The text is shown below:
Subject: VH1 Censorship of NYC Concert
Author: michael110857
Date: 12/26/01 08:48 PMThere were 3 instances of censrorship in the 12/25 rebroadcast of the Concert for NYC.
The first was the blatant doctoring of the Hillary Clinton speech. All the booing was deleted. It would have been bad enough if they had just edited out the boos and jeers that accompanied her speech. But they did worse than that. They actaully added sounds that made it sound like she was being cheered. This is a deliberate falsification of the historical record of an important event. This was especially significant in that the reception accorded to Senator Clinton was a watershed event in many ways, and I think it will be remembered as an early harbigner of a sea change in American politics.
The second censored item was the partial deletion of Mike Moran's impromptu speech. The specific part cut out was when Mike took off his hat to show Osama bin Laden what he looked like, and dared Osama to come get him so to speak. Then he called bin Laden "bitch". I think they censored this reference because the word "bitch" could possibly be intended as an anti-gay slur. If that is how Mike intended it, that's regrettable. But it doesn't justify censorhsip by VH1.
When VH1 is finally forced to explain their conduct, as they will be, don't settle for any exuses like they cut out the word "bitch" simply because decorum requires deleting vulgarities. (They left in Adam Sandler's oral sex jokes, as well as the words "dink" "cock" and "sh*t".)
Third, VH1 had its VJ "explain" that Mike's words "came from anger and pain" because he lost is own brother in the attack. There is no doubt that Mike is going through hell over the loss of his brother. But why does VH1 feel the need to patiently explain his comments, as if they were in some way unseemly or inappropriate. His words of anger were perfectly approriate given the murderous attack on our nation. They do not require politically correct qualifiers from VH1.
VH1 should do 2 things; 1) apologize for deliberately distorting the truth. 2) Promise that any videos they sell of the concert will depict what actually happened, not the VH1 doctored version.
I doubt they will do this, and they will probably censor me too.
This instance of censorship definitely needs to be seen by Drudge, especially since he and Rush brought the original recording to the airwaves shortly following the concert.
Sice it looks like you will remain knowlegable on the VH1 censorship issue, here's another idea to put in the hopper. If VH! or anyone else seeks to sell the tape or CD of this as "The NY Benefit Concert," they can be sued for false advertising if it is a doctored version.
You know how the line "Edited for television" appears on movies when they make changes in the original? The same logic applies here. Unless it says on the packaging that the product has been "edited," it is both dishonest and a violation of the Fair Trade laws. What's in the box should be what the outside says, no more, no less.
Please keep us all posted on developing wrinkles in this story.
Congressman Billybob