New York Times Says Sinclair in Trouble

NewsMax.com ^ | 10-19-04 | Jon E. Dougherty, NewsMax.com

[Mich0127]

If David D. Smith, the CEO of Sinclair Broadcasting, knows what's good for him, he'll forget about airing a documentary critical of Democratic presidential contender Sen. John Kerry.

At least that's what the New York Times appears to be saying in its Monday article.

The Times openly acknowledges the impact this film could have: "Senator John Kerry could find his presidential hopes damaged this week when the 62 television stations owned or managed by the Sinclair Broadcasting Group carry a documentary about his antiwar activities 30 years ago."

The Times is clearly worried that Smith, head of the nation's largest owner of television stations, has already informed his 62 affiliates to pre-empt their regular programming and instead air the controversial "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal."

In "Stolen Honor" 17 former POWs charge that Kerry's anti-war activities were a betrayal that prolonged the war.

Sinclair executives have defended the decision to broadcast the film because, they say, it is a vital and newsworthy project that should be presented to voters before the election.

While the Times admits the film could hurt Kerry's White House chances, especially in key swing states that are vital to his bid, the paper also claims airing the program could hurt Sinclair as much, if not more.

The paper says local advertisers in Portland, Maine, Madison, Wis., Springfield, Ill., and Minneapolis, Minn. – not exactly bastions of conservatism – have pulled their ads from the local Sinclair-owned affiliates.

"I've decided I don't want to advertise on them," Adam Lee, the president of Lee Auto Malls, which owns 10 auto dealerships in Portland, Maine, told the Times. "It's a public trust. It seems they're abusing it. If it were a news show and they were really trying to do a fair and balanced story on both sides, that would be a different matter. I don't think they are. That's not their intention."

And that's the extent of the paper's examples. There are no other quotes from other businesses or advertisers who claim they are pulling ads, though the Times alleged "car dealers, furniture makers, supermarkets and restaurants" were among the disenfranchised advertisers.

Liberal Groups Join to Hurt Sinclair

There's more. The Times admits that a number of left-leaning groups – including Common Cause, the Alliance for Better Campaigns, Media Access Project, Media for Democracy and the Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ – are compiling a list of Sinclair advertisers, with plans to urge them to drop their advertising as well.

"The public airwaves should not be used by television executives to promote their partisan political agenda," Common Cause President Chellie Pingree told reporters in a telephone press conference. "This action crosses a line."

Besides contacting Sinclair advertisers, which include Wal-Mart, Applebee's, Domino's Pizza, Lowe's, Papa John's and Best Buy, these groups also are looking to give Sinclair problems when it seeks to renew each individual station's broadcast license.

It's not about getting those licenses revoked, however – it's about employing a typical left-wing legal tactic: "Such challenges almost never result in lost licenses, but they often result in heavy legal costs for the station having to defend them," said the Times.

Other media are piling on the bandwagon, predicting that Sinclair will suffer mightily for its decision.

CNN/Money reported Monday that Sinclair's decision "has stirred up considerable political controversy, but the planned program may also cause some pain for Sinclair's business."

The newswire says Sinclair will lose out on about $430,000 in revenue if it decides to forgo advertising altogether and pre-empt the entire 90-minute slot with the program.

"That's not quite pocket change, but it won't put a big dent in Sinclair's revenue. The company last year posted a net profit of $24 million on sales of $739 million," CNN/Money reported.

Fair and Balanced

For its part, Sinclair believes it is approaching the issue in the fairest way it can.

The network, on its Web site, has invited viewers to comment on the appropriateness of showing the documentary.

The network has also repeatedly invited Kerry to appear as a guest on the special – in fact, he's the only one who's been asked to appear. So far, however, he's declined.

Executives are also quick to point out that the production of "Stolen Honor" hasn't even been completed yet.

"The program has not been videotaped and the exact format of this unscripted event has not been finalized. Characterizations regarding the content are premature and are based on ill-informed sources," says an announcement on the network's Web site.

The Times article did not address why CBS continues to have anti-Bush newsman Dan Rather anchor its nightly news program.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

This from the paper that gave Walter Duranty a Pulitzer for singing Stalin's praises - lies - over 30 million dead Russian citizens and the spread of soul-destroying communism, and the NY Times rolls on, accountable, parroted by the blind free reporters of the world.

[weegee]

Media Schadenfreude and Media Shenanigans PING

The paper says local advertisers in Portland, Maine, Madison, Wis., Springfield, Ill., and Minneapolis, Minn. – not exactly bastions of conservatism – have pulled their ads from the local Sinclair-owned affiliates.

"I've decided I don't want to advertise on them," Adam Lee, the president of Lee Auto Malls, which owns 10 auto dealerships in Portland, Maine, told the Times. "It's a public trust. It seems they're abusing it. If it were a news show and they were really trying to do a fair and balanced story on both sides, that would be a different matter. I don't think they are. That's not their intention."

And that's the extent of the paper's examples. There are no other quotes from other businesses or advertisers who claim they are pulling ads, though the Times alleged "car dealers, furniture makers, supermarkets and restaurants" were among the disenfranchised advertisers.

[snip]

The Times article did not address why CBS continues to have anti-Bush newsman Dan Rather anchor its nightly news program.

[Christian4Bush]

The newswire says Sinclair will lose out on about $430,000 in revenue if it decides to forgo advertising altogether and pre-empt the entire 90-minute slot with the program

The Swift Boat Vets 527 could make a nice dent in this with their war chest. And steal another headline as well.

Wouldn't that be funny? The movie, "Stolen Honor", with commercials that are all from Move America Forward and the Swift Boat vets. Man, would I love to see that!

Seeing as how I live in Los Angeles, I'll just have to see the thoughts of the freepers when it airs.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Unholy Alliance

by David Horowitz
Hardcover - (September 2004) - $27.95

In this tour de force on the most important issue of our time, David Horowitz, confronts the paradox of how so many Americans, including the leadership of the Democratic Party, could turn against the War on Terror. He finds an answer in a political Left that shares a view of America as the “Great Satan” with America’s radical Islamic enemies. In a remarkable exploration of the “Mind of the Left,” Horowitz traces the evolution of American radicalism from its Communist past to its “anti-war” present. He then shows how this Left was able to turn the Democratic Party presidential campaign around and reshape its views on the War on Terror.

[ppaul]

While the Times admits the film could hurt Kerry's White House chances, especially in key swing states that are vital to his bid, the paper also claims airing the program could hurt Sinclair as much, if not more.

Reminds me of the third stanza of America the Beautiful:

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife.
Who more than self the country loved.

The Sinclair executives who authorized the airing of this documentary are well aware that it could hurt them and that they would have the scorn of the leftist media leveled at them. Nevertheless, unlike the Blame America First internationalist elitists who have infected most of the mainstream media, the Sinclair group is sacrificing the fleeting acclaim of the elititists for love of country. May God bless America with more men of backbone and love of country.

:

(And, from a purely pragmatic standpoint, the Sinclair executives have sense enough to understand that a Kerry victory will hurt American business across the board - including theirs.)

[ladyjane]

"The public airwaves should not be used by television executives to promote their partisan political agenda," Common Cause President Chellie Pingree told reporters in a telephone press conference.

WOW!

[Mo1]

Thanks for that list

[MistyCA]

I guess it's time to sell the stock conservatives hold in those companies who pull their ads.

[BJClinton]

Why don't we ask them?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[freakboy]

"I've decided I don't want to advertise on them," Adam Lee, the president of Lee Auto Malls, which owns 10 auto dealerships in Portland, Maine

Yet another public service by Sinclair: identifying advertisers who are on the wrong side of the issue.

Note to self: Don't buy a car at Lee Auto Malls.

[katdawg]

I hope it airs and can't wait to see it.

[Mich0127]

Wow....can someone tell that to CBS?

[verifythentrust]

There's so much publicity do we have to see the film? Anyone in the country will know what the scumbag, traitor did before the airing.

[Mich0127]

That says a lot!

[Mich0127]

The publicity and the stink the left is making over the film will make it hopefully more popular. Even better, it will remind voters of what a slime Kerry is!

[verifythentrust]

what you said

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

There's more. The Times admits that a number of left-leaning groups – including Common Cause, the Alliance for Better Campaigns, Media Access Project, Media for Democracy and the Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ – are compiling a list of Sinclair advertisers, with plans to urge them to drop their advertising as well.

Commie groups all!

[Mich0127]

Here is my question: where is the ACLU for all of this?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

They are leftists and part of the Unholy alliance, anti american.........etc.

They consistantly attack those institutions that were once considered pillars of American Society.....especially the Churches.