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CNN Special Comment: NPR Right To Fire Juan Williams

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Turborama Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 01:42 PM
Original message
CNN Special Comment: NPR Right To Fire Juan Williams
Editor's note: Arsalan Iftikhar is an international human rights lawyer, founder of http://www.themuslimguy.com//">TheMuslimGuy.com and legal fellow for the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding in Washington.

By Arsalan Iftikhar, Special to CNN
October 22, 2010

(CNN) -- Imagine for a moment that there was a prominent American conservative journalist who ignorantly disparaged an entire minority group on national television, got fired for it by the nation's largest public radio media organization and then still managed to pull down a $2 million payday with the television network where he made the remarks.

Man, it must be nice to be Juan Williams.

A quick recap: Williams, a National Public Radio "news analyst," appeared on Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor" on Monday to talk about Bill O'Reilly's recent remarks about Muslims on ABC's "The View;" the latter' shows co-hosts, Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg, had walked off the television set in protest.

When asked what he thought about the incident, Williams responded: "Look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. ...You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. ... But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in

Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."

When someone begins with the weak disclaimer that he is "not a bigot," you can probably bet the farm that he is about to say something pretty bigoted.

Full article: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/10/22/iftikhar.juan.williams/
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thewiseguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 01:46 PM
Response to Original message
1. This article is written by a political commentator working for NPR
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsalan_Iftikhar
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Turborama Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 01:52 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. He's not a "news analyst" for them, which was Williams' job title
He's a contributor to The Barbershop segment on "Tell me More"...

The Barber shop: Jimi Izrael moderates a weekly all-male segment covering topics related to minority communities
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tell_Me_More
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thewiseguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 01:55 PM
Response to Reply #2
5. Still he is a legal affairs analyst and a political commentator for NPR
He is hardly credible on this case.
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Turborama Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 02:20 PM
Response to Reply #5
12. Have you read the whole article? What specifically is not "credible" about what he says?
If he's a lawyer and a legal affairs analyst, he knows whether he's allowed by NPR's code of ethics to write about this or not.
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thewiseguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 02:32 PM
Response to Reply #12
15. There is a conflict of interest
The author of the article works for NPR. He would be fired if he any other opinion on this issue.
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Bragi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 02:37 PM
Response to Reply #15
17. A rather good point there! /nt
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Turborama Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 02:38 PM
Response to Reply #15
18. Not if he isn't employed as a "journalist" or "news analyst" and is a "commentator"
Edited on Fri Oct-22-10 02:54 PM by Turborama
The difference in job title is very important.

Also, even if he was employed as a journalist there, his contract allows him to write the same views on a CNN blog he would air on NPR.

You might want to have a look at the section of the ethics code this relates to. Excerpt from a letter to NPR employees (my emphasis).

"First, a critical distinction has been lost in this debate. NPR News analysts have a distinctive role and set of responsibilities. This is a very different role than that of a commentator or columnist. News analysts may not take personal public positions on controversial issues; doing so undermines their credibility as analysts, and that’s what’s happened in this situation. As you all well know, we offer views of all kinds on your air every day, but those views are expressed by those we interview – not our reporters and analysts.

In appearing on TV or other media . . . NPR journalists should not express views they would not air in their role as an NPR journalist. They should not participate in shows . . . that encourage punditry and speculation rather than fact-based analysis.”

More fundamentally, “In appearing on TV or other media including electronic Web-based forums, NPR journalists should not express views they would not air in their role as an NPR journalist.”

Posted here by an employee of NPR: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9361586
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joeybee12 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 02:22 PM
Response to Reply #1
14. Oh, I see your reasoning, You're not a bigot...
but...
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sabrina 1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 01:53 PM
Response to Original message
3. What gets me is how cowardly and scared Americans have
become. How easy it is to frighten them. All you have to do is say 'Boo' and Rightwingers run for protection, even if it means trampling over children.

What ever happened to the 'Home of the Brave'?

Shame on him for his ignorance. By wearing their traditional clothing they are 'identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims'. And in this country they have every right to do so.

Why was this man being paid so much money when he is this stupid and ignorant? And cowardly?
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Bragi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 01:54 PM
Response to Original message
4. Speaking of weak rhetorical tactics...
Edited on Fri Oct-22-10 02:49 PM by Bragi
Iftikhar wrote: When someone begins with the weak disclaimer that he is "not a bigot," you can probably bet the farm that he is about to say something pretty bigoted.

Alternately, the person could be aware from previous discussions that just about any criticism or stated concerns about a particular group in society will invariably result in glib but unfounded allegations of bigotry, and they just want to get out front to try to counter that anticipated allegation.

Whether the tactic works or not is a totally different matter. I think claiming that anyone who says they aren't a bigot is likely a bigot is a similarly weak rhetorical tactic.
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dobrosailor Donating Member (1 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 02:02 PM
Response to Original message
6. self-delete
Edited on Fri Oct-22-10 02:06 PM by dobrosailor
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Bitwit1234 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 02:02 PM
Response to Original message
7. So just because he works at fox he is supposed to spew
racist comments and get away with it. The fired Imus for making racist remarks. And look at Rick from CNN itself for making uncalled for remarks. So is Williams immune. After all in 1991 he was warned and made to apologize for making sexual remarks.
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slackmaster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 02:03 PM
Response to Original message
8. NPR was right to fire Williams because he violated the terms of his contract
Not because of what he said.
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Bragi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 02:08 PM
Response to Reply #8
10. I am impressed with the devotion to employment contracts here
Edited on Fri Oct-22-10 02:08 PM by Bragi
No-one here is supporting the censorship of opposing views, no way.

But we are devoted to the view that employment contracts are sacrosanct.

That's been a longstanding progressive left view, for sure.
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Turborama Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 02:21 PM
Response to Reply #10
13. You're conflating the respect of employment contracts with DUers political views?
Edited on Fri Oct-22-10 02:27 PM by Turborama
Quelle surprise!

By the way, we all follow rules here on DU. It is like a contract we have with the owners. If DUers don't respect it and violate those rules, they sometimes get their posts deleted (or censored in your parlance) and ultimately fired for major infractions.
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Bragi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 02:36 PM
Response to Reply #13
16. Thanks for the reminder
Edited on Fri Oct-22-10 02:37 PM by Bragi
I've been here many years and have never had a problem with DU rules.
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Turborama Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 02:41 PM
Response to Reply #16
19. And you've stuck around for many years even though DU enforces censorship
Edited on Fri Oct-22-10 02:46 PM by Turborama
As you would put it.

On edit, you're welcome.
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Bragi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 03:01 PM
Response to Reply #19
21. I don't oppose any and all censorship
Edited on Fri Oct-22-10 03:27 PM by Bragi
I believe there can be "reasonable censorship" in certain situations, though I may define it more narrowly than most.

However, the issue here isn't whether Williams is being preemptively censored through dismissal, because I think the facts are that he is being preemptively censored.

The real issue is whether what he said justified this censorship.

Personally, I thought what he said was dumb, and it might have offended some, but I don't think it justified his dismissal.

(And yes dear reader, I do know the difference between censorship and the violation of First Amendment rights. Williams' firing is not about First Amendment rights.)
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Turborama Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 08:49 PM
Response to Reply #21
22. Oh, I thought you did
What kind of censorship would you define as "reasonable"? That is not a snaky question, by the way. Even though we have had various battles over the past couple of months, I do respect you as one of the most polite DUers I've debated with since I joined.

As for the reason Williams was fired, it wasn't for what he said so much as how he had constantly violated his contract, after several warnings. Much the same as someone who egregiously violates the rules here gets a TS.

You might not have had a chance to read this yet but I added details in post #18: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9369165&mesg_id=9369634
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Bragi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 10:22 PM
Response to Reply #22
24. I'm out for the weekend, back Monday
I can perhaps respond more fully at another time, but in short, I think the reasonableness of censorship needs to be considered in the context of an assessment of the amount of harm that might result in a given situation if censorship is not applied.

Personally, I'd set the bar high: censorship is only reasonable when it prevents significant harm from occurring.

And thanks for your comment. I return the compliment, as I also find you to be a civil and intelligent debater, particularly given the often intense nature of discussion on topics where we share an interest.
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Turborama Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Oct-23-10 08:12 AM
Response to Reply #24
25. I'd be interested to hear how you would define "significant harm"
Edited on Sat Oct-23-10 08:13 AM by Turborama
It's quite a broad term which can be used in a variety of ways.

Thank you for your compliment, the topics we've been finding ourselves discussing together are particularly sensitive. I'm sure there are many political topics we can find agreement on, though.

If you read this in time, have a great weekend.
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slackmaster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 02:47 PM
Response to Reply #10
20. Employment contracts are no more "sacrosanct" than are any other kind of contract
Edited on Fri Oct-22-10 02:48 PM by slackmaster
Bust a deal, face the Wheel.



Juan got "GULAG".
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Zen Democrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 02:07 PM
Response to Original message
9. Helen Thomas was fired for offending Jews. Why can't Williams be fired for offending Muslims?
It seems fair to me.
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Bragi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 02:09 PM
Response to Reply #9
11. How about neither should have been fired?
Is that an option?
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glinda Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-22-10 08:58 PM
Response to Original message
23. Sometimes Williams has said things or run discussions that were decidedly swayed
towards the right as well as lacked "reality and fact checking". I am glad that he is gone. He never fit the in depth reporting type that I would have have expected NPR to hire.
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