http://signon.org/sign/tell-mitt-romney-no-ads?source=s.fwd&r_by=2619399
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In the first Presidential debate of 2012, Governor Mitt Romney said that he would end federal funding for public broadcasting. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE CONGRESS KNOWS THAT’S A TERRIBLE IDEA. Federal funding for public broadcasting—which amounts to only $1.35 per American, per year—is worth every penny. Every year, the vast majority of federal funding goes directly to local stations in local communities around the country. For every federal dollar received by stations, local communities kick in another six non-federal dollars. Federal funding supports the best news, children’s and music programming available today, and reaches over 98 percent of Americans –including those in the most rural parts of the country. Every month more than 170 million Americans – over half of the population of the United States – rely on public broadcasting services. Federal funding for public broadcasting is roughly one one-hundredth of one percent of the federal budget. Getting rid of it would have almost no impact on the nation’s debt, but the loss to communities across the country would be devastating. Public broadcasting is not—and should not be—a partisan issue. WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY: 1. Invite your friends and family to join 170 Million Americans today. 2. Like the campaign on Facebook. 3. Follow the campaign on Twitter. 4. Tell Congress to support public broadcasting by clicking here. Thanks for your commitment to public broadcasting! Stacey Karp 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting | ||||
| 170 Million Americans
for Public Broadcasting is a collaboration of public radio and
television stations, national organizations, producers and our viewers
and listeners throughout the country in favor of a strong public media
in the United States. This project receives no government funding. Privacy Policy | 170 Million Americans 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting 480 Cedar Street St. Paul, MN 55101, USA ©2011 All rights reserved 8-Year-Old Big Bird Fan To Mitt Romney: 'You Find Something Else To Cut Off!' Eight-year-old Alabama resident Cecelia Crawford wasn't happy during the debate on Wednesday night when Mitt Romney said he would stop government funding for PBS. On Thursday morning, she was still angry, so she wrote Romney a letter, sent along to The Huffington Post by her mother. Crawford wrote that she is a fan of "Sesame Street" and that it was her "favorite show on earth" when she was younger. "When I grow up I'm going to get married and I want my kids to watch it so do not cut it off," Crawford wrote. "You find something else to cut off!" Romney told PBS host Jim Lehrer, who moderated the presidential debate, that he would stop the subsidy to Lehrer's network. "I’m sorry, Jim, I’m gonna stop the subsidy to PBS ... I like PBS, I love Big Bird -- I actually like you, too -- but I am not going to keep spending money on things [we have] to borrow money from China to pay for," Romney said. Crawford's mother mailed the letter on Thursday to Romney's campaign headquarters. Read Crawford's full letter to Romney:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/mitt-romney-big-bird_n_1940400.html?utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Daily%20Brief&utm_campaign=daily_brief PBS CEO Paula Kerger: Mitt Romney's Debate Attack Was 'Stunning' (VIDEO)
The Huffington Post
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By Jack Mirkinson
Romney had one of his most memorable moments when he vowed to cut the federal subsidy to public broadcasting. "I'm sorry Jim, I'm gonna stop the subsidy to PBS," he told moderator Jim Lehrer, who has worked for PBS since the 1970s. "I like PBS, I love Big Bird, I actually like you too, but I'm going to stop borrowing money from China to pay for things we don't need." PBS chief Paula Kerger spoke to CNN's Carol Costello on Thursday, and didn't mince words in her response to Romney. "With the enormous problems facing our country, the fact that we are the focus is just unbelievable to me," she said. Later, she called it a "stunning moment." Noting that the debate touched on education, she called PBS "America's biggest classroom," adding, "This is not about the budget. It has to be about politics." Kerger also fact-checked Romney -- who she has tussled with before -- pointing out that PBS doesn't get any direct money from the government. "In fact, the money that comes from the government into the Corporation for Public Broadcasting goes to our member stations," she said. Curiously, Kerger declined to praise or defend Lehrer, who has been tarred and feathered for his moderating. "It was a very complicated debate structure," she said. PBS also issued a blistering statement after the debate: We are very disappointed that PBS became a political target in the Presidential debate last night. Governor Romney does not understand the value the American people place on public broadcasting and the outstanding return on investment the system delivers to our nation. We think it is important to set the record straight and let the facts speak for themselves. The federal investment in public broadcasting equals about one one-hundredth of one percent of the federal budget. Elimination of funding would have virtually no impact on the nation’s debt. Yet the loss to the American public would be devastating. A national survey by the bipartisan research firms of Hart Research and American Viewpoint in 2011 found that over two-thirds of American voters (69%) oppose proposals to eliminate government funding of public broadcasting, with Americans across the political spectrum against such a cut. As a stated supporter of education, Governor Romney should be a champion of public broadcasting, yet he is willing to wipe out services that reach the vast majority of Americans, including underserved audiences, such as children who cannot attend preschool and citizens living in rural areas. For more than 40 years, Big Bird has embodied the public broadcasting mission – harnessing the power of media for the good of every citizen, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay. Our system serves as a universally accessible resource for education, history, science, arts and civil discourse. Earlier in 2012, a Harris Interactive poll confirmed that Americans consider PBS the most trusted public institution and the second most valuable use of public funds, behind only national defense, for the 9th consecutive year. A key thing to remember is that public television and radio stations are locally owned and community focused and they are experts in working efficiently to make limited resources produce results. In fact, for every $1.00 of federal funding invested, they raise an additional $6.00 on their own – a highly effective public-private partnership. Numerous studies -- including one requested by Congress earlier this year -- have stated categorically that while the federal investment in public broadcasting is relatively modest, the absence of this critical seed money would cripple the system and bring its services to an end. | http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/pbs-mitt-romney-debate_n_1939546.html?utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Daily%20Brief&utm_campaign=daily_brief |
