On Tuesday, conservative activist James O’Keefe posted hidden-camera video footage in which NPR executive and fundraiser Ron Schiller bashed the tea party movement as “racist” and “xenophobic” and said NPR would be better off without federal funding. In the video, a group of men posing as part of a Muslim organization approached Schiller to discuss making a contribution of $5 million dollars.
Mr. Schiller went on to make disparaging remarks against Jews and appeared to belittle ”uneducated Americans” who follow a conservative party line. He also characterized tea party activists as “seriously, seriously racist” and bemoaned the death of “educated, so-called elites” in the political debate. By Wednesday, Ron Schiller was out of a job, while NPR president and CEO Vivian Schiller (unrelated to Ron) was also forced to resign soon thereafter, as the comments angered conservatives and renewed calls to end federal funding for public broadcasting.
“The Board accepted her resignation with understanding, genuine regret, and great respect for her leadership of NPR these past two years,” board chairman Dave Edwards said in a statement. “I recognize the magnitude of this news and that it comes on top of what has been a traumatic period for NPR and the larger public radio community.”
