A documentary exposing John Kerry's record of betrayal
Posted on 10/15/2004 9:42:47 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites)'s presidential campaign, contending that Sinclair Broadcast Group wants to help President Bush (news - web sites) by airing an anti-Kerry documentary two weeks before the election, asked on Friday that each station carrying the program provide a similar amount of time to Kerry supporters.
Sinclair has contended that the program is news, covering an issue of interest and importance to viewers, and has invited Kerry to appear on a post-broadcast program. Kerry has declined.
A call for comment about the Kerry campaign request was not answered at Sinclair's main phone number in Hunt Valley, Md.
Sinclair, based near Baltimore, has asked its 62 television stations to pre-empt regular programming to air "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal." Many of the stations are in swing states that could decide the outcome of the Nov. 2 election.
The film, described in online marketing as "a documentary exposing John Kerry's record of betrayal," explores his 1971 testimony before the Senate and links him to anti-war activist and actress Jane Fonda (news). Vietnam prisoners of war and their wives claim in the film that his testimony demeaned them and led to prisoners being held longer.
In a letter Friday to Sinclair President David D. Smith, Kerry campaign attorney Marc E. Elias requested time on each station at an hour when an audience of similar size could be expected to be watching.
Citing decisions by the Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites), Elias said stations that permit supporters of a campaign to "use its facilities to advance that candidate's campaign must provide supporters of the opposing candidate 'quasi-equal opportunities.'"
Elias said the content of "Stolen Honor" is not controlled by Sinclair or an independent journalistic organization and that the program is not a news program, a news interview nor a documentary that would qualify for an exemption.
FCC (news - web sites) Chairman Michael Powell said Thursday the federal agency would not block Sinclair from airing the program, noting that the commission has never taken such action and that no rules allow it to prevent the broadcast.
On Tuesday, the Democratic National Committee (news - web sites) filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (news - web sites) contending that airing the film should be considered an illegal in-kind contribution to the Bush campaign.
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On the Net:
Kerry campaign: http://www.johnkerry.com
Sinclair Broadcast Group: http://www.sbgi.net
Right after they let Bush rebut EVERYTHING that has been on tv for the last four years.
Kerry's going to go up in flames for this. I'm not sure if you've seen the real media clips on the site, but this show certainly has the leftists in terror.....as well it should!
Shove It. Frontline didn't give the Bush campaign equal time for their Kerry hagiography.
Sinclair OFFERED Kerry equal time from the beginning. Now the Kerry campaign demands equal time?
HAHAHA.....they don't have to now........and I'll bet Kerry voted FOR that law!
ABC is running a Kerry/Vietnam documentary soon. Equal time for Bush? Doubt it.
He flip-flops on how to respond to this show.
First it's try to pull the program, then threaten Sinclair with lawsuits, then no response to Sinclair's invitation, now Kerry wants equal time. Unreal.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), D-Mass., second from left, and his running mate Sen. John Edwards (news - web sites), D-N.C., react to the crowd at a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004. With them are their wives Teresa Heinz Kerry and Elizabeth Edwards, right. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
They have gone off the deep end over it.
Nice headline! Written as if the campaign hadn't already been offered that chance. Turds.
I bought Stolen Honor, watched it, and yesterday sent it to my brother who's in the military, deployed in places no fun!
BWAAAAAHHHHHHHHHAAAAARRRRRRRRRR! My copy's been put to good use!
Inform the Kerry campaign they can have all the time they can PAY FOR.
They are out of money. The extra month the $70 million has to last is now KILLING THEM. CRUNCH TIME. The DNC was a month earlier and the piper has now arrived to be paid.
Maybe Liz and Theresa can host the program. Lololol! Pass the popcorn and beer :-)
I didn't think you could have a problem (file a complaint)until after the in-kind contribution was made. That means the Rats cant complain until AFTER the show is aired. Am i reading this wrong?
Got my replay tv set to tape it next Thursday, getting the popcorn ready, on with the show.
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