NPR’s firing of Juan Williams pretty much a huge mess

It’s not a bigoted statement. I said what I meant to say, that it’s an honest experience. … I have a moment of anxiety, of fear, given what happened on 9/11.
NPR news analyst Juan Williams • Defending his comments on Muslims that got him fired from NPR. He made this comment on Fox News today – and he made his earlier comment (that “people who are in Muslim garb” at the airport make him “nervous”) on “The O’Reilly Factor.” NPR has been getting some harsh rebukes from the right about all this, and we’re going to say, they’re deserved to some degree. It’s obvious what he meant – he still has some lingering post-9/11 fears, even if they’re a bit misguided – and we don’t think they were anywhere near as bad as the comments Rick Sanchez made that got him fired. Sure, they were questionable, but how many people share Williams’ opinion on this? If anything, he’s reflecting a view that isn’t uncommon (as proven by the whole “Ground Zero Mosque” drama), even if it is straight-up racial profiling. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 4 Comments • Permalink

Bill O’Reilly, just like a lot of other people (see: the White House), jumped to conclusions in the Shirley Sherrod case, causing him to humble himself for a moment and admit that, uh, well, he was wrong. But he found a different way to tackle them, so good for him! He still has a line of attack, so he has something to rail against on the program! source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

This is analysis? Of who? Tonight’s debut of Sarah Palin as a Fox News commentator was a fail as a piece of commentary because the focus never really left the topic of Sarah Palin. We understand why Palin might want to use this opportunity to clear her throat, but if she really wants to be worthy of our time, she can’t spend fifteen minutes talking about herself. Who cares?

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

A spirited defense Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has her work cut out for her in defending having the 9/11 terror trial in NYC. For the most part, her points make sense, even if they annoy Rudy Giuliani.
Gitmo like Disneyland?Michigan Rep. Pete Hoekstra perhaps misspoke when he referred to Guantanamo Bay as “a great place.” Hear that? It’s an instant soundbite for his Democratic challenger in 2010!
Get yo popcorn ready!Tomorrow promises to be some awesome TV for red-meat-eating conservatives, as Lou Dobbs brings the anti-immigration train (choo choo) to “The O’Reilly Factor.” Here’s the ad.

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

Alan Grayson talks a good game, but he can’t be bothered to take on the people his comments piss off the most. Griff Jenkins, the kind of guy who wears hipster shades unironically, spent a lot of time staking out the liberal Florida representative, who was going out of his way not to give Fox the time of day. In a way, this is kind of what the Obama administration is doing. Except Grayson, as a first-time congressman, doesn’t have any real power in Congress – just a few memorable Republican-bashing statements. Stop hiding, Alan. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

21 Oct 2010 13:44