Dem Congressmen: Conservative Voices On Pbs May Be Illegal

[PorchMonkey4Life]

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX WED MAY 11, 2005 22:00:01 ET XXXXX

DEM CONGRESSMEN: CONSERVATIVE VOICES ON PBS MAY BE ILLEGAL

Two congressional Democrats called Wednesday for an investigation into recent activities by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, suggesting that efforts by the Republican chairman of the private nonprofit to add more conservative programs onto PBS may violate federal law.

In a letter released Wednesday evening, Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., and Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Mich., asked CPB Inspector General Kenneth A. Konz to investigate the contracting, hiring and policies of the corporation, which distributes federal funds to public television stations. Both congressmen are ranking Democrats on committees that have oversight of public television.

They called recent actions taken by CPB Chairman Kenneth Tomlinson ``disturbing'' and ``extremely troubling.''

A CPB spokesman could not be reached for comment. But in a recent interview with the LOS ANGELES TIMES, Tomlinson defended his efforts to expand conservative perspectives on PBS, saying he merely wants to increase the network's audience.

Developing...
http://www.drudgereport.com/flash3pbs.htm

what the hell is wrong with these dems... if god forbid there is anything but liberal programing on PBS it is illegal...
theyhave such a fucking double standard... they have no problem with Jim Leher's Liberal News Hour... but give a COnservative a show and we need to start an investigation...
why are they so afraid of free speech?

[mascan42]

Um . . . as usual, Drudge left out a few key facts:

The investigation that's being called for is over whether the CPB is violating the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. This act prohibits interference by Federal officials over the content and distribution of public programming.

Last month, the CBP board delined to renew the contract of its chief executive, Kathleen Cox. Board Chairman Kenneth Tomlinson tapped Ken Ferree - a former top aide to Michael Powell at the Federal Communications Commission – to be her temporary replacement. Ferree alarmed many when he said in a recent New York Times magazine article that he didn’t watch much PBS or listen to NPR.

In an article in the Washington Post, an anonymous senior FCC official was quoted as saying that the CPB, "is engaged in a systematic effort not just to sanitize the truth, but to impose a right-wing agenda on PBS. It’s almost like a right-wing coup. It appears to be orchestrated."

Tomlinson hired an outside consultant last year to keep track of the political leanings of guests on the PBS program Now! With Bill Moyers.

Sounds like there's more than enough there to raise a few eyebrows (huddla huddla).

[Smoke]

Why is the government running TV stations?

Right now it's fairly liberal, not just in tone but subjects discussed. The opera shows and incessent begging for funding makes it effectively worthless to the majority of the public. When was the last time you heard of PBS having a hit (non-kid) show?