Juan Williams: NPR Head's Remarks Were an Attack

Juan Williams said comments that chief executive of National Public Radio made after his firing amount to a personal attack, and said NPR's "current crew was really getting vicious" in its antagonism towards him for appearing as an analyst on Fox News.

The journalist told ABC's "Good Morning America" Friday he thinks NPR CEO Vivian Schiller attacked him because she had a weak argument to justify his firing.

Williams was discharged by NPR after saying Monday he gets nervous at airports when he sees people in Muslim dress preparing to board his plane.

Schiller said yesterday controversial opinions should not come from NPR reporters or news analysts.

She also said that whatever feelings Williams has about Muslims should be between him and "his psychiatrist or his publicist - take your pick." She later apologized for that comment on NPR's website.

Williams said he was taking Schiller's comments personally.

"I don't understand why she has to get that low," Williams said on ABC's "Good Morning America."

"If she has an argument to make that I somehow violated some journalistic ethics or values of NPR, make the case. I think it's a very weak case. And so ultimately I think what she had to do then was to make it an ad hominem or personal attack ... that I'm somehow unstable or unrational."

Touting his long affiliation with NPR, including his efforts raising money for the public radio organization, Williams said, "If I was such an erratic character I think this would have come to the fore long ago.

"By the way, I don't have a psychiatrist!" he added.

He denied that his admitting to an emotion meant he was advocating discriminatory behavior, such as extra security screenings for Muslims. "I have a moment of fear, and it is visceral," he said. "Now, all of a sudden, I'm a bigot?"

Williams disputed NPR's excuse that his comments violated the organization's standards of practice, or that his feelings would in any way intrude upon his journalistic conduct. "I'm able to discern exactly what a feeling is as opposed to what is a public position, an ability to report and to hear what others are saying."

He also denied that his comments on Bill O'Reilly's show were different from comments he might have made on NPR, or that he was "catering" to a Fox audience.

"What do you think the issue is here?" asked host George Stephanopoulos. "Did the fact you were working for Fox become too much for NPR?"

"This is one of the things in my life that is just so shocking," Williams said. "I grew up basically on the left, I grew up here in New York City. And I always thought the right wing were the ones that were inflexible, intolerant.

"And now I'm coming to realize that the orthodoxy at NPR, if it's representing the left, it's just unbelievable. Especially for me as a black man to say something that is out of the box, they find it very difficult.

"And I think you're right, George: I think they were looking for a reason to get rid of me, they were uncomfortable that I was talking to the likes of Bill O'Reilly or Sean Hannity."

Williams told Stephanopoulos that, having worked for both Fox and NPR, he has served a function for both employers:

"For the right wing I think I was often a foil for their large personalities, and on the left I think I was a point of an unusual and unpredictable view, that I could bring insight and interest to their audience.

"All of a sudden NPR - especially this last group of managers - became vindictive, and as you can see personal in terms of their antagonism towards me."

South Carolina Republican U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint plans to introduce legislation to end federal funding for NPR because of the firing.

[taylorsucram]

If I follow Juan's thinking correctly, then the next time I see a Catholic Bishop or Priest in his religious "garb" I should be nervous because he might be a pedophile and want to abuse every child on the plane? What's missing in this discussion is that not one of the 9/11 Terrorists wore "Muslim Garb" whatever that may be. His opinion was and is racist and he knows it. Further since it is employment "at will" in the US anyone can be fired at any time for any reason or no reason at all. They gave a reason in this case because of the contractual agreement which Williams broke. When he was at the Washington Post over 50 women complained to the management that he made inappropriate sexual comments resulting in Juan Williams apologizing for making them feel uncomfortable in the "work place". This man has crossed the line many, many, many times. This was simply the straw that broke the camels (NPR) back! I'm black and Juan has been talking out of both sides of his mouth for a long, long time!

[slappy-mcfudpuck]

Funny thing is that since 9/11, Americans have murdered 150,000 of their fellow Americans - ARE YOU PEOPLE SCARED OF YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS? No?? See the problem with your "logic"?

[jimmysman]

I agree with Juan. He's no bigot. Gosh if he's a bigot than so am I. I mean just because I get nervous around black men doesn't make me a bigot. I'm scared any black/ african-american will robbed me or kill me.
How is that any less justified than his beliefs. He's scared of (he says Muslims but he reacting to dress) Muslim because they have killed some Christians, right? Well I'm scared of blacks because statistically they are guilty of most violent crimes in America(true statistic). So I'm not a bigot for my views right. I can go to work tomorrow and say out loud that I am nervous when a black man comes around. See no bigotry here!

[slappy-mcfudpuck]

You are actually a bigot if you have a fear, dislike, or prejudice. Open a dictionary.

[jdkaranja]

Hey dude,Are suggesting that we start walking around nude? We can hide alot of stuff in the clothes we wear too.

[jdkaranja]

I cannot berlieve that Williams has the guts to talk about stooping low after what he did.He stooped extra low for a black man who seems to think since they are attacking moslems,let me join in the fray.Remember Buddy,when they are done with moslems,you are next.You are black and I do not know what has got into you to think they will be any kinder to you.They are bigots and you can not change that by joining them.You need to man-up and tell Fox news to take their job and shove it, you know where.

[ErnieClagg]

Vivian Schiller should be fired. Her shameful treatment of Juan Williams clearly demonstrates a profound eliteism and intolerance of differing viewpoints. Congress has no business using any taxpayer money to support NPR.

[slappy-mcfudpuck]

Vivian Schiller is a republican. She was being a responsible boss.

[RCC_Soldaten]

by slappy-mcfudpuck October 23, 2010 6:10 PM EDT
Vivian Schiller is a republican. She was being a responsible boss.

You're a bigger idiot than your name implies.

[novamba]

Juan Williams is to NPR as John McCain is to the GOP, a threat to absurd extremist principles running each of those two organizations. I will not give NPR a cent from here on out.

[baldy50047]

Save Sesame Street, dump NPR. Keep what works, shuck what doesn't.

If it requires "spinning off" Sesame Street to its own profitable entity, so be it. Let the rest sink or swim. A nationally funded left-wing organization such as NPR we do not need.

[fxr60]

When freedom of speech is cause for a man being fired is a sad day! Especially when you have radical liberal like Soros buying and paying for people! He made his Billions the captialist way, yet condemms it as his socialist views are touted! What a hypocrite!! He bought and paid for Obama, along with the Unions-maybe they all should think about moving to China and pushing their socialist views over there and try shuting them down and see where that gets them!! When a person can't make a personal statement on how he feels without getting fired is next to a communist leaning agenda. NPR along with Soros recent 1.8 million donation, so he can tell them what to do and not to do is a sorry lot!!! Thank heavens we have Fox News, the recently voted NUMBER ONE NEWS CHANNEL FOR FAIR AND BALANCED NEWS to watch!! They back up their facts with statements, tapes, etc. of what the people ACTUALLY said out of their own mouths!

[rainbowroosie]

Imagine it is 2:00 AM three blocks from the White House. Jesse Jackson is walking down the street. Think he'd be more "scared" if the 5 teenagers on the corner were black or white?? Being scared often is part of common sense....