"Exhuming McCarthy" - REM
Re: former Cogblogger Lisa Simeone - I know we did not see eye to eye, and parted company as a result, but this strikes me as absolute bullshit. The assertion by npr that it had nothing to do with Lisa's termination by Soundprint just doesn't ring true with me. If that is the case, why are they in conversation with WDAV about Lisa's role as the host of Opera Today?
The degree to which a ludicrous double standard prevails in these matters is incredible. As Lisa put it:
"I find it puzzling that NPR objects to my exercising my rights as an American citizen -- the right to free speech, the right to peaceable assembly -- on my own time in my own life. I'm not an NPR employee. I'm a freelancer. NPR doesn't pay me. I'm also not a news reporter. I don't cover politics. I've never brought a whiff of my political activities into the work I've done for NPR World of Opera. What is NPR afraid I'll do -- insert a seditious comment into a synopsis of Madame Butterfly?
"This sudden concern with my political activities is also surprising in light of the fact that Mara Liaason reports on politics for NPR yet appears as a commentator on FoxTV, Scott Simon hosts an NPR news show yet writes political op-eds for national newspapers, Cokie Roberts reports on politics for NPR yet accepts large speaking fees from businesses. Does NPR also send out 'Communications Alerts' about their activities?"
Sadly, npr continues to run scared from anything that might subject it to criticism from the right. Its new President, Gary Knell, doesn't exactly inspire confidence in this regard. (I do think Lisa should have been aware that this was likely to blow up on her -- I hope it was at least knowing naivete and not an utter shock.)
I am happy I stiffed them again during this most recent fundraising week.
