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Oh, Brother: 'Car Talk' Guy Puts Mouth in Gear
The Washington Post ^ | May 4, 2005 | Mark Leibovich

Posted on 05/04/2005 5:34:05 AM PDT by MississippiMasterpiece

The guys who host "Car Talk" on National Public Radio -- brothers Tom and Ray Magliozzi -- were in Washington yesterday to visit with some of the powerful government officials whose support for public radio is so vital. They also sat for a rare interview.

"George Bush is a [unprintable vulgarity]," Tom Magliozzi says, about three minutes into the interview.

Rule Number One: When you're trying to ensure government funding, it's best not to refer to the head of said government as an unprintable vulgarity.

Maybe this is why the "Car Talk" guys rarely give interviews.

"Yeah, you probably shouldn't say that," says Doug Berman, executive producer of public radio's most popular weekend show, who is sitting across the breakfast table at Cafe Luna on P Street. NPR spokeswoman Jenny Lawhorn agrees. As do Ray and Tom, aka "Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers" at least until Tom essentially repeats himself, twice.

This is the part of the story where NPR officials make it clear that the views of the show's personalities do not reflect those of its management.

"I'd like to point out that 'Car Talk' is editorially independent," Lawhorn says.

"Their jokes and jabs," she further states in a follow-up e-mail, "aren't in any way the official views of NPR and its member stations."

This is an important distinction, since local public radio stations rely partly on the largess of Congress, some of whose members are Republicans. These stations, in turn, pay fees to NPR for programming. So NPR executives are understandably sensitive to what they call their "perception problem" -- that NPR is often considered a bastion of liberal sensibilities that are winning little love from Washington these days, or, for that matter, funding.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
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To: Arkie2

The Dixie Chicks of car repair?


41 posted on 05/04/2005 6:44:07 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (Never corner anything meaner than you. NSDQ)
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To: Sloth

I don't listen to welfare radio no matter what their POV is. The opinion of theives is automatically discounted.


42 posted on 05/04/2005 6:45:18 AM PDT by TigersEye (Are your parents Pro-Choice? I guess you got lucky! ... Is your spouse?)
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To: ladyjane

"Hi Guys - Love your show. 1985 Volvo 240 wagon makes noises whenever it passes by a car with a "Bush/Cheney" sticker on it. I'm a teacher in Rye, New york".

- A typical Car Talk Segment


43 posted on 05/04/2005 6:47:23 AM PDT by GungaLaGunga
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To: dparx
How many liberals miss out on great John Wayne movies because of his conservatism?

Probably very few...true libs....They are watching Fahrenheit 911

Lot's of sheeple I'm sure don't even know anything about "The Duke's" politics...Besides that...the political times were different back in J.W.'s day...many Dem's were more conservative then, than most Repub's now.

So...the heck with Frick and Frack.

44 posted on 05/04/2005 6:49:10 AM PDT by Osage Orange (Short OVTI.......& CYTC)
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To: Osage Orange

They are VERY funny.

Even rabid foam-at-the-mouth liberals can be amusing sometimes.


45 posted on 05/04/2005 6:49:40 AM PDT by JusPasenThru (http://giinthesky.blogspot.com/)
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To: MississippiMasterpiece

I never listen to NPR or watch PBS. I try to support for profit stations and their sponsors...


46 posted on 05/04/2005 6:50:18 AM PDT by tubebender (We child proofed our house but they still get in...)
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To: Puppage
Liberal Massholes

You got that right! The state is full of glib dumbells.

47 posted on 05/04/2005 6:50:34 AM PDT by johnny7 (Ever wonder what's the 'crust' in 'Ol Crusty'?)
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To: Conservatrix
Even if NPR is one big liberal circle jerk...

I'll pass on being a participant...........

48 posted on 05/04/2005 6:51:55 AM PDT by Osage Orange (Short OVTI.......& CYTC)
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To: johnny7

And, it's not much better here in CT,either.


49 posted on 05/04/2005 6:53:25 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it.)
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To: Osage Orange
"socialistmarxistliberaldemo virus", you think this virus might be in the water reservoir in NYS or is it just cool to dish anything conservative? This water supply gets to NJ too doesn't it?
50 posted on 05/04/2005 6:55:40 AM PDT by poobear
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To: Arkie2
You know, I actually liked (past tense) these guys because they're funny and entertaining. When will entertainers learn to keep their political opinions to themselves?

Dang. Same here.

When I was running the Vieques ferry, Armed Forces Radio only gave us an hour a day of Rush. We got alot of NPR, and I liked listening to Click and Clack.
51 posted on 05/04/2005 6:57:09 AM PDT by A Balrog of Morgoth (With fire, sword, and stinging whip I drive the Rats in terror before me.)
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To: MississippiMasterpiece

Can't remember the source, but I read a while back, that neither of these yahoo's even own a car. I think it's for environmental (or mental) reasons.

Only NPR would have a car-talk program hosted by people who don't even like cars enough to purchase one...


Fletcher J


52 posted on 05/04/2005 7:03:06 AM PDT by Fletcher J
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To: dparx
How many liberals miss out on great John Wayne movies because of his conservatism?

All of them. John Wayne was in movies where the military was actually portrayed as the good guys. Can't have that you know.

John Wayne was in movies where white civilized Americans were seen as superior to mexican invaders or to semi-civilized violent natives. Heresy!

John Wayne was in movies where men were men and women were glad of it. Not a poofta to be found. How discriminatory

John Wayne SMOKED in his movies!. Oh the inhumanity

Liberals hate John Wayne because John Wayne loved America and liberals hate America

53 posted on 05/04/2005 7:05:28 AM PDT by John O (God Save America (Please))
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To: Loud Mime

"I suggest a call in with loads of car problems that turn into political lessons."

Dear Click and Clack...my girlfriend and her car keep pulling to the left...how can I stop this?


54 posted on 05/04/2005 7:14:37 AM PDT by politicalwit (USA...A Nation of Selective Law Enforcement.)
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To: poobear
"socialistmarxistliberaldemo virus", you think this virus might be in the water reservoir

I think it's airborne........

55 posted on 05/04/2005 7:33:38 AM PDT by Osage Orange (Short OVTI.......& CYTC)
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To: ladyjane
Jeeze...I guess MIT graduates aren't what they used to be.
I've often wondered how one goes from an MIT degree to
greasemonkey.I'll wager that they don't get many fund raising letters from the Alumni Relations Office!
56 posted on 05/04/2005 7:38:03 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative
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To: TigersEye

WelfareRadio... good... I like that. Will save for future use!


57 posted on 05/04/2005 7:44:08 AM PDT by johnny7 (Ever wonder what's the 'crust' in 'Ol Crusty'?)
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To: MississippiMasterpiece

I'm sure that they would love to hear our advice about keeping their leftist BS politics to themselves:

http://www.cartalk.com/email/email.html


58 posted on 05/04/2005 7:47:10 AM PDT by JarheadFromFlorida
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To: MississippiMasterpiece

Chalk up two more uneducated "celebrities" who fancy themselves political scientists, giving advice on how to run the country.


59 posted on 05/04/2005 8:02:04 AM PDT by Polyxene (For where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel - Martin Luther)
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To: MinuteGal
Instead of a tune-up, I'm opting for a tune-out.

Well said LOL!

Me too. One less thing I have to read now.

60 posted on 05/04/2005 8:23:25 AM PDT by citizen (Yo W! Read my lips: No Amnistia by any name!)
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