Head of public TV to step down after 'gay' cartoon row

[emad]

Times
From James Bone in New York



THE head of American public television, known for its British drama and documentaries, is to step down amid attacks from conservative critics.

Pat Mitchell, 62, said that she would not seek a third three-year term next year as head of the non-profit Public Broadcasting System (PBS), which is funded, in part, by the US taxpayer.

But she insisted that she had not fallen victim to America’s raging “culture wars”.

The PBS chief came under fire recently from religious conservatives for a children’s show called Postcards From Buster in which a cartoon bunny drops in on ordinary homes around the country. In a controversial episode, Buster travelled to Vermont, which permits same-sex civil unions, to visit a real-life lesbian couple. Margaret Spellings, the newly appointed Education Secretary, complained about the programme’s use of taxpayer money and said that many parents would not want their children exposed to gay lifestyles. The PBS network then provoked the wrath of liberals by refusing to distribute the episode to its 349 member stations — although the Boston station that produced the series made it available.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-1489268,00.html

[MNAZ]

1. I may get bashed for this but...

why do we have a publiclly funded TV station?

[Demit]

2. Why do you think we shouldn't?

[MNAZ]

5. Well, I don't feel it's the goverments

job to entertain us.

[mrgorth]

3. Because if we didn't

all people would ever see is shit like Trading Spouses.

[newyawker99]

4. Hi MNAZ!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[arwalden]

6. What Is Wrong With These People? --- Seriously!

>> The PBS chief came under fire recently from religious conservatives... <<

Who the FUCK do they think they are? What do they think makes them so special? These people are beneath contempt... every single one of them.