McCaskill criticizes NPR amid Dem silence

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) became one of the first Democrats to speak out against NPR after the outlet raised controversy for firing analyst Juan Williams last week. 

McCaskill tweeted on Monday: "For what it's worth I think NPR is wrong for both firing Juan Williams and prohibiting their staff from attending Stewart/Colbert rally."

Democrats have came under criticism for failing to address NPR's decision to fire Williams. The outlet fired him for saying he feels nervous on planes when he see people in Muslim clothing. The firing struck many people as rash and intolerant of free expression. 

Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said on Friday that if the controvsersy did not relate to Fox News, Democrats might be more vocal. Fox News has received positive press throughout the controversy for seeming to tolerate a wider swath of free speech than NPR. Fox offered Williams a larger analyst role after he was fired. 

"The silence of the left is stunning — if Fox was not involved, Speaker Pelosi and Henry Waxman would be in an uproar, preaching the sanctity of the First Amendment," Upton said.

NPR explained Williams's firing in a statement, saying his comments were "inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR."

Also referenced in McCaskill's tweet, NPR has asked its reporters not to attend a rally planned by comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. That's because NPR reporters, according to the outlet's guidelines, are not supposed to participate in marches and rallies that NPR covers.