--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Roger Ailes said that NPR executives…" description: "\"“When Roger Ailes said that NPR executives were 'the left wing of Nazism,\" he wasn't trying to tar NPR as evil in the eyes of the general public or the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/geoffrey-nunberg-36662_left-wing_when-roger-ailes-said-that-npr-executive_148530.jpg" --- # When Roger Ailes said that NPR executives were 'the left… ![“When Roger Ailes said that NPR executives were 'the left wing of Nazism," he wasn't trying to tar NPR as evil in the eyes of the general public or the Congress, but to signal to others on his team that they owed NPR no courtesy or respect and had permission to be assholes about the organization…” quote by Geoffrey Nunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/geoffrey-nunberg-36662_left-wing_when-roger-ailes-said-that-npr-executive_148530.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/geoffrey-nunberg-36662_left-wing_when-roger-ailes-said-that-npr-executive_148530.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/geoffrey-nunberg-36662_left-wing_when-roger-ailes-said-that-npr-executive_148530.jpg) > ““When Roger Ailes said that NPR executives were 'the left wing of Nazism," he wasn't trying to tar NPR as evil in the eyes of the general public or the Congress, but to signal to others on his team that they owed NPR no courtesy or respect and had permission to be assholes about the organization. (209-10)”” [Geoffrey Nunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-nunberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote illustrates how a leader used extreme rhetoric to dehumanize a rival organization, granting his team permission to treat it disrespectfully. **In simple terms:** A leader used harsh language to justify disrespect toward a rival. Key Takeaway Beware of leaders who weaponize language to erode respect. Themes power communication ethics leadership politics Mood cautious critical reflective Type political ethical leadership When to use this quote - corporate meetings - political campaigns - media criticism - team briefings Key Concepts dehumanization propaganda authority abuse Questions to Reflect On - How does inflammatory language affect team culture? - What safeguards can prevent abuse of power? A Different Perspective Such rhetoric can backfire, creating division and loss of credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assholes Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assholes-organization-1658998/) [Left wing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-wing/) [Npr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/npr/) [Npr Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/npr-evil-1658994/) [Npr Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/npr-executives-1658995/) [Owed Npr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owed-npr-1658997/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Said Npr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-npr-1658996/) ## Related quotes > [Last year, on a long car trip, I was listening to Rush Limbaugh shout. I usually agree with Rush Limbaugh; therefore I usually don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/last-year-on-a-long-car-trip-i-was-listening-to-rush-limbaugh-shout-i/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [NPR editors and journalists found themselves caught in a game of trying to please a leadership team who did not want to hear stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/npr-editors-and-journalists-found-themselves-caught-in-a-game-of/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [The great thing about working with NPR - and, really, there's like a million of 'em - is all the cool stuff I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/the-great-thing-about-working-with-npr-and-really-there-s-like-a/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I listen to NPR when I listen to the radio, but I don't listen to the radio that much. You know, I listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-listen-to-npr-when-i-listen-to-the-radio-but-i-don-t-listen-to-the/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [Fox News is no monopoly. It is a singular minority in a sea of liberal media. ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, NPR, CNN, MSNBC vs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/fox-news-is-no-monopoly-it-is-a-singular-minority-in-a-sea-of-liberal/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [While the meeting I participated in turned out to be a ruse, I made statements during the course of the meeting that are counter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-schiller/while-the-meeting-i-participated-in-turned-out-to-be-a-ruse-i-made/) [Ron Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-schiller/) > [We need to cut these things that aren't constitutionally mandated, that are kind of on the periphery, the fluffery, like NPR and National Endowment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/we-need-to-cut-these-things-that-aren-t-constitutionally-mandated/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [I'm driving down the freeway the other day, on my way to Knott's Scary Farm probably, and I hear this report on NPR that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-peterson/i-m-driving-down-the-freeway-the-other-day-on-my-way-to-knott-s-scary/) [Cassandra Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-peterson/) > [I'm not always up to date on everything that's going on, but I am somewhat informed. I listen to NPR. And I actually watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morena-baccarin/i-m-not-always-up-to-date-on-everything-that-s-going-on-but-i-am/) [Morena Baccarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morena-baccarin/) > [Years ago, NPR tried to stop me from going on "The Factor." When I refused, they insisted that I not identify myself as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/years-ago-npr-tried-to-stop-me-from-going-on-the-factor-when-i/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [It's not easy to diagnose because depending where the endometrial deposits are, the symptoms can be quite different. It's an unrecognized problem among teenage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/it-s-not-easy-to-diagnose-because-depending-where-the-endometrial/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [I listen to a lot of podcasts, which are split down the middle between comedy and board game podcasts, and a couple of eclectic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-listen-to-a-lot-of-podcasts-which-are-split-down-the-middle-between/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [ They \[NPR\] are, of course, Nazis. They have a kind of Nazi attitude. They are the left wing of Nazism. These guys don't want… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/they-npr-are-of-course-nazis-they-have-a-kind-of-nazi-attitude-they/) [Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/) > [I produced a play in New York that got nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best American Play.The play is called Stalking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-richman/i-produced-a-play-in-new-york-that-got-nominated-for-an-outer-critics/) [Adam Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-richman/) > [Both CNN and NPR prohibit political activity by all journalists, no matter their assignment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/both-cnn-and-npr-prohibit-political-activity-by-all-journalists-no/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) ## More by Geoffrey Nunberg > [“It's important that these people think of their adversaries specifically as assholes. That's what gives the modern rhetoric of polarization its singular stamp and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-nunberg/it-s-important-that-these-people-think-of-their-adversaries/) [Geoffrey Nunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-nunberg/) > [“It's not odd these days to hear politicians trumpeting their own authenticity, a claim that an earlier day would have considered self-cancelling. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-nunberg/it-s-not-odd-these-days-to-hear-politicians-trumpeting-their-own/) [Geoffrey Nunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-nunberg/) > [When the world changes, correlation goes away… Causals are what endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-nunberg/when-the-world-changes-correlation-goes-away-causals-are-what-endure/) [Geoffrey Nunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-nunberg/) > [The Italian historian Armando Petrucci has done more than anyone else to revive interest in public writing. His groundbreaking Public Lettering: Script, Power, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-nunberg/the-italian-historian-armando-petrucci-has-done-more-than-anyone-else/) [Geoffrey Nunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-nunberg/) > [There are only two reasons for buying a book, after all. Either we intend to read it, in which case most of us find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-nunberg/there-are-only-two-reasons-for-buying-a-book-after-all-either-we/) [Geoffrey Nunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-nunberg/) > [“Still, to paraphrase what John Stuart Mill said about the stupidity of the Tories, while not all people who claim to be politically incorrect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-nunberg/still-to-paraphrase-what-john-stuart-mill-said-about-the-stupidity-of/) [Geoffrey Nunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-nunberg/) > [“The English language is shot through with idioms and expressions which allude to violence without inciting it, most of which pass without notice unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-nunberg/the-english-language-is-shot-through-with-idioms-and-expressions/) [Geoffrey Nunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-nunberg/) > [“Donald Trump comes closer than anyone else to being the archetype of the species; crossing genres, he exemplifies all the ways an asshole can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-nunberg/donald-trump-comes-closer-than-anyone-else-to-being-the-archetype-of/) [Geoffrey Nunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-nunberg/) > [Few people become assholes reluctantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-nunberg/few-people-become-assholes-reluctantly/) [Geoffrey Nunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-nunberg/) > [When it comes to being slaves to fashion, American managers make adolescent girls look like rugged individualists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-nunberg/when-it-comes-to-being-slaves-to-fashion-american-managers-make/) [Geoffrey Nunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-nunberg/) > [“Culpable obtuseness. He should know better. That's one reason why we don't use the a-word, for example, of little children. They can merit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-nunberg/culpable-obtuseness-he-should-know-better-that-s-one-reason-why-we/) [Geoffrey Nunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-nunberg/) [Explore all 12 Geoffrey Nunberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-nunberg/) ## More Left wing quotes > ['Vanity Fair' is a left-wing rag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/vanity-fair-is-a-left-wing-rag/) [Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/) > [There is a simple rule here, a rule of legislation, a rule of business, a rule of life: beyond a certain point, complexity is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/there-is-a-simple-rule-here-a-rule-of-legislation-a-rule-of-business/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'm sure the most favorite airplane in my career would still be the Sabre F86 cleft wing , which allowed me to be credited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/i-m-sure-the-most-favorite-airplane-in-my-career-would-still-be-the/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [At Rennes, I played more down the left wing, but also down the right and sometimes in midfield. At Dortmund, it was the same:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ousmane-dembele/at-rennes-i-played-more-down-the-left-wing-but-also-down-the-right/) [Ousmane Dembele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ousmane-dembele/) > [I alienated myself from the academic world almost entirely because it's a left-wing world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/i-alienated-myself-from-the-academic-world-almost-entirely-because-it/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [I think I represent a more left-wing view of what jazz is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-think-i-represent-a-more-left-wing-view-of-what-jazz-is/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [Sometimes people with strong ideology, whether left-wing or right-wing, refuse to do something simply because they believe it is wrong, when doing it actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/sometimes-people-with-strong-ideology-whether-left-wing-or-right-wing/) [Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/) > [As a broadly left-wing, environmentally aware urban believer in anthropogenic global warming, I am all for a total ban on motor vehicles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-coren/as-a-broadly-left-wing-environmentally-aware-urban-believer-in/) [Giles Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-coren/) > [Don't you see the rest of the country looks upon New York like we're left-wing, communist, Jewish, homosexual pornographers? I think of us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/don-t-you-see-the-rest-of-the-country-looks-upon-new-york-like-we-re/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Faceless, so little there to judge. Left wing let's separate the cold out. Opposites, we never need to tell one sting I've found I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chevelle/faceless-so-little-there-to-judge-left-wing-let-s-separate-the-cold/) [Chevelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chevelle/) > [For everything in this journey of life we are on, there is a right wing and a left wing: for the wing of love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-everything-in-this-journey-of-life-we-are-on-there-is-a-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Libertarianism used to have a robust left wing as well. Both disliked government. Both were driven by a fantastically nostalgic conviction that a country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-andersen/libertarianism-used-to-have-a-robust-left-wing-as-well-both-disliked/) [Kurt Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-andersen/) > [I was very much a child of the 1960s. I protested the Vietnam War and grew up in a fairly politicized home. My father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-was-very-much-a-child-of-the-1960s-i-protested-the-vietnam-war-and/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [ \[Albert\]Camus had denounced the gulag and Stalin's trials. Today we can see that he was right. To say that there were concentration camps in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-camus/albert-camus-had-denounced-the-gulag-and-stalin-s-trials-today-we-can/) [Catherine Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-camus/) > [ They \[NPR\] are, of course, Nazis. They have a kind of Nazi attitude. They are the left wing of Nazism. These guys don't want… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/they-npr-are-of-course-nazis-they-have-a-kind-of-nazi-attitude-they/) [Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/) [Browse all 295 Left wing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-wing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When Roger Ailes said that NPR executives were 'the left wing of Nazism,\" he wasn't trying to tar NPR as evil in the eyes of the general public or the Congress, but to signal to others on his team that they owed NPR no courtesy or respect and had permission to be assholes about the organization. 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