Soldiers In Harms Way. Pulling the Plug on Nightline

gogov.com ^ | May 1, 2004 | Russell Betts

[BJungNan]

Soldiers In Harms Way
Pulling the Plug on Nightline
Airing tonight was a broadcast that Ted Koppel and ABC's Nightline said was nothing political. An hour long reading of the names of soldiers killed in the Iraq conflict, according to Koppel and Nightline, was to honor the fallen soldiers. Taking this explanation at its face, the broadcast is still dangerous. Those who don't think so should think again.

While we mourn and Koppel reads the names of our fallen soldiers, our enemies will be emboldened and cheer these soldier's deaths. When 700 plus dead U.S. soldiers are put on Nightline's display, how many of our enemy will be increasingly motivated to make it a thousand, two thousand or more.

Common sense in time of war and while our soldiers are still very much in harms way should tell anyone this broadcast is dangerous. You should never motivate your enemy, especially one that takes such celebrated and barbaric pleasure in the death of it enemies. And contrary to Koppel's explanations of innocence, the reality of this broadcast is that it is more rooted in politics than in honoring our dead and is a very foolish stunt to garner sweeps week ratings.

That is exactly how Sinclair Broadcasting Group saw it when it directed the ABC affiliates it owns not to air the Nightline broadcast. On this decision, Sinclair was exactly right. And it was well within its editorial rights to do so.

Predictably, Sinclair's preemption has brought complaints of censorship. But, Sinclair's decision not to carry the broadcast is no more censorship than the decisions every news organization in this country makes on a daily basis when they decide what to and what not to broadcast or print.

Missing from Koppel's presentation is the cause these brave soldiers died for and the thousands, perhaps millions of lives here at home they have saved. They fight to protect us, not in vain. Koppel "censored" this.

Sinclair, by refusing to carry the broadcast, has amply pointed out that Nightline, Ted Koppel and ABC News do not have a monopoly on such editorial decision making. Good editorial judgment on an issue of life and death has prevailed, at least on the stations where Sinclair has temporarily pulled the plug on Nightline. But there will be no pulling the plug on the Nightline broadcast in regions of the world where our enemies live. In those places it will be played, replayed and each death cheered.

[Rummyfan]

Koppel is a self-serving, self-righteous, arrogant son-of-a-b**** traitor who should be dumped from the airwaves, but only after he shows himself without that ridiculous rug he wears. The only solace I take from this affair is that no one watches him anyway.

[TexasTransplant]

Koppel won't be gracing our set, tonight or any time in the future.
The alphabet news... history

Now I entertain myself by calling Radio Stations to bitch and complain about their anti-American propaganda that repeats itself every 15 minutes disguised as news, the ignorant boob readers that cannot hide their glee when any misfortune finds America or an American.

The owners of the stations say that they have no control over the news source (ABC, NBC etc)

I tell them that giant sucking sound is thousands of us listeners turning the radio off, I call their advertisers and let them know that advertising after the news is not a good time, since I (WE) sometimes forget to turn our radios back on for awhile.

[trebb]

Isn't FOX supposed to be doing a "corrective" answer to Mein Koppel's DNC campaigning?

[Bobibutu]

It would be good if someone with the time - organized a boycott of all of ABC advertisers.

Time to let them feel our outrage.

[Rummyfan]

I always find it ironic when listening to Laura Ingraham or Rush or even Savage (yes sometimes) that the news updates are given by CNN or ABC radio sources, which in many cases the show's host has just trashed for their bias and opinion disguised as news.

[dila813]

Thank god we have cable news like Fox.

Back in the days of Vietnam, no one had a choice. Hopefully the impact will be muted.

I haven't heard a breakout of news pushing this as propaganda yet.

Guess this is the end of network news.

[BJungNan]

I tell them that giant sucking sound is thousands of us listeners turning the radio off, I call their advertisers and let them know that advertising after the news is not a good time, since I (WE) sometimes forget to turn our radios back on for awhile.

This is exactly what people should be doing. Good for you. I think we on FR and other conservatives have a tendancy to be too quiet. Other qroups are constantly making themselves heard. Again, good for you. More people should make calls like this!

[elfman2]

All Sinclair did was promote the show.

Someone with just a little media savvy should know that boycotts accomplish the opposite when the public is divided.

If they wanted to do something, they should have privately told the producers that they would permanently cancel the show “after” its broadcast.

[mathluv]

Fox News Sunday will address why they were there, and their accomplishments in next Sunday's show.

[elfman2]

I get Rush on two channels here in the Florida Keys. One has ABC news and another has a right leaning “Radio America”. No contest.

[BJungNan]

I always find it ironic when listening to Laura Ingraham or Rush or even Savage (yes sometimes) that the news updates are given by CNN or ABC radio sources, which in many cases the show's host has just trashed for their bias and opinion disguised as news.

Sometimes I will hear a ABC radio news broadcast that points up exactly the bias Rush or Hannity have just a minute before pointed out. It is very interesting. You think to yourself, does Rush or Hannity know what newscast is about to play. It is so ironic.

[TexasTransplant]

If anyone wants to complain to a Radio Station about their news providers, don't call the Hosts or the DJs, call the sales department, when they go to staff meetings they end all of their sentances with $ not . and ! and always remind them that you turn the radio off or change channels when the (Alphabet News) comes on and if you were to ever advertise with them you could not have a spot just before or after the news break.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

The servicemen in Iraq who did not die while accomplishing the mission which is still a work in progress, the Iraqis who will have freedom instead of slavery, the Iraqis who have freedom instead of death, and (who knows) Americans stateside who were not killed by terrorists killed by our troops in Iraq - all these are the doughnut.

The casualties are the hole in the doughnut, and reporting of the hole without reference to the doughnut is the natural predeliction of journalism. It is perfectly understandable as commercial practice - but the one thing it is not is objectivity.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. when Hamil was captured - being from a subsidiary of Halliburton .. it immediately brought home to me how the terrorists have capitalized on the DEMOCRATS, and their media enablers, CONSTANT HARPING ABOUT HALLIBURTON.

It's just so obvious. Then, as Rush pointed out, many of the terrorism leaders have picked up on statements by Kennedy, Kerry, Leahy, Levin and others. Rush even showed the headlines from the terror countries, or quoted their statements. Very alarming.

THIS IS GIVING AID AND COMFORT TO THE ENEMY! How much closer to TREASON are these democrats willing to go ..??

[BlessedAmerican]

I always find it ironic when listening to Laura Ingraham or Rush or even Savage (yes sometimes) that the news updates are given by CNN or ABC radio sources

Our local convervative talk radio station here..am1180, has just recently switched to Foxnews for their top of the hour and 1/2 hour news break! Hope more stations follow! You are right that it is ironic that conservative stations use the liberal newscasts. Here in Jackson, they reported that they had to wait until the current contract was complete before switching which may be the case with other stations....

[BJungNan]

Good bit of information. Thanks. I'm going to call our loca station that carries ABC and see if they can carry FOX News instead.

[Defender2]

Current News Media = Aiders, Abetters, Comfort Givers To Our Enemies!!!!

[Capt. Tom]

Edward James Koppel (born February 8, 1940), nicknamed Teddy and better known as Ted Koppel, is a television journalist in the United States.

Koppel was born in Lancashire, England after his parents fled Germany with the rise of Hitler and the Nazis.

He graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree and from Stanford University with a Master of Arts degree in mass communications research and political science.

[BJungNan]

Edward James Koppel (born February 8, 1940), nicknamed Teddy and better known as Ted Koppel, is a television journalist in the United States. Koppel was born in Lancashire, England after his parents fled Germany with the rise of Hitler and the Nazis. He graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree and from Stanford University with a Master of Arts degree in mass communications research and political science.

...and?