So, when exactly is the broadcast planned for?
Posted on 10/13/2004 2:14:59 PM PDT by kattracks
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The Democratic Party has filed a formal complaint over a large broadcast chain's plans to air a documentary highly critical of presidential nominee John Kerry (news - web sites) just before the election, party officials said. A letter to the Federal Election Commission (news - web sites) (FEC) said the plans by the Sinclair Broadcasting Group, which reaches a quarter of US households, amounted to an unlawful and "brazen attempt" to influence the November 2 ballot.The documentary, "Stolen Honour: Wounds That Never Heal," harshly criticizes Kerry's appearance before Congress in 1971, when he returned from Vietnam as a decorated officer and vehemently denounced the war.
The 90-minute program, featuring statements from ex-Vietnam prisoners and their families that Kerry betrayed his comrades and prolonged their captivity, has drawn a furious response from Democrats.
The letter to the FEC, signed by Democratic National Committee (news - web sites) (DNC) general consul Joseph Sandler, said the broadcast plans amounted to an illegal "corporate in-kind contribution" to Republican President George W. Bush (news - web sites).
It said Sinclair was forcing outlets to pre-empt their regular programming to run the documentary made by an ex-reporter with no prior experience in such filmmaking. Sandler said there was no trace of any payment for distribution rights.
"In these circumstances it is impossible to conclude with a straight face that this program's airing is 'within the ordinary course of business for a press entity,'" the DNC said.
"To the contrary, it is crystal clear that Sinclair's decision to air this film is a brazen attempt to use the corporation's resources (to) influence the outcome of the presidential election," it said.
"The media exemption cannot and does not apply to such activity," the DNC said, rejecting the argument by Sinclair that it was running the documentary as news. The Democrats called for an FEC inquiry into possible illegalities.
On Tuesday, 18 Democratic senators complained to the Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) (FCC (news - web sites)) about the planned broadcast on up to 62 stations owned by Sinclair, which has not said exactly when they would run the program.
The FCC said it had received the senators' letter, but one official said it would be difficult to rule on the complaint before the documentary had actually been aired.
Sinclair Broadcasting, which owns stations in key battleground states in the election, said in a statement "the program has not been videotaped and the exact format of this unscripted event has not been finalized."
"Characterizations regarding the content are premature and are based on ill-informed sources," it added.
Under federal regulations, stations broadcasting political programming are required to accord equal air time to both sides of the partisan divide.
Sinclair said it had invited Kerry to participate in the programme -- a gesture dismissed by the Democratic senators as "a transparent attempt to circumvent the fine print of the law."
Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe said Kerry would be interested in responding only if Sinclair would offer him the equivalent 90 minutes of prime time to do so.
Did they file a similar suit over the airing of Fahrenheit 911 one day before the election?
Wonder if "Stolen Honor" will be considered for an Academy Award like Moore's "documentary"?
If the FEC bans this... they should also have to ban 60 minutes and CBSNews. Republicans in congress have to frickin speak up about media bias already!
Dear Terry,
He already has and you know it.
So, when exactly is the broadcast planned for?
Now a commie pinko democrat judge can stop it. They always use the corrupt judges to get their way.
What about PBS' hit piece on Bush aired last night?
And now that we have a REAL VERIFIABLE attempt of the 'Rats trying to use the power of the government to CENSOR an opinion that they don't like, will the ACLU step up and defend them?
Should I hold my breath?
"Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe said Kerry would be interested in responding only if Sinclair would offer him the equivalent 90 minutes of prime time to do so."
This could actually be good for us - can you imagine having to listen to that idiot drone on and on for an hour and a half? I'd rather eat rat poison.
They never learn, do they? By making a fuss they simply amplify peoples' desire to see it.
Wouldn't apply, cuz cable is not covered by the FCC.
In that case, Republicans should file a complaint aganist CBS for running 60 minutes. It seems to be an "in kind" contribution to the Democrats for a full hour twice a week, for as long as I can remember.
Anyways, this is all good news. It shows just how terrified the Democrats are of the truth of Kerry's Vietnam record coming out. It will also increase exposure and interest in the film even more.
If you listen carefully, you'll hear all sorts or anti Bush retoric on seemingly entertainment prime time shows. Gilmore Girls bad-mouth Swiftboat Vets and Cold Case Files put down National Guard. Anybody going to stop this garbage?
If I was on the FEC or FCC receiving this compaint. I'd ask them for the compaints they filed for Fahrenheit 9-11, CBS News fake memo report, ABC for favorable treatment, etc. If they aren't going to complain about all of them, then they can't complain about any.
Like anything Terry says, it has to be parsed. Sinclair said Kerry could respond after the showing. Terry wants the same block of time on another day. Sinclair's offer is far more generous than the victims of any 60 Minutes hatched job receive, but Terry doesn't care.
""Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe said Kerry would be interested in responding only if Sinclair would offer him the equivalent 90 minutes of prime time to do so." "
Kerry can have November 3 to rebut. He can do it from his nice comfy seat in the senate.
Hypocrisy, thy name is Democrat!
They should ban PBS and NPR, too.
The reply took the form of the infomercial that CNN's Candy Crowley has been running on Kerry's courage in Vietnam and in the VVAW. It has run multiple times.
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