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"The public airwaves should not be used by television executives to promote their partisan political agenda," Common Cause President Chellie Pingree told reporters....... |
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!
Posted on 10/19/2004 5:36:20 AM PDT by 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.
In the words of Phil Knight, "Just Air it!"
SBGI is 6.49. Hitting its lows and from its charts looks like a usual trend, low in January.
I think I'll buy this morning.
"......."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,....."
The decent people of Portland, Maine should decide not to purchase a car from him wheen they need to buy one.
I know that I have bought my last union made vehicle and when I buy clothes, tools or anything else I look for anything on the tag that reads "Union Made". If I see those words, I put it back.
The Left Wing is attacking Sinclair because it is interupting "regular programming" to air what it deems to be propaganda. 60 Minutes, 60 Minutes II et al's regular programming IS propaganda. What Sinclair needs is Hootie Johnson. Those Green Jackets have awfully deep pockets!
I am going to buy some today - also, maybe the continued negative press will drive the price lower over the next few days......
Good...same way that I don't buy Heinz Ketchup!
"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."
Amen to that.
The NYT has been the leading brain-washing propaganda arm of the left for as long as I have known it existed. News and truth in reporting at the Times have been accidental and incidental by-products of efforts to promote the Democratic Party and its agenda of all socialism all the time.
It has always bewildered me why conservatives buy this publication, in effect subsidizing the defeat of their own political views.
You can say that again.
Does anyone honestly believe that if the blocking of "Stolen Honor" is successfull, the Michael Moores of this world will not be able to block anything and everything from the right?
I'm sure that Smith, and others realize this.
The show goes on.
CHELLIE PINGREE IS A DEMOCRAT.
Nail on the head, M!
Besides, this is not about the public airwaves. It's about public airing of the truth; at the very least, another side. The first amendment. I'm going tonight to see the national premier of "Stolen Honor." On the internet yesterday I found a petition where people are signing to prevent its airing here. This is a private showing. The sponsors rented a theater and are selling tickets to it. That's not the public airwaves. That's free speech in action. That's what they want to shut down.
Short term, Sinclair may lose some money. Long term, Sinclair gains in public recognition and trust. It also lays the way open to targeting a different audience than they have had in the past.
Good point...I also just heard of Sinclair after this controversy, and I also highly respect Sinclair! This might hurt Kerry more because Stolen Honor and Sinclair are now recognizable...and people will notice!
thats the truth...I think this election year has absolutely shown all the snakes with their stripes....CBS, ABC and THE NEW YORK WHINES
we all knew CNN was Lib, but I dont think they are as bad as they use to be when Bubba was Pres.. his pal left there and went to MSNBC, so that tells you something about them..he openly admitted that he kept bad things off as much as he could about clinton when he was at CNN....we didnt have a chance back then....to heck with them now!!!!
If he wants some balance, just watch "Stolen Honor", then turn on ABCCBSNBCMSNBCCNN, and he'll get all the 'balance' he can stand.
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"The public airwaves should not be used by television executives to promote their partisan political agenda," Common Cause President Chellie Pingree told reporters....... |
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!
I might just be imagining this but I seem to recall a phrase the goes........"Chose your battles carefully, it's not about how many battles you win.....just that you win the war."
Sinclair has made it's decision. They're prepared to live with the consequences.
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