I think it is so important and is very much related to how much power an individual network has to reach Americans.

I think that you are not understanding the bigger picture, so let me try another way.

When I heard about what had happened to the Dixie Chicks, I was literally stunned.

Americans were punished in the fifties and in Hollywood it was called 'blacklisting.'

Thanks so much, Mr. Chairman, for this hearing and for your leadership of this Committee.

He has a right to say that.

It seems like an anomaly to me, Mr. Chairman, that while the administration is working hard to give this message to parents, how important it is they know where their kids are; on the other hand, we are looking at deep cuts in after-school.

Young people need someone to look up to and someone to help them. I want to give them what people gave to me.

If Congress goes along with the Administration's proposed funding cut, 570,000 kids already in programs will be turned out onto the streets.

I want to start off by thanking you, because for the last 7 years you have worked with me and others in a bipartisan way.

I want to work with you on this.

The Bush proposal, as you noted, would take this down a huge amount, 40 percent. That means the number of children kicked out of the program, 570,000.