Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Larry Koler ·
April 10, 2012 at 1:28pm
I want to put this as plainly and clearly as possible:
- NPR and PBS are politically far to the left of the country that funds them.
- They take money that comes from the government.
- They should morally and ethically strive with unswerving diligence to provide political content that is consistent with the country as a whole.
- Morally and ethically they should not side against any major political faction. They should recuse themselves if there is any doubt on this.
- NPR and PBS are morally and ethically in breach of trust with this country. They have allied themselves with only the most left-wing part of the Democratic Party. They have done this throughout their entire history.
- They have allied themselves with our enemies -- both within the country and outside. They have done this throughout their entire history.
- Rob Long gives them the patina of respectability by lending his conservative bona-fides to them. This gives a false impression that they capitalize on when defending themselves against bias. Even if he never talked about political topics, Rob should have nothing to do with these people because they have proven to have failed in their mission as laid out at their birth.
I'm sure you all agree but, if not, then please do opine.
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Comments:
Jun '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
JM, it's quite simple. NPR and PBS are very easy items to debate here. There is high contrast in this. These type of arguments need to be made in a clear case to illustrate the principle involved.
So, first, I am saying that these entities are immoral and unethical. I just don't see that this is in dispute. If you do, then we have nothing more to talk about except that you will then see my post as simply an attack. Can't help you there because we don't share the premise for the argument.
So, we are at an impasse here if I understand your position.
Regarding Rob, it's important to see the connection between his involvement and the left's use of it. He (above) denies this. I assert it.
To be involved with this organization is not to be identical with them nor does all the blame shift onto you. But, there is complicity here.
I think all the people who know of the left's takeover and misuse of these publicly funded organizations should stop giving them cover. These entities should be under full investigation and closed down.
Jun '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Yeah, watch out fer that Rob Long feller. Why last time I saw him he had a beard. Looked like a damn beatnik or something. Never can trust them Hollywood types. And here he is in league with them lily-livered, lying, no account liberal radio folks. Why I'm so upset, I missed the spittoon.
Mar '11
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Larry: For the sake of argument (without endorsement of any particular premise, and whilst acknowledging everything Rob and Yeti have said about the differences between NPR/KCRW and political/non political topics), I'm going to stipulate all of the premises that you've laid down in #41 and all of the original premises in your main post.
Question: If we remove all government funding from NPR and it becomes an entirely private entity (under whatever name) but maintains its left of center slant, is it then your position that, if Rob Long appears on that station, regardless of whatever content he presents there (whether political or not) that this would constitute, in your judgment, a "breach of trust" and a "siding with the enemy".
That is, somewhat restated, is it your opinion that a conservative should never appear on any station, in any media source, or in public dialogue with a liberal at some venue that has a left of center slant because this is "aiding and abetting" the enemy?
Mar '11
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
I ask the question because I am trying to understand whether in your judgment the primary moral failing here results from NPR being a publicly funded media outlet which feigns objectivity but has a slant, or whether the problem exists (or is equally serious), in your judgment, independent of the source of funding.
Dec '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
I think it's all quite easy, Larry. You cough up the dough to buy a radio station in LA, affiliate it with whomever you want, and hire Rob to do his Martini Shot series on there - paying him the same that KCRW does.
Gimme a break! Getting all sanctimonious on someone for who they get their paychecks from? Have you never had a job working for someone you disagreed with on political matters? The past few days (l'affaire du Derb & this) in here have pushed me farther and farther towards being a squish. And since I'm self-employed, my take away from your post is that I need to quit and find a more conservative employer?
May '11
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Simple answer - Get Rob an appearance on Fox. Then, like Juan Williams, NPR will ban him.
Seriously, though, refusal to talk to the other side is behavior I expect from the left, not from us. It is a position that is elitist and self-defeating. So I think that part of your argument fails.
Nor do I object to some small part of the federal budget going to support the arts. Sure, as a matter of pure principle it is inconsistent with the limited government envisioned by the Founders. But picking on NPR when there are so much bigger targets (Depts. of Education, Energy and HHS, just to name a few) is facile. Look me up when the federal government has been whittled down to the military, interstate highways, and the Treasury -- then we can talk about eliminating NPR.
Aug '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
He lives in Venice Beach. His mortal soul is forever lost.
;-)
Dec '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Labeling those with whom we disagree as evil is not constructive. I have many left-wing friends. I do not see them as evil.
Oct '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
As a recovering 20-year KPBS member and sometimes pledge drive volunteer, I see it as Rob's getting a few of our pledge drive dollars back for our side. Key question is: "Is there a Ricochet tote bag?"
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Larry, WFB told that little story during a Firing Line debate, on PBS, which is also where Firing Line aired for decade after decade. He didn't cede the battle ground and, in my opinion, neither should Rob, ...or the rest of us for that matter.
Edited on April 10, 2012 at 2:20pmAug '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
But seriously, up here in Soviet Canuckistan, conservatives WISH we could put the CBC under the same sort of funding system as PBS and NPR.
Instead of annually getting a billion in tax dollars to pay for the outrageous salaries at that unaccountable, wasteful, and hostile pit of NDP/Liberal Party stooges, PBS and NPR are forced to cater to the tastes of their viewers/listeners through their funding drives. They don't get the donations if they don't broadcast shows that their viewers/listeners like.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting only gets $422 million from American taxpayers (arguably still too much, no question) to service a population of over 300 million people.
That pales in comparison to the amount that Canuckistanis (population 33 million) are fleeced by the CBC, or the amount that British tv owners (population 62 million) are fleeced by the BBC. I assume the situation is similarly egregious in France, Germany, etc.
When compared to state-owned broadcasters elsewhere in the world, PBS and NPR are paragons of accountability and cost-effectiveness.
In short, PBS and NPR are public broadcasters, but they aren't state broadcasters. The distinction makes all the difference.
Edited on April 10, 2012 at 2:43pmJun '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
It was actually revulsion at NPR commentary in the afternoon of 9-11 that completed my conversion to conservatism. Libertarianism, really, without the pacifist bent.
NPR show "Marketplace" is really hilarious. It is ostensibly a show about money and economics and is a real Keystone Cops exercise. Whenever I happen to surf through the dial and find it on I listen for a few minutes for humor material to discuss in my next phone call to dad. I don't know who the audience that takes it seriously would be but I was very glad they got to hear P. J. O'Rourke opine on the US income tax yesterday.
Aug '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
I'm baffled by this overwrought attack on Rob which is based on a completely erroneous premise.
Edit: The erroneous premise being that he works for NPR.
Edited on April 10, 2012 at 6:14pmDec '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Mendel
Larry Koler:
So if this is the case, doesn't the presence of conservatives (like Rob) on NPR actually bring it closer to the center, thus helping fulfill the demand in #3? Perhaps your post should instead be titled "NPR needs more Peter Robinson" (who appears about once or twice a year on NPR).
Just trying to play devil's advocate. · 11 hours ago
Don't we all need more Peter Robinson?
Aug '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
I'd like to post some mockery of your man-crush, but that would be hypocritical since I share it. ;-)
Dec '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Misthiocracy
I'd liketo post some mockery of your man-crush, but that would be hypocritical since I share it. ;-) · 1 minute ago
Haha, I understand. So noted.
Aug '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
No PBS = No Firing Line
No PBS = No Milton Friedman's Free To Choose
No PBS = No Uncommon Knowledge
No PBS = No Niall Ferguson's The Ascent of Money
Not to mention Masterpiece Theatre which introduced me to I Claudius and Jeeves & Wooster, Mystery which introduced me to Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes, or NOVA which introduced me to Stephen Hawking.
With more than TWICE the amount of taxpayer funding, the CBC has never produced anything nearly as enduring as PBS' legacy.
Well, maybe Degrassi Junior High...
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Michael Horn
Don't we all need more Peter Robinson? · 19 minutes ag
o
Hell no! That lefty appears on NPR (the actual NPR, not some rinky-dink beach town affiliate) all the time. He must be stopped!
Mar '11
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
By this logic, is it immoral for conservatives to work at universities, since they are overwhelmingly liberal and receive public funds? I think that's called giving up.
As an aside, I love that Rob rarely touches politics with Martini Shot, just like I love James Lilek's largely apolitical blog. As conservatives, we get to believe that not everything is about politics.
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Rob Long
Yes, that's always bothered me about the left. The constant list-making and moral grandstanding, the lines being drawn, the moral imperatives about this or that kind of commerce being "okay" or "not okay." The left is always ready to judge how you make your money, whether your coffee is "Free Trade," whether any decent person could work someplace like a Christian college or a nuclear weapons research facility.
Glad to know that the right hasn't succumbed to that kind of moral posturing.
Ah, Rob at his best. If only we could all be so funny, clever, and thought-provoking in our responses. I tend to go from hurt to fury to petty. It takes some serious genius to dash this off. Thanks for making my morning, Rob, and reminding us how it should be done.