{"id":312,"date":"2010-10-22T13:18:22","date_gmt":"2010-10-22T13:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/lynnvsekulow\/2010\/10\/juan-williams-firing-political.html"},"modified":"2010-10-22T13:18:22","modified_gmt":"2010-10-22T13:18:22","slug":"juan-williams-firing-political","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/2010\/10\/juan-williams-firing-political.html","title":{"rendered":"Juan Williams’ Firing: Political Correctness Over the Top"},"content":{"rendered":"

Barry, it’s the ultimate in political correctness.  <\/span>Losing your job for being honest – for expressing a feeling – a thought.  <\/span>The problem is that in the case of former NPR journalist Juan Williams, an honest thought – expressing a feeling – about Muslims and 9-11<\/i> – cost him his job.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

In an interview on FOX’s O’Reilly Factor, Williams<\/a> merely expressed a thought that is on the minds of millions of Americans in a post-9\/11 world:  <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span> <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

“I mean, look, Bill, I’m not a bigot. You know the kind of books I’ve written about the civil rights movement in this country.  <\/span>But when I get on a 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.”<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Moments after that sentence, he went on to say that it’s wrong to believe that all Muslims are terrorists and that all Americans have to be careful not to let fears lead to the violation of anyone’s constitutional rights.  <\/span>In addition to the complete interview<\/a>, which NPR clearly ignored, Williams accurately recounts what happened in his own words.  <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I don’t agree with Williams’ political views. But I do agree with his right to express a thought – to speak honestly.  <\/span>The fact is that NPR’s action was outrageous.  <\/span>In addition to firing him with a phone call, the President and CEO of NPR <\/a>slammed him further by questioning his sanity when she stated he needs to be talking to his psychiatrist about his feelings.  <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>Of course, Muslim groups like CAIR<\/a> are happy – they demanded NPR take action.  <\/span>Their representative said the “right-wing” Williams was not a “good fit” for “liberal” NPR.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

But there are some moderate Muslims who understand the wrong that was committed here and are speaking out<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There’s strong support for Williams across the board.  <\/span>Whoopi Goldberg <\/a>said the firing was “ridiculous.”  <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And, in an unusual show of support for Williams, the Washington Post <\/a>(a former employer of Williams) correctly concludes that Williams “was attempting to do exactly what a responsible commentator should do: speak honestly without being inflammatory. His reward was to lose his job. . . .”  <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Not only is this move wrong, it reflects the imbalance that NPR has been projecting for years.  <\/span>They are not a mainstream news organization.  <\/span>And, while they proclaim to provide intellectual news coverage and analysis, there’s no shortage of outrageous statements made by NPR<\/a> staffers and journalists over the years – statements that did not result in firings.  <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And now it is becoming clearer – that NPR was really looking for the final straw – to fire a well-respected and talented journalist because of his continuing appearances on FOX News.  <\/span>Even the NPR ombudsman <\/a>admits that the relationship with FOX has caused “heartburn” for years at NPR. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In the wake of this highly-publicized firing, an important question is being asked.  <\/span>Why does NPR continue to receive federal taxpayer funds?  <\/span>An organization that receives big dollars from the Left.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

On the day it fired Juan Williams, NPR announced that it has accepted a multi-million dollar grant from billionaire and one of the post powerful funding sources of the Left – George Soros <\/a>– money to be spent on hiring NPR reporters.<\/span> I imagine those reporters whose salaries will be paid by Soros will have all the freedom they want to do their jobs – as long as it doesn’t involve criticizing the Left.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

There are reports that more than $400 million dollars a year in federal taxpayer funds goes to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting which provides funding to NPR.  <\/span>It’s time for Congress to put an end to financing this organization and its liberal agenda.  <\/span>Rep. Peter King (R-NY) says “Congress becomes an accessory if we continue to fund NPR in any way.”  <\/span>And, Sen. Jim DeMint <\/a>(R-SC) is planning on introducing legislation to defund NPR.  <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

That’s not only appropriate, but necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Williams is now coming forward and calling for the defunding of NPR <\/a>himself.    “If they want to compete in the marketplace, they should compete in the marketplace,” Williams said on a FOX news show. “They don’t need public funds. I think that they should go out there. They think their product is so great, go out and sell the product.”<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

I agree.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span> <\/p>\n

To subscribe to “Lynn v. Sekulow” click <\/font>here<\/font><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span> <\/p>\n

<\/span> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Barry, it’s the ultimate in political correctness.  Losing your job for being honest – for expressing a feeling – a thought.  The problem is that in the case of former NPR journalist Juan Williams, an honest thought – expressing a feeling – about Muslims and 9-11 – cost him his job.   In an interview…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,139,36,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-congress","category-first-amendment","category-free-speech","category-war-on-terrorism"],"yoast_head":"\nJuan Williams' Firing: Political Correctness Over the Top - Lynn v. 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Jay Sekulow has also served as a faculty member for the Office of Legal Education at the United States Department of Justice.  As a member of the faculty he instructed Assistant United States Attorneys and investigators in the First Amendment issues associated with prosecution of obscenity. An accomplished and respected judicial advocate, Sekulow has presented oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in numerous cases in defense of constitutional freedoms. Several landmark cases argued by Sekulow before the U.S. Supreme Court have become part of the legal landscape in the area of religious liberty litigation.  In the Mergens case, Sekulow cleared the way for public school students to form Bible clubs and religious organizations on their school campuses.  In the Lamb's Chapel case, Sekulow defended the free speech rights of religious groups, ensuring that they be treated equally with respect to the use of public facilities.  And, most recently, in McConnell v. FEC, Sekulow ensured that the constitutional rights of young people remain protected with a unanimous decision by the high court guaranteeing that minors can participate in political campaigns. A nationally recognized and respected defender of religious freedom, Sekulow has assembled one of the most prestigious law firms in the nation.  Founded in 1990, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses in constitutional law.  The ACLJ, under Sekulow's direction, is involved in public interest and public policy issues working to protect religious and constitutional liberties. In 2007, the Chicago Tribune concluded that the ACLJ has \"led the way\" in Christian legal advocacy.  In 2005, TIME Magazine named Sekulow one of the \"25 Most Influential Evangelicals\" in America and called the ACLJ \"a powerful counterweight\" to the ACLU.  Business Week said the ACLJ is \"the leading advocacy group for religious freedom.\"  Sekulow's work on the issue of judicial nominees - including possible vacancies at the Supreme Court - has received extensive news coverage including a front page story in The Wall Street Journal.  In addition, The National Law Journal has twice named Sekulow one of the \"100 Most Influential Lawyers\" in the United States (1994, 1997).  He is also among a distinguished group of attorneys known as \"The Public Sector 45\" named by The American Lawyer (January\/February 1997).  The magazine said the designation represents \"45 young lawyers outside the private sector whose vision and commitment are changing lives.\" Sekulow brings insight and education to listeners daily with his national call-in radio program, Jay Sekulow Live!, which is broadcast throughout the country on nearly 850 radio stations.  Sekulow also hosts a weekly television program, ACLJ This Week, which tackles the tough issues of the day and is broadcast on a number of networks nationwide including the Trinity Broadcasting Network and FamilyNet.  Sekulow is also a popular guest on nationally televised news programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, CNBC, and PBS.  He frequently contributes articles and commentary to national publications and is often quoted in the nation's leading newspapers including USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Washington Times. A graduate of Mercer University, Sekulow graduated cum laude receiving both a bachelor's degree and doctor of jurisprudence from Mercer University where he served on the Mercer Law Review as an editorial staff member.  Following graduation, Sekulow served as a tax trial attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service.  In that capacity, Sekulow prepared and brought to trial tax cases on behalf of the United States Department of Treasury in United States Tax Court. He also received a Ph.D. from Regent University, with a dissertation on American Legal History, and is the author of numerous publications and law articles. 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