NPR Chief Executive Vivian Schiller resigns amid 'tea party' controversy

NPR's chief executive, Vivian Schiller, has resigned after an outgoing NPR executive disparaged the "tea party" political movement, the public broadcaster announced on Wednesday.

"It is with deep regret that I tell you that the NPR Board of Directors has accepted the resignation of Vivian Schiller as President and CEO of NPR, effective immediately," NPR said in a statement. "The Board accepted her resignation with understanding, genuine regret, and great respect for her leadership of NPR these past two years."

Schiller's departure comes one day after a video surfaced in which NPR executive Ron Schiller (no relation) described tea party supporters as racists and "gun-toting" Christian fundamentalists who had "hijacked" the Republican Party. He also suggested that NPR would be "better off in the long run" without federal support.

The video served as ammunition for Republicans on Capitol Hill who want to eliminate all federal funding for the public broadcaster. On Tuesday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said the video “clearly highlights the fact that public broadcasting doesn’t need taxpayer funding to thrive, and I hope that admission will lead to a bipartisan consensus to end these unnecessary federal subsidies."

James Oliphant has the full story: Vivian Schiller, NPR chief, resigns amid 'tea party' video fallout

-- Melissa Maerz

Photo: Vivian Schiller. Credit: NPR

Comments

[vincent joy]

good riddance to another Liberal-Left idiot.

[evad the slayer]

Adios. NPR is nothing but a left wing media outlet supported by American tax dollars. Should have pulled the funding many years ago. If their viewers love the leftist leanings, let them donate their money and NOT my tax dollars. I don't see Fox Network begging Congress for money, so why does it continue to tolerate and fund NPR?

[Keith Boaz]

I am ashamed of NPR for bowing to the likes of the idiots, bigots, and outright thieves dotting the political right. I have not seen any right wing nut quitting because of their lunatic ravings. I believe NPR should say "screw you" to the Feds and go it alone. NPR doesn't need that money. "Real Americans" with serious everyday problems, but with sensible, sound solutions could and would support this popular, centrist media outlet which represents the vast majority of Americans. Bigotry and slime has never been more clearly represented or expressed in recent American history than by the "Tea Party". NPR (and everyday Americans) should not have to support such absurdity in order to get funding, but should become truly independent of the extremist element seeking to silence its popular voice. The real "Voice of America" could become National Public Radio. I agree with ending Federal support, but for vastly different reasons.