NPR Fires Opera Commentator
National Public Radio has been a nervous nelly ever since its firing of Fox News contributor Juan Williams blew up in NPR’s face last year. But NPR isn’t doing itself any favors with its latest stupid move: the firing of Lisa Simeone (pictured), a radio personality who hosts the shows “World of Opera” and “Soundprint,” from her job hosting “Soundpoint.” Simeone’s crime: acting as a spokesperson for a group involved in the Occupy D.C. Movement. Simeone is not an NPR employee, is not a news reporter, and doesn’t cover politics. NPR caved in to squawking from a few conservative groups. In her defense, Simeone quite rightly pointed out: “This sudden concern with my political activities is…surprising in light of the fact that Mara Liaason reports on politics for NPR yet appears as a commentator on FoxTV, Scott Simon hosts an NPR news show yet writes political op-eds for national newspapers, Cokie Roberts reports on politics for NPR yet accepts large speaking fees from businesses.” But those people are big names, Ms. Simeone. You “only” cover opera.
