Excellent post, David. Please keep writing about this. (Incidentally, a couple of the links you provided don’t work.)

Points taken. However, Johnson wasn’t even on the ballot in NH, because he still hadn’t declared his candidacy, and his winning vote tally was based solely on write-in votes.

Sadly, McCarthy’s candidacy completely wilted as soon as RFK entered the race.

Gene McCarthy did not win in New Hampshire. Johnson was politically wounded, and yet… McCarthy won 40% of the vote, Johnson won 50% of the vote, though not on the ballot. Facts, facts, facts. And, at this point, Nader is damaged goods. You need to find another primary challenger, and, unfortunately, neither Sanders nor Feingold [...]

The blanket statement that the New Hampshire primary is what “brought down Johnson” is missing some threads. Johnson declined to announce his intent to run for re-election by the time of the January State of the Union speech. Because of the uncertainty that created, McCarthy decided to jump in. Johnson, though not on the ballot [...]

I am not trying to lay all the blame on Soundprint. Obviously NPR exerted pressure! Duh! Whoever doubted that? There are complicities AND competing agendas in the mix. But here’s the problem: NPR is playing hardball on this one, and laying it all at Soundprint’s feet — as evidenced by the obmudsman’s latest excuse-making post. [...]

This is important, because, in their response to you, NPR went on the record as having not contacted Soundpoint’s management before Soundpoint fired Simeone. If they are lying and, in fact, did pressure Soundpoint, their statement is legally questionable. If, on the other hand, there was no pressure exerted before Soundpoint made the decision, then [...]

dugsdale, yes! You are using the perfect strategy.

No, what helps NPR keep all the others in line is NOT challenging the organizations that currently let NPR walk all over them. By your standard, we should just encourage smaller organizations to keep caving in and letting NPR intimidate them even further. Yeah! That will really change things! Thank goodness Palli and dugsdale get [...]

So, what good is having principles in the first place if you’re not willing to stand up for them? The only time it even matters is when you’re faced with adversity. I know it’s easier to just blame NPR for the whole outcome (and that certainly seems to be the popular sentiment here), but it’s [...]

As I stated in an earlier comment, we really need to be directing our anger at the people who run Soundprint. This is the statement they placed on their website: “Soundprint and Lisa Simeone have ended their work together after fifteen years. Soundprint is a journalistic program and Lisa’s leadership role as a member of [...]

Producer Soundprint Media Center 300 Thomas Drive Suite #4 Laurel, MD 20707 Fax: 301-317-6794 E-Mail: producer@soundprint.org WAMU-FM: http://wamu.org/form/contact_us WDAV 89.9 Box 8990 423 N. Main St. Davidson, NC 28035-8990 Phone: office: 877-333-8990 fax: 704-894-2997 Yes, I have contacted the NPR ombsudsman. The phone line was busy, so I emailed. And I will continue trying to [...]

I repeat: NPR can’t “convince” or “persuade” someone to do something without that person agreeing and acquiescing to it. There is culpability on this at WAMU, which broadcasts Soundprint. Don’t try and hand me any b.s. that I’m supporting NPR or its ombudsman. because I’ve made it quite clear that I am not. NPR deserves [...]

Putting aside NPR’s heavy-handedness for just a moment… Isn’t it Soundprint that deserves the ire? That’s who showed real cowardice and fired Simeone. NPR can’t “convince Soundprint” to do such a thing unless the manager of Soundprint agrees. Soundprint could have defended their employee’s right to free speech and freedom to assembly. They could have [...]