Totenberg - NPR's Hate Monger

Media Research Center ^ | October 20, 2003 | MRC

[Reagan Disciple]

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."

[Reagan Disciple]

Just more of the same blather from this witch. I post it only to show Krauthammer's statement - which made me laugh.

The more I see and read his work, the more I like him.

[Joe Brower]

The more I see and read his work, the more I like him.

I agree. In past days, Krauthammer used to be more liberal in his mindset, but I get the impression he's become more conservative with time.

[Monti Cello]

The haughtiness of that woman is vile.

This account is very much in her style of casual dismissiveness with high-pitched faux laughter and a condescending wag of the gullet.

[Held_to_Ransom]

Why is it the wife of the governor of Maryland has to apologize publicly for saying she would like to shoot Brittany Spears, but Nina doesn't have to apologize at all? For all we know, the governer's wife wasn't even going to shoot to kill, just cause some pain.

[Timesink]

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[freedomlover]

What is everybody making such a big deal of? She can say what she wants and it not like NPR isn't a private enterprise that gets no assistance from the taxpayer. I mean if that's what they want to put on NPR, market forces will take care of the situation.

[Reagan Disciple]

You forgot the /sarcasm after this.

[Reagan Disciple]

You forgot the /sarcasm after this.

[Reagan Disciple]

You forgot the /sarcasm after this.

[Diogenesis]

Why is it the wife of the governor of Maryland has to apologize publicly for saying she would like to shoot Brittany Spears, but Nina doesn't have to apologize at all? For all we know, the governer's wife wasn't even going to shoot to kill, just cause some pain.

Because the Democrats have NO standards.

Totenberg has a twisted heart.

Krauthammer is usually right-on, but here is wrong.
The Democrats lost in Florida despite the false reporting
from the US media trying to "fix" the election (such as CBS).
Thus, in fact, Krauthammer's "5000 yentas" are even less believable
than Krauthammer's colleague's (John Mack's) abductee's aliens.

[Burlem]

So let me understand, Nina is mad at the good general for making a true statement about the radical islamists, but it is ok, to wish Aids on Helms and or his children and a hit piece on the general........Hmm, makes sense, from a liberal point of view that is.
So where is the outrage over Nina ? Why can't we bring this crap before the public? Oh yea, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, they probably agree with her.......wow!

[Steve_Seattle]

Shortly after the 2000 election, I was in a New Age bookstore, and overheard the owner say something like, "God must have let this [Bush's win] happen in order to make us [New Agers] stronger in the future." In other word's, Bush's election was kind of a Divine chastisement or purification for the forces of good, teaching them that next time they need to be tougher and better organized. So it isn't just fundamentalist Christians who apply cosmic significance to political events.

[Sloth]

"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."

Really? I wonder how many people Jesse Helms infected with AIDS. I'll wager it's fewer than the number of girls Teddy Kennedy has drowned.

[1Old Pro]

Nina needs an enema.

[Republicus2001]

Good lord! and she calls herself a public official? Has she been drug and alcohol tested recently?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Its not just Totenberg.
I happened to be listening to Arkansas Public Radio from Little Rock last week. They ran a public service message encouraging listeners to protest touch-screen voting machines, suggesting they were designed to vote Republican...(honest !)

[SwinneySwitch]

"God must have let this [Bush's win] happen in order to make us [New Agers] stronger in the future."

I know it worked for me when BJ Clinton won, TWICE!

[Paul Atreides]

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."

So, Ms. Totenberg doesn't like anyone in the Bush Administration invoking God, and especially Jesus, yet she is free to invoke it when wishing death on Jesse Helms or his family. Nice to see liberal compassion at work.

[Adder]

Limbaugh offers a piece of analysis that was agreed with by many, including some blacks and he has to quit his job but Totenburg gets a pass and in some corners accolades?
I think I've seen enough.

[WorkingClassFilth]

NPR BIAS PING!

Thanks for this catch, Reagan Disciple!