posted on June 15, 2005 12:42:11 AM new
Public Broadcasting Targeted By House
Panel Seeks to End CPB's Funding Within 2 Years
By Paul Farhi
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 10, 2005; Page A01
A House subcommittee voted yesterday to sharply reduce the federal government's financial support for public broadcasting, including eliminating taxpayer funds that help underwrite such popular children's educational programs as "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow," "Arthur" and "Postcards From Buster."
In addition, the subcommittee acted to eliminate within two years all federal money for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting -- which passes federal funds to public broadcasters -- starting with a 25 percent reduction in CPB's budget for next year, from $400 million to $300 million.
First lady Laura Bush tapes a segment for "Sesame Street" in 2002. The show may lose some federal funds. (By Beth A. Keiser -- Associated Press)
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In all, the cuts would represent the most drastic cutback of public broadcasting since Congress created the nonprofit CPB in 1967. The CPB funds are particularly important for small TV and radio stations and account for about 15 percent of the public broadcasting industry's total revenue.
Expressing alarm, public broadcasters and their supporters in Congress interpreted the move as an escalation of a Republican-led campaign against a perceived liberal bias in their programming. That effort was initiated by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's own chairman, Kenneth Y. Tomlinson.
"Americans overwhelmingly see public broadcasting as an unbiased information source," Rep. David Obey (Wis.), the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, said in a statement. "Perhaps that's what the GOP finds so offensive about it. Republican leaders are trying to bring every facet of the federal government under their control. . . . Now they are trying to put their ideological stamp on public broadcasting."
But the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on labor, health and human services, and education asserted that the panel was simply making choices among various worthy government programs, and that no political message was intended.
The subcommittee's action, which came on a voice vote, doesn't necessarily put Big Bird on the Endangered Species List. House members could restore funding as the appropriations bill moves along or, more likely, when the House and Senate meet to reconcile budget legislation later this year. The Senate has traditionally been a stronger ally of public broadcasting than the House, whose former speaker, Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), waged a high-profile but ultimately unsuccessful campaign to "zero out" funding for the CPB a decade ago.
The cuts nevertheless surprised people in public broadcasting. In his budget sent to Congress in February, President Bush had recommended reducing CPB's budget only slightly.
Several denounced the decision by the panel, which has 10 Republicans and seven Democrats, as payback by a Republican-dominated House after years of complaints from conservatives who see liberal bias in programs carried by the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio. Broadcasters noted, for example, that the 25 percent cutback in next year's CPB budget was a rollback of money that Congress had promised in 2004.
PBS, in particular, drew harsh criticism in December from the Bush administration for a "Postcards From Buster" episode in which Buster, an animated rabbit, "visited" two families in Vermont headed by lesbians. And programming on both PBS and NPR has come under fire in recent months from Tomlinson, the Republican chairman of the CPB, who has pushed for greater "balance" on the public airwaves.
A spokeswoman for NPR, Andi Sporkin, directly blamed Tomlinson for yesterday's action, saying, "We've never been sure of Mr. Tomlinson's intent but, with this news, we might be seeing his effect."
Tomlinson did not return calls seeking comment. In a statement, he said, "Obviously, we are concerned [by the cuts], and we will be joining with our colleagues in the public broadcasting community to make the case for a higher level of funding as the appropriations measure makes its way through Congress."
posted on June 15, 2005 03:21:08 AM new
THERES GOOD REASON FOR THIS---"THE COOKIE MONSTER" IS A GAY PINKO COMMIE
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Baseball season has started,but they have it all wrong.3 strikes and you're out,4 balls you walk.I can tell you right now a man with 4 balls could not possibly walk
[ edited by classicrock000 on Jun 15, 2005 03:35 AM ]
posted on June 15, 2005 03:52:17 AM new
" THERES GOOD REASON FOR THIS---"THE COOKIE MONSTER" IS A GAY PINKO COMMIE"
No, he's BLUE. A gay BLUE commie.
But you make a point. Did you read where the cookie monster was going to stop eating cookies? Apparently kids today are too fat, so they are going to make the "Cookie" Monster eat healthier foods. It's silly politically-correct stuff like this that has caused this situation.
1) Cookie Monster can't eat cookies because kids are too fat.
2) The Count stopped counting cause it was too hard for kids to follow.
3) Bert turned EVIL http://www.spacecat.com/bert/bert.htm.
I haven't watched the show in years and years, but it wouldn't surprise me to find a gay character as well.
Do we really want these people teaching our children?
--------------------------------------
Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum sonatur.
[ edited by replaymedia on Jun 15, 2005 03:52 AM ]
posted on June 15, 2005 04:05:19 AM new
lol reply-I have to admit-I did watch it every now and then.I would come home from work in the late 70's and my wife and kid would be sitting there watching it.I did get a kick out of the cookie monster-and how could ya not like Bert and Ernie??
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baseball season has started,but they have it all wrong.3 strikes and you're out,4 balls you walk.I can tell you right now a man with 4 balls could not possibly walk
posted on June 15, 2005 08:04:29 AM new
Seems to be the government is threatened by unbiased reporting and it also threatens them to see their citizens become more educated because then it's harder to brainwash them, right?
They put warning labels in science textbooks until books can be rewritten to push the religious agenda only. Taking art classes out of schools so all creativity and expression is stifled at an early age. Hardly any global news so the masses concentrate only on Michael Jackson or any current star who is diddling some other star and remain ignorant to happenings worldwide.
Cut funding to schools who want to teach safe sex so abstinence only will be taught .....like that works? How is that working in Texas? Well, the kids are humping more than they ever did!
Focus on a star whose nipple was exposed and make it the headline for weeks and a true national issue while people act shocked and tsk tsk their brains out, but the coffins that are holding a dead soldier and secretly hidden from view are ignored.
Looks like the USA is moving more towards the way of the countries they are trying to bring democracy too. In time those people will then become more free in thinking and the people of the USA will become the ones who are all mind-controlled. Many of the citizens seem to be going that way willingly, buying eagerly into whatever they are told and whatever is done as their rights and freedoms are taken away. Interesting. Hopefully the majority will start to speak out.
posted on June 15, 2005 08:42:48 AM new
Great post Kiara, as usual you nailed it!
"" conservatives who see liberal bias in programs carried by the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio""
Yup, when the facts are presented they don't make the right look too good so naturally that's BIASED . The righties are so scared right now that getting rid of Bert and Ernis seems like a good plan.....which will backfire
posted on June 15, 2005 09:09:01 AM new
LOL! From the stiffled spider who only tipples a out few feet left to tell the world of her "clues", comes the massive conspiracy theories.
Taking art classes out of schools so all creativity and expression is stifled at an early age.
Heres a clue: Art classes are expendable and when funding decisions get made,..well, I guess you rather have them cut out math classes.
And then this brain storm: Many of the citizens seem to be going that way willingly, buying eagerly into whatever they are told; and then: Hopefully the majority will start to speak out
Kiara, you dont even know what youre talking about! How many is many? A majority a minority?
The whole language of your post is filled with fear, negatvitity and paranoia. Seems to be the government is threatened......until books can be rewritten to push the religious agenda only....Hardly any global news....niples a true national issue....And the best one yet:the USA will become the ones who are all mind-controlled.
LOL!! Good thing you live in Canada then - you are not subject to such scary scary mind control by the mass media and government!!
posted on June 15, 2005 09:23:23 AM new
dblfugger9, I have a concern but no real fear. Whatever happens will happen and that's the way I view life..... Que sera sera.
This is just my observation on media and eduction, etc, having spent a good part of my life between the two countries and I fully realize that others may view things a different way. If so, they can speak just as easily about what they think.
Another interesting observation on my part is that whenever I write something here, it strikes whatever is deep within you and it brings it out and you try to attach it to me. In this case, your fears.
posted on June 15, 2005 09:30:13 AM new
Those arent my fears, dearie, they're YOUR's...your words alone, not mine.
And of course, your interesting observations only further display your narcissistic grandiose mental illness plagued vision of yourself. Sorry it doesn't strike deep with in me ROFL!!! I just like telling you how stupid and narrow-minded your visions and observations are like the USA will be mind-controlled! do-do-0do-do-do-(twilight zone theme) hahaha!!
posted on June 15, 2005 09:35:56 AM new
Yes, I did previous state, and still feel the same way, that government funds should not be supporting either of those two networks.
Of course, the media spin is it's an attack on the children's programs. But what it really is all about is people are waking up to the fact that it's become another progressive/liberal way for the lefties to push their own agenda through public supported TV.
You want to keep it....then support it yourselves. I think government funding should have been cut long ago...once it became so clear that it was being used as a method to further the positions of the left and doesn't represent the right, making it more balanced.
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dbl - I was wondering where you'd gone.
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Then kiara says: Seems to be the government is threatened by unbiased reporting and it also threatens them to see their citizens become more educated because then it's harder to brainwash them, right?
god she's always good for a laugh. UNBIASED reporting? LOL don't think so. Both are very much slanted to only the left. Then the instructional children's programs are using this to promote their 'let's accept anything' views. That's brainwashing our children....not the other way around.
And anyone who wishes to see brainwashing...can look to our school system as a whole. THERE they will see brainwashing for sure.
Plus, kiara's can't see/won't admit to her own government's censorship tactics but can clearly see ours? LOL
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on June 15, 2005 09:39:21 AM new
"Yup, when the facts are presented they don't make the right look too good so naturally that's BIASED . The righties are so scared right now that getting rid of Bert and Ernis seems like a good plan.....which will backfire"
didnt know Bert and Ernie were democrats LOL!!
Yea I take it"big bird" is a democrat too..gives the impression of being a big pansy ass.
"The count" on the other hand is a Repug-hes counting his riches<SNICKER>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baseball season has started,but they have it all wrong.3 strikes and you're out,4 balls you walk.I can tell you right now a man with 4 balls could not possibly walk
posted on June 15, 2005 09:39:35 AM new
Hi Linda, <waving!> ...just catching up on some 'need-to-do' things lately
.
[ edited by dblfugger9 on Jun 15, 2005 09:40 AM ]
posted on June 15, 2005 09:43:48 AM new
Kiara has "censorship tactics" because she's against shutting down public TV ?????
Boy, that's a goood one Ha!
Seems like censorship is the agenda of the right.
I have to laugh at the ones who say public TV is biased......of course they don't watch it(it's IS educational) but they KNOW it's biased
Now, if they could just produce a sample of that "bias"...............
[ edited by crowfarm on Jun 15, 2005 10:00 AM ]
posted on June 15, 2005 09:44:29 AM new
I guess I'm not surprised. Big Bad Momma Dog and Baby Lap Dog come yipping in and join forces to turn the thread to 'all about kiara' and then will yap and yip onwards about how I'm trying to make it about myself. Reality bites and things never change.
posted on June 15, 2005 09:49:00 AM new
Linda, looks like youre my lap dog today as I was here before you! lol!!! Did you know that the USA will soon be mind-controlled? Are ya scared yet?
posted on June 15, 2005 10:03:43 AM new
lol....like I said...she's always good for a laugh.
------------
When I've confronted her on all her negative comments about our country...she denies she ever does that. So...just not sure what she calls these 'claims' she makes against our government here....especially this 'mind-control' business.
posted on June 15, 2005 10:37:37 AM new
Money can be better spent on roads, utilities, anything that is for ALL the people not just ones that children. So which is it? We are upset that children are spending too much time in front of the TV, but we want to continue to make programming easier?
posted on June 15, 2005 11:11:52 AM new
Attack the canadian health care and Kiara comes back and attacks our schools.
They put warning labels in science textbooks until books can be rewritten to push the religious agenda only.
Evidently she hasn't been reading about the schools lately. Science books rewritten to educate the students about evolution not religion.
Taking art classes out of schools so all creativity and expression is stifled at an early age
Classes taken out of schools because the schools don't have enough money. They can only tax the taxpayers so much. Teacher demanding more and more pay. Teachers get all their health insurance paid for. They want the citizens to pay pay pay so that they can take their hard earned retirement.
What should they cut Kiara Math, Science or maybe Reading.
[/]Cut funding to schools who want to teach safe sex so abstinence only will be taught[/i]
This is not the educational system to teach this. It has to come from the parents. I for one do not think that parents should pay for something they should teach. Anyway what kind of example is a teacher having sex with a 12 year old. Maybe that teacher should teach safe sex.
Do you pay taxes in the US? Are you taxed like the US citizens are taxed?
You made it all about Kiara posting things you know nothing about. Maybe if you spent all your time in the US you would think differently.
I have figured out by reading the threads of this board that the liberals think government should pay for everything. What happened to our free country?
posted on June 15, 2005 11:20:22 AM new
I have never read in here or read or heard anywhere that...
"liberals think government should pay for everything."
No, I believe taxes are necessary but the ultra-rich should not pay less taxes percentage wise nor should they be given huge tax breaks. People should pay their fair share.
If schools have to cut back which they've had to do in the last 4 1/2 years...then sports and cheerleading should go...not the arts.
Now ,back to the topic.....still waiting for proof of public TV bias...................
posted on June 15, 2005 11:33:10 AM new
If PBS and NPR want to push their liberal agenda, then maybe they can get together with Air America....rather than force those who don't agree with their political slant...nor their pro-gay lifestype...nor their anti-marriage agenda....
and let those who support those ideals support it themselves.
Neither of those two media sources used to promote any agenda....but then again the ACLU used to be on America's side too - and they no longer are either.
Many things have changed in the past generation or two....and this is why the left is so opposed to having public funding decreased. They'd have to pay for it themselves....like they do now trying to get Air American off the ground.
All one needs to do is look to how many groups of parents are having FITS about the sexual instruction being 'pushed' in the classrooms. Recently one school even REFUSED to let parents pre-view what was going to be taught to their children. What's there to hide? Another court ruling came down removing the sexual class program as parents were outraged.
That's what's being pushed in these children's TV programs...accepting the gay/transgender/etc lifestyle as normal....and something for our children to 'consider'. And I'm glad to see/read about public pressure getting more press to stop this nonsense.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on June 15, 2005 11:45:32 AM new
I have not seen where anyone has said PBS should stop broadcasting, just it should not depend on government funds to keep operating.
Of course comments once again were made and no one has even dared ask who or is not a member of PBS?
But if watching is a requirement to comment, then would that mean being prior military or in the military to comment on military matters?
posted on June 15, 2005 11:56:22 AM new
Ron there was a time when PBS was used as a teaching aid in schools. I remember having to learn spanish by this guy putting his hand to his ear and saying eschoochay (sp* lol!) a zillion times in a hour. Now there is so much more available: internet, tapes, cds, on and on. It's sad but the era of PBS being a educational tool is over, imo. I like some of their programming, and would hate to see it go, and its kind of like you dont really watch it much, but like to know its there kind of thing? But I would imagine the worthwhile shows would probably be picked up by cable or programmed at some ungodly hour on the affliates anyway.
.
[ edited by dblfugger9 on Jun 15, 2005 11:59 AM ]
posted on June 15, 2005 11:59:21 AM new
"That lefty Ken Burns and his baseball series...what's with THAT...I still don't like baseball"
commie b*tch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baseball season has started,but they have it all wrong.3 strikes and you're out,4 balls you walk.I can tell you right now a man with 4 balls could not possibly walk
posted on June 15, 2005 12:00:42 PM new
Kiara, that was a great post up there! The people who deny the dumbing down of America are the ones most affected.
"Attack the canadian health care and Kiara comes back and attacks our schools."
Attack, Libra? Is that what you call Linda's thread about our health care? Please show me where Kiara attacked anything.
posted on June 15, 2005 12:02:48 PM new
""If PBS and NPR want to push their liberal agenda""
Still no examples of this "liberal agenda".
????????
I really enjoy the ignorant statements from the neocons....""but then again the ACLU used to be on America's side too - and they no longer are either. ""
Despite the FACTS , some of which I've posted, about how the ACLU fights for religious righties, some rather dense posters still keeping about how "liberal" it is....it is if your definition of "liberal" means protecting the rights of ALL Americans.
