DeMint Demands End To NPR Funding

Sen. Jim DeMint said Wednesday that the resignations of National Public Radio's chief executive and a top fundraiser weren't enough as the South Carolina Republican led his party's drive in Congress to defund public broadcasting.

DeMint dismissed as a side issue NPR chief executive Vivian Schiller's resignation over a sting video in which fundraiser Ron Schiller (no relation) derides conservatives, tea party activists and "uneducated Americans" who back them.

"The issue about taxpayers funding public broadcasting isn't about who gets hired or fired," DeMint said. "It's about two simple facts: We can't afford it, and they don't need it."

DeMint said "Sesame Street" and other popular children's programs make tens of millions of dollars from the sale of puppets and other toys depicting Big Bird, Elmo and the Cookie Monster.

DeMint said mainly liberal donors provide huge additional funds to public broadcasting, led by billionaire financier George Soros' $1.8 million gift to NPR last year to hire 100 reporters.

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