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Senate Democratic leadership threatens Disney with legal and legislative sanctions
americablog.blogspot.com ^ | September 07, 2006 | John in DC

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

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
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.

This raises the stakes incredibly for Disney.



TOPICS: Breaking News; Business/Economy; Government; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: 109th; 1stamendment; 2ndamendment; 911; abc; abcbestrong; abledanger; abuseofpower; americanhaters; antiamericanhaters; arkancide; assclowns; balsawoodliberals; benedictarnolds; bergertheftofdocs; binclintonalot; bjclinton; bluedress; boohoo; bookburners; brownshirts; callfbi; cantstandthetruth; castrolovers; censorship; cheaters; chinesecampaignmoney; clinton; clintonhitlist; clintonistas; clintonlegacy; clintonoids; communists; crimedimwitparty; crybabies; democratcensors; democratgestapo; democrats; demofascists; demosocialists; demseattheirown; dimwitscry; dimwitthreats; dirtyrats; disbarred; disney; enemywithin; fascists; fraud; freespeech; gaydaysatdisney; gestapo; gflowers; gorelickmemo; gorelickwall; gramsci; hatefuldimwits; heilhitler; hitler; impeached; intimidation; islamofascism; jfkjrkilledbyhill; jimguytucker; lawsuit; letbinladengo; liars; mao; monica; monicasdress; monicastain; mussolini; nationalsocialists; nazis; notruth; ovalofficestain; pathto911; paulajones; perjury; pinkocommies; popcorn; putsomeiceonit; rapedjuanita; repealmccainfeingold; roselawfirmrecords; sandyburglar; scumbags; sept11; september10thrats; sinkmeister; slickwillie; ss; stabenow; stalin; stalinists; thefinalsolution; thosecrazyrats; thosedirtyrats; toodangfunny; truthhurts; truthiskryptonite; unamerican; waronterror; whileclintonslept; whitewater; whokilledfoster; whokilledjfkjr; whoshotjr; wordsfailme
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To: Aiden
Just replace all "unauthorized" scenes with a calming scene with a friendly, fatherly voice-over and scrolling text: "This information has been deemed inappropriate for your viewing, Citizen, as it espouses ideals dangerous to our great Democracy!"

Good idea! Or just make these guys the re-editing censors:

1,281 posted on 09/08/2006 1:01:07 PM PDT by Stultis
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To: Stultis

ping


1,282 posted on 09/08/2006 1:08:09 PM PDT by JessieHelmsJr
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To: Mo1; All

RELATED THREADS:

The Truth about Bill Clinton and Terrorism (FR Compilation Thread) at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1697884/posts

Democratic Bloggers Plan to 'Google Bomb' Controversial 9/11 Docudrama at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1697579/posts

Dems Send Threatening Letter to ABC - and misspell word in second paragraph. at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1697561/posts

Dick Morris: Clinton Attack 'Outrageous' at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1697490/posts

Letter from Dem Leaders to Disney to Cancel 'Path' Broadcast at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1697777/posts

Thwack! Will Democrats Never Learn? at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1697676/posts

Accuracy aside, ABC's '9/11' deserves to bomb (LEFTY 'TV CRITIC' ISSUES WARNING) at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1697680/posts

BASIC OLDER POST: Berger rejected four plans to kill or capture bin Laden at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1177555/posts


1,283 posted on 09/08/2006 1:24:08 PM PDT by FreeKeys ("America's national security is the lowest priority on the Democratic Party agenda."- David Horowitz)
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1,284 posted on 09/08/2006 1:28:42 PM PDT by GretchenM (What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? Please meet my friend, Jesus.)
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To: Texasforever; Mo1
Under Pressure, ABC Alters 9/11 Miniseries

Producers work on changes after ex-Clinton staffers protest depictions, factual errors

• Video: 'Path to 9/11' also 9/11 Panel Chair
Bush to Address Nation on Sept. 11

1,285 posted on 09/08/2006 1:32:49 PM PDT by GretchenM (What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? Please meet my friend, Jesus.)
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To: Mo1

"Senate Democratic leadership threatens Disney with legal and legislative sanctions"

Isn't that nice of them to make the whole nation aware of their political control over the MSM. Disney seems to have made them folks a bit uncomfortable...


1,286 posted on 09/08/2006 1:36:23 PM PDT by Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin
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To: seawolf101

"I JUST SAW SOMETHING REALLY HILLARIOUS ON TV. BILL CLINTON SAYING THAT ABC SHOULD TELL THE TRUTH!!! "

They say if you live long enough, you see and hear it all. In this case, it just took a few years. Amoral is the only description I can think of for BJ.

Guess you saw this article:
Clintonistas Claim Foul Over ABC 9/11 Film
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2406097&page=1

The Dems are furious that ABC even used the word Clintonistas in the article. Here's one DUmmie's take in an email he claimed he sent to ABC:

"20. Here's mine:
Subject: "Clintonistas Claim Foul Over ABC 9/11 Film..."Perhaps you didn't realize it, but "Clintonistas" is pejorative. The bias of ABC and ABC News is utterly contemptible. With Sadness, because (before the death of the great Peter Jennings), I used to watch your news programs. Not any more. XXXXXX, NY"


1,287 posted on 09/08/2006 1:55:37 PM PDT by bwteim (bwteim: Begin With The End In Mind)
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To: pollywog

Fahrenheit 9/11 was a polemic that was distributed in movie theaters. Path to 9/11 is a polemic that is to be distributed on broadcast television. The difference is the distribution medium.


1,288 posted on 09/08/2006 2:01:41 PM PDT by drubyfive
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To: Mo1

Thank you very much!


1,289 posted on 09/08/2006 2:48:43 PM PDT by amutr22 (Remember....Friend's Don't Let Friends Vote Democrat!)
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To: Mo1; All

Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media company, today announced that it is removing from its website the materials originally created for classroom use in conjunction with the ABC Television Network docudrama, "The Path to
9/1l," scheduled to air on the ABC Television Network on September 10 and 11, 2006.


1,290 posted on 09/08/2006 2:57:16 PM PDT by beansox
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To: Mo1
Call a WHAAAAAMBULANCE!

This report must really ring true if the rats are so frightened.

1,291 posted on 09/08/2006 3:10:22 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Democrats. French, but more cowardly.)
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To: Mo1

Mr. Limbaugh was right on the money when he called these people Stalinists. What right do they have to delay/derail the dissemination of information like this?

This is quite a disgusting abuse of authority by Dummycraps.


1,292 posted on 09/08/2006 3:12:36 PM PDT by Black Guy who is a Republican
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To: All

I haven't had a thread make my heart pound with disgust in a while. I'm speechless. I'm going to go swim. Fckrs.


1,293 posted on 09/08/2006 3:46:47 PM PDT by CaliGirl-R (Everything I know about Dems, I learned from Democratic Underground)
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To: Howlin

Let them file lawsuits. Their depositions under oath will kill 'em all.


1,294 posted on 09/08/2006 4:25:46 PM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (There is no alternative to the GOP except varying degrees of insanity.)
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To: BigSkyFreeper

Do you think Sandy Berger wants to be sworn in under oath ANYWHERE about ANYTHING? LOL.......I know you don't!


1,295 posted on 09/08/2006 4:27:12 PM PDT by Howlin (Who in the press will stick up for ABC's right to air this miniseries? ~~NRO)
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To: beansox

Can you imagine how upset the Dixie Chicks are with this type of Censorship??

Pray for W and Our Troops


1,296 posted on 09/08/2006 4:28:11 PM PDT by bray (Koffi 4 Food has Failed.......Again)
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To: Howlin
Do you think Sandy Berger wants to be sworn in under oath ANYWHERE about ANYTHING? LOL.......I know you don't!

I hope they keep talking to the LSM, because anything he says or does can be used against him in a court of law.

1,297 posted on 09/08/2006 4:37:17 PM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (There is no alternative to the GOP except varying degrees of insanity.)
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To: Howlin

Off topic but I saw Armitage apologize to Plame, but he didn't apologize to Rove or Libby.


1,298 posted on 09/08/2006 4:39:14 PM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (There is no alternative to the GOP except varying degrees of insanity.)
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To: BigSkyFreeper

I know. Never mind them, huh?

Does he think Republicans are ever going to forget that?


1,299 posted on 09/08/2006 4:40:32 PM PDT by Howlin (Who in the press will stick up for ABC's right to air this miniseries? ~~NRO)
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To: bray

Ironically their fallacy about them being "Censored" (something that NEVER happened) will debut at the toronto film festival where Clinton will be attending this weekend.

Liberals are such phucing liars.


1,300 posted on 09/08/2006 4:41:57 PM PDT by beansox
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