Why the GOP Is At War With NPR
NPR was possibly indelicate in its handling of the Williams affair but that’s not why GOP members latched onto the story. They saw it as a perfectly timed political opportunity.
At a time when the GOP just benefited from $190 million in campaign cash from outside organizations to take control of the House of Representatives, it’s insane that Republicans are quibbling over a few million dollars in federal grants for public radio, especially when it’s unlikely they’ll succeed in their de-funding efforts. But as journalist and media critic Dan Kennedy points out, the war isn’t even really about NPR. “It’s a political statement, not a genuine policy position; and it’s a convenient cudgel with which to beat Democrats and liberals over the head.”
