NPR: National Propaganda Radio

Equal time apparently a foreign concept

Published on May 14, 2004 By Draginol In Politics

This evening on the way back from my son's little league game I turned on NPR. I was greeted with an incredibly sympathetic report on a Mexican immigrant who was on death roll for his roll in double homicide commited during an armed robbery.

The report gave air time to every member of his family. Father, mother, sister, etc. It provided a sound bite from his attorney and talked about all the support he had received from various organizations.

Missing from the report was a single word or mention from anyone related in any fashion to the vicitms. Victims as in the people who were murdered. Nothing at all.

The entire piece was essentially a propaganda piece against the death penalty and played this criminal as the victim. It talked how he had been denied rights because he was a "foreign national" in that that arresting officer didn't follow the Viena convention about informing him that his national government could be contacted. This isn't some diplomat we're talking about folks, this was an illegal alien who came into the US and started robbing people with guns and during one of those armed robberies, 2 innocent people were killed.

My problem isn't that I think he should be executed (or not). My problem is the completely unbalanced reporting. This guy ISN'T the victim. The people who are already dead are. Not having even a single word or statement from the families of the victims (there were TWO victims, it shouldn't be hard to find someone) is just rank propaganda. Wouldn't want anyone to feel sympathy for them as it would get in the way of NPR's rather crude anti-death penalty propaganda piece.

Disgusting.

Comments (Page 1)

psychx

on May 14, 2004

This isn't the first time I have heard of a news reporting being biased, I have heard countless more and I especially hate it when it's a political agenda pushing it. We should hear both sides in every situation but it's common to see just one side....

JillUser

on May 14, 2004

As long as NPR is recieving even a penny of tax payer's money, they should be required to give both sides.

Saint Ying

on May 14, 2004

NPR provides the best journalism available to radio listeners, PERIOD. If their ethic includes liberal values that question unfair modes of justice, so be it. The problem with American conservatives is that they dumb themselves down with talk radio and FOX news rather than taking advantage of the kind of quality journalism like NPR that makes a concerted effort to get remain incisive and professional while being objective and open to diverse voices. Perhaps good journalism is an inherently liberal commodity. Look at Bill Moyers, for example. There is no TV journalism that beats PBS NOW, and few journalists of left or right persuasion are willing to give the upper hand to their opponents by allowing them the most fair platform to speak.

In this case, I can't see what having the family of the victims call for the death of this killer would do in the way of responsible journalism. This conflict is between the convicted man and the state that failed in subjecting him to the correct procedures of justice. The victims family have no role in this any more. The state is morally obliged to follow the proper course of justice for everyone. When it fails to do so and the life of a man is at stake, an error has been made, regardless of how terribly or wrongfully someone has acted.

Draginol

on May 14, 2004

You really capture the Liberal mythos quite well there Saint Ying.

You see, left-wingers aren't radical. They simply are more civilized. And it is up to them, as our betters, to educate the babaric slobs of the world (like me) how to be more civilized.

There is no need for NPR to provide equal time on many issues because some views don't deserve equal time. If there is a report on torturing small animals, does NPR need to bring on a pro-animal torturing person? Of course not.

In the same vein, NPR doesn't need to bring on people with incorrect ideas like those who might make capital punishment look okay. Or those who believe abortion is murder (those freaks). Or those primitives who believe in some sort of magical super being they call "God" (or something like that).

NPR's report today focused on capital punishment and how everyone (well everyone who's civilized, not knuckle dragging conservatives mind you but they're too busy driving their pickup trucks listening to Rush Limbuagh to appreciate the civilized reporting of NPR anyway) is against it. Sure, he may have brutally murdered innocent people while robbing them but that's really not the issue. This poor man, "a man who came to America penniless looking for a chance to make a better life for himself" (from the NPR segment) has had his legal rights infringed. And because of that, the barbaric act of capital punishment, which, like we said, no civilized person is in favor of in the first place, may actually happen to him.

It is NPR's job...nay..it's moral duty, to enlighted the ignorant sheep masses of America as to the correct line of thinking. And if those masses don't agree, it matters not because we'll make them pay for this message with their tax dollars because those of us who are enlightened must help guide our flock to the path of wisdom and civility.

Some day, god willing (and I mean that figuratively because, after all, as civilized liberals we don't believe in voodoo and magical imaginary friends), PBS will act as a template so that once we control all of the means of production and information distribution we can create a better world. A world where correct thinking is the norm.

Truly a paradise...

messybuu

on May 14, 2004

I agree with Saint Ying. It's best to shy away from any mention of the man's murderous background, as that would undermine his claim to innocence.

couchman

on May 14, 2004

Saint Ying..heres a thought.... liberals are the intellectually superior (or at least they think) to conservatives....wouldnt they be better served have at least an ounce of personal responsibility instead of seeking to blame the behavior of a murderer because of his enviroment, upbringing, etc...last i checked if you did the crime...you do the time....as for fox news and Rush Limbaugh, well with regards to Rush, half his viewers/listeners are dems/libs...are they included into that whole dittohead bs wich is just code for dumb conservatives or do they get a pass...and as for Fox, is it the left is pissed at them for bitchslapping every other network out there in ratings or is it that they give news from a slight conservative point of view....to counter the overwhelming liberal view out there in both print and electronic media....but wait that would mean giving the general public balanced reporting from both sides....cant have that...as for liberal talk radio..lol the much hyped liberal Air America is already hurting as their audience dwindles by the day....but frankly if that network was designed for anything more than bolster the left slant for the presidential election I'd be shocked and we will see it disappear after that election anyway

Saint Ying

on May 15, 2004

You really capture the Liberal mythos quite well there Saint Ying.
You see, left-wingers aren't radical. They simply are more civilized. And it is up to them, as our betters, to educate the babaric slobs of the world (like me) how to be more civilized.
There is no need for NPR to provide equal time on many issues because some views don't deserve equal time. If there is a report on torturing small animals, does NPR need to bring on a pro-animal torturing person? Of course not.
In the same vein, NPR doesn't need to bring on people with incorrect ideas like those who might make capital punishment look okay. Or those who believe abortion is murder (those freaks). Or those primitives who believe in some sort of magical super being they call "God" (or something like that).
NPR's report today focused on capital punishment and how everyone (well everyone who's civilized, not knuckle dragging conservatives mind you but they're too busy driving their pickup trucks listening to Rush Limbuagh to appreciate the civilized reporting of NPR anyway) is against it. Sure, he may have brutally murdered innocent people while robbing them but that's really not the issue. This poor man, "a man who came to America penniless looking for a chance to make a better life for himself" (from the NPR segment) has had his legal rights infringed. And because of that, the barbaric act of capital punishment, which, like we said, no civilized person is in favor of in the first place, may actually happen to him.
It is NPR's job...nay..it's moral duty, to enlighted the ignorant sheep masses of America as to the correct line of thinking. And if those masses don't agree, it matters not because we'll make them pay for this message with their tax dollars because those of us who are enlightened must help guide our flock to the path of wisdom and civility.
Some day, god willing (and I mean that figuratively because, after all, as civilized liberals we don't believe in voodoo and magical imaginary friends), PBS will act as a template so that once we control all of the means of production and information distribution we can create a better world. A world where correct thinking is the norm.
Truly a paradise...

I'm glad you're beginning to get our drift. As long as you continue to charicature liberals, that charicature is going to spit in your face and tell you that you are wrong. Honestly, you can't expect alot of Americans to know, or even appreciate, good journalism, journalism that is principled and incisive and mature. You can't expect them to take any sort of challenge to broaden their minds or think outside their social boxes when it comes to the media and entertainment they consume. This article is the perfect example of your incapacity to understand the abstract issue of justice, designed to give fair process to even the most sinister criminal. This goes beyond revenge, punishment, or 'off with his head'. It's about loving your enemy by being fair to him, by letting him know that justice is something bigger than hate, racism or revenge, something that is fully right in consuming him or taking his life or liberty. Justice is a secular god if ever there was one, and she behaves in a secular manner, obeying the system of laws and rules that have elevated her above the society. Think I'm making this up? Wrong, these are the beliefs that the people (people who conservatives hate with a passion) who created our great country held to be dear. Are we too caught up in our own wretched lives to give a shit? You are, but not me. That's why you need to be put in place and listen more than you talk. And you should start with the upper end of journalism, the BBC and CPB. Skip Fox News and CBS, NBC, ABC. Listening to news shouldn't be fun and entertaining. Commercial news never goes deep enough, and too often pleases its consumers by giving them their ideological kicks or sentimental drivel that makes them feel good.

But of course you conservatives are addicted to your ideological kicks aren't you? That's why you watch Fox News, which always leaves you with a feeling that history cares about you, that your values and illusions are affirmed by the great machine of journalism. Of course, everyone knows that its really not about politics, it's about the fact that NPR and PBS bore you silly and talk over your heads, and Fox News is your trusty colorful passifier, keeping you safely subdued in your dogmatic slumber while big media (yes, the same liberal media that you abhore) wraps the FCC around its little finger.

Should we tax people for NPR? Why not? The government is wasting enough money as it is on old fashioned social programs, bloated cold war defense contracts, and all sorts of corporate welfare. I sure as hell didn't ask my government to loosen its restrictions on media corporations so that they can get bigger and more powerful, did I? Nor did I ask my government to defy the constitution by spawning faith based initiatives and wasting my money on religious education. So if the good liberal secular humanist from Massachusettes wants to spend some of your tax money on secular humanist radio and television, I say why not?

messybuu

on May 15, 2004

Good journalism, of course, being journalism with views with which you agree, right?

You can't expect them to take any sort of challenge to broaden their minds or think outside their social boxes when it comes to the media and entertainment they consume. This article is the perfect example of your incapacity to understand the abstract issue of justice, designed to give fair process to even the most sinister criminal. This goes beyond revenge, punishment, or 'off with his head'. It's about loving your enemy by being fair to him, by letting him know that justice is something bigger than hate, racism or revenge, something that is fully right in consuming him or taking his life or liberty. Justice is a secular god if ever there was one, and she behaves in a secular manner, obeying the system of laws and rules that have elevated her above the society. Think I'm making this up? Wrong, these are the beliefs that the people (people who conservatives hate with a passion) who created our great country held to be dear. Are we too caught up in our own wretched lives to give a shit? You are, but not me. That's why you need to be put in place and listen more than you talk.

Maybe I missed something, but where does it say that he was treated unfairly?

Should we tax people for NPR? Why not? The government is wasting enough money as it is on old fashioned social programs, bloated cold war defense contracts, and all sorts of corporate welfare.

Two wrongs make a right?

I sure as hell didn't ask my government to loosen its restrictions on media corporations so that they can get bigger and more powerful, did I? Nor did I ask my government to defy the constitution by spawning faith based initiatives and wasting my money on religious education. So if the good liberal secular humanist from Massachusettes wants to spend some of your tax money on secular humanist radio and television, I say why not?

And here I thought liberal secular humanists were above petty things like revenge.

Saint Ying

on May 15, 2004

Two wrongs make a right?

Actually, I only counted one wrong. Unlike torturing Iraqi prisoners because them terrorists got us on ninelevun(!!), funding NPR isn't a wrong.

And here I thought liberal secular humanists were above petty things like revenge.

Again, it's not revenge. Its for the good of the people.

Saint Ying

on May 15, 2004

Maybe I missed something, but where does it say that he was treated unfairly?

I don't know. Draginol didn't bother to provide anymore information than that the 'arresting officer didn't follow the Viena convention about informing him that his national government could be contacted'. Draginol, why don't you tell us the complete story. If we're going to debate the specifics of the story, we should hear what both sides (the convicted man and the department of justice --- NOT the victim's family) have to say. I'm sure NPR provided you with the details of each side, so please give us all the points so that we can decide whether or not the convicted man was indeed treated justly.

Pam Johnson

on May 15, 2004

Saint Ying, how does it feel being up where you are? It has to hurt going through life being so intelligent that you have no equal. You wax extremely well; you have a excellent ability to opine in a way that is wonderful, aber you also asume that all others are below you in their ability to think, and reason. Your opinion is one I do agree with in part, however, you do need to look at how victims feel after something as tragic as a loved one being murdered. There are two sides to every story; it helps to look at both sides in dept prior to espousing B.S. about how the murderer was a victim of society along with it wasn't really his/her fault they did what they did wrong.

Here's something to think about, "Victims or their loved ones suffer far more than the one who made them a victim."

Pam

Zoomba

on May 15, 2004

Saint Ying,

You are a perfect example of the type of liberal who gives the rest of us liberals a really bad name, you come off as condescending and a prick. You played right into one of the ugliest of the liberal stereotypes and as such help to destroy the credibility of the left, all most of these people here have to do when looking to refute a liberal standpoint now is point to you and go "Well, they're all just like HIM". Come off your high horse for a moment and actually regard the opposition as living, breathing, intelligent human beings... you'll get a lot further and won't end up hurting the rest of us.

On the NPR issue, yes they're strongly liberal, there's no doubt in anyone's mind on that... the very nature of NPR (and PBS) dictates that it would have a very liberal agenda since it's a purely public service funded entirely by donations and tax money (mostly private donations in a majority of areas... even I chipped in around $100 this year). On occassion they swing way left with a story like this and act irresponsibly as journalists by only presenting one side of the story. But honestly, I feel they swing to the extreme left about as often as other groups swing to the extreme right in news reporting, no side has the complete picture and each station is trying to push it's own agenda in their reporting. NPR tends to go way too left when dealing with minority issues, Fox swings way too right on intl politics issues (saying the people of Spain had made a *mistake* in electing their new leader being the most recent example that immediately comes to mind) or CNN and it's immediate blame of Al Qaida for the WTC attacks almost immediately after they occured before ANY proof existed to connect the group to the event.

Each station has it's own slants and biases, NPR is obviously liberal, but for the most part (i.e. when not dealing with minority issues) they do alright in terms of news reporting. Most of their Iraq reporting has given equal time and consideration to the pro and con side of what's happening (once again, most but not all... they still have their stories that blast it to hell). Of course the only way to get anything close to an accurate picture of what's going on in the world around us is to watch all the stations and pick out the points they ALL agree on, because that's usually the truth of the matter and the rest is fluff influenced by opinion and bias.

vernmeister2u

on May 15, 2004

Pity for the guilty is treason to the innocent. - Ayn Rand

VES

Draginol

on May 15, 2004

Saint Ying: Regarding the criminal's rights. The arresting officer (in Okalahoma) I think can be excused if he isn't up on the latest Viena treaty issues. For instance, how would the arresting officer have known that the man was an illegal alien? The Viena treaty merely means he could consult with the Mexican consulate to try to get aid. His guilt isn't in question in the case. It is just they want to use this as an excuse to get him off of death roll.

But the entire segment was designed to make the listener sympathetic to this murdering criminal. They interviewed his younger sister for crying out loud. What did that have to do with anything? I'll tell you, it's about trying to "humanize" the criminal so that people will realize that the death penalty is "wrong".

But in the process they dehumanize the victims as nameless faceless statistics. All we get of his crime is that he was involved in a double-homicide during an armed robbery.

My problem with the segment isn't that I'm pro-capital punishment. It's that NPR chose to blow off the other side completely. I've seen this on NPR countless times (recently they had a "debate" on gays in the miliary and their two guests were retired army generals -- both who were gay and both supported gays in the military). They don't even make an attempt to be balanced. And this was on "All Things Consider". It should be renamed "All liberal things considered".

But Ying, by all means, please go on explaining to us knuckle draggers how the enlightened elite such as yourselves have a duty to bring the light of your wisdom to our darkened lives. Correct thinking is rewarded I hope?

messybuu

on May 15, 2004

Also, how in the Hell does bringing his family onto the show do anything for responsible journalism? If anything, it seems as though they're trying to make it more emotional. If working to manipulate people's emotions is responsible journalism, then I guess sensationalism is a virtue in journalism.

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