The Juan Williams/NPR rumpus has turned into a tempest in a Tea Potty, with innumerable conservatives claiming that the public broadcast network has violated Williams’ First Amendment right to free speech.
Except it hasn’t.
Handy First Amendment refresher course:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
NPR is not Congress, despite receiving a whopping 2% of its funding from the federal government. Regardless, the First Amendment rights of Williams continue to be invoked.
From Saturday’s New York Times:
Many supporters of Mr. Williams have sought to frame his firing as a First Amendment issue, especially those appearing on Fox, which reportedly gave Mr. Williams a new three-year contract on Thursday.
Three years at $2 million, that is.
Nice payoff for not having your First Amendment rights violated.
Wait. I thought the first amendment had something in there *guaranteeing* Juan Williams a job. Your refresher is obviously incomplete.
But seriously, anyone thinking deeply about this should go watch the Beat the Press discussion here. Absolutely the best BtP segment I’ve seen, and it’s made me alter my thinking about this incident several times.
Thanks, Steve. Hope people check it out.
The only thing that seems to remain unchallenged in this matter is the absolute right of an organization to create a public relations nightmare for themselves.
… especially when there’s someone ready and anxious to make it that nightmare.
Ain’t that the truth. Talk about self-immolation.
FoxNewsophiles apparently are as well versed in the provisions of the 1st Amendment as Christine O’Donnell, who believes the “five freedoms” is a Motown group.
I think what is galling a lot of people is that Fox actually HAS the $2 mil to spend on Williams.