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The Spectacle Blog
Earlier today, I noted Sen. Jim DeMint’s announcement that he plans to introduce legislation to defund both NPR and PBS. While I agree that they should both be defunded, as several commenters remarked, politically speaking, it would probably be easier to pass a standalone bill to defund NPR.
The problem with targeting PBS is that it’s easy for liberals to portray Republicans as bad guys who want to kill Big Bird and Elmo — which people have warm associations with. I can’t imagine that targeting NPR would create as many PR problems for Republicans. Especially given that NPR only depends on government funding for a small percentage of its budget.
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More Blog Posts by Philip Klein
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ncatty| 10.22.10 @ 3:47PM
Although the Corporation for Public Broadcasting only receives a small portion of its budget from the US government, don't many of the programs, such as "The Diane Rehm Show" receive separate government funding?
iam7545| 10.24.10 @ 8:05AM
The US taxpayers gave the CPB $465,000,000 in 2010
Go to their website
Mad Hatter| 10.22.10 @ 3:58PM
I don't know if it is just fickle me,
Paying for propaganda does prickle me.
If old FETCH was Ruffed,
And Big Bird was stuffed,
And Elmo killed off? It would Tickle Me!
CalMark| 10.22.10 @ 4:21PM
Oh, THAT again. We don't want to hurt anyone's feelings by making touch choices! Surrender before fighting--we might lose!
That strategy sure worked well for us in the past--triumphs galore for conservatism!
Yep, let's keep pouring cold water on bold, substantive (in my book, $400 million per year in taxpayer money is substantive) moves because the Left might not like it.
NotALibertarian| 10.22.10 @ 4:30PM
I don't know that Sesame Street is the Holy Grail it used to be. The show has been more controversial lately -- Katy Perry, for one -- and it's an opportunity to publicize two points:
First, that Sesame Street makes zillions in its marketing of toys and other show-themed products. Gordon may LOOK like a regular, dress-down, inner-city guy, but he is one rich commie. A show that is as popular as its supporters believe it is should easily thrive without government support.
Second, it's a good time to highlight the fact that the much-romanticized show is NPR-esque in that it has, for many years, been government-supported soft-propaganda for environmentalism and social justice for kids.
As an adult conservative who grew up watching and loving Sesame Street, I would love to see PBS and even Sesame Street taken down a peg. If there ever was a political climate in which to do it, this is it.
CalMark| 10.22.10 @ 4:51PM
Bravo! Truer words never spoken!
I remember the notorious eugenics ("killing off plants in the window box because there's too many") episode. My mother saw that and freaked...and I couldn't understand Mom getting upset by such wisdom. As I'm no longer 5 years old, I say let that kind of "wisdom" (AKA garbage) pay its own way!
As for the marketing...so right! In any American house with kids, there's an almost 100% chance of finding at least one item--a doll, a book, a coffee mug even--adorned by a Sesame Street muppet. And everyone knows CTW gives those away for next to nothing...oh, wait--I mean, top dollar.
hmrhonda| 10.24.10 @ 10:05AM
I agree with you. And NPR has been saying that public funding maked up only a fraction of their financing, implying they won't miss it. Good. Then they certainly don't need it. And for those who defend public funding because it goes to the small local stations, I say soon NPR will feel the "trickly up pain". Cut them loose.
And yes, Sesame Street has become extremely politically commie correct.
Texas Mom 2012| 10.22.10 @ 4:49PM
Defund all public broadcasting. It is no longer needed as there are tons of choices available in the free market.
Any good programming, i.e. Sesame Street, will picked up by a commercial enterprise such as Disney or Nickelodeon. Bad programming will go the way of the dinosaurs... Simple.
Redstateboy| 10.22.10 @ 4:57PM
The problem with targeting PBS is that it's easy for liberals to portray Republicans as bad guys who want to kill Big Bird and Elmo
Gee-Zus-Christ!! This isn't a joke anymore... this Country's teetering on the edge of Bankruptcy and PBS is asking over 400 million dollars for their budget year!! There are 57 alternative channels to pick from... what makes PBS so all fired different and significant that they deserve 400 million dollars of taxpayer money?
George S| 10.22.10 @ 5:20PM
A good way to handle tax dollars going to the arts and public broadcasting is to put an optional check box in the 1040. Support PBS ? Check here and fill in the amount to pay or withhold from refund...
This way your congressman can explain to your kid that the neighbors killed Big Bird.
Tez| 10.23.10 @ 5:57AM
I agree, PBS and NPR could be supported by providing an optional checkbox on your tax return.
I suggest we also make the Department of Education, Department of Commerce, and a host of other functions no listed in the Constitution as "optional".
Then the lovely democrats could fund their pet programs with their own personal money, instead of picking the pockets of other taxpayers who don't want these programs in the first place.
Obamacare funding should be a separate checkbox. It should read like this...:"Please indicate how many dollars (no cents, rounded to the nearest dollar) you'd like to support someone else's health care"
William Grubb| 10.22.10 @ 5:50PM
The Left has run this scam for so long that they actually have convinced many people that NPR is not dependent on government funding. The Public Radio network on which NPR broadcasts liberal dogma would not exist were it not for huge government subsidies. Without the Public Radio network the Liberals at NPR would have only themselves as an audience- a dead mike so to speak. Thus they are dependent on the taxpayer to stay on the air.
Yet their ads insist they are "publicly funded", which is a lie.
If liberals want another propaganda platform, let them pay for it. Defund the Public Radio network as it obnoxiously exists today, and it will hopefully reform or die and take its self-righteous hand out of the taxpayer's pocket.
John| 10.22.10 @ 6:34PM
Defund NPR. Unless we can see a complete, totally inclusive financial statement, we have no way of knowing if NPR relies on 2% or 16% for its survival. (Both percentages and some in between have been published in various recent articles) Regardless, NPR should lose its "not-for-profit" status and ALL public/taxpayer support. Conveniently ignored; NPR "income" should also include the monetary value of using State run University Broadcasting facilities to air it's programs. State Universities are paid for or subsidized by taxpayers. I say let the free market decide if NPR should survive. End the NonProfit status, make them pay taxes like every other broadcasting entity and make NPR the "poster child" of cutting out the government waste. This could be the moment that future generations see as the first shot fired in the revolution to take back our government. Stop the wasteful spending!
Paul A'Barge | 10.22.10 @ 7:58PM
Screw Big Bird. Screw Elmo. Defund PBS, NPR and CPB. Flush all the toilets. Now!
Larry| 10.23.10 @ 1:25AM
I agree with Texas Mom 2012. Both NPR and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (which primarily sponsors PBS) have outlived their useful lives, in a television and radio market that has a wide range of choices and opportunities. They don't need public money in support; let them do their thing in the marketplace. Big Bird can survive in the free market if he's a smart bird.
tez| 10.23.10 @ 6:07AM
NPR and PBS can simply exist as free standing non-profits.
Even as non-profits they are benefitting by paying zero income or property tax - thus being implicitly backed by tax-payers.
Can you imagine if NPR and PBS were not allowed to be non-profits? A case could be made for it because they are not serving the public at large (but rather a propaganda arm for the left).
Then they'd have to pay taxes, property taxes, and we'd actually find out who "owns" NPR and makes the decisions.
tez| 10.23.10 @ 6:03AM
In my state NPR has been going into overtime promoting the re-election of Democrats.
When they give "equal time" to Republican (or Teaparty) candidates, you can usually detect the underlying sneer of the NPR host interviewing.
The interview has this underlying tone "well I guess we have to interview this Republic scumbag candidate because of equal time provision...oh well".
I remember hearing an NPR caller casually state "NPR being a supporter of the leftist agenda" while referring to an issue, the NPR host replied as if genuinely surprised "...really?".
I doubt a Republican leaning person could get a job pushing a broom at NPR much less host a call in show anywhere remotely strong as Hannity (it would turn off the leftist supporters of the station).
So yes, it's time to sever the tax-payer paid for Democratic media organs NPR and PBS.
smokedaddy| 10.23.10 @ 9:54PM
et tu Phillip?
Neanderthal| 10.24.10 @ 11:36AM
Absolutely we should defund NPR, CPB and PBS. If the Dems (and limp-wristed Repubs) won't go along with it, DeMint should offer a second amendment, which would reuire half of the $400M govt. subsidy for those entities to be given to FOX News. That would put the libs panties in a twist!
George| 10.25.10 @ 12:12AM
What happened to the idea that we may disagree with what people say, but defend their right to say it? Without this, there can be no civilized discourse. But even after the Williams firing became controversial, NPR's senior management announced that they supported the decision, and disagreed only with the manner of its implementation. That means that NPR's current management fails to understand its proper role as a medium for the free exchange of ideas, which is not a problem with public radio, per se, but with NPR's current management, who should therefore be replaced.
mrbill| 10.25.10 @ 2:43AM
What we need to do is force PBS to sell Sesame Street to a commercial entity. Sesame street generates a Billion dollars for them. Cut that money off. Let Soros fund them since they are already an arm of the Left.