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Totenberg on Gen. Boykin: "I Hope He's Not Long for This World" [NPR]
MRC ^ | Monday October 20, 2003 | BrentBaker

Posted on 10/20/2003, 3:42:01 PM by fight_truth_decay

Eight years after NPR's Nina Totenberg, on Inside Washington, wished death upon Senator Jesse Helms ("If there is retributive justice, he'll get AIDS from a transfusion, or one of his grandchildren will get it"), on the same show over the weekend she seemingly desired to hasten the death of Army General Jerry Boykin for having supposedly expressed the view that the war on terrorism "is a Christian crusade against Muslims." Totenberg hatefully advocated: "I hope he's not long for this world."

When the other panelists were taken aback by her wish ("You putting a hit out on this guy or what?" and, "What is this, the Sopranos?"), she quickly backtracked: "In his job, in his job, in his job, please, please, in his job."

The relevant portion of the October 18 Inside Washington, a show produced at Washington, DC's Gannett-owned WUSA-TV and shown nationally on PBS stations:

Nina Totenberg of National Public Radio: "Now they've got this guy who's head of the intelligence section in the Defense Department who's being quoted as telling various groups, while he's in uniform, that this is a Christian crusade against Muslims. I mean this is terrible, this is seriously bad stuff."

Colbert King, Washington Post editorial writer: "The other thing about Boykin, he got it wrong. He said God put George Bush in the White House. The Supreme Court did it."

Totenberg: "The Supreme Court put George Bush in the White House."

Charles Krauthammer, syndicated columnist, joked: "It was 5,000 yentas in Palm Beach who couldn't read the ballot. If that was not an act of providence, nothing is."

Gordon Peterson, host: "By the way, he was showing pictures of Somalia, Mogadishu and there's a black mark in the sky and he said 'these are demons who controlled this thing.'"

Totenberg: "Well, I hope he's not long for this world because you can imagine-"

Several voices reacted in unison, drowning her out, including
Peterson: "You putting a hit out on this guy or what?"
King: "Are you Reverend Pat Robertson?"
Totenberg: "No, no, no, no, no, no!"
Peterson: "What is this, the Sopranos?"
Totenberg: "In his job, in his job, in his job, please, please, in his job."

This wasn't the first time Totenberg's mind jumped immediately to offing someone whom she found offensive. Back on the July 8, 1995 Inside Washington, Totenberg had this reaction to Senator Jesse Helms' complaint that AIDS research was getting a disproportionate share of federal research money. Inside Washington host Tina Gulland asked: "I don't think I have any Jesse Helms defenders here. Nina?"

Totenberg replied: "Not me, I think he ought to be worried about what's going on in the Good Lord's mind, because if there is retributive justice, he'll get AIDS from a transfusion, or one of his grandchildren will get it."

That comment was a runner-up in the "I'm a Compassionate Liberal But I Wish You Were All Dead Award (for media hatred of conservatives)" category in MRC's 1999 "DisHonors Awards" for the most outrageous quotes of the decade. To view a RealPlayer clip of Totenberg in action: http://www.mediaresearch.org/notablequotables/dishonor1999/welcomeaward6.asp

For what Boykin said months ago, and the hyperbolic media reaction last week, see this item in the October 17 CyberAlert:
Stop the presses! A Christian man has expressed Christian views while speaking inside some Christian churches.
A night after Tom Brokaw labeled the comments as "divisive" as he trumpeted how "NBC News has learned that a highly-decorated General has a history of outspoken and divisive views on religion, Islam in particular," the other networks piled on Thursday night, treating a few remarks made months ago by Lt. General Jerry Boykin as suddenly scandalous. ABC and CBS put up a "Holy Warrior" graphic as each teased their respective evening newscasts.
Peter Jennings touted: "The holy warrior in the American Army. God, he says, has revealed the enemy."
Over on the CBS Evening News, Dan Rather teased: "God and the U.S. military: One of the country's top Generals embroiled in controversy for saying we are at war with Satan."
For details: http://www.mediaresearch.org/notablequotables/dishonor1999/welcomeaward6.asp

WUSA-TV's page for Inside Washington:
http://wusatv9.com/insidewashington/default.aspx


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: boykin; bushhaters; colbertking; danrather; genjerry; jennings; krauthammer; mediabias; npr; tombrokaw; totenberg
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Make note these words were spoken some time ago, but the tapes surfaced just last week.

"Boykin isn't burning down an abortion clinic. He isn't a member of the KKK. He is not a religious extremist. He is a three-star general who understands what he believes and has had to make peace with himself so he can make war for America," writes Ben Kraudel Staff Columnist for viewpoint@technicianstaff.com at North Carolina State University

1 posted on 10/20/2003, 3:42:03 PM by fight_truth_decay
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To: fight_truth_decay
5,000 Yentas ?
2 posted on 10/20/2003, 3:45:05 PM by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: fight_truth_decay
Totenberg replied: "Not me, I think he ought to be worried about what's going on in the Good Lord's mind, because if there is retributive justice, he'll get AIDS from a transfusion, or one of his grandchildren will get it."

Totenburg should be more concerned about what is on the good Lord's mind with her eternity.

3 posted on 10/20/2003, 3:48:12 PM by TADSLOS (Right Wing Infidel since 1954)
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To: fight_truth_decay
I so glad I have Hannity on wbap now, i no longer have to listen to NPRs liberal tripe just to get some news.
Now, if only i could withdraw my tax money from supporting them.
4 posted on 10/20/2003, 3:49:46 PM by No Blue States
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To: fight_truth_decay
Seems like validation of the General's views, to me.
5 posted on 10/20/2003, 3:55:12 PM by onedoug
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To: No Blue States
"i no longer have to listen to NPRs liberal tripe "

In the 70s and 80s, my radios were glued to Public Radio
and I contributed to the local WKNO in Memphis, even though I held my nose at NPR news.
In 1992, I discovered AM talk radio, and by accident.
I have not tuned to NPR since that day, and withdrew all
contributions.
6 posted on 10/20/2003, 4:04:52 PM by AlexW
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To: fight_truth_decay
Nina Totenberg of National Public Radio: "Now they've got this guy who's head of the intelligence section in the Defense Department who's being quoted as telling various groups, while he's in uniform, that this is a Christian crusade against Muslims.

It needs to be pointed out Nona Totenberg is inadvertently exposing the Liberal Lie here.

She says, "he's being quoted as telling", which is true. The point she misses is that quote she uses is not true, but made up to smear the General. Yet, she passes it on.

The General has never, ever said any such thing about this war being a "Christian crusade against Muslims"!

She is a pitiful bag - living off our taxpayer money on this horribly biased, publicly funded radio network - spinning her own web of lies!

7 posted on 10/20/2003, 4:09:10 PM by Gritty
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To: fight_truth_decay
What a hateful comment.
8 posted on 10/20/2003, 4:10:09 PM by The_Media_never_lie
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To: The_Media_never_lie
Yes, but the worst part is WE PAY for this garbage with our taxes and not one step has been taken by the nominally Republican House or Senate to cut their funding off at the knees. While on a long car trip last week, I listed to NPR and one of their resident "sages", a Romanian immigrant and supposed "humorist", tell how the State of TExas had been "stolen" from the Indians and Mexico by eradicating the inhabitants. Where are the responses to this hateful trash by our legislators? He can say anything he wants, but i DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR HIM OR TOTENBERG.
9 posted on 10/20/2003, 4:27:01 PM by laconic
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To: No Blue States
The GAO is supposed to be reviewing money given to NPR and other public-sponsored radio/TV programs. Write to the GAO and express your displeasure. Also, write to Bill O'Reilly because he's watching them too. More we support these causes and draw attention to it, the more the public becomes aware that their dollars are going to Dem causes.
10 posted on 10/20/2003, 4:41:51 PM by BushisTheMan
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To: fight_truth_decay
rat compassion and love.
11 posted on 10/20/2003, 4:42:27 PM by jmaroneps37
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To: fight_truth_decay
General Boykin has done infinitely more for this country than ALL of the NPR parasites combined.

That is why they hate him.

DE OPPRESSO LIBER

12 posted on 10/20/2003, 4:49:49 PM by RANGERAIRBORNE ("Si vis pacem, para bellum"- still good advice after 2000 years.)
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To: All
Nina Totenberg is one sick female puppy.
13 posted on 10/20/2003, 5:09:47 PM by WilliamofCarmichael
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To: fight_truth_decay
And since she's on NPR, WE ARE PAYING HER SALARY!!!

Time to defend NPR. ASAP.

14 posted on 10/20/2003, 5:12:56 PM by Dan from Michigan ("I don't want to Raise Taxes" "I think everything must be looked at" - Jennifer Granholm. (D))
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To: RANGERAIRBORNE
Unfortunately it looks like the country is back to abnormal after 9/11 and the press is back to worshiping their god of Political Correctness. Now we have no right to the expression of our religious views in a Church if we wear a uniform. One more brick in the wall of an atheist one world. General Boykin spoke PC heresy, when he said that he thought that his God was more powerful than the pieceful Moslems’ god who were trying to kill him. According to the Stalinists in PravdABC you cannot speak of God in any way other than proving how Christianity is the opiate of the masses. Just as most freethinking realize, Political Correctness is correct speak of the braindead liberals.

To now enter a Church’s sanctity and pull statements out of context to brandish the PC club is a chilling event that cannot go unnoticed. Who are they coming after next, Pastors who preach against sin? Aren’t these the same people who wanted Ashcroft crucified for spying on Moslems in Mosques?? Hypocrites!!

Most Christians believe in the Bible’s truth and that there is only one true God. Just as Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the light; no man comes to the Father but by me.” If you believe this truth, like all true Christians do; then the conclusion is absolute. This General was only stating in essence, that he believes what Jesus said is true.

Why are the liberals at PravdABDNC so upset with the General’s words? Because the roots of liberalism is found in Communism or complete redistribution of wealth by totalitarianism. Never mind that the elitists in the press and liberal institutions make obscene amounts of money, they believe everyone else should give their money to da gummit. One major obstacle in their goal is religion, especially Christianity. Christianity’s foundation is the value of free choice and beliefs. Christianity requires that after you freely decide to give your life to Christ and that you have a higher calling. This is sacrilege to those who worship at the idol of liberalism. Enter Political Correctness to squelch those who dare to think there is anything higher than them and their institutions.

The attacks on the General serve two purposes for liberals. First it is an affront to THEIR religion, which is the national religion and it attacks GW at the heart of his Presidency. He is a unabashed Christian who believes he has a “Charge to Keep” by God. Most Christians believe that God has his hand on this country and guides this country, in spite of this country. They attack the military which is the part of the gummit that liberals hate the most i.e. Vietnam. The military loves this President and this President loves our military. PravdABDNC will not tolerate this, especially with an election coming; so enter in Political Correctness and this outrageous behavior. The only OUTRAGE is the outrage that the press can come into a Church and put religious doctrine under the PC butcher knife. Every believer should feel attacked with this squelching of freedom of religion by the 4th estate!

Of all of the places that freedom of speech and thought is essential in a free peoples, it has to occur in Church. Churches and religions from the beginning of man have been institutions that were Sacred for peoples’ expression of their deepest feelings and beliefs. It is bad enough to chill the speech in the Public Square or Universities, but to limit or ban certain types of speech or certain individuals ability to express their beliefs in Church should be an attack on every believer. One more Jihad on Christians from the clintonRat mouthpiece, PravdADNC. Maybe SeeBS can follow up and see what Generals in Muslim countries have to say. Oh yeah, they don’t have Christians in those armies. Why any Christians watch or read the lamestream media is beyond comprehension. I guess there were Jews who made the stars for Nazi Germany too?? Speaking of which, why wasn’t The Wicked Witch of NY at the World Series???

Pray for GW and Our Troops

15 posted on 10/20/2003, 5:14:18 PM by bray ( Old Glory Stands for Freedom)
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To: WilliamofCarmichael
and as ugly as a person can be .I mean ugly.
16 posted on 10/20/2003, 5:16:01 PM by cars for sale
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
It seems that the pretext of objectivity is fading away.
17 posted on 10/20/2003, 5:19:23 PM by Spok
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To: fight_truth_decay
One good thing about colonial Massachussets. The good citizens of Salem knew how to handle the likes of Nina Totenberg.
18 posted on 10/20/2003, 5:42:23 PM by .cnI redruM (The September 11th attacks were clearly Clinton's most consequential legacy. - Rich Lowry)
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To: fight_truth_decay
I find it amazing that people are so terrified of those of us who speak in other tongues. It's stunning! I agree with the General .. in most of the things he says. But .. he's entitled to his opinion even if I don't totally agree with it.

I just find it interesting that both Boykin and Ashcroft (who are tongue talkers) are bashed and battered more than any other people in the world. They are more hated and reviled than Saddam and Hitler.
19 posted on 10/20/2003, 6:27:44 PM by CyberAnt
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To: fight_truth_decay
Can someone pls post the appropriate email addresses for Totenberg, NPR, WUSAtv9 etc to Freep them and show our displeasure at Totenberg's outrageous statements?

I called my local PBS station and told them I was never again going to make a donation to their station [not that I ever did, mind you, but I didn't tell them that] because of Totenberg's remarks.

I hope that talk radio highlights this remark and everyone calls their Rep or Senator and demand that Congress immediately cut off all funding for NPR.

20 posted on 10/20/2003, 6:53:04 PM by auzerais
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