Big Bird Strikes Back

Tomlinson quits public broadcasting board

Thanks to Bill Moyers and Viewers Like You, fighting the push to inject radical GOP ideology in PBS is beginning to pay off. Tomlinson, of course, claims there is this "vast left-wing conspiracy" at PBS and NPR. Funny, last time I listened, James Dobson's ranting was blaring through the radio. Dobson would not be characterized as a "mainstream" conservative, but rather a radical religious right leader of a minority congregation.

Tomlinson, a Republican, quit shortly before CPB Inspector General Kenneth Konz was to publish a report after investigating his activities, including paying outside researchers to check public programing for liberal bias.

Critics, including broadcasters and congressional Democrats, accused Tomlinson of trying to advance his own conservative agenda in public broadcasting, which is supposed to be non-partisan.

But this is a small victory in a very long battle...

Center for Digital Democracy Executive Director Jeff Chester, a critic of Tomlinson, said his departure was unlikely to stop what he described as behind-the-scenes programing pressure on PBS and NPR.

"Board chair Halpern and vice chair Gaines will continue Tomlinson's legacy to reshape public broadcasting more to the liking of conservatives," Chester said in a statement.

Public Television and Radio is a bedrock of non-partisan information. Its function is to be factual, allow expression of legitimate voices from all sides. It is hard to believe that Halpern, former RNC fund-raiser and co-chair, won't push a radical shift Right...