‘We’re in trouble,’ and he means public TV

Current ^ | Jan. 19, 2004 | Karen Everhart

[Drango]

‘We're in trouble; and he means public TV
Moyers' program an issue with McCain, Hollings warns

Originally published in Current, Jan. 19, 2004
By Karen Everhart

South Carolina Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings warned pubcasters that the upcoming Senate reauthorization of the Public Broadcasting Act will be a tough fight. "We’re in trouble," said Hollings, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee.

During a Jan. 11 [2004] luncheon at the National Educational Telecommunications Association Conference in New Orleans, Hollings suggested that public TV will take hits for the PBS series Now with Bill Moyers. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) views Moyers, the program's host and editor, as "the most partisan and non-objective fellow in journalism," Hollings said.

Republicans' goal is to reduce government and "public TV sticks out because of the success of commercial TV," he told NETA conference attendees.

McCain has frequently criticized public TV programs for bias and questioned the need for federal aid to the field. His press secretary did not return a call seeking comment.
Hollings praised station representatives for their dedication and professionalism in carrying out public TV's mission. "You folks have kept the faith, there's no question about it." Pubcasting's service to the nation lends credibility to his efforts, along with those of Senate Appropriations Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), to protect public broadcasting on the Hill, he said.

"The reauthorization is going to be tough, but we'll go in and tell the story that you've been telling," he added. The Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees CPB, is slated to take up the reauthorization in March, according to APTS, but a committee spokesperson said no hearings have been scheduled.

During the luncheon, APTS President John Lawson and NETA Chairman Deb Onslow saluted Hollings for his contributions to the field. During his 1959-1963 term as South Carolina's governor, Hollings backed the development of South Carolina Educational Television. As a senator, Hollings was a "progressive and forward-thinking advocate for the Public Broadcasting Act at its creation," Lawson said. "He has played an irreplaceable role in the direction and growth of public TV."

CPB Board Chairman Kenneth Tomlinson gave Hollings a replacement for the Ralph Lowell medal that was lost in a fire in Hollings' home. CPB had given the senator its highest public TV honor in 1988. Tomlinson described the senator as designated by the "Almighty" to lead the charge for public broadcasting on Capitol Hill.

Web page posted Jan. 19, 2004

[Drango]

For the record, I don't believe much of the above. If McCain is needed to stop the funding, Zeus help us.

The reality is that last year, the house cut "public broadcasting " funds and Alaska's Ted "I'll spend it" Stevens added more to their budget.

[weegee]

All 501(c)3s should be held to the regulations of their tax-exempt status (non-partisan presentations).

PBS/NPR should be no different.

They commit tax fraud and are tax cheats. Why doesn't public broadcasting ever out this scandal?

[Dog Gone]

Freepers need to contact Congress. It's time to pull the plug.

Include NPR, as well. Let the libs fund it out of their donations 100% as a compromise.

But quit making me pay for it.

[Drango]

PBS/NPR ping list

[Petronski]

There's nothing worthwhile on PBS that isn't done better by the private sector: FoxNews, Discovery/Learning Channel, A&E, History Channel, History International, etc.

Defund ever last Roosevelt dime.

[Petronski]

Defund every last Roosevelt dime.

[antaresequity]

Other than remote controlled cameras in various chambers of the government, such as congress, committees etc, I see absolutely no reason to have any public funded television or media.

There isn't a human on the planet that is unbiased. Having those smarmy hosts on CSPAN highlighting newspapers and then inviting comment is revolting.

Pull the plug on everything but static remotes.

[weegee]

Salon is proof that some well healed libs are always willing to bankroll a progaganda machine:

Today's Salon Stock Deathwatch (note the spike in the chart raising them from 4cents a share)

Rolling Stone Editor and Adobe Executive Put $800,000 Into Salon Web Site (Bad Money After Bad!)

[weegee]

PBS could have done a lot to fund children's programming (maybe not "quality" children's programming) if they had received the commercial money from Sesame Street, Barney, and other marketplace icons. Instead it went into the private sector.

We don't need to pay for this.

Defund the taxpayer's contribution to leftist Pacifica too.

[Cicero]

PBS and NPR used to have a lot going for them. Masterpiece Theater, classical music, a lot of good programs. Over the years virtually all of that has gone. There's nothing left but a bunch of whining liberal commentators and DJs who play second-rate jazz.

[Drango]

Defund the taxpayer's contribution to leftist Pacifica too.

Pacifica got about $1.25 million last year in tax dollars. Freepers should ask our congress critters how much was spent to balance 'em...ZIP.

[weegee]

There are some decent documentaries aired on PBS at times, but then these documentaries have been produced outside of PBS and are sold on video outside of PBS.

I will say that I have little use for the "scientific" and "historical" programming I've seen on Discovery, A&E, History channel, etc. A lot of biased things go on there and a lot of lies of omission. A lot of pseudoscience/paranormal/ufo/conspiracy programming airs there too. I choose not to watch them but at least I know that I don't pay for them (cancelled cable and they don't get tax dollars).

I imagine that somewhere in all the bureaucracy the producers of these documenaties are probably also getting some state or federal grants.

There are quality documentaries being made and they seem to be doing much better now on home video. I don't see where the government has a reason to be involved any more than "we" should be funding a deluxe package of Porky's films.

[weegee]

We don't need to ask for "balance". Their stumping for the Green Party is as illegal as it would be for a church to do so.

Punish them with fines (and jail time if suitable) and take away their 501(c)3 status. Remove their government contribution as well.

[JackOfClubs1]

My understanding is that the amount of federal funds PBS and similar groups get is a fairly small percentage of their budget. To that extent, pulling the funding probably won't hurt them much and might give them the opportunity to feel all smug and self-righteous.

I have heard calls for defunding several times over the years and it never seems to go anywhere. I agree that we should oppose government funding to information sources on (eg PBS, NEA and public schools) on principle, but I am not holding my breath. Especially with the skyrocketing spending the Bush administration has been doing. I just don't think anyone in Washington has the courage to take a principled and unpopular stand on such matters.

[Drango]

My understanding is that the amount of federal funds PBS and similar groups get is a fairly small percentage of their budget.

Well federal taxes seem the same to my wallet as state taxes. And TAX dollars account for about 41% of the "public broadcasting" ponzi scheme. A nickle would be too much IMHO

[TheGeezer]

I was an engineer for a PBS affiliate 25 years ago for three years, and those people need to have their umbilicus cut. What PBS does is done so much better by so many others - and for a profit - let it die.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Their stumping for the Green Party is as illegal as it would be for a church to do so.

Should be far more so--the justification for the government sitting in judgement on what is said in church about government rests solely on the tax deduction argument. Enact a flat tax or a sales tax--either of which eliminates that deduction--and the rationale for outlawing chuch discussion of politics vanishes.

[WorkingClassFilth]

"CPB Board Chairman Kenneth Tomlinson...described the senator [Hollings] as designated by the "Almighty" to lead the charge for public broadcasting on Capitol Hill."

There you have it.

God is in favor communist serpents sucking dry the generous teats of the federal government. If you disagree, you're bound for a hot stay in hell.

Well, I've got my #50 sunscreen and flip-flops ready to go.