A Soros Connection to Juan Williams Firing?

National Public Radio’s firing of political pundit Juan Williams for comments he made on Fox News has raised speculation that liberal NPR patron George Soros may have influenced the media organization’s decision to ax Williams on Wednesday.

Williams’ seemingly innocuous remarks came when he appeared on Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor” on Monday. Asked by host Bill O’Reilly if the nation was facing a “Muslim dilemma,” Williams — who is also a Fox News political analyst — said: “I mean, look, Bill, I’m not a bigot. You know the kind of books I’ve written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous.”

NPR said in a statement it had given Williams notice of his termination on Wednesday night. NPR said his remarks were “inconsistent” with NPR’s “editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR.”


Political analyst Doug Schoen is among observers on not only the left but also the right expressing dismay at NPR’s wholesale firing of Juan Williams. Williams’ fights for civil rights and racial equality are well known, says Schoen, who castigated the firing as a ‘profound injustice.’

Soros has made large donations to NPR and other left-leaning media over the years.

And this week it was revealed that the billionaire currency titan is giving $1 million to liberal Media Matters in what he says is an attempt to stop the growing popularity of Fox News.

Fox News’ Glenn Beck has been outspoken in his criticism of Soros for influencing journalism through huge donations to NPR and other left-leaning media.

Beck said on Tuesday that Soros’ Open Society Institute was giving $1.8 million to add journalists at NPR radio stations across the country.

And he challenged Soros to come on his show and debate, “mano-a-mano, no minions, no spin doctors, no NPR journalists, just you and me.”

According to The Daily Caller, “The firing of National Public Radio news analyst Juan Williams for comments made about Muslims, combined with left-wing billionaire George Soros’ recent $1.8 million donation to the organization, have reignited calls to end NPR’s taxpayer subsidies.”

And Examiner.com Los Angeles stated that “Soros money is now beginning to turn the screws and place pressure.”