FCC won't prevent airing of anti-Kerry film, chairman says

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Jennifer C. Kerr, Associated Press, 10/14/2004 13:46

WASHINGTON (AP) The Federal Communications Commission won't intervene to stop a broadcast company's plans to air a critical documentary about John Kerry's anti-Vietnam War activities on dozens of TV stations, the agency's chairman said Thursday.

''Don't look to us to block the airing of a program,'' Michael Powell told reporters. ''I don't know of any precedent in which the commission could do that.''

Eighteen senators, all Democrats, wrote to Powell this week and asked him to investigate Sinclair Broadcast Group's plan to run the program, ''Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal,'' two weeks before the Nov. 2 election.

Powell said there are no federal rules that would allow the agency to prevent the program. ''I think that would be an absolute disservice to the First Amendment and I think it would be unconstitutional if we attempted to do so,'' he said.

more: http://www.boston.com/dailynews/288/politics/FCC_won_t_prevent_airing_of_anP.shtml

[cjbuchanan]

1. Wait, Michael Powell won't stop this, I am shocked

But I am sure that this is not political in any way.

[genius]

33. Art Torres has total faith in Micahel Powell

He said that to one of the people to brought a resolution to fight against the new FCC regulations. Our party leaders are so stupid.

[Seabiscuit]

35. Michael Powell? Well, duhhhh....

[screembloodymurder]

49. Maybe if the shoe was on the other foot

he'd find the backbone to set precedent.

[Lefta Dissenter]

2. I'm SO surprised...

...shocked, I tell ya :eyes:

[aquart]

3. Yeah,right.

So who you working for in January, Michael? Sinclair?

[KurtNYC]

4. Run F911 in the same slot on another net

and see which one gets a huge audience.

Powell might be singing a different tune if that were the case.

[cybildisobedience]

9. excellent suggestion

so how do we make that happen?
Contact Moore and get him to offer the rights for free to any broadcast outlet that's willing to air it?

[genius]

34. CNN won't even allow it on pay for view.

Let's put out a demand to all networks for equal time. They can only win by airing it to show that they will stand up for fairness.

[rman]

93. yet they claim to be balanced

-

[SOS]

97. Remember

that Michael Powell approved the AOL/Time Warner merger (CNN parent company), which netted his father a $15 million windfall profit.
AOL founder Steve Case is a maxed-out Bush contributor as is Time/Warner CEO Richard Parsons.
This conglomerate of CNN-AOL-Time-Warner is bought and paid for. These "news" outlets are nothing more than a propaganda machine for corporate/Republican interests.
The only silver lining is that CNN has the lowest ratings of any national news outlet in America.

[mark11727]

56. Oh yes, definitely... :o)

[intheflow]

72. I'll bet Moore has already thought of this but

either Lions Gate or Sony Pictures has put the kabash on it. But that was my first response as well. Even wrote it in my letter to the FCC which much have made them wince (if anyone even read it).

[goclark]

85. Going Up River

Would knock it out of the ball park.

I saw it again today and it was even better!

It is one of the best films I have ever seen.

It is so honest.
Photography is amazing.
Kerry is a real patriot!

I will be honored to call him Mr. President.

[EricL]

100. He thought of this

See :

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?messageDate=2004-09-06

"But can it also be shown on TV? I brought this possibility up in this week's Rolling Stone interview. Our contract with our DVD distributor says no, it cannot. I have asked them to show it just once, perhaps the night before the election. So far, no deal. But I haven't given up trying."

[symbolman]

99. There's always this flash attack ad I created

I hope there are enough resources at the end of "The Media is Broken" for people to get some action going.

All the links are clickable and will help with this cause, use this please and pass it around, the more people that get it the more damage we can do to those bastards!


http://web.takebackthemedia.com/geeklog/public_html/staticpages/index.php?page=20041013042650709

[GainesT1958]

5. Of course not..

After all, to Mickie, "these are our clients" (NOT the people, of course, but the broadcast conglomerates!):mad:

Dadgummit, it suuure will be great to get an FCC that cares what the PEOPLE want on the airwaves, instead of just Sinclair and Cheap Channel!:grr:

B-)

[prolesunited]

6. This is why we need to make

media reform one of our TOP priorities. This is unconscionable. :mad:

[psychopomp]

7. Humph.

Actually, I *am* surprised by this blatant de facto endorsement by the FCC chairman.

[meegbear]

8. Tell him they'll show an exposed breast!

That'll stop it.

Fucking asshole.

[TimeToGo]

10. :)

[daleo]

11. Without commercials, it is a de facto campaign contribution, though

I imagine most companies wouldn't want to advertise during this timeslot, for fear of consumer boycotts and other bad reactions. I guess the thing to do is hit any company who advertises in the half hour or so before and after the movie.

[EndElectoral]

12. Remember when Moore wasn't even supposed to run ads for F911

This FCC is so corrupt it's disgusting.

[tom_paine]

15. Corrupt as Ferdfinand Marcos' Phillipines

It's the Amerikan marcos family that's doing thisd, who is the benficiary.

Therfore, do not expect Marcos' followers to do anything to prevent it.

[yardwork]

13. Disgraceful.

Write to your congress reps.

[Zorra]

14. Michael Powell is selling out the US. We need to get rid of this twerp

ASAP.

[Benhurst]

18. Selling out the U.S. is the Powell Crime Family's stock and trade.

Like father, like son. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

[saigon68]

89. Little "Boy" Baby Bowel is a boot-lick lackey

He follows orders to the letter, like his corrupt father Colon Bowel--- butt boy to the Bush Criminals

[Q3JR4]

16. Big surprise. EOM

[rocktivity]

17. Candidate for this month's "You call this NEWS?" award

The United States had no precedent for being bombed by Japan. But they did something about it.

:shrug:
rocknation

[NJmaverick]

19. What a shock

bush's BOY Powell will not stop his boss from cheating.

[goodboy]

20. but don't you dare show a tit! !!!!! NT

[Eloriel]

21. FEC is the proper agency

I hope the Dems have filed with the FEC, or a suit under FEC regs or whatever might work.

[Polemonium]

84. Exactly, this breaks FEC rules and is where the focus should be n/t

:shrug:

[NJmaverick]

22. People we need to go after the advertizers

The bush regime is corrupt and evil from the top to the bottom. We need to make the company pay and pay big time by successfully boycotting any sponsors of their sleezy endevors.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

48. Do you know who they are?

...

[Lorien]

59. Go to GD 2004

there a list at the top of the forum.

Here's one short list:

The following companies advertise on Sinclair stations.

APPLEBEES
[e-mail] (Lloyd Hill, president)
CORONA BEER
[e-mail]
MACARONI GRILL, CHILI'S RESTAURANTS
[e-mail]
DR. PEPPER, 7-UP
[e-mail]
PEPSI COLA, MOUNTAIN DEW
[e-mail]
SONIC DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS
[e-mail]
PROCTOR & GAMBLE (COUNTLESS BEAUTY PRODUCTS, BUT ALSO PRINGLES, TORENGOS, EAGLE SNACKS, FOLGERS COFFEE)
[e-mail] (Carol Talbot, Community Relations)


More info:

http://www.boycottsbg.com/default.htm


Sign the boycott:

http://www.stopsinclair.org/index.php

[eagler]

23. To say that Kerry caused the POWs to be punished is

the same as saying that Bush is to blame for the beheadings because of what happened at Abu Gharib prison. We need to be demanding that the networks show Fahrenheit 911. Yessiree! Those networks are sure part of the liberal media. By the way,I was in Vietnam when Kerry made his remarks and he was right. This is exactly why we need a new FAIRNESS DOCTRINE.

[tommyleef]

24. SINCLAIR REPRESENTATION is a MUST

Please talk with the right Kerry campaign people to have Senator Kerry represented in full force on Sinclair.

IDEA SUGGESTION:

Max Cleland, the Brothers from the SwiftBoat, Jim Rasmussen, and a General or 2 representing Kerry.

Making repeatedly a solid point;

"Had there been more leaders like John Kerry in Washington in the 60s --There would have been NO VIETNAM."

"While we all are grateful for the services of lost soldiers and POW's suffering--it was because more people like John Kerry didn't speak up."

John Kerry's record for POW/MIA legislation should be stressed as well.

**Please I ask the campaign to not let this go unanswered like the original swiftboats garbage that damaged Kerry.

It will not hurt to reveal the swiftboats reality of their lies while there on Sinclair as well.

There will be little time to counter Sinclair if this goes unrepresented by Kerry people.

IF SINCLAIR BALKS ABOUT LETTING OTHERS REPRESENT HIM--tell the world through the media they are locking out opposition views.

Thank you for taking a moment with my sincere suggestion...

[Chiyo-chichi]

30. I think

they should be able to receive equal time under electioneering laws. I would not appear - or have any representatives appear - as part of the Stolen Honor broadcasts. They should have their own night on every Sinclair station - it would be closer to the election - they could air Going Upriver & have Cleland et. al., OR just have a big Bush-bashing session. Show Hijacking Catastrophe - which I have not seen, but reviews say it makes the point of F911 in a high-impact, sober way.

[The Doctor.]

40. Sinclair has offered to interview Kerry afterward....

but interviews are wonderful tools for manipulation - they can make Kerry appear any way they want to.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Chiyo-chichi]

50. They invited him to be a part of the live discussion panel.

Which would be made up of... who? People who appeared in or produced Stolen Honor.... people who have had an ax to grind against Kerry for 30 years?

Would you walk into that??

Sinclair pretends its "news" because these people just came forward. Only they didn't. They have been spewing their anit-Kerry POV for 30 years.

[sweetheart]

65. Were i kerry, i'd say yes and insist on equal representation

at the "panel". Kerry is excellent in a pinch, and these wankers
should meet up with him face to face. It would win him the election
as much as this (powell treasonous scumbag...) seeks to break his
campaign.

I'd ask for fair time and representation in the post-chat. Sometimes
a warrior walks in to a blind alley filled with thugs, just to show
that he is not afraid of nobody. Kerry has nothing to fear from
these wankers who are too cowardly to say anything to his face.

He should take them on, face them down, and eat their livers on
prime time. :-)

[ikojo]

68. Kerry showing up at any panel with these folks only

serves to legitimize them. While he should not ignore this as he did the swifties, he should not walk into the Lion's Den.

Back in the middle ages the Catholic Church would host "disputations." They would require that the Jewish community send a representative to argue with a priest the merits of Judaism. Of course the cards were totally stacked against the Jew and everything was in the Church's favor since they held power. The Jew had no choice because if the community did not send a representative there were pogroms.

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=386&letter=D

Paris and Barcelona.

It was only after Pope Innocent III. had infused the spirit of the Inquisition into Christendom, and the Dominicans had begun their warfare against every dissenter, that the disputations became associated with relentless persecution of the Jewish faith. Being turned into great spectacles by the presence of the dignitaries of Church and state—mock controversial tournaments in which the Jews were boundto suffer defeat—they became a direct menace to the literature and the very lives of the Jews. In order to secure to the Church the semblance of a victory, Jewish apostates lent themselves to the task of bringing malicious charges against their former coreligionists, supporting these by ferreting out every weak and ambiguous point in the Talmud or the Jewish liturgy that might be construed as a "blasphemy" or as defamation of Jesus and Christian dogma.

The first of these famous disputations took place at the royal court of Louis IX. in Paris June 25-27, 1240, in the presence of the queen - mother Blanche and the prelates of Paris, the rabbis Jehiel of Paris, Moses of Coucy, Judah ben David of Melun, and Samuel ben Solomon of ChâtteauThierry being ranged against Nicholas DONIN, the Jewish apostate. The four rabbis were to defend the Talmud against the accusations of Donin, turning mainly upon two points: that the Talmud containes immoral sentiments and blasphemous expressionsagainst the Deity, and that it speaks in an offensive manner of Jesus. R. Jehiel, timid at first, was encouraged by the assurance of protection by the queen, and succeeded in refuting Donin's charges by proving that Jesus, the son of Panthera, can not be the Jesus of the New Testament; that the term "goy" in the Talmud does not refer to Christians; and that the Minim who are made an object of execration in the Jewish liturgy are not born Christians, but only born Jews who have become sectaries or heretics. R. Jehiel's defense, however successful for the moment, did not save twenty-four cartloads of copies of the Talmud from being consigned to the flames two years later in Paris (see Levin in "Monatsschrift," 1869, pp. 97 et seq.; Grätz, l.c. vii. 401; Loeb, in "Rev. Et. Juives," i. 247, ii. 248, iii. 39).

[Zero Division]

70. That's exactly right. It puts Kerry on the defensive against vicious lies.

How would Sinclair feel if another broadcasting company decided to air a documentary composed of people accusing him of something horrendous like serial rape, then invited him for a post-documentary discussion, calling it "equal time".

[sweetheart]

87. Pope Innocent III --- former incarnation of bush

That sounds distinctly his multi-incarnational style, that thuggish
prick. I really think he suffers from "multi-incarnational blur"
where the feelings of one lifetime bleed over subconsciously in to
another. So he feels omnipotent, chosen by God and given the septre
to start pogroms, race wars and crusades. Then i say, give him a
pope costume and get the bastard out of the white house.

I'm sure the kerry campaign people have already laid out their
minimum standard for "equal" and obviously sinclair has no intentions
of being remotely balanced. Then i'm just wondering where all the
second amendment democrats who've got some extra bullets for the
properties of sinclair executives. Probably, there are not enough
holes in their walls, and the darkness is making them blind.

[russian33]

25. Has he heard of setting precedents?

There was no precedents of black kids going to same school as white kids at one point...

[Selteri]

38. No Precedent?

There is no precedent. He's right.

There is no precedent of a broadcasting company showing a 90 minute commercial to preempt in prime time as a political commercial.

There is no precedent on a lot of things with this administration.

Unprecedented media consolidation.

Unprecedented Media boot licking.

Unprecedented warmongering to the first attack of a foreign country initiated by America.

- What can I say, if Bush shoves his way into the Presidency again, I'm leaving the country for unprecedented safety from my own country's leadership. -

[carnie_sf]

26. What an asshole EOM

[Chiyo-chichi]

27. worthless.

"He said he would consider the senators' concerns but added that they may not amount to a formal complaint, which could trigger an investigation. FCC rules require that a program air before a formal complaint can be considered."

Criminey! It's not like they couldn't look at Stolen Honor in advance.


"In the letter to Powell, the senators led by Dianne Feinstein of California asked the FCC to determine whether the airing of the anti-Kerry program is a ''proper use of public airwaves'' and to investigate whether it would violate rules requiring equal air time for candidates."

Like his pal Bushie, Powell ignores that question. While the Fairness Doctine is gone, the FCC is supposed to enforce electioneering communication laws, is it not? If this airs -- the Kerry campaign should be able to request and receive equal uninterrupted time on all Sinclair stations -- during which they could show Going Upriver or whatever they want.

I'm hoping the Federal Election Commission will stop Sinclair.

Otherwise, who's up for some rioting? (jk)

[Dora]

41. I think it's a live broadcast

Somebody correct me, please!

I read somewhere else today that the "documentary" is to be a live, 45-minute broadcast. If that's true, there's no way the FCC could see it in advance.

Smells like careful and nefarious planning to me.

Lots of publicity, and an "unstoppable" broadcast: could this be Rove's october surprise? If so, I've gotta laugh. I suspect it's planned to distract us from the more-relevant issue of voter fraud. Was there ANY coverage of the Nevada scandal in today's papers?

[Chiyo-chichi]

46. the live broadcast part

is a panel discussion. They also plan to air the anti-Kerry "documentary" Stolen Honor. So the FCC or the FEC could view that part of the program in advance. The panel discussion is going to be similar in tone.

[Dora]

62. thanks for the clarification

I should have known the FCC's reasoning was full of sh*t.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

82. It pains me to do this...

but here's the link:

http://www.stolenhonor.com/

It looks as if the video has been available for purchase since 9/8. Online viewing since 9/29. The powers-that-be have had PLENTY of time to view it. Enter the site and check out their obnoxious poll.

I live in the D.C. area and at least one local station had a snippet re voter fraud in OH, NV, and OR. Big article in Salon.com just posted re another Florida debacle:

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/10/15/florida_voters/index.html

[Media_Lies_Daily]

28. Is anyone surprised by this spawn of a NeoCon?

[lovuian]

29. I'm watching the World Series Let Bush's Base

get Bored with this!!!

[JPZenger]

31. FEC and Non-Sinclair Owned Companies

The battle should be aimed towards the Federal Election Commission for an illegal campaign contribution. The rules are tougher when you get this close in time to the election.

Also, we need to pressure the Sinclair affiliates that Sinclair does not own. Those are the stations that are mostly likely to be persuaded to stay out of this controversy by not showing the film.

[Freddie Stubbs]

53. Which Sinclair affiliates

does Sinclair not own?

[chimpy the poopthrower]

102. Look it up.

There are stations owned and operated by Sinclair and others that simply have a local marketing agreement or outsourcing agreement.

[drscm]

32. But, but, but....Michael seeks to save us from a boob. Unfortunately,

it is the wrong boob.

[Divo]

36. Boycott

A boycott is the most effective way to influence the advertisers. Let them know you will boycott them. Also boycott anyone who advertises with Sinclair.
If this does go on Kerry must fight to get equal time to respond. I think lots of photos or film of the war: the killed, the maimed the chaos. I'm sure Sinclair would hate that reality but to them it is not news.

[darthmix]

37. I say this is the part where we all back off the story

It looks like this thing is going to happen, and I think it'll backfire. But we don't need to give the story more legs than it already has. The controversey just guarantees that lots of people will watch.

[Dora]

44. Agreed

I think the bigger story is the voter registration fraud that's breaking out in several states.

[0rganism]

47. One way to ensure it backfires is to keep up the advertiser pressure

Back off the story? Maybe.

Back off the affilliate station sales managers? No way.

[jaznme]

39. Anti-Sinclair Petition Needs Help! Go to:

www.stopsinclair.org -- they need 50,000 more signatures to obtain the goal of 100,000 -- go and help them please!

[Zinfandel]

42. Corporations controlling our political democratic process on public airwaves

for corporate exploitation for monetary and partisan gain.

[Dora]

43. Doesn't CBS want vengeance yet?

As far as I can tell, Bush gave CBS a big ol' "fuck you" right to Bob Schieffer's face last night.

I think CBS and 60 Minutes should run the forged Nigerian documents piece. Again and again.

"Oh, never mind."

[mmonk]

55. Viacom won't contest

their sugar daddy. Politics in America is prostitution. There is no democracy here.

[young_at_heart]

45. Is this film propaganda? It's certainly not a documentary!

They are trying to influence people's vote by pre-empting regular programing. They should follow this show with F-9/11.

[screembloodymurder]

51. Does this preclude an injunction?

Is the DNC going to the courts?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

52. Maybe DNC should help sponsor

and include this ad: http://www.democrats.org/notfunny/index.html

[No2W2004]

54. Unfortunately, all the FCC does

is to give broadcast licenses, and handle complaints AFTER the fact. (ask Howard Stern) From what I can see, Powell is correct in saying he can't stop the showing of this garbage before it airs. The FEC is the agency that should step in to stop this, because it IS an in-kind contribution to Shrubco (Unless Sinclair would like to air a documentary about Chimpy's AWOL year)

The best way to counteract it for the other stations in the same market to take market share away from the Sinclair crap. Air counter programing to take away the audience.

Now, after Sinclair pulls this stunt, they SHOULD LOSE THEIR BROADCAST LICENSES. Every station is required to let the public file complaints, comments, and concerns in regards to upcoming license renewals. Thats where Sinclair has to be hit hard.

[Azadre]

57. We MUST stop this...

Are we any closer to stopping this?

[FighttheFuture]

58. Web Site for Sinclair Advertisers and Stations

Two great links from: http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/04/10/con04432.html

Boycott Sinclair Broadcast Group - Advertisers: http://www.boycottsbg.com/advertisers/default.aspx


Sinclair Broadcast Group Station List: http://sbgweb2.sbgnet.com/business/television.shtml

[hyphenate]

60. Birds of a Feather

We at least know Colin's son is solidly in bed with the boss.

[tsuki]

61. And it could mean his job...

not to mention, Dear Old Dad's.

[noonriser]

63. What a crock of sh*t!!! n/t

[obiwan]

64. Please read and respond...

Please pass this important message to friends and family across the country.

Up to 62 television stations owned or managed by the conservative-owned Sinclair Broadcasting Group--many of them in swing states--will show a "documentary" highly critical of Senator John Kerry's antiwar activities 30 years ago within the next two weeks. Sinclair will preempt all the stations' primetime schedules to air this blatant piece of right-wing propaganda. This is akin to airing free, extended Bush/Cheney campaign ads (and it's being done on publicly owned airwaves.) In fact, the content of this film is essentially the same as the discredited Swift Boat ads.

The media conglomerate reaches 25% of American households on networks such as WB, Fox, CBS, ABC, and NBC. This widely broadcast piece of
disinformation could deliver the election to Bush in tightly contested states.

The best way to stop Sinclair from running this film is to boycott the
company's advertisers until it is forced to pull the film under financial pressure.

Click this link
(http://www.boycottsbg.com/default.htm) for a database of Sinclair's major advertiser organized by local market. Email as many advertisers as you can.
There is also information on the stations' sales managers--email or call them too!

To get this started, six of Sinclair's well-known national advertisers are
Applebees, Corona, Dr. Pepper/7Up, Pepsi, Taco Bell, and Circuit City.

Please email these companies and let them know about the boycott.
Applebees: [e-mail]
Corona: [e-mail]
Dr. Pepper/7up: [e-mail]
Circuit City: [e-mail]
Pepsi: [e-mail]
Taco Bell/Yum Brands: [e-mail]

A sample email:
I would like to express my extreme displeasure with Sinclair Broadcasting Group for its blatantly partisan airing of "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal". This is a piece of political propaganda that will function as an extended free Bush/Cheney campaign ad. I ask that your company withdraw all
advertising commitments with Sinclair until it reconsiders its abuse of the public airwaves. Until you do so, I will boycott all of your company's products.

Please forward this to everyone you know!


It's not about liberal or conservative. It's about corruption, the destruction of democratic discourse, and Big Media trying to skew elections. Together we must stop it.
goto site to learn how to protest.
http://www.freepress.net/sinclair/

[ikojo]

66. You can thank the 1996 Telecommunications bill

for these things happening and the increased media conglomeration. Democrats have themselves to blame...

http://www.portside.org/showpost.php?postid=923

John Kerry and Terry McCauliff are mad.

-snip-

Kerry and McCauliff may be right, but they had it all
wrong in 1996, the year that a majority of Democratic
Senators, including John Kerry, helped pass the
Telecommunications Act of 1996. That bill, written
mostly by corporate lobbyists, revolutionized the
telecommunications industry, allowing media companies
to expand their empires. Prior to 1996, Sinclair was a
small player in a mid-sized media market. Today,
Sinclair's stations cover as much as one quarter of
television markets throughout the United States.

John Kerry voted for the Telecommunications Act, as did
30 other Democratic Senators. They joined fifty
Republicans and then President Bill Clinton in handing
media companies one of their biggest gifts in the last
75 years. Only sixteen Democrats and two Republicans
(including John McCain) voted against the bill. Cable
TV corporations donated $2.2 million in 1996 alone to
help pass the bill, distributing 70% of the cash to
Republicans and 30% to Dems.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

79. Interesting point...

so I went to Roll Call out of curiosity:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=2&vote=00008

[00Scoots]

67. Defending Kerry

Unless a miracle happens, it seems it will air, so shouldn't we focus on damage control? Are there any credible webpages or sources that we can compile to use and distribute information from? After the show, we can focus on stopping the spread of lies and half truths that will be everywhere in the show.

If you know of any sources, please list them here. We can start a pool of info that everyone can use to discredit the program.

[Lindsey]

69. It CAN'T go unanswered...

I have engaged and I beg all of you to also engage, in calling the sponsors and the station managers/advertising sales managers. I called the sponsors yesterday and they were very nice and professional. PLEASE CALL THE SPONSORS, be very nice, and let them knw that you will NEVER use their product again if they continue to advertise with Sinclair. Further, if this moves forward, I have committed to following through and simply boycott them until the day I die. The Kerry campaign needs to do something about this. I hope to God they have a plan.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

80. Is there an updated list...

of companies who have clearly stated they will not advertise? Last I heard yesterday was Sylvan Learning Centers.

[UCLA Dem]

81. Welcome to DU!

[harpo]

71. advertisers...investors...cash flow...hit em all and hit em hard!!

[sisenor]

74. I WROTE 81 emails to advertisers, about 6 wrote back

2 or 3 said they would stop advertising, two made non-committal responses (including Pepsi), and about two wrote back angrily, one saying "why dont we vote for michael morre for president?" Spelling error and all.

BUT HERE IS AN IDEA, PLEASE LISTEN:

If these assholes are going to go ahead and broadcast their lies, then the internets have to start buzzing about the very real ties between Sinclair, the defense industry, and oil interests. Below are some specifics. We got to focus on this and get the word out.

[sisenor]

75. WHAT IS IN IT FOR SINCLAIR - A KEY QUESTION

(copied from another blogger)

So, Sinclair is prepared to give a major blast of propaganda to the Bush campaign. What's in it for them? Thanks to The Raw Story, we learn that a company called Jadoo Power Systems has been awarded a contract to develop power systems for the US Special Operations Command. No word on how much it was worth, but it must have been a big deal, because a Jadoo press release from 2003 brags that the company's president and CEO, Larry Bawden, personally briefed President George W. Bush on his company's technology.

It could have been old-school ties. A Fortune magazine profile from October 2003 notes:


Barely two years old, has sold its fuel cells to Boeing; government agencies like the CIA, the Secret Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; and the U.S. Army. Earlier this year Jadoo placed in the business-plan competition at Harvard Business School, where vice president of business development Jon Berger, 30, earned his MBA this past spring.
Or maybe it was an Enron alumni gathering, The Fortune article continues:

Jadoo's president, Larry Bawden, 45, learned about fuel-cell technology at Aerojet, based in Sacramento, where he worked as director of fuel-cell products. In 1995, Aerojet sold off his unit, and Bawden left with a golden parachute. Embarking on an around-the-world boat trip with his wife, he got as far as Australia before some former colleagues called. They persuaded him to return to become a vice president at a fuel-cell company they were starting called PowerTek. They'd soon lined up a huge customer—the energy giant Enron—but unfortunately it was about to collapse.
So, who owns Jadoo?

The company's Investor Relations page lists only two "current investors":

Sinclair Ventures, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc....
Contango Capital Management was formed to bring capital to innovative entrepreneurs who are working hard to answer the energy challenges facing our world today and in the near future. Located in Houston, Texas, Contango Capital Management invests in early-stage technology-based and service companies in the energy industry...
Hey, this is interesting. Wasn't Enron located in Houston too? Why, lookie here:

John Berger
Managing Partner
Contango Capital Partners

Mr. Berger is a founding partner of the General Partner and its Managing Partner. Mr. Berger has over eight years of experience in the energy industry, during which he managed energy trading books for Enron Corporation and initiated development of the new Enron Premium Power Division. As a Manager, he made the previously unprofitable southeast short term trading operation for the Enron East Power Trading Division profitable by approximately $30 million over a two year period. Under his management, the southeast short term trading operation successfully administered the largest long-term customer deal in the industry, and increased the average daily volume in the southeast trading hub by ten times the former volume. Mr. Berger also managed the Enron Hourly Trading Desk, and operated a utility system in the southeastern United States. At Enron Energy Services he led and developed Enron's corporate strategy for new energy technologies and energy reliability financial products. In addition, Mr. Berger spearheaded development, investment, and partnership opportunities in fuel cell technologies.

During 2002 and 2003, Mr. Berger served as an advisor to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission where he drafted governance guidelines for the Regional Transmission Organizations and served as an advisor to the drafters of the Standard Market Design regulatory document that is currently before the United States Congress. He also advised the Commission on distributed generation, demand response, information gathering and application issues, investigations, and trade clearing/credit issues in the North American energy markets. Mr. Berger graduated cum laude from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. In 2003, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School where he founded and organized the first annual Harvard Business School Energy Symposium and was a finalist in the 2003 HBS Business Plan Contest.
So a guy who got rich at Enron goes to work for the Bush Administration's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission during the period when they're investigating Enron. He gets an MBA at Harvard, founds a company backed with his Enron stash and some extra seed capital from Sinclair Broadcasting, and uses his connections to get a one-on-one meeting with the President. His company then gets a (presumably no-bid) contract from the Defense Department, thus (presumably) guaranteeing they'll hit their revenue goals this year and (presumably) greasing their skids for the company's planned IPO.

[MallRat]

73. Sinclair must be awfully, awfully certain of a Bush victory.

Think about it: let's say Sinclair goes ahead and airs "Stolen Honor." Then, two weeks later, Kerry wins the election and takes office in January 2005.

The statute of limitations on FCC violations isn't 2 months, folks.

A Kerry victory and a Democratic FCC Commissioner will result in the complete and total dismemberment of Sinclair Broadcast Group. The FEC, which never has had any teeth in a Republican administration, may be emboldened to slap them with violations of McCain-Feingold as well.

After the litigation, the revocation of licenses, and a deluge of fines, a Kerry Presidency is going to cost the Smith family their entire broadcast empire. What am I missing here?

-MR

[sisenor]

76. I think it has to do with the fact that these corporate interests

are putting up a good fight cause they see their lap dog may be out of the White House soon. They are not willing to give that up easily, and this is probably a business decision with high risk they are willing to take. In other words, they are risking this for the gazillions they will make if Bush is in office next Jan.

Either that or the whole thing is rigged.

[flaminbats]

78. where would they be without BFEE?

they aren't capable of running a business, or remaining profitable without assistance from the Federal Government. When competition is thrown in as a factor, government remains their only lifeline. Why bother to provide useful goods and services?

:kick:

[flaminbats]

77. the larger objective...

Michael Powell couldn't be feeding cynicism of public ownership of the airwaves and FCC's role in enforcing the fairness doctrine for a reason! :eyes:

What could possibly be done to destroy the people's ability to hear HF and VHF radio transmissions without a monthly charge? How could the transmission of radio signals be blocked so that people must pay just to communicate over long distances?

http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2775/bpl00001.html

[DemBones DemBones]

83. So Bush*'s secretary of state's son won't stop a film that is meant

to benefit Bush* from airing? What a surprise.

His dad's rubber-stamped Bush*'s bad behavior, just like he earlier rubber-stamped atrocities committed by Americans serving in Viet Nam, how could the son be any better? (Well, he could have bought a clue and rebelled, but no doubt being a Republican pays better.)

[constancelavendr]

86. Sinclair Broadcast Email Address

This is the email for Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., makers of "Stolen Honor". Please email them and voice your opinion.

[e-mail]

[obiwan]

88. For what it's worth...

...Here's the review of the Fahrenheit 9/11 DVD I submitted to Amazon.com. I didn't know where else to post it.

This movie is the most honest appraisal extant of the administration's gross mishandling of the Iraqi fiasco. It is propaganda, to be sure, but it is honest and sincere propaganda. I have yet to see a credible and factually accurate rebuttal in the legitimate media. There is no need to defend this film; it stands on its own. Truth has a way of emerging from under the pile of right wing feces hurled at it. Time will demonstrate the validity of the claims made in the movie.
Knowing the truth requires more than just listening to the spin of your favorite pundit. I have read over sixty books regarding this administration, both on the left and the right.I vociferously watch all broadcast media, including, but not limited to, Fox, MSNBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, and the major networks. My conclusions regarding this administration are a result of my analysis based on the evidence available to me.
What I have seen from the right wing concerning this film is fear. What are conservatives scared of? It appears that with the absence of the Soviet Union as an adversary, our paranoia has made us fabricate a new enemy.There are 18,000 Al Qaeda terrorists WORLDWIDE, operating on an annual budget of 10 million dollars. Because they are so small, they will occasionally succeed against overwhelming opposition. They WILL attack again. This is a given. However, I am not frightened of my own mortality. If a terrorist kills me, so be it. However, I would be willing to wager my life's earnings against this possibility. To say such a scenario is a remote possibility is an understatement.It is perfectly natural to fear that which you are ignorant of, or challenges your belief system. Truth is scary. To recognize it requires reasoning and an ability to accept ideas that may be contrary to your own. You must have the intelligence and flexibility to be able to modify your point of view if the facts change. Being resolute is functionally useless if you make bad judgements and are not willing to modify your outlook as facts change.
Michael Moore, and the rest of us "left wingnuts" were not waiting in the bushes to ambush the president. In fact, we were reluctantly brought into this arena due to the poor judgements, deceptions, and outright lies foisted upon us by an arrogant leader to whom the average American is beneath contempt. Record deficits, a net shrinking of the American workforce, the collapse of our booming economy, and the spread of fear and ignorance; this is George W. Bush's legacy. Tell my daughter as she spends the rest of her life paying off the incredible deficit this charlatan has foisted on our children, and their children. When poor leadership decisions destabilize the world and take away everything you have worked for and believed in, then it becomes your patriotic duty to defend and protect those basic rights that separate Americans from lesser primates. Today, many career professionals have seen their industries crumble through no fault of their own. The administration's answer? Go back to community college. Tell that to people with advanced degrees, whose jobs have migrated overseas. Tell that to any one 50 years old or older. Some of us don't like shopping (or working) at Wal*Mart, or being thrown a bone by our leaders.
Respect of the presidency is not a given; like any public servant, the president must earn the respect of his employer, the people of America. If he is doing a poor job, making bad decisions, using poor judgement, and killing Americans in a war based on premises now conclusively proven by the president's own appointee, Charles Duelfer, to be totally false, then he should be fired. He must show respect to the American people, not arrogance. He must perform to a certain standard. Make no mistake, he is not a king; he works for you, he works for me. We pay his salary, and he must be accountable to us, ALL OF US, not just his base.
This is why Michael Moore does what he does, and why "liberal" America feels as it does. This administration must be torn down if America is to endure; we can do better and we will do better.

[SoCalDem]

90. Hell... why would they block it.. Mike's in charge of popcorn..

The repubes are LOVING this..I really hope it backfires on them..

BUT.. the whole mess just points out how important the media mess is..

IT MUST BE FIXED....AND SOON...

It must go back to being FAIR.. I don;t care if the repubes empty their bank accounts running commercials.. I just want equal time for all negative ads..

and a truly level playing field... Like it used to be:)

and I also would like for media entities to DECLARE who they are.. This "fair and balanced" nonsense must stop..

Let the Washington Times bill themselves as The Washington Conservative News...(owned by Sun Yung Moon)

As long as people KNOW what they are getting, and the love it , then Whoopeeee...

[Flammable Materials]

91. Sinclair Broadcasting in 25 words or less:

They refused to air a memorial of American war casualties.
They are airing a 'documentary' that slanders an American War Hero.

SINCLAIR HATES OUR MILITARY.

[trapper914]

92. When Has The F.C.C. Stopped a Broadcast?

I don't recall a case.

That doesn't mean Sinclair won't pay on the other end through exhorbitant fines (one for each station that carries the film) and a very real chance of losing licenses on each station. Throw in the advertiser boycotts and the pinheads at Sinclair will look in the mirror on November 3rd muttering about all they lost and they're still stuck with President-elect Kerry.

[Freddie Stubbs]

95. Never

The FEC (Federal Election Commission) is the agency with the most ability to act here. But they can't act before Sinclair violates that law.

[depakid]

101. They didn't need prior restraint in the past

because there were, before the Reagan BUT ALSO CLINTON, sufficient means to enforce blatant violations of the public interest standard- up to and including license revocation and non-renewal.

Hopefully, if Kerry gets in, one of the first things he'll do is revamp the FCC and start extensive administrative rulemaking to re-regulate the media. It's a win/win situation (only a shameless panderer like Bill Clinton couldn't see that). The media is not supportive of Kerry and will not be during his administration- any more than they were to Clinton. Yet media re-regulation would be extremely popular among the electorate, so reigning them in would both increase his popularity and put much needed accountability and responsiility back into the system... and he won't need Congress to do it.

[truthisfreedom]

94. good. i'm glad. if powell did anything to stop this it would make him

seem more legitimate. now, he's digging his own grave, and sinclair can dig theirs. their stocks are plummeting, they've been unable to make a good profit for a long time, and their advertisers are dropping out every day. bye-bye, sinclair. bye-bye, powell.

[ucmike]

96. The FCC does act preemptively

Maybe this is apples to oranges (I am not an expert on FCC rules) but they decided that the stern show was a news program BEFORE he was allowed to interview Arnold Swartzenegger during the california elections. Infinity filed a petition asking to acknowledge Stern's status as a news program before any interview. The issue was whether on not an appearance by Arnold would require equal time for other canidates on Stern's show under equal time laws.

If the FCC can decide before hand whether the Stern show counts as news why isn't the Sinclair action considered under the same criteria? If the FCC responds to an Infinity petition, why wouldn't the concern of senators and congressmen (oh and all these citizens that Powell is protecting from boobies) hold any weight?

As for Powell Jr., he came out of the firm of O'Melveney and Myers, a high dollar NY law firm. I have been in their offices, trust me, Jr. would/will make much more money if he goes back to them rather than continue to meddle at the FCC. (their office looks like an art museum and has a collection that would put many museums to shame. don't even ask about their view of midtown Manhattan. they could charge admission to take a look out their windows).

Of course, there are certain perks to his present position.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

98. Welcome to DU ucmike!

:hi: