NPR analyst compares Obama to Nixon, issues full apology

Reader Comments

Oct 24, 2009

Which hit man was sent in?

Oct 24, 2009

A full 360 degree turn? So he is back to comparing Obama to Nixon?

Nixon's estate should sue, in any case. Obama is a communist, Nixon hated commies.

Oct 24, 2009

360? Don't you mean 180? Either way, it is way creepy. Reminds me of what happened with Cramer earlier this year, except much faster.

Oct 24, 2009

These people are beyond parody. One if them accidentally tells the truth and makes a valid comparison, and he is immediately browbeaten until he cowers and goes back to toeing the ideological line, apologizing profusely with his tail between his legs. Free and independent press my arse. What a bunch of toadies.

Oct 24, 2009

We have always been at war with Oceania

Oct 24, 2009

One could say that Obama's tactics are actually worse than Nixon's. But making an apology is absolutely ridiculous. Has any journalist apologized to Bush, Clinton, Carter for things they have said which aren't so far from the truth? Since when does the press apologize to the King in Chief unless there has been real misleading or wrong information involved. Rudin got a phone call from the thugs at the White House--more of the Chicago way.

Oct 24, 2009

Of course he groveled like a whipped dog. These people can't get a job doing anything of substance. If he lost this job he'd just be another empty mouth I would have to feed. And by my estimate I'm already carrying around 200 crybabies.

Oct 24, 2009

Comparisons with Nixon, the Nazis, etc. are easily made and require little brain power. A legitimate political commentator like Rudin should spend more time on legitimate analysis and less on facile comparisons - I assume that's the thinking behind his apology.

BTW, readers can also use their brains and not jump on the stories that are easiest to digest and produce a knee-jerk reaction. If you can read, you can also think.

Oct 24, 2009

An abject apology bordering on hands and knee's groveling? In Richard Nixon's best days he could never engender this kind of fear and sniveling, Obama is much better in 1st Amendment suppression; Ken Rudin is a traitor to his 'profession.'

Oct 24, 2009

That 360 thing was quite strange. I guess these Comm majors don't even take geometry; a good example of the competence of these delicate geniuses with the thankless (but remunerative) job of informing us slackjaw types of important current events. I await the delicious paradox of someone who compares Obama, unfavorably, to Che. Would an apology be in order?

Oct 24, 2009

He forgets for one minute who he works for and he has to eat a huge pile of disgusting material that has fallen from the rear of a horse. What could he have been thinking of, does he think he's in a country where there is protection against blasphemy to God?

Oct 24, 2009

NPR's coverage the past several months has been remarkably curious and controlled. No longer do they feign balance with a "Democrats caught evil Republicans killing babies, but a unnamed Republican spokesperson said killing wasn't such a terrible thing" -- now there is no second half. No token effort to suggest objective journalism or anything more than propaganda.

NPR's message has become so coordinated with the administration's message of the day/week that a curious journalist may wish to identify the framework behind NPR's reprovisioning as a full-out mouthpiece for Media Matters and the White House propaganda machine.

Oct 24, 2009

Thanks for the correction on my "full-360" mistake. It's been fixed.

Oct 24, 2009

Nearly as I can tell about the only difference between the Obama approach and Nixon's was that the Nixon White House used the IRS, etc. to target individuals, where Obama's lot hasn't gotten quite that far yet.

But there's still time...

Oct 24, 2009

"....foolish, facile, ridiculous and, ultimately, embarrassing to me. I should have known better...."

A pretty good description of this cringing, servile, groveling "apology" that even Stalin and Mao would simultaneous expect and hold in contempt.

In that respect, maybe *I* am like Stalin and Mao....?

Oct 24, 2009

Mara Liaison of NPR appears on FOX as one of their Left-side analysts. I disagree with her politics, but she does routinely make fair and sensible points in defense of the Left.

Its too bad she's the last of her kind. I'm suprised NPR hasn't tagged her yet. Should be privide her with protection?

Oct 24, 2009

Who called from the White House?

Oct 24, 2009

he should have apologized to Nixon. as bad as he was, Nixon was in the minor leagues in going after his enemies compared to "the worst president ever".

Oct 24, 2009

A validation that when I told NPR that I was not pledging this fall because they were no longer even making an effort to be objective, I was sadly right.

How sad for those of that do still listen to some programming hoping for some moderation of viewpoint.

Oct 24, 2009

This is why during the last few years I have sat on my wallet during NPR's pledge drives.

Thistle & Shamrock and Cartalk are fine, and evenScience Friday can be good. But the liberal agenda is too much to take.

Oct 24, 2009

Rubin earned the Obama Seal as an Official State Journalist. Good job!

Oct 24, 2009

There’s a good swift kick to “watchdog” Ken Rudin which has learnt him not to bite the hand that feeds him. Heel Ken. That’s a good boy.

Oct 24, 2009

So, was it Rahm or David Axelrod that called and demanded an apology?

This is tragicomedy - and sadly very serious. So much of the media/news have cast aside 'journalism' and fully prostrated themselves before the DNC and this administration.

Pathetic.

Oct 24, 2009

Everyone seems to forget it was Kennedy that started the whole wiretapping journalists thing. It was determined the AG, Robert Kennedy, used the exact same justification as Nixon did for doing so.

I think people take a lot of stuff out of context.

No one has yet claimed Obama is wiretapping journalists. So to set up a straw man argument about Nixon's use of wiretapping is ridiculous.

The point being made was that Nixon had his "enemies list" and Obama surely seems to be starting one at this early juncture of his presidency.

The comparisons are valid.

Oct 24, 2009

Sounds like someone intimidated him. He's making his own argument.

BTW, how exactly did Nixon 'intimidate' journos? No one was tortured, arrested, prosecuted. It's basiclly a myth that the Left believes, like Santa Claus.

Oct 24, 2009

"Please excuse my error. I request immediate reeducation in Obama-Tse-Tung thought."

Oct 24, 2009

well looks like Ken Rudin, the slave almost escaped the NPR Plantation but Massah got him back...I guess it's better that we taxpayers who fund Massah's NPR don't lose such valuble property!

Oct 24, 2009

"I confess to ThoughtCrime, and other offenses against the Party"

Oct 24, 2009

"I confess to ThoughtCrime, and other offenses against the Party"

Oct 24, 2009

I'm old and remember. Nixon really did have enemies. Almost the entire Washington press corp hated him, and that was before Watergate. What's amazing about Obama is that even with almost every major news outlet fawning on his every word, he has focused on the only one that does not. He must be really thin skinned. It truly tells us more about Obama than it does Fox.

Oct 24, 2009

For Rudin's full-180, surely he must have been water-boarded from NPR ombudsman Alicia Shepard. And, then bare butt spanked ....

Oct 24, 2009

At least Nixon knew he had to be ashamed of what his acts were and try to hide them from the public eye. The current administration feels no such shame and is attempting to do it all in daylight. Nixon bugged reporters, Obama is trying to remove their credentials as members of the press. Both sound like the actions of desperate, petty men.

Oct 24, 2009

Obama's enemies list isn't nixonian its castro like.

Oct 24, 2009

National Pretentious Radio is a smug elitist joke of a radio network.

Oct 24, 2009

NPR is STATE SPONSORED MEDIA.
Does the term forest and trees mean anything. The fact that he had to make a groveling apology kind of confirms what he originally said. Sounds like some powerful people leaned on NPR not to mention the latte lapping lefties who toss them their nickles and dimes now and again.

Oct 24, 2009

I remember when NPR said Bill Clinton "...might be going up the down staircase..." in his effort to provide "free" health care for everyone. This was in reference to our European counterparts who were trying to cut back on their health care expenditures. I was very surprised to hear that from NPR about the Clintons. Guess I can count on "no surprises" from them--ever again.

Oct 24, 2009

Sooner or later, Rahm is going to get in trouble for sending so many dead fish through the U.S. mail.

Oct 24, 2009

Mr. Rudin is absolutely correct to retract the Nixon comparison: he should have compared Obama to Mao Tse Tung (Mao Zedong, to you newbies). Didn't Anita Dunn send him the memo?

"Comparing the tactics of the Nixon administration -- which bugged and intimidated and harrassed journalists -- to that of the Obama administration..."

Well, as my mother used to say, "the night is still young."

Oct 24, 2009

He apologized to the wrong President. Nixon's paranoias and predjudices are little league compared to this guy. Some of the things that set Obama off reflect a possible mental instability. The attacks he is making now make no rational political sense. Out of control is my take.

Oct 24, 2009

The Thought Police ruffed him and cuffed him. They then had to re-program by forcing him to listen to the endless rhetoric in O's speeches for hours, till' that look came back in his eyes. That empty, minus common sense look. He was left with a warning, exactly like just lookin described. Next time you will find the Purple Shirts at your front door.

Oct 24, 2009

Obama's administration is wiretapping journalists despite the denial; via the NSA warrantless wiretapping program that targets any communications with suspected terrorists.

Oct 24, 2009

"maintaining credibility."

An ironic statement that indicates lost credibility.

Oct 24, 2009

It's not an uncommon comparison since his attacks on Fox are indeed similar to Nixon's attacks on WaPo -- and Nixon was trying to hide something that would end his presidency, so I can't help but wonder............. what does Fox know that Obama doesn't want exposed??????

Oct 24, 2009

I smell a dead fish!

Oct 24, 2009

So it looks like the Obama adminsitration's media bullying tactics are working.

Step out of line and you will be branded as an enemy of Obama.

Heel, Rudin.

Oct 24, 2009

Being a gentleman, the movie producer, Otto Preminger, always rose when introduced to to a lady. Other's sort of rose for a moment and then sat down again.
It was called a "half-preminger."

I don't think Mr. Rudin needed to apologize 110%. His apology only needed to be Nixon-lite. Rudin had no enemies list.

Oct 24, 2009

Would like to point out to NPR that being called Nixonian and/or Nixonesque, does not mean that people are claiming he is just like Nixon. He is not ordering, or subordinates ordering, others to break into the RNC offices. Many of us are worried that this 'enemies list' is not a good thing, regardless of whom the president is.

Oct 25, 2009

Maybe with more ACORN offices closing, the extra money saved by the Dems will be sent over to NPR instead. They and PBS will NEVER receive another DIME from me....

Oct 25, 2009

who cares? they don't want YOUR money anyway.

Oct 25, 2009

Grovel you tin god attackers.

Oct 25, 2009

This sounds like someone who has been dragged to the ministry of truth and shown the light. Orwell saw it all coming.

Oct 25, 2009

That's what Rudin gets for not towing the NPR company line .

Oct 25, 2009

Anybody catch Glenn Beck a couple nights ago? He was making comparisons of the BO administration to Chicago-style politics as portrayed in the film, "The Untouchables". (Paraphrasing): Ya don't play ball wid da White house, yer liable ta get a baseball bat upside da head.

Well. . .?

Remember all the liberals foaming at the mouth about George Bush's supposed trampling of civil rights and the Constitution? Where are they now?

Oct 25, 2009

Shssssh...quickly Rudin wash ya mouth! Mind ya manners.Be kind,talk nice and all will be well with ya.Read VF (Condi Nast office)laying off lots of them folks.? I'd be soo, soo sad to see ya go! NPR trained to be obedient,subervient,and loyal to its cause. It will be such a huge loss indeed. If you have made them angry,just remember don't let the door hit you,okay?

I think I'm going to puke now..

Oct 25, 2009

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (the original)

Oct 25, 2009

Can you now understand why Obama & Congress desire to "bailout" the media? It's not a "bailout"; it's an outright purchase. They will then have absolute control over the press, rather than merely relying on friends who might turn on them at some point (as unlikely as that seems).

Oct 25, 2009

The Obama people must have his family or something for such a swift retraction.I just wonder who the ONE'S "Paladin" is ... sharpened no.2 pencils at the ready.

Oct 26, 2009

Obama turns the other cheeks,
and Rudin puckers up.
This is the future of 'non-profit' journalism that the left wants.

Oct 26, 2009

Did you read carefully what Rudin said? He only said he should not have said it - at no point did he say he was WRONG. Clever man. And if you go back and read the whole blog entry -- well, he's not very nice or grovelly toward Obama there either.

Oct 26, 2009

What a joke.

Oct 26, 2009

NPR's journalistic period came and went in a quick flicker. I've never been able to endure any NPR program without puking. Every story they do is built on their worldview in which the U.S. sucks and totalitarians anywhere are shining beacons.

Oct 26, 2009

errr... I'm a liberal, always have been, consider myself a LIGHT history hobbyist, and when I think of all the fubar things ever said on WORLD NEWS... his having to give that apology seems a little extreme to me. That just calls attention to the situation, makes it look worse than what it is. Or maybe it really IS that bad...??? Freedom is a very fine balancing act, and we've been standing on a shaky wire for a number of years. I'm a liberal because I AM FREE TO BE SO.

Oct 26, 2009

Mr. Rudin did the White House call and tell you if don't make an apology they would cut off your funding.

Oct 26, 2009

This is the same news group with analysts who said "More and more risk takers in this country get greater rewards, will there ever be an end to this practice?"

Well, I guess that we should let those independent thinkers and risk takers fail and set themselves up in the chains of laziness. Good job National People's Radio.

Oct 26, 2009

well - people...it's N-P-R fer cryin' out loud. If it weren't for YOUR tax dollars, they'd have gone the way of the Dodo by now...along with the Air AntiAmerica bunch...great investments there Soros - Media Morons, AirAnti-America, the Most Worshipful Dear Maximum Leader...

Oct 26, 2009

An exact example of why American taxpayer dollars shouldn't be used to fund NPR which is totally one sided liberal. The other day they did a "history lesson" to show how medical insurance came into existence. The point of the segment was to show that private insurance was a "mistake" and then people not being taxed on their employer provided medical benefits was a mistake that should be rectified with immediate taxation on the 75% of Americans who have insurance in order to create a new government $1 trillion run public insurance program for the other 25% of Americans.

Oct 26, 2009

The media is dead. It looks York got the call from the White House thugs. Shame on Byron for caving in. You should have followed up by writing about the threat you recieved from the White House as a result of your comments.
You need to resign.

Oct 26, 2009

The corpse of Vince Foster visits early.

Oct 26, 2009

Obama is simply trying to do as much damage to our country as he possibly can as fast as he can.
I'm not sure why he has such a chip on his shoulder. How badly did America treat a multi racial person who was Harvard educated and became the president? He was beaten down badly by "the man"...otherwise he would rule the world!!!

Oct 26, 2009

Obama isn't Nixon. Nixon didn't have the Internet.

Oct 27, 2009

Nice radio station you got there. Shame if something were to happen to it.

Sincerely,
Rahm Emanuel.

Oct 27, 2009

Rubin is a coward.
Spiff

Oct 27, 2009

I'll take Ken Rudin's first assessment & sidestep the spineless retraction as I'm sure he wasn't pressured to make his initial remarks.
-JC

Oct 27, 2009

There is nothing to be alarmed about.
This is perfectly acceptable behavior and reflects normal interaction between a Benevolent Government and a Free Press (meaning not currently incarcerated).
Opinions to the contrary are most welcome, and will be entered as part of the plea bargaining process after arrests for social deviancy have been undertaken. Undertakers will not become involved until the next step in the process.

Oct 27, 2009

"Reaction from the NPR audience was negative"
Hum. There is the problem. They voted too,I would imagine.

Oct 31, 2009

I'm a senior citizen, a former Republican and I well remember the Nixon White House and its thuggish tactics. I agree with Rudin, and then some. His comparison was not just superficial and a facile grab at the first thought that must have entered his mind, it was entirely misguided.

Don't get me wrong, I'm every bit as annoyed by and distrustful of, say, MSNBC as I am of Fox. Both mix opinion and supposed reportage freely and package superficial, play-to-the-rabble rants as reasoned analysis. Both are disgraceful.

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Dec 8, 2009

And now, Mara is ***Liberal*** NPR/PBS' target.

NPR reporter pressured over Fox role

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29892.html

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