McCain hammers Sincliar Broadcasting

[RummyTheDummy]

Here is McCain's letter from Drudge. And yes, I showered after visiting the Drudgmeister's site.



I write to strongly protest your decision to instruct Sinclair's ABC affiliates to preempt this evening's Nightline program. I find deeply offensive Sinclair's objection to Nightline's intention to broadcast the names and photographs of Americans who gave their lives in service to our country in Iraq.

I supported the President's decision to go to war in Iraq, and remain a strong supporter of that decision. But every American has a responsibility to understand fully the terrible costs of war and the extraordinary sacrifices it requires of those brave men and women who volunteer to defend the rest of us; lest we ever forget or grow insensitive to how grave a decision it is for our government to order Americans into combat. It is a solemn responsibility of elected officials to accept responsibility for our decision and its consequences, and, with those who disseminate the news, to ensure that Americans are fully informed of those consequences.

There is no valid reason for Sinclair to shirk its responsibility in what I assume is a very misguided attempt to prevent your viewers from completely appreciating the extraordinary sacrifices made on their behalf by Americans serving in Iraq. War is an awful, but sometimes necessary business. Your decision to deny your viewers an opportunity to be reminded of war's terrible costs, in all their heartbreaking detail, is a gross disservice to the public, and to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. It is, in short, sir, unpatriotic. I hope it meets with the public opprobrium it most certainly deserves.

[tandot]

1. good for him.

I would like him better if he wasn't such a supporter of Bush Almighty.

[RummyTheDummy]

2. It bothers me too

Especially when everyone knows deep down, he probably can't stand Bush because of what he did to him in the 2000 primaries concerning his adopted child.

[Norbert]

38. I'm bothered too but.

His support for the dim son seems to be more on the polite side of late. You could hardly confuse McCains support for Santorums.

[r_u_stuck2]

12. Mailed local paper

I just e-mailed the executive editor of the local Pensacola paper giving him the link to McCain's senate website and to the press release which is the letter quoted above. I asked them to get a response from our local republican representative and see what his response was. WEAR TV is our local ABC station.

They will not do it though because WEAR is a "feel good, make every body happy" type station. They refuse to stir up controversy, same with the local paper. You know if they print anything too controversial it might cost them $.

But I tried.

[proud patriot]

3. Good for McCain ,

This is the statement That all Sinclair
affiliates recieved from me :

We Honor our Fallen By remembering them.
You Dishonor our Heros who given the
ultimate sacrafice for our country by
not airing Nightline's reading of the
heros names . Shame on You to allow
one man to hide our Heros for political
purposes . War is Hell and sanitizing
War is Un American . The American people
deserve to Honor our Heros .

[RummyTheDummy]

4. Somone posted yesterday

That three of Sinclair's top execs (likely the ones who made the decision) donated the maximum to Bush/Cheney 04.

[TheDebbieDee]

40. Sinclair Broadcastg's top Exec arrested in Vice sting in 1996........

David D. Smith was caught getting a BJ in a company-owned Mercedes by a hooker who had earlier referred to him as her regular "date".

I read a couple of newspaper articles abut the incident in some other poster's post, can't remember which forum. It just shows to go you that hypocrites can't be choosy....... or something like that ;^)

[markses]

5. Jeez. I hope you proofread it.

Heros = Heroes
sacrafice = sacrifice

[kcwayne]

8. Fuck McCain

These people are dead because he didn't have the wisdom or integrity to call the administration on its lies. Who else is closer to the source of the intelligence than Congressional representatives and should be in a position to have made the proper decision to stop Bush from taking us to war illegally?

And on top of this sacrifice, McCain says he is still a strong supporter of the war? Fuck you John McCain, the death toll of thousands because of the lies of a feeble minded emperor are simply too high, and you should know better. And the idea that you continue to support it shows just how simple minded you are.

[Leilani]

32. Excuse me, but your post is silly!!!

McCain believed in the war, voted for it, & supports it.

Disagree? Fine, so do I.

John Kerry, the Dem nominee voted for this war, & made a speech today saying we must stay in Iraq.

John Edwards is being touted as the most popular candidate for Veep. He voted for the war, & also supports it.

Therefore if McCain is simpleminded, I would say so are the Democrats.

Are you going to vote for Kerry?

Why is his position superior to McCain s?

Know what? I do not think Kerry really DID support this war, but he thought it was the politically expedient thing to do. Then he voted against the money for the war. Sen. Kerry wants to have it both ways, & so do a lot of Dems.

I say we need politicians who speak out on what they REALLY believe.
I can respect people I disagree with, if they have a well thought out position, & are truly speaking on principle.

But what I find to be the height of hypocrisy, are those who parse every word, looking for votes, & trying to be all things to all people.

That is why McCain is popular, & that is why politicians on both sides don t like him. And that is why the people DO like him.

[kcwayne]

33. Excuse me, but your post is .....

There is absolutely nothing silly about taking McCain to task over the fact that he is taking the position that he STILL supports this war. Someone that doesn't learn from their mistakes, especially over something as serious as getting thousands of people killed should not be in office.

I will vote for Kerry because I want Bush out of office more than anything. His position is not much better than McCain's. He was spineless in the face of the run up to the war as well as the whole Republican agenda that steamrolled out of 9/11. He showed himself to be an appeaser and opportunist as he tried to play the political winds as opposed to using his position to lead.

But at least at this point he is not saying that he supports the reasons for entering the war (lies) or that this type of war is a an appropriate approach to problem solving. I agree with his position that we simply cannot cut and run at this point. Not because I want to see a military solution to restoring peace, but because if we do run and leave behind the horrific mess we have made, we are committing a grave injustice to the Iraqi people. A real leader must come forward at this point and put in motion actions that will move our military to the background of the solution, because they sure as hell are not going to get anything done when they are out there killing civilians on a daily basis.

I agree that we need politicians that will say what they believe. But I also want politicians that are intelligent and moral about what they believe.

One could argue that George Bush says what he believes. And I want absolutely nothing to do with that belief system.

[Leilani]

34. I also want Bush out of office more than anything!

But what really bothers me is how so many Democrats supported this illegal war. Not only supported it, but helped Bush carry out his plans. For example: Dick Gebhardt, who made a deal with the White House, behind the Senates back.

I supported Wes Clark, who testifyed to Congress against the war, & I liked Howard Dean, who spoke truth, when others were afraid to.

And I do not think that Bush says what he believes. I think he is a corrupt liar. They manipulated the intelligence till they had the results they wanted. This was a neocon plan hatched a long time ago, & I think Bush also wanted to finish Daddy s job.

[kcwayne]

36. I agree that Dems supported this and I was utterly despondant

about where this country was going. I am still not convinced that the Dems will keep us off the Republican railroad.

Bush is definitely a liar, no question.

But when he says he is speaking to his fundamentalist constituency, and talks about inserting Jesus into the national fabric, destroying the social security system, and using American military power to change the world, he means it, and he is doing it.

[PragMantisT]

6. I hear sinclair wants to demolish the Vietnam Veteran's memorial

They think it's just propaganda to draw attention to the deaths of servicemen and women.

[dArKeR]

7. Master email list so far. You won't be able to sleep until you email them

(Help update list: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=7537&mesg_id=7537)

I've just emailed all these people in 2 minutes.

Master so far:

Alabama
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]


CA
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]


Florida
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

IL
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]


N. Carolina
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

Oklahoma
[e-mail], [e-mail]


S. Carolina
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]


TX
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

[AspenRose]

21. That's surprising

I think those Texas stations listed are in the San Antonio area....which is a HUGE military town. You'd think that there would be plenty of military families in the area who would be up in arms about not being able to pay respect (in their own private way) to those who lost their lives.

It needs to be said...it needs to be seen. This "war" is a farce, and people are dying for it.

[ceile]

22. SA Stations

Those stations in SA are Fox and the WB, not ABC. But I'm sure there's a protest going on down there, we'll just never hear about it.

[Pallas180]

23. FANTASTIC list. U should post in on DU Media and keep it kicked

thanks.

[cjbuchanan]

9. I emailed McCain earlier

I'm glad he stepped forward and spoke up.

[0007]

17. So am I

[BiggJawn]

10. but Sinclair WANTS us to "...forget or grow insensitive ..."

Jeez, if Murka goes all solemn and shit, how is Sinclair gonna push all that midless DREK that allows then to pour thousands into the GOP War Chest?

If more ReTHUGlicans were like McCain, this country might get something done besides arguing about Clinton's cock and Kerry's medals...

[sendero]

11. McCain...

... never fails to surprise me. I can just never tell where he is coming from, and it dawns on me that maybe, just maybe he is simply doing what he thinks is right, whether anybody else thinks so or not.

He makes a really good point here. Everyone, whether you believe in this war or never did, should pause and reflect on the sacrifices these men and women have made.

What I'm trying to say is this is one event I'd prefer were not politicized, by Reps or Dems. Something has to be sacred.

[Just Me]

30. I know. Everytime I am angry at him,...he pulls something like this!!!

:bounce:

I am totally with him on this. Those lives deserve to be revealed such that we all "pause and reflect".

[TankLV]

43. Even a broken clock is right twice a day - FUCK MCCAIN!

He's a repuke whore just like the whole lot of them.

He is scum.

He is pathetic.

He still supports bunkerboy and his gang of criminals, in spite of his occasional moments of lucidity.

Fuck him.

[nostamj]

13. Ted Koppel read part of this

on Al Franken's show today. (it was a great interview, btw)

[Borgnine]

14. Good for McCain.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, he's a Republican, he supports the war... but even when he "supports" the pResident, you can tell just how much he loathes the man.

I'd say he should break ranks with the Republicans once and for all, but I think he does more good for us on their side. After all, if we're going to be stuck with Lieberman and Zell, at least we know they're stuck with McCain, someone the general populace really likes.

[sofa king]

18. I don't think we're going to see McCain break ranks, either.

I think one of McCain's many problems with Bush is that Bush is as sorry a Republican as he is a President.

McCain's no "liberal Republican," either. Issues 2000 has him pegged as a "moderate conservative," but I think you'll also notice that he's planted firmly on the opposite side of most issues supported by Democrats:

http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/John_McCain.htm

That's okay with me, because I've seen enough of McCain to guess that he's going to try very hard to reform his party, and I'll root for him all the way. Maybe someday the Republicans can field a candidate who is not universally loathed by, well, everyone except themselves.

[The Stranger]

15. "I write to strongly protest . . . "

That's a split infinitive.

[Voltaire99]

16. Don't be too fulsome in praise of McCain.

This is a war-maker who's been in favor of nearly every American imperial military action you can name.

Yes, he's right about Sinclair's whitewash. But McCain's words and deeds are also a significant reason why those American troops' names are going to be read on Nightline. Let us not take his little lectures about "patriotism" on our knees or for a moment mistake him as a compassionate, sane leader.

[Bake]

19. No need for either McCain bashing or adulation

In this instance, he did the right and honorable thing. Good for him. I for one will give credit where it is due. But when he's wrong, as he very often is, THEN let's challenge him on it.

McCain is a good example of a Republican who is occasionally right about some things, often wrong about others.

Bake

[progressivebydesign]

28. Bake.. couldn't have said it better myself. Right on! N/T

[Ganja Ninja]

20. But Senator, Sinclair's on your side!

Those are your guys.

[Pallas180]

24. Don't like McCain using "unpatriotic". Its against the First Amendment

of free speech, but its not pluckig unpatriotic.

The repugnants keep pulling out that old sawhorse "unpatriotic"

[The_Casual_Observer]

25. Another McCain rant about a harmless non issue

McCain is the prince of taking a big bold stand on media and other meaningless flaps. However he remains silent on the illegality and immoral nature of our occupation of Iraq.

[Pallas180]

26. Hey, straightening out the propagandist media IS a big flap -

first thing to go in a fascist country - the media replaced by propaganda
and that we have.

[The_Casual_Observer]

27. Big flap is all it is

Who really cares what "Nightline" puts on their program. "Nightline" is simply bogus entertainment disguised as "news" sandwiched between commercials designed to sell you something.

McCain wraps himself around nonsense like this and "controversies" related to professional sports instead of taking care of real business. I find it it all rather embarrassing for him, however he is just another cheap politician, so its to be expected I guess.

[CookieD]

29. Here is Sinclair's response to McCain

Excuse me while I :puke:

http://www.sbgi.net/

SINCLAIR RESPONDS TO SENATOR MCCAIN

BALTIMORE (April 30, 2004) - The following is a copy of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: SBGI) letter sent today to Senator McCain regarding the Company's decision not to air this evening's episode of "Nightline."

April 30, 2004

Senator John McCain
Chairman
United States Senate Commerce Committee
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator McCain:

I am writing to respond to your letter to me regarding Sinclair Broadcast Group's decision not to air this evening's episode of "Nightline."

Let me begin by saying that no organization more fully supports our military than Sinclair. In no way was our decision intended to show any disrespect to the brave members of our military, particularly those who have sacrificed their lives in service of our country. To the contrary, our decision was based on a desire to stop the misuse of their sacrifice to support an anti-war position with which most, if not all, of these soldiers would not have agreed.

Senator McCain, together with you, I also support the President's decision to go to war in Iraq. Moreover, while I don't disagree that Americans need to understand the costs of war and sacrifices of our military volunteers, I firmly believe that responsible journalism requires that a discussion of these costs must necessarily be accompanied by a description of the benefits of military action and the events that precipitated that action. To those who would accuse Sinclair of censorship, we ask that they consider the daily decisions of network shows like "Nightline" as to what issues to cover and how they are to be presented, decisions that necessarily involve ignoring other issues and points of view that the networks choose not to present to the American public.

Sinclair's news coverage during the last year has reported on all aspects of the war in Iraq, including the tragic loss of lives of military combatants. In fact, we will be replacing "Nightline" this evening with a balanced report addressing both sides of this controversy. It is worth noting that "Nightline" and its host, Ted Koppel, have ignored repeated requests from Sinclair to comment on their decision regarding the content of tonight's program.

It is "Nightline's" failure to present the entire story, however, to which Sinclair objects. "Nightline" is not reporting news; it is doing nothing more than making a political statement. In simply reading the names of our fallen heroes, this program has adopted a strategy employed by numerous anti-war demonstrators who wish to focus attention solely on the cost of war. In fact, lest there be any doubt about "Nightline's" motivation, both Mr. Koppel and "Nightline's" executive producer have acknowledged that tonight's episode was influenced by the Life Magazine article listing the names of dead soldiers in Vietnam, which article was widely credited with furthering the opposition to the Vietnam war and with creating a backlash of public opinion against the members of the U.S. military who had proudly served in that conflict


In closing, I would like to quote for you the words of Captain Kate Blaise of the U.S. Military. Captain Blaise served in Iraq as a member of the 101st Airborne Division and suffered the loss of her husband Mike who was killed while also serving in Iraq. In commenting on exactly the type of practice which "Nightline" intends to employ, Captain Blaise had this to say:

"I was watching the news, watching this anti-war demonstration and they were reading off names of soldiers who had fallen in Iraq and they read off my husband's name. That made me very angry because he very strongly believed in what he was doing and they were using his name for a purpose that he would not have approved of."


I hope that this letter has adequately addressed your concerns and explained why Sinclair has taken this action. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you in greater detail. In addition, if you are available, we would be delighted to provide you with a chance to be part of our program this evening discussing this issue.


Sincerely yours,


David D. Smith

[Malva Zebrina]

31. So have any Democrats made such a statement, including Kerry?

Why the hell do we get to pat a Republican--one who was abused by his own party, and whose wife was abused by the same party, and he continues to shine the shoes of his abusers.

And we cheer on this Republican., whoe is against women's rights and who toes the Republican line all the way round. He is a big mouth, that is all. He is N OT a Democrat or a liberal. He is from the opposition party, folks.

Where are the Democrats? Where is Kerry. He has NOTHING to say about it?

Jesus--

[jdj]

35. For real.

I wrote all my reps., only one is a democrat,

I think this is outrageous, so I am glad that the good McCain twin showed up to protest this.
Media consolidation is one of his issues, he was pretty clear on his view during the hearings in congress about a year ago.

Sin Clair is disgusting for doing this, I wish Kerry would denounce them, but actually it's better if it's repub against repub, because it would look partisan otherwise. I just wish some veterans groups would raise hell about this.

[OutlawCorporatePolls]

37. opprobrium

cool word.

[Endangered Specie]

39. Another + for McCain

[President Jesus]

41. Campaign contributions of Sinclair executives

in detail...
David Smith (R), Chairman
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=MD&last=Smith&first=David

David B. Amy (R), CFO
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=MD&last=Amy&first=David

M. William Butler (?), VP Programming
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?city=BALTIMORE&st=MD&last=Butler&first=William

Mark E. Hyman (R), VP Corporate Relations
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=MD&last=Hyman&first=Mark

Daniel C. Keith (R), Director
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=MD&last=Keith&first=Daniel

Martin R. Leader (R), Director
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_result.php?first=Martin&last=Leader&st=

Steven M. Marks (D), VP Regional Director
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=MD&last=Marks&first=Steven

Lawrence E. McCanna (D), Director
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=MD&last=McCanna&first=Lawrence

Nat Ostroff (R), VP New Technology
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=MD&last=Ostroff&first=Nathaniel

Delbert R. Parks, III (R), VP Operations
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=MD&last=Parks&first=Delbert

Delbert R. Parks, III (R), VP Operations
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=MD&last=Parks&first=Delbert

[Clyde39]

42. On vacation and just found out my hometown is a Sinclair affliate

Jon Lieberman's partisan rantings in the name of "patriotism" should have clued me in, but now I understand. Asheville, NC has so many good things going for it but WLOS is evidently not one of them!