# Should longtime NPR analyst Juan Williams have been fired for comments he made on O'Reilly? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 21, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887 "2010-10-21T14:51:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/201 "2010-10-22T05:09:47Z")
Fox gave him a 3 year contract for 2 million dollars. Who says bigotry does not pay. On Fox it does. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/202 "2010-10-22T05:16:13Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > I don’t know, **Marley**. In post 92 you say there’s absolutely NO WAY that it could be the case. In post 122 you say that you can’t prove it categorically and I guess back off your position a bit. No, there is no way it could be true. I admit I can’t prove it; I’d need access to emails sent to NPR and other things I have no way of getting. > [@](#): > > I have an open mind and am willing to consider a possiblity until it’s proven impossible. Evidently, you don’t? I don’t, because that’s a waste of time and a ridiculous way of evaluating a situation. I’d rather consider what’s likely than make a list of everything I can’t prove to be impossible. And if you don’t understand why, I invite you to prove to me that the moon isn’t made of cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/203 "2010-10-22T06:36:55Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Cool game! I got one! How many Americans are dead because of something a Muslim did, and how many Muslims are dead from something an American did. Since 2000, say. Whaddaya think? Thousand to one? I’m happy to see that you are apparently so concerned about the lives and well-being of Iraqi Muslims (I assume you are speaking of Iraqi Muslims. I wouldn’t think even you would condemn our battle with the Taliban.) So with that in mind, how’s about you listen to [this little clip](http://fora.tv/2009/07/09/Axis_of_Evil_Christopher_Hitchens#chapter_03), entitled \*“Iraq: The Republic of Fear”\*\*, in which Christopher Hitchens describes life in Iraq based upon his firsthand experiences having been there, and then try to tell me that in a big-picture sense Iraqi Muslims have suffered and died in greater numbers, and are otherwise worse off than they would have been, had Hussein and his sons been left in power? \*The first ten minutes or so describe the occasion of Hussein’s murderous, sadistic and Machiavellian seizure of power. Hitchens’ descriptions of the average citizen’s daily life in Iraq begins at roughly 9:50 into the video. And it isn’t pretty. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/204 "2010-10-22T08:47:27Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I’m happy to see that you are apparently so concerned about the lives and well-being of Iraqi Muslims (I assume you are speaking of Iraqi Muslims. I wouldn’t think even you would condemn our battle with the Taliban.) So with that in mind, how’s about you listen to [this little clip](http://fora.tv/2009/07/09/Axis_of_Evil_Christopher_Hitchens#chapter_03), entitled \*“Iraq: The Republic of Fear”\*\*, in which Christopher Hitchens describes life in Iraq based upon his firsthand experiences having been there, and then try to tell me that in a big-picture sense Iraqi Muslims have suffered and died in greater numbers, and are otherwise worse off than they would have been, had Hussein and his sons been left in power? > > \*The first ten minutes or so describe the occasion of Hussein’s murderous, sadistic and Machiavellian seizure of power. Hitchens’ descriptions of the average citizen’s daily life in Iraq begins at roughly 9:50 into the video. And it isn’t pretty. Your point being? Because that sounds liken attempt to justify the Iraq war, which is out of place in this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/205 "2010-10-22T08:50:07Z")
I am glad that when a load of white Christian men were bombing my country (the UK) i didn’t freak out whenever I saw a white christian man. That would have been very tiring and frankly I’d have ended up in some sort of asylum. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/206 "2010-10-22T09:03:37Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Of course the silly thing about William’s comment is that if Al-qaeda or some other Islamist terror group decides to blow up an airline, they will instruct their operatives to act as inconspicuously as possible. This means dressing in western garb and not displaying any signs of their faith, even acting in un-islamic ways like having a beer or ogling women. This was the instruction given to the 9/11 hijackers. Ideally the operatives won’t even be arabs. > > Thus the passengers in islamic garb praying towards mecca are the least likely to blow up the plane. Or THEY may precisely be counting on that. That we think nobody would commit a terrorist bombing in Muslim garb and BOOM that’s precisely what they do. You cant trust THEM. ---
**Author:** ![Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/207 "2010-10-22T11:57:09Z")
Thinking about islamic terrorism when you see a moslem when you are on a plane is a rational reaction. Fearing moslems in general when you see one on a plane or otherwise is an irrational fear, but hard for some to avoid in the circumstances (thousands of moslems murdering innocent people at random for the hell (paradise?) of it). Talking about your irrational fear in private may help you conquer it. Talking about your irrational fear in public might help you conquer it, but you should be aware that your integrity may be questioned by bystanders who won’t necessarily want to spend much time analysing your motives. Talking about your irrational fear in public in a stupid way which could easily suggest you are a bigot will lead to some bystanders thinking you are a bigot. Talking about your irrational fear in public in a stupid way when you are attempting to present yourself as an articulate media-savvy professional who can be trusted to present investigations on sensitive issues in the national and international media is a sure way to get fired. He’s been fired for stupidity and professional incompetence, not for being a bigot (which is not yet resolved either way). ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/208 "2010-10-22T12:28:38Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > You mean not being a bigot? That’s what you mean right, not being a bigot? No, I mean appearing on Fox, and exhibiting less than 100% support of Obama. NPR doesn’t appear to care about bigotry, or they would have fired Nina Totenberg for wishing that Jesse Helms’ grandchildren got AIDS or another commentator wishing that millions of Christians would vanish. But appearing on a rival news network that is not left-or-center is an unforgivable sin. > [@](#): > > Cuz that’s what he failed to do, not be a bigot. No, none of his remarks were bigoted. > [@](#): > > If their ideology included ‘no pedophiles’, and I hope it does, and they fired someone for publicly announcing they were a pedophile cuz they didn’t want a pedophile representing them publicly, would you argue against that too? Or is it just because he’s a bigot? Is that it? The bigot thing/ Are you going to falsify another quote to show that he is a pedophile? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/209 "2010-10-22T12:32:11Z")
> [@Sandwich](#): > > He’s been fired for stupidity and professional incompetence, not for being a bigot (which is not yet resolved either way). Juan Williams isn’t stupid. He may have said something stupid but he isn’t stupid. As for professional incompetence, I must disagree. He was not acting in his role as a professional journalist. He was on The O’Reilly Factor where stupid is the norm. And if professional incompetence and saying stupid things is the standard by which firing decisions are made, then Vivian Schiller should be shit-canned immediately. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/210 "2010-10-22T12:40:17Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > I have no idea what a biznotch is, but it was a mistake in the quoting software. I had highlighted a quote of yours for multi-reponse, but then closed the browser. When I single-quoted then one I responded to it had replaced his name with yours. I’ll flag the post for correction if it’s too late to do it myself. Apologies. This may be a little late but a biznotch is a distortion of the word bitch. He called you a bitch in GD which is not allowed. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/211 "2010-10-22T12:50:09Z")
Palin & Huckabee call for an end to NPR funding. [http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544\_162-20020347-503544.html](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20020347-503544.html) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/212 "2010-10-22T13:17:27Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Juan Williams isn’t stupid. He may have said something stupid but he isn’t stupid. Amazing how, when stupid comes out of your mouth the end result is just as if you were stupid to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/213 "2010-10-22T13:31:38Z")
> [@enomaj](#): > > This may be a little late but a biznotch is a distortion of the word bitch. He called you a bitch in GD which is not allowed. As long as the mod is open minded I’ll be fine :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/214 "2010-10-22T13:35:09Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Palin & Huckabee call for an end to NPR funding. > > [http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544\_162-20020347-503544.html](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20020347-503544.html) It’s going to get worse. You watch, this will be yet more fuel on the fire. Talk about an October Surprise - the Dems couldn’t have intentionally taken a dive any more effectively. This will be a rallying cry to further spur the base and turn yet more indy’s against Democrats because of the extreme political correctness, the perceived liberal agenda of NPR, and the idea of thought police (especially since Juan was only being honest, and I’m guessing he shares those feelings with many many Americans). The whitehouse made a huge mistake when they pressured NPR to take that action. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/215 "2010-10-22T13:43:15Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > It’s offensive to people who believe in the rapture, because it’s calling them a bunch of idiots. No. It is merely observing and remarking on a fact. If you believe in the Rapture you are, by definition, a fool. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/216 "2010-10-22T13:52:58Z")
What he said, basically, was, “I’m not a racist, but…” ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/217 "2010-10-22T13:56:51Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > The whitehouse made a huge mistake when they pressured NPR to take that action. From Glenn Beck’s mouth to your keyboard, I see. Just keep [del]fucking that chicken[/del] repeating that meme. It make a nice change from the “health care reform shoved down our throats” one. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/218 "2010-10-22T13:59:46Z")
More blowback, this from the (let’s face it, gang) liberal LA Times. [Talks to](http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-onthemedia-20101021,0,6731954.column) how hypocritical and inconsistent NPR is, how they’ve made Roger Ailes look like a god, etc. > [@](#): > > Can Mara Liasson, a full-time NPR employee and chief political reporter for the network, continue as a Fox News contributor? Earlier this month she seemed to be offering an opinion when she suggested to news anchor Bret Baier that President Obama needs to be careful to put “the economy No. 1 at all times.” > > And Fox News reported Thursday on a 1995 interview in which NPR legal correspondent Nina Totenberg suggested that if there were “retributive justice” in the world then North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms might contract AIDS from a transfusion, after he questioned the amount of funding for AIDS research. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/219 "2010-10-22T14:00:47Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > From Glenn Beck’s mouth to your keyboard, I see. Just keep [del]fucking that chicken[/del] repeating that meme. It make a nice change from the “health care reform shoved down our throats” one. It was a joke, young one, aimed at one person. I guess I overestimate the intelligence level here. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887/220 "2010-10-22T14:03:36Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > It was a joke, young one, aimed at one person. I guess I overestimate the intelligence level here. Bah. I’m busy arguing with **Morella** in another thread and Poe’s Law is befuddling my brain. Would that FoxNews were subject to the same level of accountability as the rest of the so-called “liberal media”. Have they ever fired anyone for saying anything offensive? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-longtime-npr-analyst-juan-williams-have-been-fired-for-comments-he-made-on-oreilly/557887.md?page=12)