Sinclair Pulls Nightline; Koppel Insists He's 'Reminding' Americans of War Dead

NewsMax ^ | 4-20-04 | Susan Jones

[jmstein7]

During a week when Iraqi war coverage has dominated the cable news shows and led the networks' evening news programs, newsman Ted Koppel said he thinks Americans need to be 'reminded' of what is going on in Iraq.

In a Friday morning interview, Koppel said that's why he plans to read the names of more than 700 American troops killed in Iraq on Friday night's "Nightline."

Not all ABC affiliates will air tonight's "Nightline," however.

Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcasting is pre-empting the live "Nightline" program on its ABC affiliates, saying, "We find it offensive that Ted Koppel is trivializing the deaths of so many men and women. This is not a one-year anniversary of the war, or Memorial Day. This is 'sweeps week,' and he intends to use a news platform for a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq."

In an interview ABC's "Good Morning America" Friday, Koppel said he expected the show to be controversial - "but not this controversial."

He denied complaints that the show is "anti-war."

"It is a way of saying...let me explain it this way, Charlie [Gibson]. I was born and grew up in England. I was a small child in London during the Second World War. We used to spend our nights during bombing raids in an air-raid shelter in the back. There was rationing. There were blackouts. There was an awareness of the war, which I think is somehow a little bit lacking in the United States at this time.

"I'm not suggesting that people in this country don't know what's happening, but I think that periodically it is not unreasonable to remind everyone of who these young people are and what they look like."

Koppel was asked to recall the impact of a 1969 Life magazine - which published pictures of the servicemen who died in Vietnam in just one week. It was one of the things that turned the country against the Vietnam War, "Good Morning America" host Charlie Gibson said to Koppel.

Koppel admitted that his executive producer had brought up the Life magazine spread.

"That was one of the things that our executive producer...mentioned to me. He said, 'You remember the impact of that. What if we do something like that?' And I think it's an appropriate thing to do."

Koppel said if his show has received requests from parents asking him not to name their children, he's not aware of it.

The show will run for 40 minutes, Koppel said - longer than the usual 30 minutes. Koppel added that he'll be interested to hear reaction to the program after it airs.

Koppel, ABC News calling editorial position 'news'

"ABC has the right to do anything it wants to do with its program, but what ABC doesn't have the right to do is to call an editorial position 'news,' said Brent Bozell, president and founder of the Media Research Center and founder of CNSNews.com, speaking on Fox News Friday.

"It is taking a position on the war. It is showing only one side of this. It's showing only the dead. It's not telling the American public what they died for. So it's trying to make a political statement and Sinclair, I think, did the principle thing by saying we're not going to be a part of an editorial," added Bozell.

McCain chastises broadcaster' decision to pre-empt 'Nightline'

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) sent a letter to the president and CEO of Sinclair Broadcast Group, David Smith, about the broadcaster's decision to pre-empt Friday night's broadcast of "Nightline."

"I write to strongly protest your decision to instruct Sinclair's ABC affiliates to preempt this evening's Nightline program. I find deeply offensive Sinclair's objection to Nightline's intention to broadcast the names and photographs of Americans who gave their lives in service to our country in Iraq," McCain wrote.

"I supported the President's decision to go to war in Iraq, and remain a strong supporter of that decision," McCain continued.

"But every American has a responsibility to understand fully the terrible costs of war and the extraordinary sacrifices it requires of those brave men and women who volunteer to defend the rest of us; lest we ever forget or grow insensitive to how grave a decision it is for our government to order Americans into combat," he wrote.

"It is a solemn responsibility of elected officials to accept responsibility for our decision and its consequences, and, with those who disseminate the news, to ensure that Americans are fully informed of those consequences," McCain added.

"There is no valid reason for Sinclair to shirk its responsibility in what I assume is a very misguided attempt to prevent your viewers from completely appreciating the extraordinary sacrifices made on their behalf by Americans serving in Iraq," he wrote.

"War is an awful, but sometimes necessary business. Your decision to deny your viewers an opportunity to be reminded of war's terrible costs, in all their heartbreaking detail, is a gross disservice to the public, and to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces," McCain added.

"It is, in short, sir, unpatriotic. I hope it meets with the public opprobrium it most certainly deserves," he concluded.

[cricket]

"And just who the hell are you McCain to set yourself up as the Supreme Court of Patriotism?"

My thoughts exactly. . .

. . .now that he has given us examples of 'courage'; perhaps his next book will be entitled; Loyalty.

You teach best; what you most need to learn.

[yooper]

Y'know, I heard ol' Alfred E. Neuman on Hannity's radio show this afternoon, and despite hearing a pretty well-reasoned response to this issue, I have to ask, "Ted, what the hell were you thinking?!"

Even a moron would be offended by this. Even IF the moron didn't realize it is sweeps week.

Koppel is grinding a personal political axe and even a moron realizes it. So who is the moron here?

[xzins]

The reading of the names of the heroes is either News or commentary or political action.

Since they are not news, then one is left with commentary or political action.

[tuvals]

Very well said and I agree wholeheartedly. Ted Koppel, IMHO, is doing a disfavor to all who serve our country as valiant, patriotic soldiers. He and people like him are nothing but self-serving fools. As for Senator McCain, he is still trying to find himself. Hopefully, one day he will overcome his mindless affliction, but that day is not near!

[yooper]

"But every American has a responsibility to understand fully the terrible costs of war..."

There was once a time where the people who started the war were forced "to understand fully the terrible costs of war..."

How far we've come.....

[wingnuts'nbolts]

Mr Ted Koppel, who's parents fled from Hitler's Germany to England was born in 1940. He said today that he remembers the U2 Buzz Bombs that fell in 1943 and 1944 and the unity then among the British.

He also spoke about the oneness of the Americans during WWII and that that same togetherness seems to be missing from America today, thanks to him and his 5th column buddies. He is so concerned that he needs to recite these names to make us dummies out here who think this is a turkey shoot understand what and who is a stake and what sacrifices these soldiers make. Phoney piece of journalistic nonsense.

I am 3 years older than Mr. Koppel and lived 20 miles south of NYC during those early war years. There was no opposition political nonsense in this country. WE had been attacked and WE were pissed. Admittedly, I did not have buzz bombs devistating my home town, but all the men were gone, the rest of the grown ups were Rosie, you remember her, plane spotters, civil defense wardens. We lived with shortages and the knowlege that we were knocking the Crap out of them.

I can find no record of this eletist German expatriot via his Jewish parents who were smart enough to get out of Germany, ever having obtained or even applying for American Citizenship. So, who is he? A bitter Brit? A Liberal Jew who thinks appeasement is the way of the future? An America hater bent on seeing us as a Socialistic State with the Clintons at the helm? What he is not is my idea of an American Journalist from whom I should take any information or instruction about anything American, especially Patriotism.....if I am wrong, my apologies.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

Senator McCain is still seething because, like Dr. Dean, he failed to really catch on in 2000 and Our President blew him off. His wife just recently had a stroke, poor soul, I wonder why, and he is irrelevant and redundant now. Thank God! See, money does not buy everything for all who have it. My ex-husband who had scads of money once clarified it for me. He did not care that money could not buy love, he was content to deal with the facimily, it suited him just fine. Shades of Clinton and Trump.

[Lord Basil]

He's just trying to make "Nightline" relevant again. I haven't watched it in years. This won't change that.

[jmstein7]

Guys... have you seen this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x514322

Apparently, the DUmmies have gotten their hands on our ads!

[NeonKnight]

Is Nightline still on?

[auggy]

"Koppel on Hannity Radio Program has picked up the Kerry line: 'They are questioning my patriotism.'"

Questioning? There is no question about it. There is no patriotism.

I am hoping this will do Nightlying in.

[SerpentDove]

I love how this blew up in Krapple's face.

Instead of "reminding" everyone of the war dead, he reminded everyone of how biased he is.

[NeonKnight]

I think nightline started durring the hostage crises in Iran. I remember "Day..357" or whatever day it happened to be since the day they were taken. We were so starved for news that we tuned in. Now we see it for what it has always been. A mediocre news program with a left wing tilt.

[jocon307]

Here's the contact infor from their website. Let's call & write and give them our support!

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
10706 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030
410-568-1500 (Main Telephone)
410-568-1533 (Main Fax)

[hattend]

Show the jets hitting the WTC and read those names, Koppel.

[cricket]

You write an astute and passionate analysis of/for Koppel.

I have sent several e-mails; I hope you find a way to share this with Nightline and 'his eyes' and the rest of ABC - and cc to John McCain. . .

[K1avg]

Do they have an e-mail address? By the time snail-mail gets there, this whole incident will be history...

[Viking2002]

It's not insulting that Koppel and ABC are doing it; that's to be expected from the DNC's long-time baggage handlers. What is insulting is that these elitest yahoos feign shock and indignation over the rest of us pointing out the glaringly obvious. These vermin are not only evil, but mentally ill.

[ErnBatavia]

Not even separated at birth...

[cyncooper]

but I think that periodically it is not unreasonable to remind everyone of who these young people are and what they look like."

I have to say, there was some outcry from some quarters when Pat Tillman's death caused so much coverage. Where, these people wondered, was the coverage of the others who gave the ultimate sacrifice?

Here it is.