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Senate Democratic leadership threatens Disney with legal and legislative sanctions
americablog.blogspot.com ^ | September 07, 2006 | John in DC

Posted on 09/07/2006 4:12:34 PM PDT by Mo1


Senate Democratic leadership threatens Disney with legal and legislative sanctions

by John in DC - 9/07/2006 06:02:00 PM

This letter was sent today by the entire Democratic leadership of the US Senate. This letter is such a major shot across the bow of Disney, it's not even funny. It is FILLED with veiled threats, both legal and legislative, against Disney. US Senators don't make threats like this, especially the entire Democratic leadership en masse, unless they mean it. Disney is in serious trouble.

Read it, then read my analysis of it below:
September 7, 2006

Mr. Robert A. Iger
President and CEO
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank CA 91521

Dear Mr. Iger,

We write with serious concerns about the planned upcoming broadcast of The Path to 9/11 mini-series on September 10 and 11. Countless reports from experts on 9/11 who have viewed the program indicate numerous and serious inaccuracies that will undoubtedly serve to misinform the American people about the tragic events surrounding the terrible attacks of that day. Furthermore, the manner in which this program has been developed, funded, and advertised suggests a partisan bent unbecoming of a major company like Disney and a major and well respected news organization like ABC. We therefore urge you to cancel this broadcast to cease Disney’s plans to use it as a teaching tool in schools across America through Scholastic. Presenting such deeply flawed and factually inaccurate misinformation to the American public and to children would be a gross miscarriage of your corporate and civic responsibility to the law, to your shareholders, and to the nation.

The Communications Act of 1934 provides your network with a free broadcast license predicated on the fundamental understanding of your principle obligation to act as a trustee of the public airwaves in serving the public interest. Nowhere is this public interest obligation more apparent than in the duty of broadcasters to serve the civic needs of a democracy by promoting an open and accurate discussion of political ideas and events.

Disney and ABC claim this program to be based on the 9/11 Commission Report and are using that assertion as part of the promotional campaign for it. The 9/11 Commission is the most respected American authority on the 9/11 attacks, and association with it carries a special responsibility. Indeed, the very events themselves on 9/11, so tragic as they were, demand extreme care by any who attempt to use those events as part of an entertainment or educational program. To quote Steve McPhereson, president of ABC Entertainment, “When you take on the responsibility of telling the story behind such an important event, it is absolutely critical that you get it right.”

Unfortunately, it appears Disney and ABC got it totally wrong.

Despite claims by your network’s representatives that The Path to 9/11 is based on the report of the 9/11 Commission, 9/11 Commissioners themselves, as well as other experts on the issues, disagree.

Richard Ben-Veniste, speaking for himself and fellow 9/11 Commissioners who recently viewed the program, said, “As we were watching, we were trying to think how they could have misinterpreted the 9/11 Commission’s findings the way that they had.” [“9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased,” New York Times, September 6, 2006]

Richard Clarke, the former counter-terrorism czar, and a national security advisor to ABC has described the program as “deeply flawed” and said of the program’s depiction of a Clinton official hanging up on an intelligence agent, “It’s 180 degrees from what happened.” [“9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased,” New York Times, September 6, 2006]

Reports suggest that an FBI agent who worked on 9/11 and served as a consultant to ABC on this program quit halfway through because, “he thought they were making things up.” [MSNBC, September 7, 2006]

Even Thomas Kean, who serves as a paid consultant to the miniseries, has admitted that scenes in the film are fictionalized. [“9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased,” New York Times, September 6, 2006]

That Disney would seek to broadcast an admittedly and proven false recounting of the events of 9/11 raises serious questions about the motivations of its creators and those who approved the deeply flawed program. Finally, that Disney plans to air commercial-free a program that reportedly cost it $40 million to produce serves to add fuel to these concerns.

These concerns are made all the more pressing by the political leaning of and the public statements made by the writer/producer of this miniseries, Mr. Cyrus Nowrasteh, in promoting this miniseries across conservative blogs and talk shows.

Frankly, that ABC and Disney would consider airing a program that could be construed as right-wing political propaganda on such a grave and important event involving the security of our nation is a discredit both to the Disney brand and to the legacy of honesty built at ABC by honorable individuals from David Brinkley to Peter Jennings. Furthermore, that Disney would seek to use Scholastic to promote this misguided programming to American children as a substitute for factual information is a disgrace.

As 9/11 Commission member Jamie Gorelick said, “It is critically important to the safety of our nation that our citizens, and particularly our school children, understand what actually happened and why – so that we can proceed from a common understanding of what went wrong and act with unity to make our country safer.”

Should Disney allow this programming to proceed as planned, the factual record, millions of viewers, countless schoolchildren, and the reputation of Disney as a corporation worthy of the trust of the American people and the United States Congress will be deeply damaged. We urge you, after full consideration of the facts, to uphold your responsibilities as a respected member of American society and as a beneficiary of the free use of the public airwaves to cancel this factually inaccurate and deeply misguided program. We look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Sincerely,

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid
Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Byron Dorgan
The Senate Democratic leadership just threatened Disney's broadcast license. Not the use of the word "trustee" at the beginning of the letter and "trust" at the end. This is nothing less than an implicit threat that if Disney tries to meddle in the US elections on behalf of the Republicans, they will pay a very serious price when the Democrats get back in power, or even before.

This raises the stakes incredibly for Disney.



TOPICS: Breaking News; Business/Economy; Government; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: 109th; 1stamendment; 2ndamendment; 911; abc; abcbestrong; abledanger; abuseofpower; americanhaters; antiamericanhaters; arkancide; assclowns; balsawoodliberals; benedictarnolds; bergertheftofdocs; binclintonalot; bjclinton; bluedress; boohoo; bookburners; brownshirts; callfbi; cantstandthetruth; castrolovers; censorship; cheaters; chinesecampaignmoney; clinton; clintonhitlist; clintonistas; clintonlegacy; clintonoids; communists; crimedimwitparty; crybabies; democratcensors; democratgestapo; democrats; demofascists; demosocialists; demseattheirown; dimwitscry; dimwitthreats; dirtyrats; disbarred; disney; enemywithin; fascists; fraud; freespeech; gaydaysatdisney; gestapo; gflowers; gorelickmemo; gorelickwall; gramsci; hatefuldimwits; heilhitler; hitler; impeached; intimidation; islamofascism; jfkjrkilledbyhill; jimguytucker; lawsuit; letbinladengo; liars; mao; monica; monicasdress; monicastain; mussolini; nationalsocialists; nazis; notruth; ovalofficestain; pathto911; paulajones; perjury; pinkocommies; popcorn; putsomeiceonit; rapedjuanita; repealmccainfeingold; roselawfirmrecords; sandyburglar; scumbags; sept11; september10thrats; sinkmeister; slickwillie; ss; stabenow; stalin; stalinists; thefinalsolution; thosecrazyrats; thosedirtyrats; toodangfunny; truthhurts; truthiskryptonite; unamerican; waronterror; whileclintonslept; whitewater; whokilledfoster; whokilledjfkjr; whoshotjr; wordsfailme
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To: Mo1
And the left has the nerve to call the Bush Admin a fascist bunch.
61 posted on 09/07/2006 4:37:32 PM PDT by rintense
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To: Howlin
They sure are desperate, aren't they?

I wonder why.

We all know why. It's sad to see that they are editing the movie to appease the rats.

62 posted on 09/07/2006 4:37:53 PM PDT by Bullish ( The pig headed monkeys of Islam can kiss my grits!)
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To: paudio
The Disney BOD

Our Board's composition today is a strong, balanced blend of skills and experience, allowing it to offer guidance in core areas important to Disney.

Our Board's composition today is a strong, balanced blend of skills and experience, allowing it to offer guidance in core areas important to Disney.

Click on a Director's name to see his or her full background information.


63 posted on 09/07/2006 4:38:11 PM PDT by deport (The Governor, The Foghorn, The Dingaling, The Joker, The other guy..... The Governor wins)
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To: Mo1

So censoring a tv show is now a concern of the U.S. senate?


64 posted on 09/07/2006 4:38:50 PM PDT by Tall_Texan (I wish a political party would come along that thinks like I do.)
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To: Mo1

As 9/11 Commission member Jamie Gorelick said, “It is critically important to the safety of our nation that our citizens, and particularly our school children, understand what actually happened and why – so that we can proceed from a common understanding of what went wrong and act with unity to make our country safer.”

---



lolol.. what went wrong? Jamie Jamie Jamie..

Gorelick as in Gorelick Wall.. haPPened

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=gorelickwall


65 posted on 09/07/2006 4:39:17 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ......Help the "Pendleton 8' and families -- http://www.freerepublic.com/~normsrevenge/)
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To: EDINVA

It's on their website..case closed

http://democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=262624&


66 posted on 09/07/2006 4:39:21 PM PDT by hipaatwo (Vote for your life. Every vote for a Democrat is a vote against victory.)
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To: Howlin
Now THIS IS CENSORSHIP!!!

Folks, the Democrats are preaching CENSORSHIP!!!!!! They are coercing ABC and Disney to suppress political speech!!!

67 posted on 09/07/2006 4:40:07 PM PDT by rintense
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To: hipaatwo

yeah, it's up on the Senate Dem site ... so it's legit .... shortsighted on their part, IMO, tho they have already succeeded with Scholastic, so who knows ... if they succeed, it was a brilliant move, but if not, they will pay for their boldness


68 posted on 09/07/2006 4:40:07 PM PDT by EDINVA
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Gorelick 'MemoGate': It Just Got Worse ^

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1462416/posts


69 posted on 09/07/2006 4:40:36 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ......Help the "Pendleton 8' and families -- http://www.freerepublic.com/~normsrevenge/)
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To: hipaatwo

However this turns out it is going to make a very interesting political commerical around election time.


70 posted on 09/07/2006 4:40:47 PM PDT by mware (Americans in armchairs doing the job of the media.)
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To: Tall_Texan
Sure,,,don't you remember Senate Democrats demanding that CBS apologize for using FORGED PAPERS to smear the President just prior to the last election?

Oooops,,,,never mind. (s/off)

71 posted on 09/07/2006 4:41:18 PM PDT by stockstrader
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To: Txsleuth
Tim Roemer just said on CNN that "Bin Ladin was NEVER in someones sights"....

Then he is a damn liar. I personally know and talked to one of the troops that had their sites on him.

72 posted on 09/07/2006 4:41:33 PM PDT by Just A Nobody (NEVER AGAIN..Support our Troops! www.irey.com and www.vets4Irey.com - Now more than Ever!)
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To: Mo1

Is this serious or a joke?

The democratic leadership threatening one of their major money backers and propanda tools?

Unbelieveable!


73 posted on 09/07/2006 4:41:57 PM PDT by Prost1 (I get my news at Free Republic!)
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To: Mo1
The Democrats - Balsa Wood Liberals - are just beside themselves over this show. Its fun watching them being driven bonkers over a TV production. Why, if its tendentious and inaccurate, are they worried about it? As usual, liberals don't trust the American people to decide who's right. They want to make that decision for them.

(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )

74 posted on 09/07/2006 4:41:57 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: NormsRevenge
These dems are just amazing and then they act like they don't have a clue of what we are talking about
75 posted on 09/07/2006 4:42:17 PM PDT by Mo1 (Think about it .. A Speaker Nancy Pelosi could be 2 seats away from being President)
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To: Mo1

"He signed it as the leader of the dem party"

I saw that .... not a particularly bright move, but probably trying to keep away from his official title as "Minority Leader" or trying not to think of himself and his party as we pray they stay, the minority ;)


76 posted on 09/07/2006 4:42:28 PM PDT by EDINVA
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To: deport

Yep, I remember it correctly, then. I wonder what he has to say.


77 posted on 09/07/2006 4:43:04 PM PDT by paudio (Universal Human Rights and Multiculturalism: Liberals want to have cake and eat it too!)
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To: Mo1

And the CommieCrats always claim to be for Freedom of Speech! The Truth is like a Cross to Vampires!

Pray for W and Our Troops


78 posted on 09/07/2006 4:43:16 PM PDT by bray (Koffi 4 Food has Failed.......Again)
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To: mware

All I know is I'm watching football later. Pittsburgh is close enough to Philly at this point..LOL..I need to relax, wash some dishes, and enjoy some quiet time now that my son went out.


79 posted on 09/07/2006 4:43:30 PM PDT by hipaatwo (Vote for your life. Every vote for a Democrat is a vote against victory.)
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To: Mo1

Sounds like all the churches and all the FREEPERS need to write Disney AND the traitorous Senate leadership.

Idiots.


80 posted on 09/07/2006 4:44:05 PM PDT by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
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