right in consuming him or taking his life or liberty. Justice is a secular god if ever there was one, and she behaves in a secular manner, obeying the system of laws and rules that have elevated her above the society. Think I'm making this up? Wrong, these are the beliefs that the people (people who conservatives hate with a passion) who created our great country held to be dear. Are we too caught up in our own wretched lives to give a shit? You are, but not me. That's why you need to be put in place and listen more than you talk.

Maybe I missed something, but where does it say that he was treated unfairly?

Should we tax people for NPR? Why not? The government is wasting enough money as it is on old fashioned social programs, bloated cold war defense contracts, and all sorts of corporate welfare.

Two wrongs make a right?

I sure as hell didn't ask my government to loosen its restrictions on media corporations so that they can get bigger and more powerful, did I? Nor did I ask my government to defy the constitution by spawning faith based initiatives and wasting my money on religious education. So if the good liberal secular humanist from Massachusettes wants to spend some of your tax money on secular humanist radio and television, I say why not?

And here I thought liberal secular humanists were above petty things like revenge.

Two wrongs make a right?

Actually, I only counted one wrong. Unlike torturing Iraqi prisoners because them terrorists got us on ninelevun(!!), funding NPR isn't a wrong.

And here I thought liberal secular humanists were above petty things like revenge.

Again, it's not revenge. Its for the good of the people.

Maybe I missed something, but where does it say that he was treated unfairly?

I don't know. Draginol didn't bother to provide anymore information than that the 'arresting officer didn't follow the Viena convention about informing him that his national government could be contacted'. Draginol, why don't you tell us the complete story. If we're going to debate the specifics of the story, we should hear what both sides (the convicted man and the department of justice --- NOT the victim's family) have to say. I'm sure NPR provided you with the details of each side, so please give us all the points so that we can decide whether or not the convicted man was indeed treated justly.

Saint Ying, how does it feel being up where you are? It has to hurt going through life being so intelligent that you have no equal. You wax extremely well; you have a excellent ability to opine in a way that is wonderful, aber you also asume that all others are below you in their ability to think, and reason. Your opinion is one I do agree with in part, however, you do need to look at how victims feel after something as tragic as a loved one being murdered. There are two sides to every story; it helps to look at both sides in dept prior to espousing B.S. about how the murderer was a victim of society along with it wasn't really his/her fault they did what they did wrong.

Here's something to think about, "Victims or their loved ones suffer far more than the one who made them a victim."

Pam

Saint Ying,

You are a perfect example of the type of liberal who gives the rest of us liberals a really bad name, you come off as condescending and a prick. You played right into one of the ugliest of the liberal stereotypes and as such help to destroy the credibility of the left, all most of these people here have to do when looking to refute a liberal standpoint now is point to you and go "Well, they're all just like HIM". Come off your high horse for a moment and actually regard the opposition as living, breathing, intelligent human beings... you'll get a lot further and won't end up hurting the rest of us.

On the NPR issue, yes they're strongly liberal, there's no doubt in anyone's mind on that... the very nature of NPR (and PBS) dictates that it would have a very liberal agenda since it's a purely public service funded entirely by donations and tax money (mostly private donations in a majority of areas... even I chipped in around $100 this year). On occassion they swing way left with a story like this and act irresponsibly as journalists by only presenting one side of the story. But honestly, I feel they swing to the extreme left about as often as other groups swing to the extreme right in news reporting, no side has the complete picture and each station is trying to push it's own agenda in their reporting. NPR tends to go way too left when dealing with minority issues, Fox swings way too right on intl politics issues (saying the people of Spain had made a *mistake* in electing their new leader being the most recent example that immediately comes to mind) or CNN and it's immediate blame of Al Qaida for the WTC attacks almost immediately after they occured before ANY proof existed to connect the group to the event.

Each station has it's own slants and biases, NPR is obviously liberal, but for the most part (i.e. when not dealing with minority issues) they do alright in terms of news reporting. Most of their Iraq reporting has given equal time and consideration to the pro and con side of what's happening (once again, most but not all... they still have their stories that blast it to hell). Of course the only way to get anything close to an accurate picture of what's going on in the world around us is to watch all the stations and pick out the points they ALL agree on, because that's usually the truth of the matter and the rest is fluff influenced by opinion and bias.

Pity for the guilty is treason to the innocent. - Ayn Rand

VES

Saint Ying: Regarding the criminal's rights. The arresting officer (in Okalahoma) I think can be excused if he isn't up on the latest Viena treaty issues. For instance, how would the arresting officer have known that the man was an illegal alien?  The Viena treaty merely means he could consult with the Mexican consulate to try to get aid.  His guilt isn't in question in the case. It is just they want to use this as an excuse to get him off of death roll.

But the entire segment was designed to make the listener sympathetic to this murdering criminal. They interviewed his younger sister for crying out loud. What did that have to do with anything? I'll tell you, it's about trying to "humanize" the criminal so that people will realize that the death penalty is "wrong".

But in the process they dehumanize the victims as nameless faceless statistics. All we get of his crime is that he was involved in a double-homicide during an armed robbery.

My problem with the segment isn't that I'm pro-capital punishment. It's that NPR chose to blow off the other side completely.  I've seen this on NPR countless times (recently they had a "debate" on gays in the miliary and their two guests were retired army generals -- both who were gay and both supported gays in the military). They don't even make an attempt to be balanced. And this was on "All Things Consider". It should be renamed "All liberal things considered".

But Ying, by all means, please go on explaining to us knuckle draggers how the enlightened elite such as yourselves have a duty to bring the light of your wisdom to our darkened lives.  Correct thinking is rewarded I hope?

Also, how in the Hell does bringing his family onto the show do anything for responsible journalism? If anything, it seems as though they're trying to make it more emotional. If working to manipulate people's emotions is responsible journalism, then I guess sensationalism is a virtue in journalism.

Alas, Super, you are under the misunderstanding that NPR is a NEWS radio station, it's not, I don't know which show Draginol was listening to, since there is no mention of it, but just because it's on NPR doesn't mean it's News. Or even impartial. I think it would be as silly as insisting that Rush be impartial as to insist that this show be. Since most of NPR's funding comes from listeners, the easiest way to get rid of shows like that is to call up the station and complain. Oh, and of course, donate money, because otherwise your voice doesn't reallly count does it? The show, may, or may not receive tax dollars. Most of the federal tax money given to NPR goes to managing the national offices and the news shows. Other shows are sponsored by stations, which may, or may not receive state tax money, that depends on the state.

So, what's the bottom line here? Your donations paid for that show, believe it or not, that means YOU, and you alone can take action on these shows. As someone who donates to NPR I know that my station asks me when I give money which shows I like, and which I don't.

Cheers

Saint Ying: Regarding the criminal's rights. The arresting officer (in Okalahoma) I think can be excused if he isn't up on the latest Viena treaty issues. For instance, how would the arresting officer have known that the man was an illegal alien? The Viena treaty merely means he could consult with the Mexican consulate to try to get aid. His guilt isn't in question in the case. It is just they want to use this as an excuse to get him off of death roll. But the entire segment was designed to make the listener sympathetic to this murdering criminal. They interviewed his younger sister for crying out loud. What did that have to do with anything? I'll tell you, it's about trying to "humanize" the criminal so that people will realize that the death penalty is "wrong". But in the process they dehumanize the victims as nameless faceless statistics. All we get of his crime is that he was involved in a double-homicide during an armed robbery. My problem with the segment isn't that I'm pro-capital punishment. It's that NPR chose to blow off the other side completely. I've seen this on NPR countless times (recently they had a "debate" on gays in the miliary and their two guests were retired army generals -- both who were gay and both supported gays in the military). They don't even make an attempt to be balanced. And this was on "All Things Consider". It should be renamed "All liberal things considered". But Ying, by all means, please go on explaining to us knuckle draggers how the enlightened elite such as yourselves have a duty to bring the light of your wisdom to our darkened lives. Correct thinking is rewarded I hope?

Draginol, I asked you to give me a better summary than that. If you are incapable of describing how NPR laid out the story and presented the conflict, please point me to a transcript. There is no point in debating the merits of any piece of journalism unless everything has been laid out. I suspect that you do not wish to provide the transcript because you know that it will prove my point that it presented both sides of the story. Apparently, all you are capable of doing is rehashing your interpretation of the events.

I'll add that NPR is rarely as emotionally manipulative as other stations and networks. It never 'bashes' or resorts to branding or labeling of people to diminish their cause, which is of course a vital weapon of the pea-brained conservative mind. It never waves the flag or preaches religiously. It tells it like it is, the universe in all its secular glory. This is very noble, although perhaps it should do more. Perhaps it should be more like me, and let the populist fools know that they are not welcome in the kingdom of liberal bliss, that their opinions will be ruthlessly torn to shreds in the manner of Sean Hannity or Michael Savage. These are very dangerous times, and all that is good and American is being destroyed by the clueless populist conservatives and their evangelical brethren.

Pity for the guilty is treason to the innocent. - Ayn Rand

You think I have pity for this man? Not exactly, but I realize that he and all other murderers must be given just proceedings, and must realize that justice is something that is bigger and more important than a courtroom's retaliation for his crimes. If he is to die, this is especially important. Justice is the toughest form of love, and the machine that stops all hate and injustice dead in its tracks. I am not saying that justice was nor served in this case, because Draginol has not provided me with an accurate summary, but I do think it is something to consider.

I can understand how my attitude might alienate my brethren from the left, but the dimwitted conservative majority must be exposed to its own medicine, so that liberalism can reach its zenith before the coming environmental appocalypse and the arrival of the feminist moon gods to slay all white American heterosexual christian conservative males (and their thick and ugly wives) and milk them of their vital essence for the future of the lesbian utopia of Mother earth. No more whales or songbirds may die so that a conservative satanic numbskull may live to inflict another faith based Bushist disaster upon this country.

That's right, unless you want to be castrated by Kerry's fascist Hillary Brigade and made to bow before his majesty Saddam Hussein of America, you had better give your life to the service of Bush. He'll sell your soul to his corporate employers, he'll keep you safely in the balmy airs of his moral zeppelin, but he'll never threaten your sexual identity and your right to think and act like a muddy animal in some cosmic slaughterhouse. Viva la Bush for the poor and defenseless white Christian.

Good spot Draginol, NPR and other extreme idealogue shows (Limbaugh I am looking at you sometimes) are rife with this sort of business and only when subjected to the harshest of criticism do they *ever* change anything about their coverage.

Apparently Saint Ying is incapable of carrying on a mature discourse so bye bye to him.

Anyway, to Jeb who puts together his usual intelligent thesis, the show was "The World" (the 7pm EST show). It was not designed to be news but the bias was still incredibly extreme.

I'd challenge anyone to find something on say FoxNews that is as imbalanced as that is. I'm not talking a segment of one of the news analysis shows (otherwise we could get into a Diane Rheim vs. Hannity and Colmes type deal). The 7PM Fox show (forgot the name of it) is FoxNews's equivalent of NPR's "The World". I can't think of any news magazine being as one-sided as that.

If Dateline NBC were doing this story, for instance, they would have certainly included something more about the victims of this guy.

You think I have pity for this man?

I relayed a concept. It was not directed at anyone in particular. But if the shoe fits....

VES

Draginol, we don't get the world in my neck of the woods so I can't say how ideologue it is, but and I can say this having lived in some pretty conservative parts of the world, there are NPR programs which are rather conservative in their viewpoint. Since each station picks it's content it seems as if your station doesn't pick those programs. It seems as if the people in your region want to listen to that show, you can request some of the more conservative shows next time you reup your membership. I've forgotten their names since I haven't listened to them in years, but most of them are put out by the Minnesota Public Broadcasting "Consortium"

Cheers