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
Read it, then read my analysis of it below:September 7, 2006
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.
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 Disneys 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 networks 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 Commissions 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 programs depiction of a Clinton official hanging up on an intelligence agent, Its 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
This raises the stakes incredibly for Disney.
1-888-355-3588
OMG! Greta has the story?
Off with his football game!
Sometimes, he actually likes Greta.
I realize that I will not get everything I want and don't expect it anymore. But when the opposition party has the gall, the nerve, to send an open letter to a private corp. and blackmail them, threaten them and using the most blatant intimidation practices possible by a mobster lawyer; well, I have had enough!
It's time go go after these bastards, I'm just tired of being a gentleman.
This is just unbelievable!
You left the caps on.
Yes, it's quite frustrating to me. These liberals can rant their lies every day -- falsely accusing and blaming President Bush for everything, including the weather -- but they scream bloody murder over a historical program that brings out the truth about the Islamo-Fascist terrorists and how both administrations didn't respond in time.
Some time ago, one of my siblings attacked me when she saw Secretary Rice on the news. Blaming me that Christians were supporting torture. I remained silent (our relationship is top priority) but in the end I asked her to define torture. turned beat red & couldn't give me an answer. Later, she was embarrassed that she had lost it. She devours the NYT every morning.
Bush didn't let Bin Laden go 3 times like Clinton did
And I think everyone already knows Bush hasn't gotten bin laden yet
Just posted DNC Dem hypocracy:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1697511/posts?page=3
You are a teacher...how do you feel about Scholastic pulling out of this project NOW, since the Clintons have gotten upset??...but not before??
Yep, you can say that again.
We're almost 6 years removed from the days when this kind of political pressure by the Democrats and Clinton was probably more covert and probably more common.
Nowadays they have to rely on some lame-ass out-in-the-open extortion letter from Demo leadership.
LOL!
Doubtful it will come as a surprise that we haven't captured OBL.
Not yet but she mentioned it in the teaser. My husband is watching the football game too and I'm in the study.
You are correct, this is just a taste of what dems abuse of power will be like if they gain their power back. If there ever was a time to massively protest against them, it is now. We may not have many other chances to do so, and I'm not kidding.
okay.....now you got me excited!
don't take that wrong- all due respect you and Mrs. Rodguy.....
Just shakin my head...
I know...it's a new group of FReepers-
The Bitter Bunch with Brains
Hah!
Are wwe absolutely sure this letter came from the senate? Are we sure this isn't some kind of weird set up?
My hubby is giving me tennis updates......LOLOL......
Hey, Mark Levin was on fire today with this 9/11 ABC story.
Was also interesting seeing what DU was putting out.
Watching Newt on Greta
OTOH We were discussing on another thread that something seems to be up in Pakistan??????? Just Maybe!
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.