Even if that is their policy, i think that firing someone for saying what Williams NPR is something of an over-reaction.
I think his feelings about seeing Muslims on planes are stupid, and demonstrate a hysterical lack of perspective about the extent to which Muslims are a threat. If he truly feels scared by simply seeing Muslims at an airport or on his plane, then he’s the sort of moron who probably also seals up his windows with plastic wrap and duct tape, and who thinks the TSA ban on nail clippers was a good idea.
But, if he genuinely does have those feelings of trepidation, i really don’t see what the big deal is about his talking about them. Also, just about every single news story i can find on this quotes Williams’ words about his fear of Muslims on planes, but leaves out his other comments about not blaming all Muslims for the actions of a few extremists, and about needing to treat all people equally under the law.
My argument here isn’t about the First Amendment or some other legal principle. It’s simply about journalistic standards and professionalism. Yes, we expect journalists to exhibit professional ethics, and we expect that they don’t let their personal beliefs get in the way of accurate reporting. But Williams was a commentator too, and it’s pretty clear that his comments were opinion only, and that he did not mean them to be taken as some sort of factual assertion about the dangers posed by Muslims.
I understand, in a general sense, the reasons behind NPR’s policies, but i think that this particular case shows that such policies, even when well-intentioned, can have detrimental consequences. I have no opinion on Williams’ ability as a commentator, as i don’t recall ever having heard him on NPR, and if he’s as crappy as some of the stories i’ve read suggest then maybe NPR is better off without him. I’ve been critical in the past of the way that NPR apparently feels that it has to bend over backwards to provide conservative “balance” on its shows, and if that’s the main role Williams was playing, he probably won’t be missed very much. But i think this was a bad reason to fire someone.
And, while i admit that i’m a little conflicted on the issue, i think that this is different, in some important ways, from CNN’s firing of Rick Sanchez recently. I support CNN’s firing of Sanchez, and i think his comment about Jon Stewart and about Jews in the media industry were different, in important ways, from Williams’ comments about his own feelings about seeing Muslims in airports.