Posted on 10/10/2004 8:09:49 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
To: National Desk
Contact: Naomi Seligman of Media Matters for America, 202-390-0700 or nseligman@mediamatters.org
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Media Matters for America CEO and President David Brock has written a letter to Sinclair Broadcasting asking the company to cancel its reported plans to force its stations to air the anti-Kerry attack film, "Stolen Honor: Wound That Never Heal," between now and the Nov. 2 presidential election.
"Sinclair's plan to air anti-Kerry propaganda before the election is an abuse of the public airwaves for what appears to be partisan political purposes," Brock says. In his letter, Brock warned Sinclair that the plan could constitute a violation of broadcast regulations requiring equal time for political candidates as well as the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. He branded a "charade" the notion that the film could be classified as "news" as a way of getting around those restrictions.
According to the Los Angeles Times, "Stolen Honor" features former POWs accusing Kerry of "worsening their ordeal by prolonging the war." The Times reported that the maker of the film, former Washington Times reporter Carlton Sherwood, tells viewers on the film's website, "Intended or not, Lt. Kerry painted a depraved portrait of Vietnam veterans, literally creating the images of those who served in combat as deranged, drug-addicted psychopaths, baby killers" that has endured for 30 years.
In his letter, Brock wrote, "I don't have to remind you... (that) fourteen of the 62 stations the company either owns or programs are in the key political swing stations of Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where the presidential election is being closely fought."
In the 2004 political cycle, according to the Times, Sinclair executives have given nearly $68,000 in political contributions, 97 percent of it going to Republicans. The Center for Responsive Politics ranks Sinclair 12th among top radio and TV station group contributors.
For more information, please contact Naomi Seligman, Director of Communications, at nseligman@mediamatters.org or (202) 390- 0700.
---
Media Matters for America (MMFA), a Web-based, not-for-profit, progressive research and information center dedicated to correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media, has been researching, analyzing and documenting coverage of the media.
What exactly do you call CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC...? Equal rights I say!!!
Before he came out of the closet.
The way I see it, if Michael Moore can get $30,000.00 to speak at a taxpayer funded university, and show Farenheit 911, then Sinclair should be able to show whatever they want to show.
Too often people get locked into this political myopia. This is a free speech issue. That it's political in nature means nothing.
"In his letter, Brock wrote, "I don't have to remind you... (that) fourteen of the 62 stations the company either owns or programs are in the key political swing stations of Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin,"
woo hoo. This is a major bush/cheney vote machine. Let's hope that David Brock continues to publicly complain so as to boost ratings an extra notch. Brock's co-worker Naomi Seligman should keep up the good work.
Naomi Seligman, Director of Communications, at nseligman@mediamatters.org
Are they also gonna complain about Michael Moore's movie?
The words "cry me a river" come to mind.
No one can scream equal time after memogate.
"progressive research and information center". Yeah right.
"Progressive", "peace", "liberal", all phony words that mean the opposite of what they sound like. Code words for anti-Bush, anti-Republican, anti-America, anti-truth, anti-reality and anti-pragmatism.
So, how do we counteract his request?
That LEFT WING LOONY group has a link to send and email to sinclair to NOT run the film.
We need to counter them with emails ENCOURAGING Sinclair to CONTINUE with the plans
David D. Smith
President and Chief Executive Officer
E-mail: dsmith@sbgi.net
Bunch of Left-wing nutjobs...watch out for any group calling itself progressive...most of them are progressive in an oxymoronic sort of way...
So, they are unhappy that their attempts to throw this election to Kerry by using the "MSM" as a mouth piece for the DNC the last few weeks of the election has been marginally deflated by Sinclair's offensive.
I love it.
Sinclair, you are fast becoming a hero! I hope your business continues to grow.
I don't know what they are griping about...they plan to run that piece of crap Moore put out on television before the election. I say "turn around is fair play".
What a joke this all is. MediaMatters pressured MSNBC to cancel former Republican pollster Frank Luntz from, get this. . . .
Hardball with Chris Matthews.
As though the very show isn't a violation of the anti-bias line Brock would purport to push.
AND YOU KNOW They wouldn't say a thing if F911 get on the air, which they are trying to do.
Fellow - Freepers - Prepare for WAR.. Pajamas - Check, coffee - check, finger exerciser - check!
I would say go to his website and Freep them, but, you know our time is to valuable to spend on the likes of him.
I don't know what we can do, perhaps contact the company and point out there are those who think this should be released?
Sinclair isn't going to fold on this. He didn't for the nightline clip earlier and he won't for this.
http://www.sbgi.net
uckfa rockba!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.