Posted on 10/12/2004 10:29:52 AM PDT by LeftCoastNeoCon
Edited on 10/12/2004 11:02:58 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
FCC COMMISSIONER STATEMENT ON SINCLAIR AIRING OF ANTI-KERRY SHOW
Tue Oct 12 2004 13:39:02 ET
FCC COMMISSIONER COPPS CRITICIZES SINCLAIR CORPORATE DECISION TO PREEMPT LOCAL STATIONS FOR POLITICAL BROADCAST
Commissioner Michael J. Copps reacted to reports that Sinclair Broadcast Group will preempt more than 60 local stations across the country to air an overtly political program in the days prior to the Presidential election.
Copps stated: "This is an abuse of the public trust. And it is proof positive of media consolidation run amok when one owner can use the public airwaves to blanket the country with its political ideology -- whether liberal or conservative.Some will undoubtedly question if this is appropriate stewardship of the public airwaves. This is the same corporation that refused to air Nightline's reading of our war dead in Iraq. It is the same corporation that short-shrifts local communities and local jobs by distance-casting news and weather from hundreds of miles away.It is a sad fact that the explicit public interest protections we once had to ensure balance continue to be weakened by the Federal Communications Commission while it allows media conglomerates to get even bigger. Sinclair, and the FCC, are taking us down a dangerous road."
END
Unfortunately, it confirmed what I suspected. They are not in the NYC/Northern NJ market, where I live.
Oh well. We're not very battlegroundy around here anyway.
The loony left have been sending threatening nasty grams to Sinclair .. their advatisers and filing complaints to the FCC to have Sinclair's license
..
hope our side is sending kudo to Sinclair
(For history info, research the origins of the surname Sinclair - goes back to first Knights Templar and "the bloodline." Interesting. "W"'s genealogy goes back to those lines too -
"From these I will get my leaders."? (may not be exact quote from bible -but correct import.)
I can't seem to get my fellow Oklahomans interested in this documentary--we have two Sinclair stations here.
As a First Amendment lawyer of long experience, I have zero doubt that what Sinclair Broadcast Group is about to do is protected by the First Amendment. And the irony is this: Stolen Honor is an intensely factual work in that the testimonies of the former prisoners of war that it contains are personal, and genuine.
Therefore, these broadcasts on Sinclair are far less of a threat to the values of a free press than the forged documents that Rather/CBS used in its attack on George Bush. Odds are, this Commissioner probably has said not a word about that.
Furthermore, the very issuance of this statement demonstrates that the FCC will do nothing to stop the broadcasts by Sinclair nor to punish them afterward for making it. Note that the Commissioner's statement attacks both Sinclair and the FCC itself. He knows that his position will lose any vote that goes to the Commission, if the matter even reaches that point.
One last point. This Commissioner will be FORCED to disqualify himself if the Sinclair broadcast ever does come before the Commission. It is black-letter law that any judge or commissioner who announces his/her conclusion in advance of any hearing is prejudiced and unfit to sit in judgment on that matter.
Congressman Billybob
Latest column, "America Fails the 'Global Test' "
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Vester immediately asked if that was intended as a threat to Sinclair that a Kerry administration would not renew their broadcast licenses. Clanton tried to back off, but the threat was unmistakable.
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so we'll have a controlled press under Kerry?
Did so yesterday but I don't know how many Freepers did. Looks like the Dems are winning in this one because they actually got a sponsor to pull his ads (Sylvan Learning Centers)
I think Bush got that trait from his Dad. That Dums could be dealt with. I personally know that if you cross them that you will lose your life, let alone your right to free speech. GW is a quick learner though, I think he may well now understand that dums are as much a danger to our freedoms as the terrorists. They just use different tactics.
JUST FYI EVERYBODY: THERE ARE TWO THREADS ON THIS TOPIC UNDER "BREAKING NEWS". THE SECOND IS POSTED WITH THE STORY WHEN IT FINALLY CAME OUT.
THAT'S MY FAULT. I'M NEW HERE AND DIDN'T QUITE GET HOW IT WORKED.
NOW I DO. (DOH!)
-LCNC
Brit will surely have this on his show, right?
This guy said that the FCC had issued a ruling but Rush says they HAVE NOT issued a ruling. One commission said it was an abuse of public trust (regarding Sinclair broadcast).
The commissioner, Michael Copps, is always in the minority, according to Rush.
Kerry wants to harken back to the days of Clinton in more ways than one, and this is one of them.
The little troll also call the Vice President of Sinclair names. I was so shocked at the threat, I didn't hear exactly what the name was. Linda tried to shut him up. Why didn't she let him keep talking.
Nice Cbolt... Thanks.
Rush just said that it was not the FCC but just one Commmissioner from the FCC. We need to call Sinclair and thank them for broadcasting this and send an e-mail and/or letter about the commects from Copps. This MUST not stand. I know Freepers can get into action and be all over this issue fast. The DemonRats have their people all over this NOW.
As long as Kerry doesn't flash a boob, I don't see why the FEC should be involved.
Copps was appointed by Bush, apparently under the rule that a certain number of seats on the commission have to be held by the opposition party.
Here's an extract from his biography:
"Mr. Copps moved to Washington in 1970, joined the staff of Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC) and served for over a dozen years as Administrative Assistant and Chief of Staff. From 1985 to 1989, he served as Director of Government Affairs for Collins and Aikman Corporation, a Fortune 500 Company. From 1989 to 1993, he was Senior Vice President for Legislative Affairs at a major national trade association, the American Meat Institute."
Sorry, send an e-mail to your Senator about Copps remarks...I just did.
bump
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