Tonight on the NewsHour: STATE OF THE PARTY
A report on the future of the Republican Party as two high-profile conservatives clash publicly. Gwen Ifill is in charge and turns to two longtime Republican activists: former Minnesota congressman Vin Weber; and Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.

Dear Jim Lehrer, Executive Editor and Anchor, and Linda Winslow, Exec Producer

Tonight on the NewsHour is Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. This is the same Grover Norquist who laundered money for convicted felon Jack Abramoff as part of Jack Abramoff’s unethical scheme to bilk Native American casino owners for millions for Jack Abramoff’s and Grover Norquist’s profit and to deceive religious church-going Americans about the source of the money funding their anti-casino political movement, as reported on PBS by Bill Moyers.

Tonight, Grover will be asked to answer questions about the state of the GOP but he will not be asked by the reporter about his involvement in this unethical disgrace or be held accountable for what he did. This is the state of American Journalism. When dishonest and unethical politicians and lobbyists are not held to account, they are by implication given tacit approval for their actions. They are still welcome and invited to positions of privilege and status as reputable experts. I am disgusted by this trend and moreover disgusted by PBS’s poor decision to perpetuate it.

You web site states: "For 30 years, millions of Americans and citizens of the world have turned to MacNeil/Lehrer Productions for the solid, reliable reporting that has made the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer one of the most trusted news programs in television. Learn more about the program, the people who produce it and the company behind the NewsHour in the About Us section."

Please put Grover Norquist to the test regarding his accountability for that affair and please reconsider granting good citizen status to others who debase our democracy.

Sincerely,

Neil

Please join me in writing the NewsHour and encourage them to ask Norquist the tough questions, by writing here.