Posted on 10/14/2004 10:32:55 PM PDT by neverdem
The Sinclair Broadcasting Group, one of the nation's most powerful television conglomerates, has a sad record of using its public license to promote Republican causes. Earlier this year, Sinclair tried to censor an installment of "Nightline" on its 62 stations when Ted Koppel announced plans to read out the names of soldiers killed in Iraq. Now the company, owned by financial backers of President Bush and other Republican politicians, plans to actively join the re-election campaign.
Its plan sounds like the plot of a bad political novel, or an actual election in post-Soviet Russia. The Times and other newspapers reported this week that Sinclair, a Maryland-based company that reaches nearly a quarter of American households, would broadcast a propaganda film in the next two weeks that labels Senator John Kerry a liar, a traitor and a "willing accomplice" of the enemy during the Vietnam War. It claims, falsely, that his antiwar statements inspired the North Vietnamese to step up the torture of American prisoners, and it is filled with other distortions about the war in Vietnam.
Sinclair has instructed its stations, which are heavily represented in swing states like Florida and Wisconsin, to run the film without commercials in the evening. The company already compels them to broadcast editorials and commentaries favorable to Mr. Bush and his policies. But this is a whole new arena, and little different from making the stations give donations to the Republican campaign.
We would be just as appalled if one of the major networks forced its affiliates to broadcast "Fahrenheit 9/11" next week and call it a news program.
The movie that caught Sinclair's eye, a 45-minute diatribe called "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal," rehashes Republican charges that are familiar to everyone from the latest round of ads attacking Mr. Kerry's antiwar activities: primarily that he lied to the Senate in 1971 about atrocities in Vietnam and that his testimony and the antiwar movement in general aided the North Vietnamese and harmed American soldiers. This line of reasoning neatly dovetails with the Bush campaign's assertions that criticizing Mr. Bush's conduct of the war in Iraq is unpatriotic and harms American soldiers.
Eighteen Democratic senators asked the Federal Communications Commission to stop Sinclair from broadcasting the new film, but the commission was right to refuse. As painful as it is to defend this agency, which has shown more interest in Janet Jackson's breast than in really doing its job, we believe that the federal government cannot indulge in that sort of prior restraint.
But the F.C.C. also cannot ignore Sinclair's poor record when it comes to meeting its obligation to act responsibly and fairly in the public interest, a duty it assumed when it accepted custody of a license to broadcast on the public airwaves. Broadcasting "Stolen Honor" within two weeks of the election would clearly violate those commitments.
Sinclair says it is just trying to give its viewers news. Unfortunately, this film is not news, and not journalism. It makes no attempt at balance or fairness. Its interviews with 17 men who were imprisoned and tortured in Hanoi are powerful. But the narrator and producer, Carlton Sherwood, a former journalist on leave from his job in a company that provides "homeland security" services to the government, exploits these brave men and their distinguished service for a cause that he openly says is personal.
Sinclair's First Amendment defenses lack credibility because it denied those rights to "Nightline." At the time, Sinclair's spokesman, Mark Hyman, who doubles as a conservative commentator, said Mr. Koppel's program did not deserve to be broadcast because it had "no proportionality" and ignored other aspects of the issues. It was hard to see how that could describe a tribute to the war dead, but it's a perfect description of "Stolen Honor."
Yesterday, Mr. Hyman seemed to be hedging a bit on Sinclair's plans, saying the program was not finished and would be balanced. But it was unnerving to hear him adhere to his bizarre claim that the major broadcast networks who wisely declined to run "Stolen Honor" when Mr. Sherwood offered it to them were no different than "Holocaust deniers."
If the company is thinking about seriously changing course, it should do it quickly. Sinclair is in dangerous territory. If television companies force their local stations to campaign blatantly, it will not be long before the administrations that have the power to grant licenses begin expecting such favors as a quid pro quo. And the public will question whether it can afford to allow such concentrations of power in the hands of huge media corporations.
Yep. Guess to whom Pinch Sulzberger and Bill Keller contribute? Its funny to see these liberal partisans pose in fake outrage as high-minded advocates of "impartiality and objective reporting."
I did some online research, look at this quote from an news article i looked up online, explaining why the FCC made the janet jackson TaTas a big deal- 500,000 complaints.....
" Timberlake blamed a "wardrobe malfunction," and CBS was quick to apologize to viewers. The breast-baring song generated a record number of complaints to the FCC - more than 500,000.
CBS said it was extremely disappointed with the decision. "
Now here is Ner York TImes quote
"Eighteen Democratic senators asked the Federal Communications Commission to stop Sinclair from broadcasting the new film, but the commission was right to refuse. As painful as it is to defend this agency, which has shown more interest in Janet Jackson's breast than in really doing its job"
Obviously the New YuK Slimes is full of it. Look at how they rewrite history. what's the complaint of 18 Senators worth? Zip! Now, the complaint of 500,000 people, that's something to take seriously. The FCC is here to serve us, not the 18 Democratic Senators. We have the right to real news documentaries, and Sinclair will give it to us. FU 18 Democratic senators.
-F.p.
*News src Ent.Sec, Canadian Press. *News Src. NYSlime
Why am I just learning about this now!? Where has the mainstream media been for the last six months -- not to mention the last thirty years? They facilitated Kerry's lies.
Below is a post to a thread that has an excellent interview with Admiral Hoffmann, founder of the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth.
Baby Killers!
For thirty-three years John F Kerry foisted on the American people and the world, despicable lies.
For certain, John Kerry's lies have negatively impacted the image that people in foreign countries have formed about America and its citizens. Not to mention he grotesquely perverted the images that Americans' formed of their country and soldiers..
Probably more than any other politician John Kerry has severely damaged America's foreign policies.
Equally important, is that for thirty-three years the main stream media has neglected to investigate and report the truth. Thus they have "blood" on their hands and should be held accountable for facilitating John F Kerry's lies.
The time is long overdue that Americans sweep clean the false impressions and images they've been burdened with that were foisted on them by John F. Kerry's lies. And certainly every American soldier and veteran deserve no less.
How John Kerry can best help himself.
He needs to realize that he is going to lose the November 2, election.
The only recourse he has to redeem himself is to come completly clean with the American people. It's paramount that he be totally candid.
The damage has already been done.
By being fully accountable John Kerry can have a profound positive impact on America, its citizens and how the rest of the world views the United States. He can actually have a legacy worthy of being remembered
John Kerry has a choice. He can live out his reaming years in increasing misery and loneliness. Or, he can regain self-esteem and learn how to earn a happy, prosperous life.
By way of example he could set the course for other parasitical elites to redeem themselves.
Kerry should accept the invitation from the Sinclair Broadcasting Group. It will give him a great stage to speak honestly from. There's no reason for him to withdraw his candidacy. Just let the election run it's course. Then he can get on with reeducating himself to earn an honest, happy life.
The truth is what really upsets the NYT is the fact the mainstream media's monopoly is gone.
It's the whole main stream media, not just the NYT. I wrote about this in '98 and more precisely two months ago.
15 years ago it could have completely suppressed a story that's unfavorable to John F*ckin'
The NYT and the main stream media has suppressed this story -- the truth -- for 33 years.
All of a sudden they're concerned they are no longer the arbiters of "what's fit to print." Or what can be aired. We're witnessing a shift in the makeup of the media in this country and its impact will be felt in future elections. No wonder the Gray Lady is troubled.
The main stream media is taking a major credibility hit. It's coming from almost every direction. To those in the MSM it's Catch 22. They can't get out of the way of themselves fast enough.
The Honesty Revolution
A Clean Sweep
An Idea Whose Time Has Come
The pendulum has swung the other direction, toward honesty. Honesty outlives the lies, deceptions and irrationalities. It always has and always will.
Democrats, the left, liberals and mainstream media are but the first in its path on its way to bowl over Republicans, the right and conservatives. Then all politics, religions, socialism, fascism, utopianism and populisms.
"There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come." -- Victor Hugo
*See the above post at 44.
Ironically, the best thing John Kerry could do for himself and Americans is to accept the Sinclair Broadcasting Group's invitation. See post 44.above.
hahahaaaa! Perfect !! :^D
Hi Wardawg. I know it is easy to misunderstand the written words sometimes and maybe I did. I wanted to make sure I cleared it up.
Were you telling me to shove it or the NYT? I hope you realize that I was being sarcastic about the "dangerous" thing and speaking of the enemy; the MSM. You and I are on the same page.
Can anyone tell me how to find out what channels will air this program?
This really burns me. They associate "Stolen Honor" and these men, the Swift Boat men and the POW's, men like Dick Stratton, Bud Day and McNish with the likes of a fat, traitorous exploitative pig like Michael Moore and "9/11".
These people make me so angry I could spit.
What a shameful "news"paper.
"Stolen Honor" is no diatribe. Any who claims that has not seen it.
If the charges are familiar to everyone, it is not because of a fair & balanced examination in the MSM or the Times.
In view of the participation or lack thereof of each country's leaders, especially so since 9/11 and the War On Terror engagement, President Bush as I know, him has a much more realistic grasp and approach to effecting the three-super-state structure.
The question: Is it Bush's intent.
Kerry doesn't have the knowledge, skill or conceptual agility to grasp, let alone advance it. If ever the Presidency was merely a figure head, a Kerry Presidency would fit the bill.
Kerry is a follower. Which in regards to the office of President of The United States, especially in this new era, is "begging" for disaster.
Your candidate is Bush.
That said, there are major flaws in the premises of Orwell's passage.
BTW, have either of us posted to one another before on the Internet and, how did you arrive at your decision to make me your first recipient on FreeRepublic? Be honest.
Which reaches 100% of the population.
They figure, if John Kerry refuses to be on the show, then they can't show it.
I also heard a guy, can't remember his name, he made the doc. WMD, and was interviewed on CSPAN. He was asked why his doc. isn't being shown in theaters. His reply was, Hollywood doesn't show docs. in theaters, most theaters are owned by hollywood, because they don't make any money. When this person was asked why Moores movie was shown. This guy said, it wasn't a documentary, it was entertainment.
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