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LeVar Burton: Children will be hurt if PBS subsidy is cut

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    PBS host sounds off

  • Duration 3:39
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Personal story segment tonight as you know there's a big brawl going on between President Obama -- Mitt Romney over whether the federal government should fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Which will get about 450 million dollars next year along.

Big -- has become the symbol of the fight but there's a lot more going on beside big bird.

Joining us from Los Angeles actor Lavar Burton who was the host.

Program reading rainbow on PBS for 26 years.

I know you're deeply emotionally involved with this and your point of view is watch just articulated for the viewers tonight.

Well I think that that.

Off the -- we are missing the larger issue when we focus on big bird.

What PBS represents for this country.

And has for an awfully long time is the I deal that we want to give a quality education and access to a quality education for all of American citizens.

And and public broadcasting has been.

And an agency and part of members machinery that has delivered quality education at no cost.

22 to the public.

For -- -- He went away and when you said no cause of the public -- -- -- fifty million dollars a year that's a lot of taxpayer cost but let me just ask you this -- -- like.

PBS programming especially to kids she did a nice job.

For a long time on that and it was very educational the sesame workshop which is the big driver on PBS TV.

And their assets according to the fire rescue 2000 -- filing.

-- a 356.

Million dollars that that's what these sesame workshop is worth.

Some -- -- submit to you mr.

burden that they can compete in the free market place like Nickelodeon like cartoon channel like these other things.

And be just as well without taken the taxpayer money because we -- -- -- in an era where we have to bring down the spending we just we have to do.

And you say.

And I say.

You're missing the point.

Bill.

If if you're gonna focus on the the 414.

Million dollars you are are missing the point.

America.

Has.

Always.

Claimed to be even mission that wants to provide a quality education to all of its citizens.

And I'm not saying that PBS is perfect and you're quite right.

This sesame workshop can take care of itself and we don't need to worry about big bird he's going to be fine.

He's going to be okay but the underlying issue bill is.

How how.

Do we do the job of educating America's.

Children and and are we going to make.

Them political footballs in this camp.

All right so you believe that if we poll of the government pulls a 450 million a year from PBS.

That education over the television Airways directed -- -- yes and is going -- soul and that will hurt it is going to south.

For it's going to suffer and are already.

Plenty of children falling through the cracks bill.

Come on let's get real we're either going to live up to the promise of this experiment that America is or we're -- abdicate.

Our responsibility and I think that that's the real issue here.

But the big big bird out of the equation it's about kids and education and the promise that America holds out.

To all those who.

Live within our boundaries.

Very eloquent and articulate mr.

Burton we appreciate your point -- you very much thanks for coming on.

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