This time, it's for real: Save NPR and PBS

[liberal N proud]

You know that email petition that keeps circulating about how Congress is slashing funding for NPR and PBS? Well, now it's actually true. (Really. Check the footnotes if you don't believe me.)

Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS:

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

A House panel has voted to eliminate all funding for NPR and PBS, starting with "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow," and other commercial-free children's shows. If approved, this would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting, threatening to pull the plug on Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch.

The cuts would slash 25% of the federal funding this year—$100 million—and end funding altogether within two years. The loss could kill beloved children's shows like "Clifford the Big Red Dog," "Arthur," and "Postcards from Buster." Rural stations and those serving low-income communities might not survive. Other stations would have to increase corporate sponsorships.

If we can reach 250,000 signatures by the end of the week, we'll put Congress on notice.

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

Thanks!

P.S. Read the Washington Post report on the threat to NPR and PBS at:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=745

[Roland99]

1. Signed and recommending! And, here's what I sent:

This is what happens when closed-minded, radical Christian extremists like Tomlinson take over the CPB. It's worked for DECADES, why change it now? Oh, I know, because anything on a "liberal" network is bad press for this propagandizing administration.

Well, screw GW and the oil rig he rode in on!

Keep NPR and PBS as is!

[Roland99]

2. 300,000 signatures reached! Going for 400,000 now!!

[Roland99]

3. SIGN UP, DUers!!!

[Roland99]

4. They broke 400,000!!! "Our new goal is 500,000 signers."

[dragonkeep]

5. I am so glad it's getting this response.

[Roland99]

6. Kick

[sendero]

7. Ok...

.... somebody has to say it.

It is my understanding that the Federal contribution to CPB is 15% of their budget. For that 15%, they've already intimidated PBS into running all kinds of dreck.

As for NPR, I don't know how much of their funding comes from the Federal gevernment, but I do know that sometime around 2001 they rolled over and became horrible - cheerleading for the Iraq "war" endlessly, running commentaries from the Heritage Foundation, The American Enterprise Institute, the National Review and CATO on almost a daily basis (this has since subsided no doubt due to member outcry).

At this point, would't it be better for public broadcasting fulfill its real mandate, to provide at least ONE liberal broadcasting network for this country? It is never going to happen while the Fed has them by the (sensitive parts).

Let congress cut their funding. They will survive. If they go back to what they used to be, I'll start donating again like I did for 17 years.

[gordontron]

8. 15% but..

its 35% for local NPR broadcast stations. (at least thats what I heard on NPR :) )

[sendero]

9. Perhaps that explains..

.... why the radio (NPR) has taken such a drastic downturn compared to PBS TV.

In any event, if the government continues to fund CPB, the resulting programming is not going to be worth supporting IMHO. I will give the PBS side credit for resisting somewhat, NPR just folded like a paper napkin and I'm pretty unhappy about it.

[Roland99]

10. Lobbyists' Role for Public TV Is Investigated

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/16/politics/16broadcast.html?ei=5088&en=7599445b7cbacf27&ex=1276574400&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

Investigators at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting are examining $15,000 in payments to two Republican lobbyists last year that were not disclosed to the corporation's board, people involved in the inquiry said on Wednesday.

One of the lobbyists was retained at the direction of the corporation's Republican chairman, Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, they said, and the other at the suggestion of his Republican predecessor, who remains on the board.

The investigators, in the corporation's inspector general's office, are also examining $14,170 in payments made under contracts - which Mr. Tomlinson took the unusual step of signing personally, also without the knowledge of board members - with a man in Indiana who provided him with reports about the political leanings of guests on the "Now" program when its host was Bill Moyers.

While the amounts of the contracts are relatively small, the issues they pose are part of a broader examination by the inspector general of Mr. Tomlinson's efforts to bring what he says is more political balance to public television and radio and what critics say is political interference in programming.

They've already begun subverting PBS!

THEY MUST BE STOPPED!