Michael Grimm, Republican candidate for Congress from Staten Island, on Friday joined the ranks of conservative politicians and groups leading the charge against National Public Radio for the recent firing of Juan Williams.
In a statement, Grimm said NPR should be "ashamed of itself" and called on the government to cut funding of the organization for rejecting what he sees as "viewpoints that don't fall in line with its politically correct, hyper-liberal orthodoxy."
"It is time NPR did what all other radio stations have to do - compete on its own in the free market without the support of our government and our tax dollars," Grimm said. "It is not acceptable that our tax dollars have been wasted on failed legislation, such as the stimulus package which has created no jobs. And it is also not acceptable that our tax dollars are being wasted on a free speech-crushing organizations such as NPR."
His statements line up with Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) plan to propose a bill that would eliminate the flow of government dollars to NPR and end taxpayer subsidies for public television.
NPR officials told Politico that federal money makes up about two percent of NPR's annual budget, less than one percent of which comes from competitive grants issued by government-funded entities like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee have also been vocal about the firing of Juan Williams, but conservatives aren't the only ones defending the former NPR news analyst. Whoopi Goldberg called the decision "ridiculous," and some Muslim leaders have been quoted as being sympathetic with Williams' statements. The Washington Post reports that NPR staffers fear the controversy may result in long-term damage to public broadcasting's financial future.
Grimm, a favorite among the district's Tea Party supporters in Staten Island and Brooklyn, said he believes NPR's actions stomped on Williams' First Amendment right to free speech, putting political correctness above candid conversation.
"This controversy epitomizes the challenges we face as a nation in fighting terrorism while avoiding stereotyping and racial profiling of Muslims," he said. "This is an American challenge in the 21st century, and we should embrace all viewpoints and appreciate those who are willing to speak openly and frankly to advance this dialogue."
The Republican candidate is running in New York's 13th Congressional district against Rep. Michael McMahon, a Democrat who's held the office since 2009.