Posted on 09/17/2006 3:54:40 PM PDT by smoothsailing
Posted on Sun, Sep. 17, 2006
Back Channels | Note to ABC on 9/11 mini-series
By Kevin Ferris
Inquirer Commentary Page Editor
To: Robert A. Iger President and CEO The Walt Disney Co. Burbank, Calif.
From: U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D., Nev.)
Majority leader-to-be
TV producer wannabe
Sometime believer in the First Amendment
Dear Bob,
It is with deep regret that the Democratic leadership in Congress notes that your network, ABC, aired the mini-series The Path to 9/11 on Sept. 10 and 11, recklessly disregarding our threat... er, collegial suggestion... that you do otherwise.
We really couldn't have been clearer in our Sept. 7 letter. I quote, in part: "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."
You even ignored pleas to "tell the truth" by former President Bill Clinton, whose picture I have pasted in my dictionary next to the entries for honesty and accuracy.
Perhaps you felt free to ignore our threat... er, collegial suggestion... because we are currently the minority party in Congress. This was shortsighted of you.
First, let me acquaint you with the power that even a minority can muster when a majority of that minority is in a mustering mood.
Effective immediately, no member of the Democratic caucus, House or Senate, and no spouse or child of a member, will be allowed to utter the phrase I'm going to Disney World. Allowances will be made for those who already have scheduled or expect to schedule junkets... er, fact-finding missions... to that great state.
Further, Democrats will soon be introducing a nonbinding resolution in support of the International Astronomical Union's downgrading of Pluto, moving him, as I understand it, from top-drawer Disney star to supporting dwarf.
Second, it is now clear to me that you have missed the headlines about the forthcoming Democratic tsunami poised to sweep us into power in the House and Senate. This historic event will unleash an era of multicultural joie de vivre that will pacify insurgents and terrorists the world over, topple with diplomatic kindness the tyrannical regimes of North Korea and Iran, and see Americans embracing their inner New Deal, too long suppressed by tax-averse Republicans.
Good for us. Not so good for media conglomerates that put their First Amendment rights above the collegial suggestions of those of us who truly know what's best for American families to watch on TV.
Thus, please be advised of the changes that will result with our ascent to power. Henceforth:
All documentaries, docudramas, movies of the week, mini-series, sitcoms or infomercials that mention Democrats in anything remotely approaching a negative light will be previewed by the Office of Partisan Scrutiny, led by the epitome of accuracy and fairness in filmmaking, the Academy Award-winning auteur Michael Moore.
White House requests for airtime from now until January 2009 will not be approved until any and all presidential speeches, statements, declarations or attempts at homespun humor have been vetted by the Ministry of Mendacity, cochaired by former CBS anchor Dan Rather, former Democratic presidential candidate Al Sharpton and former ambassador Joe Wilson. (The first two are confirmed, but we're still verifying who recommended Mr. Wilson for the post.)
Current series will be updated. For example, in That '70s Show, instead of the kids hanging out in Eric's basement, we'll have them grow up and move to Capitol Hill. Eric (Ned Lamont), Kelso (John Kerry), Hyde (Jack Murtha) and exchange-student Fez (special guest, Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) will reminisce weekly about the glory days, the late '70s. Some sample themes: "Losing a War Isn't Really So Bad"; "Learning to Love Being Humiliated by the Islamic Republic"; "A Humbled Superpower Is a Happy Superpower," and "FISA, Pop Rocks and 8-tracks, All Still Hip." Alas, Eric's dad will no longer be central to the show. But we'll have his picture (cameo appearance by Joe Lieberman) on the wall, tagged "Casualty of War."
Next week, more details on our plans to keep politics and partisanship out of future Sept. 11 commemorations.
Enjoy the rest of your Constitution Day.
Contact Commentary Page editor Kevin Ferris at 215-854-5801 or kf@phillynews.com.
© 2006 Philadelphia Inquirer and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.philly.com
Harriet "Seig Hiel" Reid takes himself too seriously. He sure acted like a regular Nazi buffoon when he tried to stifle ABC's freedom of speech.
well deserved....
This may be more truth than parody!
"he tried to stifle ABC's freedom of speech."
Leaving aside the notion that corporations can have freedom of speech, the licensing of networks to use public airvwaves can be revoked by the FCC without invoking any amendments.
Agreed. And now Disney has the screenplay for another docu-drama.
What part of the Constitution gives the Feds authority over the air? wasn't the act creating the FCC a clear violation of the 1st Amendment: "Congress shall pass no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech or of the press."
If there ever was usefulness in that Commission, which created state-protected monopolies for a few businessmen 80 years ago, whose successors now run shrinking corporations dedicated to the destruction of the Christian West, that moment has passed.
HA! That is a funny reminder of the weakness that defines Democrats. A good line by the writer of this piece.
I suppose the Tragedy of the Commons could be used to justify government regulation of a public, limited resource. If not, surely the Commerce Clause, useful for circumscribing what may be grown and consumed within the confines of your own home, would be stretched to cover invisible things in the air.
OHHHHH????? I didn't know we lived in Russia or a third world country with a dictator.....
Seems to me when people like ding bat reid starts jacking his jaws, the people just shake their heads and laugh...
The democratic party is a joke anyways...and each day they get more off this planet...
When are the 'decent' people of Nevada going to replace this slime with someone who can connect two sentences together????
The harping about this was much hoopla over nothing. The fact that even Freepers don't even talk about it anymore is evidence that all will soon be forgotten.
Nice huh? Too bad we don't have an FCC playing watchdog to liberal rag newspapers like the NYT and the WaPo.
That'sWhy Broadcast Journalism is
Unnecessary and IllegitimateVanity thread of mine which discusses such issues.
-PJ
FREEPERS!!!!!
Big difference.
Networks aren't licensed by the FCC. Individual TV stations are. Networks that are only on cable, such as Fox New, CNN, etc, aren't regulated by the FCC, AFAIK.
LOL...Pretty funny and not so far from the truth. In all seriousness that letter from those turkeys should be looked into, senators should not be threatening anyone.
Even though there were a few minor edits, that donation was sent Friday.
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