CPB Chair Thomlinson lied about White House Links

'The White House has issued guidance. WH officially opposed to the Burns amendment.' Kenneth Tomlinson, in e-mail to Kathleen Cox

Kenneth Tomlinson, the chairman of the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, has said on several occasions that the Bush administration does not interfere with how the CPB operates.

On several matters over the past year, however, the chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has pursued policies and the appointment of executives at the behest of the White House, according to Tomlinson's own e-mails.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php? storyId=4711997

E-Mails Link White House to CPB's Tomlinson

'The White House has issued guidance. WH officially opposed to the Burns amendment.' Kenneth Tomlinson, in e-mail to Kathleen Cox

NPR.org, June 20, 2005 · Kenneth Tomlinson, the chairman of the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, has said on several occasions that the Bush administration does not interfere with how the CPB operates.

On several matters over the past year, however, the chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has pursued policies and the appointment of executives at the behest of the White House, according to Tomlinson's own e-mails.

NPR obtained these e-mails from a CPB official who is unhappy with Tomlinson's leadership there. The official insisted on anonymity, citing fears of job retaliation.

One instance involved an initiative of Montana Sen. Conrad Burns, a Republican. Burns sought to give public television and radio stations more say in naming board members of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The board has nine slots. The members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Only five can belong to the president's party.

The stations strongly backed the measure. But Tomlinson didn't. Last July 21, he made that clear in an e-mail he wrote to Kathleen Cox. She became CPB's CEO and president last summer but was forced out in April.

to the Burns amendment.'

Politics and Credibility

John Lawson, the president of the Association of Public Television Stations, an advocacy group for PBS stations, says he's worked well with Tomlinson in the past. But he says Tomlinson has undermined the strength of the public broadcasting world.

'Ken has politicized this institution at a very vulnerable time,' Lawson said in an interview.

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on a spending bill late this week that would cut CPB's budget next year by a quarter

You libs had it your way for so long, you just don't like it now that Conservatives are providing some balance.

Lying rightard deletes the post, tehn replies to his fantasy rather than the facts.

Still think you are an internet censor, huh?

Oh, and why do you think I am interested i getting an e-mail notifiaction that you have lied again??

To repeet the truth.

CPB Chariman Thomlinson has repeatedly lied about illegal Bush interfernce with CPB operations. Teh CPB enabling legislation set up an independent governing board deliberately to prevent politization of public broadcast.

Thomlinson and the White House have viloated both the spririt and the letter of that legislation.

Among their illegal actions:

Thomlinson let two contracts to consultants to find instances of 'liberal bias' in PBS broadcasts. By law Thomlinson is not allowed to sign contracts or spend CPB monies without Board approval.

Further, Thomlinson refuses to release the entire reports to the public, again a violation of CPB policy of openness.

And what did the reports find? Very little. For examople. an appearance by Rep. Chuck Hagel commentong on the war in Iraq was labellesd as 'liberal bias'. Also missing was the traditional CPB fairness and balance. No mention of conservative leaning reports or pro-business reports were mmade.

The White House is not supposed to interfere with internal hiring of CPB employees not direct political appointees. Yet recently leaked e-mails show that Thominson and the White House tried to get a DOJ speech writer for John Ashcroft hired as senior vice president for communications. Despite Thomlinson's and the White House's pressure McFadden was not hired because he was not qualified for the position.

Thomlinson and the White House also conspired to interfer in the legislative proces of Congress. Rep. Senator Burns spnosored legislation to allow PBS and NPR stations moe say in recommending candidates for the nine member board of CPB. Bush and hte White House strongly opposed this measure because it would reduce their ability to politicize the board. The measure was overwhelmingly approved of by CPB, PBS, and NPR management and staff. E-mails of Thomlinson's and the Whie House's illegal efforts to kill this legislation have become public.

So, lying serial deleter of the truth and self appointed internet censor, it is not a question of a retrun to balance. It is a question of illegal politicization of CPB and public broadcasting, and lies by repuglicon officials covering up those illegal acts.

No lie, you just can't handle some long overdue Conservative balance being implemented into PATV and NPR.

Lying serial deleter self appointed internet censor does it again

snicker - like Faux News kind of balance...

When you start posting pertinent facts, I'll include them in response.

Ah, you mean like Faux News, who went to court to be able to lie about the news...