Public Broadcasting Targeted By House

[quaoar]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/09/AR2005060902283.html

Committee Seeks to End CPB's Federal Funding

By Paul Farhi
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 10, 2005; Page A01

A House subcommittee voted yesterday to sharply reduce the federal government's financial support for public broadcasting, including eliminating taxpayer funds that help underwrite such popular children's educational programs as "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow," "Arthur" and "Postcards From Buster."

In addition, the subcommittee acted to eliminate within two years all federal money for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting -- which passes federal funds to public broadcasters -- starting with a 25 percent reduction in CPB's budget for next year, from $400 million to $300 million.

In all, the cuts would represent the most drastic cutback of public broadcasting since Congress created the nonprofit CPB in 1967. The CPB funds are particularly important for small TV and radio stations and account for about 15 percent of the public broadcasting industry's total revenue.

Expressing alarm, public broadcasters and their supporters in Congress interpreted the move as an escalation of a Republican-led campaign against a perceived liberal bias in their programming. That effort was initiated by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's own chairman, Kenneth Y. Tomlinson.

[K-W]

1. This has absolutely nothing to do with liberal bias

or percieved liberal bias. This has to do with the dismantalling of the modern liberal state.

[quaoar]

2. Or maybe they finally figured out

that Bert and Ernie are gay. And that Big Bird is an endangered species.

[Toots]

23. It isn't that either. It is all about the truth somehow getting out.

When they stop telling LIES about the Democrats then the Democrats will stop telling the truth about them.

[acmejack]

25. I wish I could say it was unanticipated

If the public had control of the content then they would be worth saving. They perceive PBS as terribly biased, "cause only liberals listen to it". Let the Free Market reign and bring prosperity to us all. Hail *

[ugarte]

3. I wish PBS could be truly independent of these right-wing clowns

and not need to rely on government money. As long as Republicans are writing the checks, PBS can only go downhill.

[youspeakmylanguage]

16. We all need to step up our donations...

I don't watch PBS but I try to support my local NPR station as much as possible. Losing NPR News would be a great loss.

[anitar1]

29. I'm through with them. They are dead already and

the memorial is pending. Have you noticed the programming changes over the last few months? Bye-bye, PBS

[Daphne08]

4. I wonder if they could remain independent on donations alone.

[youspeakmylanguage]

18. Sure, if they can collect an extra $400 million in donations...

:scared:

[last_texas_dem]

5. Why would the Repubs

want to dismantle public broadcasting when they've got one of their own heading up PBS, and have the channel already attempting to enforce their own sort of "Fairness Doctrine" to make public broadcasting more like typical mainstream, corporate media?

I guess even the 'pugs are good at eating their own from time to time.

[annabanana]

9. They ALWAYS put a "disassembler" in charge

From a long time ago..Remember James Watt?

[Carla in Ca]

32. One case in point is KOCE-TV

a small PBS station in Orange County. Trinity Broadcasting has been trying to buy it for some time now for yet another Christian outlet. I'm sure if funding is cut, they may be forced to accept the offer. They will not stop until they run the entire planet.

[Dover]

6. Trying to force them to become dependent on corporate money

and therefore beholding to THEIR agenda.

[Rainscents]

7. Maybe Soro can buy the station and turn it into Liberal news station!

[Ian David]

12. You may be on to something. Maybe a "Liberal Consortium" can buy PBS

1 Testimony presented to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on ...
Education in cooperation with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). CPB also
supports. a funding level of $110 million in FY 2002 for the Public ...
http://www.cpb.org/pdfs/about/congress/testimony/0105_coonrod.pdf

View as HTML
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:XEbAq20gaOsJ:www.cpb.org/pdfs/about/congress/testimony/0105_coonrod.pdf+%22Mister+Rogers%22+and+testimony+PBS+funding&hl=en

[slay]

8. And the hatred of intelligence continues under Republican rule

Smart people won't bow down to these asshole - so why not just stop having smart people? After a couple generations when we're all as dumb as 8th graders- while we are slaving away in sweatshop conditions - I'm sure whichever Republican has been installed as "president" at the time will be glad to sell us our very own Jesus for the low low price of $19.99. :puke:

[fasttense]

10. This is the end of a free media.

Right now, right here, you are watching it. Soon, just like Russia, you will see all media controlled and orchestrated by the government. There are no longer any media outlets that are not corrupted by the brush regime and their corporate supporters. The US will soon be a third world country.

[symbolman]

11. This REALLY pisses me off

I've got a 5 month old son and the way TV is now all I can let him watch (when we need a break) is Cirque D'Soleil (SP?) --

These bastards are killing Big Bird right in front of us.. where are the FAMILY VALUES in this?

We can roast them with this one if we move fast enough..

Anyone remember School House ROCK and how a Bill becomes LAW, etc?

They should run those for the ADULTS NOW.

Soros or someone better step up to the plate soon or it's all gone.. zip, zilch, nada..

[acmavm]

13. Wonder if Gwen Ifil's pleased with her boy george right about now?

She's been whoring for the little weasel for four plus years now. And here he goes whipping the funding for public television out from under her rather ample ass. Paybacks are a bitch Gwen.

[Supersedeas]

15. grinning from ear to ear, I'm sure

[youspeakmylanguage]

19. Wow, that sounds personal...

Do you have personal connections to this?

[OKthatsIT]

14. Then WE, The People, FIRE the Bushies out of PBS

I dont lok at this as a ad sign. It means they have no right to be in the Org.

11% Fed funding isnt worth having the NeoCon i the org.

[sendero]

17. That's what I think...

... the CPB should get on the air and fundraise based on "the government wants complete control of our programming for 15% of the cost" - and use it to step up fundraising and tell congress to go to hell.

I really think folks would dig in, 15% is not that big an increment.

[Strawman]

20. They'd rather spend the money on Karen Ryan's VNR's n/t

[0007]

21. Time for another Bill Moyers campaign......

Is Kenneth Tomlinson getting even? You bet he is.....

[progressoid]

22. And so it begins.... the dismantling of ALL social programs

Four years of tax breaks and deficit spending come to a head. Now it's time to reign in the expanding deficit. How do we do it??? NOT by repealing tax give-aways or cutting corporate welfare, but by cutting the programs that they have been bitching about for the last 3 decades.

:argh:

[progressivebydesign]

24. Only 35% of Americans believe we are going in the right direction.

So.. basically the GOP House and Senate want to see their asses voted out in the next few elections??? Guess so. Otherwise, they'd get their arrogant heads out of their asses and the hands of the lobbyists out of their pants and DO SOMETHING FOR THE PEOPLE FOR ONCE!!!!

The Democrats are blowing it, big time. The Country is WAAAAY disenchanted with the GOP and the direction of the Country. It's time to take back the Country.

[BiggJawn]

28. "Voted out"? Oh, sure...

They go home and fill the Faithful all full of how HARD they're working in DC to protect STR8 marriage and keep spending money in The Hunt for Greybeard Bin-Forgotten, and the Sheep will give 'em a free pass back, never even THINKING that this is the guy who wrung Big Bird's neck.

Awww, Shit, don't ya know Sheeple Kids watch Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers and Gospel Bill and Superbook, anyway? Good shows that prepare them for a life of War and Violence? They wouldn't know Mr. Rogers if he rose from the grave and spit his teeth at them...

[intheflow]

26. PBS and NPR have become too "glamorous" for their own good.

They need to take a page from Pacifica, Democracy Now! and other independent media outlets and truly return to the grass roots reporting that they built their affiliate networks on.

But PBS/NPR viewers/listeners need to be willing to watch less "slick" programming as well. And, of course, monetarily support less galomorous productions. Only then can PBS live up to it's mission of public reporting for the public good.

[SoCalDem]

30. In recent years they have become a veritable dumping ground

for old BBC shows anyway. Soros and some others who like to talk a good game, should put their money where their mouth is, and buy it.. They would probably regain a lot of private support they lost.. And they should return it to "real" programming...not just reruns of cancelled British shows.

It's been obvious for about TWENTY YEARS now that the reactionaries in congress have wanted to kill it..just like they want to kill Amtrak and Social Security..and medicare..and public education.

The foxes have been in charge of the henhouses and we are just now wondering why the chickens are disappearing???

[JNelson6563]

27. What they've been waiting for!

Strangle all sources of objective information.

Bastards.

Julie

[Pharlo]

31. Envisioning

a national advertising campaign - target audience: family programming for younger children (note - avoid cartoon air time - you want something young children watch with their parents).

Message: Republican party (President, Congress) are against Sesame Street (Big Bird, Oscar, Elmo, Bert, Ernie, et al) and are trying to eliminate them.

Keep in mind, many of the parents of these children were raised on Sesame Street too....Presented properly, we have an ISSUE here.


Sample Advertisement:

Open on a view of Sesame Street with all the characters (muppets, children, adults) doing their typical happy, up-beat activities. The muppets and their human friends slowly fade away leaving Sesame Street empty...Wind picks up...Dust blows across the empty street (heck, throw in a blowing tumbleweed or two for visual effect).

Impose text over visual: CONGRESS CLOSES SESAME STREET

Voice over: Don't let congress close Sesame Street, contact your representative today. (I think added emphasis could be attained if Big Bird's voice were used.)



Any other suggestions for how to turn this against them?