NPR Executive Tells Muslim Donors Christians Are "Scary/Racist"

A video made surreptitiously by a conservative sting artist shows phony, would-be Muslim donors meeting with two NPR fundraisers who are caught on the tape making candid, awkward comments about the Republican Party -- and also talking bluntly about the ouster of commentator Juan Williams.

Slate's David Weigel posted the video and a report on the incident. The sting operation, produced by conservative activist James O'Keefe, shows NPR fundraisers Ron Schiller (who has since left NPR) and Betsy Liley at lunch with two men masquerading as wealthy Muslim donors who supported The Muslim Brotherhood (and Islamic Activist group that wants to spread Sharia law). That the NPR people appear to tell the supposed contributors that they should support NPR because it promotes many of the same agendas as the Muslims, and is critical of Republican, Christian, and white "middle class" America.

But against the backdrop of a possible cut off of NPR funding proposed by the GOP-controlled U.S. House, Schiller can be heard saying that "very little of our funding comes from the government." (They receive $90 million in Federal tax money.) Then, talking about the GOP, he adds: "The current Republican Party, particularly the tea party, is fanatically involved in people's personal lives and very fundamental Christian -- and I wouldn't even call it Christian." In answer to a leading question about the tea party movement, he adds, "Basically, they believe in white, middle America, gun toting -- it's pretty scary. They're seriously racist..."

Schiller, who has left his job as NPR Foundation's senior vice president for development, goes on to say that he is proud that NPR let Juan Williams go last year after Williams said on Fox News he would be concerned if he boarded a plane with fellow passengers in Muslim garb. "He lost all credibility and that breaks your ethics as a journalist." Schiller says.

NPR, in a statement, said: "The fraudulent organization represented in the video repeatedly pressed us to accept a $5 million check, with no strings attached, which we repeatedly refused to accept. We are appalled by the comments made by Ron Schiller in the video, which are contrary to what NPR stands for. Mr. Schiller announced last week he is leaving NPR for another job." NPR made no mention of Betsy Liley, Senior Director of Institutional Giving for NPR, who was also present at the meeting and expressed similar sentiments. The video is available at You Tube.

Reaction to the tape, which the 26-year-old Mr. O'Keefe posted online Tuesday, was swift.

“At a time when our government borrows 40 cents of every dollar that it spends, we must find ways to cut spending and live within our means,” said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

“This 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,” the Virginia Republican said.

“Remove NPR from the federal budget and be done with it. … It’s time to push Big Bird out of the nest so he can fly on his own,” said Rep. Doug Lamborn, Colorado Republican, who has led efforts to cut NPR’s funding.

The tone captured on the 11-minute edited tape illuminates a persistent image problem for the Washington-based network.

“NPR hates Middle America, plain and simple. The utterances from NPR officials underline that these taxpayer-funded bureaucrats loathe most of the taxpayers who feather their comfortable nest,” said Media Research Center President Brent Bozell.

See Chick's THE TRIAL.