THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 18, 1994 TAG: 9412160031
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
American should be ashamed of Newt Gingrich. Is this the man who was preaching family values?
How dare he even suggest that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is unfairly liberal? ``MacNeill Lehrer'' is very good about presenting both sides of a story. Mr. Rogers is decidely conservative, and Big Bird does not have a political opinion.
If the government cuts funding to CPB, as Gingrich suggests, stations will be forced to air commercials or make viewers pay to watch their quality programs.
Apparently, our speaker of the House would prefer that young, impressionable minds be used to play ``Mortal Kombat'' rather than learning the alphabet, how to count in Spanish or about getting along with everybody.
Many families would lose access to educational nature programs, ``Masterpiece Theatre'' and specials. CPB is not liberal biased and must continue to be funded by our government.
I'm sorry if Newt Gingrich doesn't like CPB, but he was put in office to represent our interests - and we want our tax money to continue to go toward funding quality programming.
KATIE HIGHAM-KESSLER
Norfolk, Dec. 9, 1994 by CNB