action to save PBS

[chelidon]

See below. I really don't get it. Of course the neocons have it in for NPR and PBS, but they're usually considerably more politically astute than this. Has the heady aroma of hubris really killed all higher brain function? Pulling this, in an election year with public sentiment like a rising tide against them? And using "cutting government" as their feeble justification, at the exact same time as they preside over six straight years of one of the biggest, most obscenely wasteful deficit runups in U.S. history? C'mon, it's hard to imagine even the Press Secretary laying that whopper out with a straight face. And attacking Sesame Street? The only way the GOP could cut their own throat more cleanly would be to attack Social Security head-on (as opposed to the death-by-neglect which is already happening now). What morons. Let them know what you think.

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Dear MoveOn member,

Everyone expected House Republicans to give up efforts to kill NPR and PBS after a massive public outcry stopped them last year. But they've just voted to eliminate funding for NPR and PBS—unbelievably, starting with programs like "Sesame Street."1

Public broadcasting would lose nearly a quarter of its federal funding this year. Even worse, all funding would be eliminated in two years—threatening one of the last remaining sources of watchdog journalism.2

Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS again this year:

<http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/?id=8003-1990725-_ptgku2ghzoeogwl8weoug&t=3>http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/?id=8003-1990725-_PTgkU2gHzoEOGwl8weoug&t=3

Last year, over 1 million of us signed the petition, and Congress listened. We can do it again if you pass this message along to any friends, neighbors, or co-workers who count on NPR and PBS for news or children's programming.

This would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting. The Boston Globe reports the cuts "could force the elimination of some popular PBS and NPR programs." NPR's president expects rural public radio stations may be forced to shut down.

The lawmakers who proposed the cuts aren't just trying to save money in the budget—they're trying to decimate any news outlets willing to ask tough questions of those in power. Americans trust public broadcasting more than any corporate news media.3 This is an ideological attack on our free press.

President Bush's budget proposed cuts to NPR and PBS4, but Congress is going even further: slashing 23% of this year's public broadcasting budget—$115 million—and denying NPR and PBS any funding in two years. The cuts immediately terminate support for commercial-free children's shows like "Sesame Street," "Clifford," and "Maya and Miguel."

The House and Senate are deciding if public broadcasting will survive, and they need to hear from viewers like you. Sign the petition at:

<http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/?id=8003-1990725-_ptgku2ghzoeogwl8weoug&t=4>http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/?id=8003-1990725-_PTgkU2gHzoEOGwl8weoug&t=4

Thank you for all you do.

–Noah, Eli, Adam G., Tom, Marika and the MoveOn.org Civic Action Team
 Thursday, June 8th, 2006
 
P.S. You can learn more about the threat to public broadcasting from our
friends at Free Press at:

<http://www.freepress.net/publicbroadcasting/>http://www.freepress.net/publicbroadcasting/

Sources:
1. "GOP takes aim at PBS funding," Boston Globe, June 8, 2006 <http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1864&id=8003-1990725-_ptgku2ghzoeogwl8weoug&t=5>http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1864&id=8003-1990725-_PTgkU2gHzoEOGwl8weoug&t=5

PBS' Ready to Learn program (funds "Sesame Street" and other children's shows)
<http://www.pbs.org/readytolearn/>http://www.pbs.org/readytolearn/

2. "CPB Responds to House Appropriations Subcommittee's Proposed Funding Levels for Public Broadcasting," Corporation for Public Broadcasting, June 7, 2006
<http://www.cpb.org/pressroom/release.php?prn=551>http://www.cpb.org/pressroom/release.php?prn=551

3. "2005 'Open to the Public' Objectivity and Balance Report," Corporation for Public Broadcasting, January 31, 2006
<http://www.cpb.org/aboutcpb/goals/objectivity/>http://www.cpb.org/aboutcpb/goals/objectivity/

4. "Bush Budget Pumps Propaganda, Slashes PBS," MediaCitizen, February 7, 2006
<http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1865&id=8003-1990725-_ptgku2ghzoeogwl8weoug&t=6>http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1865&id=8003-1990725-_PTgkU2gHzoEOGwl8weoug&t=6