HA ha...
and the RATS take another one in the...
Posted on 09/07/2006 4:12:34 PM PDT by Mo1
Senate Democratic leadership threatens Disney with legal and legislative sanctions
by John in DC - 9/07/2006 06:02:00 PM
This letter was sent today by the entire Democratic leadership of the US Senate. This letter is such a major shot across the bow of Disney, it's not even funny. It is FILLED with veiled threats, both legal and legislative, against Disney. US Senators don't make threats like this, especially the entire Democratic leadership en masse, unless they mean it. Disney is in serious trouble.
Read it, then read my analysis of it below:September 7, 2006
The Senate Democratic leadership just threatened Disney's broadcast license. Not the use of the word "trustee" at the beginning of the letter and "trust" at the end. This is nothing less than an implicit threat that if Disney tries to meddle in the US elections on behalf of the Republicans, they will pay a very serious price when the Democrats get back in power, or even before.
Mr. Robert A. Iger
President and CEO
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank CA 91521
Dear Mr. Iger,
We write with serious concerns about the planned upcoming broadcast of The Path to 9/11 mini-series on September 10 and 11. Countless reports from experts on 9/11 who have viewed the program indicate numerous and serious inaccuracies that will undoubtedly serve to misinform the American people about the tragic events surrounding the terrible attacks of that day. Furthermore, the manner in which this program has been developed, funded, and advertised suggests a partisan bent unbecoming of a major company like Disney and a major and well respected news organization like ABC. We therefore urge you to cancel this broadcast to cease Disney’s plans to use it as a teaching tool in schools across America through Scholastic. Presenting such deeply flawed and factually inaccurate misinformation to the American public and to children would be a gross miscarriage of your corporate and civic responsibility to the law, to your shareholders, and to the nation.
The Communications Act of 1934 provides your network with a free broadcast license predicated on the fundamental understanding of your principle obligation to act as a trustee of the public airwaves in serving the public interest. Nowhere is this public interest obligation more apparent than in the duty of broadcasters to serve the civic needs of a democracy by promoting an open and accurate discussion of political ideas and events.
Disney and ABC claim this program to be based on the 9/11 Commission Report and are using that assertion as part of the promotional campaign for it. The 9/11 Commission is the most respected American authority on the 9/11 attacks, and association with it carries a special responsibility. Indeed, the very events themselves on 9/11, so tragic as they were, demand extreme care by any who attempt to use those events as part of an entertainment or educational program. To quote Steve McPhereson, president of ABC Entertainment, “When you take on the responsibility of telling the story behind such an important event, it is absolutely critical that you get it right.”
Unfortunately, it appears Disney and ABC got it totally wrong.
Despite claims by your network’s representatives that The Path to 9/11 is based on the report of the 9/11 Commission, 9/11 Commissioners themselves, as well as other experts on the issues, disagree.
Richard Ben-Veniste, speaking for himself and fellow 9/11 Commissioners who recently viewed the program, said, “As we were watching, we were trying to think how they could have misinterpreted the 9/11 Commission’s findings the way that they had.” [“9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased,” New York Times, September 6, 2006]
Richard Clarke, the former counter-terrorism czar, and a national security advisor to ABC has described the program as “deeply flawed” and said of the program’s depiction of a Clinton official hanging up on an intelligence agent, “It’s 180 degrees from what happened.” [“9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased,” New York Times, September 6, 2006]
Reports suggest that an FBI agent who worked on 9/11 and served as a consultant to ABC on this program quit halfway through because, “he thought they were making things up.” [MSNBC, September 7, 2006]
Even Thomas Kean, who serves as a paid consultant to the miniseries, has admitted that scenes in the film are fictionalized. [“9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased,” New York Times, September 6, 2006]
That Disney would seek to broadcast an admittedly and proven false recounting of the events of 9/11 raises serious questions about the motivations of its creators and those who approved the deeply flawed program. Finally, that Disney plans to air commercial-free a program that reportedly cost it $40 million to produce serves to add fuel to these concerns.
These concerns are made all the more pressing by the political leaning of and the public statements made by the writer/producer of this miniseries, Mr. Cyrus Nowrasteh, in promoting this miniseries across conservative blogs and talk shows.
Frankly, that ABC and Disney would consider airing a program that could be construed as right-wing political propaganda on such a grave and important event involving the security of our nation is a discredit both to the Disney brand and to the legacy of honesty built at ABC by honorable individuals from David Brinkley to Peter Jennings. Furthermore, that Disney would seek to use Scholastic to promote this misguided programming to American children as a substitute for factual information is a disgrace.
As 9/11 Commission member Jamie Gorelick said, “It is critically important to the safety of our nation that our citizens, and particularly our school children, understand what actually happened and why – so that we can proceed from a common understanding of what went wrong and act with unity to make our country safer.”
Should Disney allow this programming to proceed as planned, the factual record, millions of viewers, countless schoolchildren, and the reputation of Disney as a corporation worthy of the trust of the American people and the United States Congress will be deeply damaged. 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. We look forward to hearing back from you soon.
Sincerely,
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid
Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Byron Dorgan
This raises the stakes incredibly for Disney.
"OK, this is now a violation of the 1st Amendment."
I agree, but where do we go to prosecute the violation?
Thanks for the ping, I hadn't seen this. I'd really like to see this publicized everywhere. Are copies being sent to Brit Hume, Hannity, Rush and everyone?
He read it earlier on the air.
That said, ABC has got to be loving the publicity. More popcorn please...
What was his opinion. Is it a breach of power????
Great blog with links
The Cover Up Continues
September 7th, 2006 2:01 pm
http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2006/09/07/the-cover-up-continues/
Everyone who believes that, raise your hands.
Which 9/11 Commission is it that agrees with the report?
How come it's okay when television networks make movies that are blatantly biased and untrue about conservatives?
This is absolutely shocking to me and I've started a Path to 9/11 file so I can write letters to the editor and make sure people know just which party it is that believes in censureship.
Also, this letter from the Senate Democrats is going to EVERYONE on my e-mail list.
Arggggghhhhhhhhhhh... it would be all fine and dandy for the Rats if it was damaging to the President or like that steaming pile of excrement, Fahrenheit 9/11, which really was fictitious.
The dems are going to get us killed.. it's critical that they be kept from power.
good idea
Here is the email I sent to her:
Ms. Stabenow,I can not believe you signed your name to a letter urging ABC and Disney to edit established fact from their 'The Path to 9-11'. By signing your name to that letter, you have participated in the most blatant case of censorship and a clear violation of the First Amendment. How dare you, as a representative of Michigan and the government of the United States of America coerce change in political speech. Where were you when Michael Moore lies profited off Iraqi soldiers and slandered our President? Shame on you, Ms. Stabenow.
I will be sure to tell everyone I know that before they vote in November, to be sure they understand that one of the candidates in the Michigan Senate race is anti-first amendment. And that person is not Michael Bouchard.
With no respect whatsoever,
rintense
--------------------------------------
And here's the email I sent her challenger, Republican Michael Bouchard:
Dear Mr. Bouchard,
I'm sure your media team is already aware, but I wanted to contact you regarding Debbie Stabenow signing her name to a letter urging ABC and Disney to, in essence, censor their movie on 9-11 simply because it exposes the truth regarding failures in the Clinton Administration. I urge you to read this letter and let the constituents of the great state of Michigan know that Ms. Stabenow is in clear violation of the First Amendment by using her political office to censor political speech. I am positive the voters will be as disgusted as I am.
Sincerely,
rintense
Mr. Peach just came in and said if this is what they're doing while they're not in power, what will they do while they're IN power?
If people don't rise up and make a HUMUNGOUS stink about this, we're in big trouble and just as culpable as the Silent Majority who just let the leftists run willy nilly over everything this country stands for.
ABC is being Swiftboated. Remember the Swiftboat movie that was taken off the air or forced to change.
"My gosh, this is unbelievable - even for Democrats. They ripped their masks right off!
This is no longer the Party of FDR. It is the Party of Stalin!"
That nails it!
Not yet since it's just a threat with no action.
Mr. Peach is right!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.