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12. NPR's Boss: Financial Industry Lobbyist, GOP Donor, Right-Wing Think Tank Booster

Thu Dec 25, 2014, 10:23 AM

Dec 2014

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023706519

http://www.fair.org/blog/2013/09/17/nprs-new-boss-financial-industry-lobbyist-gop-donor-right-wing-think-tank-booster/

Posted by Peter Hart
9/17/13

Last month NPR CEO Gary Knell left to take a job at National Geographic, making him the latest in a string of CEOs who left after a short stint running the public radio outlet. On September 13, NPR named a new acting president and CEO: board member Paul G. Haaga.

The NPR press release (9/13/13) states that Haaga's "accomplished career" included a stint as "chairman of the Investment Company Institute"–the powerful lobbying group of the mutual fund industry. As the Los Angeles Times (11/29/03) once reported, "Mutual funds have been mostly shielded from the reforms forced on the financial world–thanks in large part to the efforts of the Investment Company Institute."

NPR also adds that Haaga has ties to right-wing think tanks–he is "a member of the National Council of the American Enterprise Institute" and he sits on "the Board of Overseers of Hoover Institution at Stanford University."

Haaga is also a fairly regular contributor to Republican politicians. According to OpenSecrets.org, this year he made a $32,400 donation to the Republican National Committee; in the previous two years, he made contributions of around $30,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee. He's also given four-figure checks to a large number of mostly Republican candidates, including Rep. Paul Ryan, George Allen and Mitch McConnell.

So the new boss–for now–at NPR is a former financial industry lobbyist who is a regular donor to Republican politicians, with ties to two prominent conservative think tanks. When NPR finds a new boss, he'll continue to be a member of NPR's board.

According to right-wing mythology, NPR is a decidedly left-wing media outlet, living off government subsidies and pushing a liberal agenda. That's not at all true when it comes to what's on the air–or who's on the board.[/div

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This is why I HATE NPR [View all] ellenrr Dec 2014 OP

It all goes back to the deal with the devil they made in 1983 to keep the network alive unrepentant progress Dec 2014 #1

thank you. yes I know this, I never except better from NPR ellenrr Dec 2014 #4

You could tell by how National Pentagon Radio beat the drums of war KingCharlemagne Dec 2014 #8

Or their refusal to call torture what it is. unrepentant progress Dec 2014 #19

Can you give an exact time? Dale Neiburg Dec 2014 #2

twice so far this morning in the news headlines, which ellenrr Dec 2014 #3

I'm still not able to locate this. Dale Neiburg Dec 2014 #15

Dale! unrepentant progress Dec 2014 #21

oh that cd be, I listen to WNYC. nt ellenrr Dec 2014 #33

I quit listening to NPR, Fox, CNN and MSNBC? I watch the local 6 O'Clock news and doc03 Dec 2014 #5

for news I listen only to Democracy Now, and other shows on Pacifica, ellenrr Dec 2014 #7

As I noted in a post below Cirque du So-What Dec 2014 #9

PS I'd be interested to know if Pacifica is available via Sirus. nt ellenrr Dec 2014 #11

My preliminary search wasn't promising Cirque du So-What Dec 2014 #17

yeah! ellenrr Dec 2014 #34

I began referring to NPR as National Petroleum Radio several years ago Cirque du So-What Dec 2014 #6

Are you familiar with Pacifica radio? I don't know ellenrr Dec 2014 #10

Yes, I've been a fan of Pacifica for years Cirque du So-What Dec 2014 #16

Progressive talk 127 on Sirrus kimbutgar Dec 2014 #23

Hey, thanks! Cirque du So-What Dec 2014 #30

NPR's Boss: Financial Industry Lobbyist, GOP Donor, Right-Wing Think Tank Booster G_j Dec 2014 #12

Haaga is no longer acting CEO Dale Neiburg Dec 2014 #13

I still listen to NPR but am so skeptical a kennedy Dec 2014 #14

WPR has a number of saving graces. Jackpine Radical Dec 2014 #22

Yup, Kathleen IS my favorite..... a kennedy Dec 2014 #40

"wait, wait don't tell me" is the only thing worth listening to anymore. RiverLover Dec 2014 #18

I still listen to Diane Rehm occasionally Cirque du So-What Dec 2014 #31

I LOVE "Wait, Wait". one thing about it irks me tho ellenrr Dec 2014 #36

I finally quit listening heaven05 Dec 2014 #20

It used to be liberal and progressive until W and the Teabillies started cutting funds, now ..... marble falls Dec 2014 #24

NPR is great. I'm sure it was a conspiracy. aikoaiko Dec 2014 #25

No, it isn't fair.. that lumps all the police together.. which is not fair. Cha Dec 2014 #47

Maybe they should say "some police" aikoaiko Dec 2014 #49

I don't listen to NPR pintobean Dec 2014 #26

K&R! I agree, ellenrr. I will not turn on NPR. Enthusiast Dec 2014 #27

NPR sucks as bad as any other corprat-controlled propaganda outlet Triana Dec 2014 #28

I quit NPR too! SoapBox Dec 2014 #29

Like dropping "Energy" from "Iran's Nuclear Energy Program" cprise Dec 2014 #32

Diane Rehm last week.... Hoppy Dec 2014 #35

That is a longstanding complaint about the show. AngryOldDem Dec 2014 #37

Lots of slant... SoapBox Dec 2014 #41

Steve Inskeep has a voice and tone made for slapping Tom Ripley Dec 2014 #53

Good distinction - good people protest against behaviors, not people themselves bhikkhu Dec 2014 #38

NPR sucks abelenkpe Dec 2014 #39

not as much as republicanTV fox lie$$ sucks or the several republican 'radio' shows suck Sunlei Dec 2014 #42

However, ... JEFF9K Dec 2014 #43

Please don't mistake some posts as being all liberals. RiverLover Dec 2014 #44

It's pretty close to "ALL." JEFF9K Dec 2014 #45

Only 90%? Indydem Dec 2014 #48

I've never seen the word "pig" used here to describe police. ellenrr Dec 2014 #50

NPR blue sky at night Dec 2014 #46

national propaganda radio Locrian Dec 2014 #51

^^^THIS^^^ Tom Ripley Dec 2014 #54

Kai Ryssdal Locrian Dec 2014 #57

All things considered Capt. Obvious Dec 2014 #52

We listen to a lot of NPR and we are local contributors to WBEZ Chicago. MerryBlooms Dec 2014 #55

If that's the case, LWolf Dec 2014 #56

I listen only to their classical music services Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2014 #58

Mara & Cokie Basic LA Dec 2014 #59