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:
Mar '11
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Right, Larry, I understand your points in 36 and 98, but understand that "striving for clarity" in the context of your original post and follow-ons sounds more like "full speed ahead, epistemic closure".
You think that just by appearing on an NPR affiliate anywhere, Rob is "implicitly" lending his credentials to a left wing agenda. It seems to me that this critique would remain whether the funding is private or public, regardless of how egregious we mind find any public money involved.
But, while you think that Rob's appearance is an endorsement, I, contrariwise (and responding, as are many, to the invitation in your original post to opine if we disagree) think you are overlooking something.
Rob isn't the only conservative to appear on an NPR station--but I'd say that in the context of what he presents there, he does far more good then harm (i.e. his contribution there isn't explicitly table-pounding-with-fist politics in the way that the left caricatures the right, but instead is usually a disarming life lesson that--if you look just beneath the surface--serves the conservative view of human nature).
Mar '11
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
But, while we can all learn a solid life lesson from Rob's initial responses--and that is: don't rebuke a comedy writer with fingerwaging, he's going to mock you to death (and very skillfully done, Rob) --I actually think, unlike some others who have been quick to dismiss the entire premise here, that you might have a point worth discussing.
That is to say, absent anything to do with Rob, I am attempting to enlarge and refine your critique to the point in which it is actually coherent.
To wit: a post which deals with the underlying premise--How is it best to Engage in the Battle of Ideas?--seems to me a topic that is profoundly worth discussing.
Is it best for conservatives to try to construct some alternate, hermetically-sealed media environment in which we continuously only appear before and make our points to one another? Or, it is best to engage in a rigorous public debate (our principles and our ideas being strong enough to stand it) both in and outside of conservative media sources?
Jun '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Crow's Nest:
...
You think that just by appearing on an NPR affiliate anywhere, Rob is "implicitly" lending his credentials to a left wing agenda. It seems to me that this critique would remain whether the funding is private or public, regardless of how egregious we mind find any public money involved.
...
It is not the left wing agenda -- it's the public money in support of that agenda that is the issue. And it is the fact that they were not set up to be a leftist foundation -- as they have become.
Honestly, you must understand, my critique here has nothing to do with private ventures -- only the breach of trust and malfeasance with public funds.
Mar '11
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
In answer to the question I pose at the end of 102, I think one of the dangers that conservatives face today--because of the nature of the media landscape--is that we will turn inward, only reading conservative websites and continuously reinforcing our own opinions without ever attempting to give the other side the time of day.
The results of a strategy like that, I think, you can see in the shock that many on the Left side of the isle have exhibited in the wake of the Florida v. HHS case--they were stunned and left sputtering to discover that conservatives actually had arguments!
Mar '11
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
It is not the left wing agenda -- it's the public money in support of that agenda that is the issue. And it is the fact that they were not set up to be a leftist foundation -- as they have become.
Honestly, you must understand, my critique here has nothing to do with private ventures -- only the breach of trust and malfeasance with public funds.
If that is the case, virtually everyone who has posted on this thread has answered you: we all agree that NPR should be privatized.
But Rob has further refuted the original claim (you'll remember, he's committed a morally wrong action). He and others have again and again made the point that KCRW doesn't require any taxpayer money to survive. Not a dime. It pays more in revenues than it takes. In which case, given that we all agree that public money is not necessary and in no way affects Rob, and that Rob is not himself endorsing anything, nor given what he, Yeti, and others have said is he being used to endorse anything using public money (given the above) that part of the argument is void. It has been refuted.
Jun '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
CN, all Rob said is that NPR receives more money from KCRW than from KCRW does from NPR. He didn't say anything about other sources of public money. All NPR content is produced using public money. KCRW traffics in that NPR content.
Edited on April 10, 2012 at 6:59pmRe: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
As an old friend of Rob's, I can confirm that Rob will take money from any source. Wait, that didn't come out right. The point is (and others have made it) that we conservatives should use every communication channel available to raise our profile. Rob doesn't talk politics on KCRW, but I'll bet that there are listeners who have heard him, and googled him to learn more about him. And doing so will lead them to Rob's NR pieces and, of course, to Ricochet. Why on earth wouldn't we want to drive more traffic here?
Jun '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Tactics aren't as important, ultimately, as strategy. Long term we will regret the clever use of tactics in these hinge issues. We must remember the goal not the streets we take to get there.
Aug '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
As has been pointed out, KCRW isn't an NPR station. It is a station that carries some NPR content. Kind of like how CBS carries some Warner Brothers content, or even ABC studios content runs on the CW.
KCRW also carries local programming, which is quite good though not as good as KPCC's excepting Martini Shot of course, and content from American Public Media and Public Radio International. These are all different organizations. APM produces a show called Marketplace out of the University of Southern California, it is quite good.
If you want, you can create a public media company that receives CPB monies and creates content right of center that is sold to local public stations. You can also ask that the CPB be defunded, and that the government get out of the radio business entirely. Both APM and PRI receive CPB money, as NPR does.
Should the federal government get out of the radio business? That's up to the people to decide. I'd say yes.
Should KCRW and KPCC continue to broadcast? Yes, and they would do so without the CPB.
Oct '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Engaging with the enemy is always preferable to hiding in fear. Rob Long is helping our cause by engaging with the left, not hurting it. Putting our hands over our ears and humming "Liberals don't exist, liberals don't exist" accomplishes nothing.
Aug '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Nathaniel Wright: Should the federal government get out of the radio business? That's up to the people to decide. I'd say yes.
Should KCRW and KPCC continue to broadcast? Yes, and they would do so without the CPB.
I think most of us agree with that.
However, the question was, "is Rob Long morally wrong to work for NPR?"
My answer is no. Rob Long is just morally wrong in general, for a whole HOST of reasons too numerous to list here.
;-)
I kid, because I love.
Jun '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
You need to work on your reading comprehension.
Oct '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Larry Koler
You need to work on your reading comprehension. · 5 minutes ago
Perhaps I was being a bit hyperbolic. Still, this post is uncomfortably close to witch-hunt territory.
Aug '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Larry,
I tell you what. About 50% of Americans work, and let's say 50% of those pay taxes. That leaves 75,000,000 taxpaying citizens, of which you are one. According to Byron York, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (the folks who fund NPR) has a $451 million budget and NPR's total budget is $166 million with approximately 2% coming from the Federal Govt. Given the structure of public radio, I'm going to say that the fungible nature of money makes that 2% figure a lie.
Let's say the budget of NPR is $451 million and it is 100% funded by tax revenue. If I pay you the $6.01 you paid to NPR, will you stop asking this question?
Jun '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
NW: How about I pay you to read the post and the comments? Then you don't have to go off into a discussion that is not covered in this post.
Aug '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
I got your post, and the comments. I just think your question is lame and rings of witch hunting and "purity" seeking -- as others have pointed out.
Short answer, your geometric proof is shallow and incomplete. It steals so many bases, that I don't know where to begin.
Rob isn't immoral. One cannot be immoral by association, only by action. Given that Rob's spot on KCRW is completely business oriented, it does nothing for NPR's image as "un-biased." It only gives KCRW a good reputation for having a columnist who has written two very funny, and also accurate, accounts of the industry in book form. I recommend "Conversations with my Agent" and "Set up, Joke, Set up, Joke" highly. They cover "development hell and development deals" and "the television pilot" cycle in witty and meaningful fashion. That is Rob's role at KCRW -- not a political one.
I've agreed with you on many things here, but this isn't one of them. I find the question silly. As silly as I find having "enemies" within our political structure...other than terrorists and genuine enemies.
May '11
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Wow. I can't believe I read thru all six pages of comments.
I have a different question regarding the basic assumption that underlies the question here. Is the taxpayer funding of NPR really "morally" wrong?
My answer would be no. Do I believe it is wrong to have the US government funding media? YES. Do I believe that NPR slants left. YES. However, is that "morally" wrong. NO. It is just wrong based on my belief as to the proper role of government. If my fellow citizens all believe it is a proper function of the federal government, then in a representivitve republic, they get to have their way. "Morally wrong" has nothing to do with it.
It is only wrong based on my view of the proper role of government. While I am happy to advocate to others my beliefs about those issues, it doesn't rise to a level of a moral right or wrong.
Jun '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
David Knights: Wow. I can't believe I read thru all six pages of comments.
I have a different question regarding the basic assumption that underlies the question here. Is the taxpayer funding of NPR really "morally" wrong?
My answer would be no. Do I believe it is wrong to have the US government funding media? YES. Do I believe that NPR slants left. YES. However, is that "morally" wrong. NO. It is just wrong based on my belief as to the proper role of government. If my fellow citizens all believe it is a proper function of the federal government, then in a representivitve republic, they get to have their way. "Morally wrong" has nothing to do with it.
It is only wrong based on my view of the proper role of government. While I am happy to advocate to others my beliefs about those issues, it doesn't rise to a level of a moral right or wrong. · 3 minutes ago
Surely, though, you see malfeasance as wrong. Surely, when a highly politicized faction seizes a quasi-governmental organization you would see that as wrong. Why not deal with my basic assumption that underlies my question?
Sep '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Larry's headline is off-putting. Who am I—or any of the rest of us—to decide such a thing about anyone but ourselves?
Rob Long
Larry Koler:
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.
I'm sure you all agree but, if not, then please do opine. · · 4 hours ago
When has anyone at NPR ever used me or my work for KCRW as evidence that they're not biased? Never, that's when. Because -- and this is important -- I don't appear on NPR. And I never talk politics in my 3 minutes of radio storytelling, because in my experience, there's plenty of politics on the radio already. All over the dial. I just tell funny (I hope) stories about show business in this particular gig. A gig that appears only on KCRW, locally, and never (to my knowledge) on any other station anywhere on earth. I like to talk politics in precisely three places: here, in National Review and a few other publications like that, and on "Red Eye." · 15 hours ago
Jun '10
Re: Is Rob Long Morally Wrong to Work for NPR?
Regarding witch hunting -- we don't have to hunt for this one. That will save some time.
Commie hunters were called witch hunters, too. No one ever wanted to ask the question of whether there were actually witches (Commies) in those days also. This is an old problem for the right.