Opinion> Bill Oreilly> Why Is Npr Getting Our Money

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Why Is NPR Getting Our Money?

One of the big reasons the Democrats may get hammered next Tuesday is that under that party's congressional leadership, the nation has run up an astounding $5 trillion in new debt over the past three years. And what do we have to show for all that deficit spending? Nancy Pelosi flying home to San Francisco in a private jet?

As part of the federal gravy train, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is set to receive $420 million this year alone. No wonder Elmo is smiling. This is free money for a group of people who should be competing in the private marketplace.

And what are the taxpayers getting for their money? Well, this much is beyond dispute: The news-based programming on PBS and NPR is heavily tilted to the left. In fact, as far as their news analysts are concerned, there are 17 liberal-leaning individuals on the air and one moderate, David Brooks. There are no conservative voices heard in the national public broadcasting precincts.

The incredible firing last week of the 18th liberal analyst, Juan Williams, unmasked the NPR operation, which is deeply invested in liberal causes. A few days before Juan was sacked, far-left billionaire George Soros donated $1.8 million to NPR so they could hire some reporters. NPR snatched up the Soros money faster than a raccoon could down a cupcake. So I am asking myself: Did Soros get the Bill Haley and the Comets oldies package or the Disco Explosion CD set for his largesse?

The fact that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting denies it is an ideological operation is pretty stunning.

There are plenty of conservatives who would like to bloviate on a weekly TV program like Bill Moyers did for 20 years. And old Bill was canny. Not only did he draw a salary from PBS, but his production company had the right to market videotapes of his programs. Wow. Nice perk from the taxpayers, right, Bill? But PBS simply can't find any right-wingers worthy of the Moyers treatment. I know they are looking very hard.

This dishonest shell game has got to stop. We live in a time where cable TV rules and satellite radio is all over the place. If PBS and NPR have good product, there are plenty of places for it in the private sector. Let these people compete for their dollars. I will miss seeing The Drifters performing on fundraisers every two months, but I'll bite the bullet. No more public funding, please.

A number of Republicans on Capitol Hill say they will introduce legislation to defund public broadcasting. That will probably pass. But President Obama will, I believe, veto the attempt. After all, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a liberal cathedral, and the president will not want to disturb the service.

Veteran TV news anchor Bill O'Reilly is host of the Fox News show "The O'Reilly Factor" and author of the book "Who's Looking Out For You?" To find out more about Bill O'Reilly, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com. This column originates on the Web site www.billoreilly.com.

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