NPR Fires Free Speech

Cal Thomas | Syndicated Columnist | Updated: Oct 28, 2010

NPR Fires Free Speech

October 25, 2010

The firing of Juan Williams by National Public Radio is a blow to free speech and ought to be protested in the strongest possible way.

Juan was giving an opinion on "The O'Reilly Factor" that when he sees people dressed in Muslim garb on airplanes, it makes him nervous. Jesse Jackson said about African-Americans who dress as thugs, "There is nothing more painful to me at this stage in my life, than to walk down the street and hear footsteps and start thinking about robbery—then look around and see somebody white and feel relieved." 

Or how about Joe Biden saying he can't walk into a 7-11 without seeing an Indian?

I have known Juan for years and he is a thoughtful and decent man. He was fired because he appears on Fox and because he doesn't always toe the liberal line.

Twenty-five years ago, I was fired from the show "All Things Considered" because the producer said I had become "too predictable." Me, the only conservative commentator at the time on a network dominated by liberals was "too predictable."

I guess liberals only defend speech that agrees with theirs.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.

NPR Fires Free Speech