Media

Conservatives rip NPR over Declaration of Independence disclaimer

by Dominick Mastrangelo - 07/06/21 11:28 AM ET

Conservatives blasted National Public Radio over the weekend for describing the Declaration of Independence as flawed and containing racist language.

“245 years ago today, leaders representing 13 British colonies signed a document to declare independence,” NPR said in a Twitter thread posted on July 4. “It says ‘that all men are created equal’ — but women, enslaved people, Indigenous people and many others were not held as equal at the time.”

In a separate tweet, the outlet said the document features “flaws and deeply ingrained hypocrisies.”

“It also laid the foundation for this country’s collective aspirations — the hopes for what America could be,” NPR reported, noting that the founders referred to Indigenous people as “merciless Indian Savages.”

Several prominent conservatives seized on NPR’s characterization of the declaration.

Defund NPR https://t.co/POqAmzQLYy

— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) July 4, 2021

Defund NPR – an Anti American outlet funded by American taxes.

— Blair Brandt (@BlairBrandt) July 4, 2021

Why in the hell are American taxpayers funding this nonsense?#DefundNPR https://t.co/x2eXXyniFh

— Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) July 4, 2021

The Declaration of Independence requires what is essentially a trigger warning at the start to let people know that they’re about to read something offensive. At least according to NPR. Maybe we should add a similar rider to our tax dollars. Defund NPR. https://t.co/uT6mrWBh2C

— Inez Stepman ⚪️⚪️ (@InezFeltscher) July 5, 2021

NPR has long drawn criticism from conservatives who see its coverage as too far to the left.

NPR has previously drawn ire from the right after the outlet highlighted Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s proposal to his husband in an airport terminal, citing it as a possible qualification for the job in President Biden’s Cabinet.

Tags Joe Biden Mass media NPR Pete Buttigieg Twitter United States Declaration of Independence