Mr. Rogers Defends PBS [Video]

Mr. Rogers would not be a fan of Mitt Romney’s plan to cut Big Bird’s funding.

Politicians have been debating whether or not to fund PBS since 1960s. The conversation made national headlines once again this week when Mitt Romney said during the first presidential debate of 2012 that he would fire Big Bird and cut funding to Sesame Street.

Several people have come out to defend PBS, saying that the shows like Sesame Street are invaluable to American children. The president of PBS, as well as many former stars like LeVar Burton, have criticized Romney for his comments.

Mr. Rogers even chimed in on the debate. Rogers, who passed away in 2003, gave a speech in 1969 when President Nixon announced that he was going to cut funding to the station.

Rogers, in his speech to the United States Senate Subcommittee on Communications, says that his program on PBS teaches children who to deal with their emotions and helps to create well-rounded adults. The legendary child entertainer makes the case that it is better for the United States to have programs that teach children how to manage their emotions instead of filling television with cartoons that are cheaper to produce.

Here’s Mr. Rogers speech:

What do you think about the drama on Sesame Street? Should the government cut funding to PBS?