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March 10, 2011

NPR CEO Resigns Over Video Controversy 
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The head of National Public Radio has resigned amidst controversy over
an undercover video. NPR President and CEO Vivian Schiller stepped down
one day after right-wing activist James O'Keefe released a video showing
two people posing as Muslim donors meeting with two NPR executives. On
the tape, one of the executives suggests the Tea Party is xenophobic and
racist and that NPR would be better off without government funding. The
executive, Ron Schiller—no relation to Vivian Schiller—has
also resigned. The incident comes as NPR faces calls for massive cuts
from Republicans and Tea Party supporters. White House Press Secretary
Jay Carney said the Obama administration backs continued funding for NPR
and public broadcasting.

Jay Carney: "We do not support calls to eliminate funding for National
Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as is
evidenced by our budget. We think they are worthwhile and important
priorities, as our budget makes clear… Administrations, both Republican
and Democratic, have supported public broadcasting in the past, and we
think in an era where tough choices have to be made, including the ones
that this President laid out in his proposed 2012 budget, that there
remains a need to support public broadcasting and NPR."



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