NPR Fires Juan Williams After O'Reilly Show Appearance

Dave Weigel's tweet:

Irony of this situation: Muslims are going to feel much more uneasy when they see Juan Williams on planes

Juan Williams had long been becoming more Fox News like. Frankly, I'm tired of journalists offering their opinions. That goes for Anderson Cooper too. I just want to hear them report the news. They're not experts. They're not analysts. This is what Williams said on O'Reilly's show:

He continued: “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. But when I get on the 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.”

Mr. Williams also made reference to the Pakistani immigrant who pleaded guilty this month to trying to plant a car bomb in Times Square. “He said the war with Muslims, America’s war is just beginning, first drop of blood. I don’t think there’s any way to get away from these facts,” Mr. Williams said. Read more at NYT

Honestly, I don't get worried around people in "Muslim garb" because I see Muslims in my community and they're just normal people. They smile and grocery shop.

I'm also not prone to fear mongering. I don't live my life fearful of people or whatever. When you live at Fox News and you listen to all that garbage day in and day out, you're going to be scared of everything. It's like brainwashing.

Williams' comments were appropriate for Fox, where Muslim bashing is an everyday happening, but offensive for NPR listeners, where you're more likely to hear a show that teaches you something about Muslims.

Read what NPR said about ending Juan Williams' contract.

NPR is getting a lot of criticism for firing Williams.

Watch Williams' response.

Fox just signed Williams to a $2 million, 3-year contract.

Illinois Prison Could House Gitmo Detainees

The Obama administration may buy a near-empty prison in rural northwestern Illinois to house detainees from Guantanamo Bay along with federal inmates, a White House official said Saturday.
The maximum-security Thomson Correctional Facility, about 150 miles west of Chicago, was one of several evaluated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and emerged as a leading option to house the detainees, the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because a decision has not been made.
President Barack Obama wants alleged terrorism suspects from the controversial military-run detention center in Cuba to be transferred to U.S. soil so they can be prosecuted for their suspected crimes.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has been hinting at a possible new use for Thomson, and he issued a statement saying he would hold a news conference Sunday to outline those plans. AP

Fox News Sunday panel discussed this today:

Not on the video, is the discussion they had about Sarah Palin.
Liz Cheney says it would be sexist to say that Sarah Palin couldn't be president.
Bill Kristol fawns over Palin and Juan Williams sets them straight.
I'm surprised that they only briefly talked about Obama's bow to the Japanese emperor. It's on fire in wingnut circles. Bill Kristol says Palin wouldn't bow or even curtsy to anyone. That's because she doesn't know enough to know whether she should.
Republicans always talk about the need for less political correctness, well how about this, Palin is an idiot when it comes to international relations. Let's not pretend.
Liz Cheney also suggests Cheney 2012? Cheney Palin? Never. Never. Never. Ever.

Fox News Debates Palin's Presidential Chances

Liz Cheney says it would be sexist to say that Sarah Palin couldn't be president.
Bill Kristol fawns over Palin, as usual, and Juan Williams sets them straight.
I'm surprised that they only briefly talked about Obama's bow to the Japanese emperor. It's on fire in wingnut circles.
The panel also talks about the trials of KSM and holding terrorists in U.S. prisons. The Obama administration is looking to hold Gitmo detainees at a prison in Illinois:

The Obama administration may buy a near-empty prison in rural northwestern Illinois to house detainees from Guantanamo Bay along with federal inmates, a White House official said Saturday.
The maximum-security Thomson Correctional Facility, about 150 miles west of Chicago, was one of several evaluated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and emerged as a leading option to house the detainees, the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because a decision has not been made.
President Barack Obama wants alleged terrorism suspects from the controversial military-run detention center in Cuba to be transferred to U.S. soil so they can be prosecuted for their suspected crimes.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has been hinting at a possible new use for Thomson, and he issued a statement saying he would hold a news conference Sunday to outline those plans. AP

Some sense at the ABC roundtable. David Brooks calls Palin a joke:

Kristol's Flawed Logic on Palin

Juan Williams gets at it a bit.
Sarah Palin and Barack Obama shouldn't ever be compared as equals. Obama is head and shoulders above Palin in smarts, character, wisdom and ideas, yet folks who still have issues with Obama have never seen him for who he is. Instead they see him as they perceive him. Their perceptions are tainted by their own assorted prejudices.
Palin is someone who is clearly out of her league.
Ironically, the media she despises is the only one perpetuating the idea that she is a viable candidate for president. Most republicans think she has no chance whatsoever at higher office, especially now.

Juan Williams Calls Michelle Obama a Liability

Where else would you cut down the First Lady? Juan Williams makes my idiot list, slamming Michelle Obama on the O'Reilly Factor. The rest of the commentary in this clip is dim and obviously intended for other idiots.

Words from Melody Barnes

We sure know a lot more about Obama's team than Bush's. Or maybe it's because I'm paying attention. Nah, I don't think it's just that. Information about Obama's staff and all the transition happenings are continually posted at change.gov.
An exchange between NPR's Juan Williams and Obama's Director of the Domestic Policy Council (job description) Melody Barnes:

Juan Williams: Melody Barnes, you're going to be in the White House advising President Obama on domestic policy. As you look out on this group of people, what do you have to say to them about what they can do to help you do your job and achieve some of the goals that you have in mind for the President-elect?
Melody Barnes: That's a wonderful question. Thank you so much, Juan. What I want everyone to remember is that we have elected a different kind of president. On this panel already we've talked about the hunger to deliver on promises, to deliver on the needs of the American people. We've talked about the desire to be heard. The willingness to be heard and to contribute. We've talked about the need for humanity and the absolute need not to let up. And what we have now is a President-elect who understands that, who understands that we are interconnected, that each off us has a common set of problems and the solutions to those problems are also commonly linked. So we have to rely on the expertise that you have, expertise that exists in the faith community that exists in the labor community, that is born of the immigrant experience, that exists in the business community and all of us have to come together to bring that expertise to the table. We are counting, counting on you to talk to us and we have already started that process of listening to people on healthcare, listening to people on our labor relations issues and a whole host of other issues, so that we can use that information to build the solutions that are going to bring opportunity and mobility back to this country.
Juan Williams: Melody Barnes, do you have, as you look out on that first year, do you have an agenda that you could advertise to the audience here this afternoon so they know what's your priority?
Melody Barnes: Sure. The beauty of working for President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden is what they talked about for 21 months is what we believe in today. We know we have an economic crisis staring us in the face right now and we have to do something about that. And we are preparing as President-elect Obama has said a stimulus package to shock the economy back into being. But when we are doing that, we are not forgetting about our promises on healthcare, access to healthcare for everyone. We're not forgetting about our promises with regard to education, starting not just in kindergarten but the day you are born and helping young families, to make sure that they are prepared to raise their children. And we are not forgetting about our promises with regard to the immigrant community as well. So all of those things are a part of our agenda. We will start making down payments on those things as President-elect Obama has said in the stimulus package and beyond going into this first year. That's part of our economic recovery.

Media Pushes Risky Obama

Juan Williams, a pundit biased against Obama, was just on NPR talking about how many white people are uncomfortable with Obama's color. Newsflash: a risky poll out today. So many of the stories for the past couple of weeks have focused on Obama's riskiness. He's a risky guy, that Obama guy. Risky, Risky, Risky. 

John McCain's strategy, laser targeted at old white men, same as Hillary's strategy, to make Obama the Other, is working in that the media can't stop talking about why Obama is risky -- he's skinny, he's uppity, he's arrogant, he's a celebrity, he's young. He's black. Black. Black. Black.

I know that the republicans are playing on the fears of the folks who live in the Appalachian regions and they may know they're being played. They just need a good excuse not to vote for the black man. Too skinny, they'll take it. Too much schooling. Yes, you can't have a smart man in the White House. 

But I don't think Obama is going to get their vote no matter what he does. He could give them all $1,000 and they'd turn up their noses. 

I'm not sure Obama's going to need that vote and I think their numbers are over estimated. I also think there are plenty of old white people who WILL vote for Obama (and there are old white people who aren't racist who will vote for McCain and that's respectable).

But this year is the year the youth voter will tip the election in Obama's favor. Not many in the press are talking about this because in the past, the youth talked a big game but never made it to the polls. This time is different because they are actively involved in the campaign. They are invested. 

Frankly, I'm tired of writing about the old white people who won't vote for Obama because he's black, so I think I'll stop. 

More than anything, it's getting BORING. It also deflects the light away from McCain, who is lamer than lame, even by republican standards, and getting a free ride. 

This story wraps it all up:

RCP: Some of my Chicago friends who support Sen. Barack Obama already are speaking as if his victory is a done deal. I hate to burst their bubbles, but a nagging question still haunts Obama euphoria: Why isn't he further ahead in the polls?

After all, they gush, his superbly managed campaign of "hope" and "change" seems to be humming along, as strong as the euro against the dollar. The popularity of his rival Sen. John McCain's Republican brand is as weak as a subprime mortgage.

A CBS poll today shows some interesting results:

Working class whites (white voters with incomes less than $50K and without
a college degree) are now backing Obama – a reversal from last month.
George W. Bush won this group in both 2004 and 2000.

However, when income and education are isolated the results are a bit
different. Whites with incomes under $50K (regardless of education) back
Obama, while whites without a college degree (regardless of income) give
the edge to McCain.

I Turned on Fox News Sunday

Meet the Press is off for tennis and I'm saving George for later. 

But what a mistake tuning into Fox. These people aren't worth the salary they're paid. There isn't a single Obama supporter, or an objective mind on the panel. Juan Williams is a fond Obama hater. He gets all flustered when he talks about Obama and barely keeps himself together. 

The sad thing is, as a contributor to NPR, a real news outlet that I'm fond of, Williams often pushes his anti-Obama stance in a more even-handed manner, so that he appears as a legitimate news person. 

The panel moves on to McCain and his staff shakeups and somehow the conversation moves back to Obama. I guess this is a good thing. 

Bill Kristol argues that John McCain wants to be a good leader but his campaign won't let him. What a bunch of baloney. (He also argues the last 1.5 years in Iraq have been a success. Can you say Out of Touch. These people think we're on the verge of "winning" there). WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT WINNING IN IRAQ LOOKS LIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whew.

Kristol then asserts that Obama has appeared more presidential than McCain. Yes, that's because he is. 

What drives me nuts about McCain is he speaks like he's speaking to a room of children. His famous "That's not change we can believe in" line from that infamous speech he gave on Obama's night, rings in my mind every time I hear him speak. It sounds like the refrain in a children's story. 

Juan Williams suggests that McCain needs to get a platform on kitchen table issues and then he can say to Americans: now you can trust me. 

Everyone keeps talking about the polls -- why isn't Obama doing better in the polls. That's just people huffing. It's too early. 

Williams also thinks Hillary is the best vice president for Obama. That's telling. 

Another thing, all this yakking or yucking about Obama being "inexperienced" means nothing to Obama supporters. For one, we think of experience in a different light. Experience has been a hindrance to Bush and Cheney and the rest of the crew. Experience, in the way they mean it, is overrated. 

I would argue brilliance and the ability to think on your feet, weigh the facts and do what's best, is more important. Leadership is also key. A president needs charisma and a vision. 

Organization, or the ability to pull people together in a structured manner, is also important. Obama's foes always diminish his organizational experience but it's gotten him this far. He beat the Clinton machine. John McCain can't figure out how to run against Obama. 

I'm just hoping that for once in my lifetime, we could have a smart and wise president.