Sinclair's excuse.... er.... reason.... for canning Koppel tonight:

[flowomo]

from Sinclair's website:

The ABC Television Network announced on Tuesday that the Friday, April 30 edition of "Nightline" will consist entirely of Ted Koppel reading aloud the names of U.S. servicemen and women killed in action in Iraq. Despite the denials by a spokeswoman for the show, the action appears to be motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq.

There is no organization that holds the members of our military and those soldiers who have sacrificed their lives in service of our country in higher regard than Sinclair Broadcast Group. While Sinclair would support an honest effort to honor the memory of these brave soldiers, we do not believe that is what "Nightline" is doing. Rather, Mr. Koppel and "Nightline" are hiding behind this so-called tribute in an effort to highlight only one aspect of the war effort and in doing so to influence public opinion against the military action in Iraq. Based on published reports, we are aware of the spouse of one soldier who died in Iraq who opposes the reading of her husband's name to oppose our military action. We suspect she is not alone in this viewpoint. As a result, we have decided to preempt the broadcast of "Nightline' this Friday on each of our stations which air ABC programming.

We understand that our decision in this matter may be questioned by some. Before you judge our decision, however, we would ask that you first question Mr. Koppel as to why he chose to read the names of 523 troops killed in combat in Iraq, rather than the names of the thousands of private citizens killed in terrorist attacks since and including the events of September 11, 2001. In his answer, we believe you will find the real motivation behind his action scheduled for this Friday. Unfortunately, we may never know for sure because Mr. Koppel has refused repeated requests from Sinclair's News Central news organization to comment on this Friday's program.

[Renew Deal]

1. Sinclair's excuse.... er.... REAL reason.... for canning Koppel tonight:"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1498443&mesg_id=1498443

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

2. Word for word from the Rovian handobook

See how, in the third paragraph, they link Iraq with September 11?
I feel ill.
Besides, didn't we get all the names of the people killed in the September 11 attacks read over the air numerous times?
Like, at the 9/11 memorial service?

[Fridays Child]

3. And you know this about Ted Koppel and Nightline because...

...waiting...

...still waiting...

Hey, I have an idea! Before you pre-empt a program that multitudes of your viewers wish to see, why don't YOU ask Mr. Koppel why he's reading the names.

[LittleApple81]

4. But they did! I remember after 9/11 on TV they had several

days when they did that.

[cjbuchanan]

10. One year after

On 11 September 2002 they read every name.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. I see breaks in the media

real breaks

[JPZenger]

6. Link to info on Sinclair Broadcasting

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x47985

[nostamj]

7. "rather than the names of the thousands of private citizens killed "

that has ALREADY been done!

lying repuke asswipes.

[Mountainman]

8. On the news stand today I saw a paper with the pictures of all the troops

that died in April. I think it was our local right leaning Bakersfield Californian. If so I am surprised.

It seems to me to be such hypocrisy to back the war then not be willing to face the consequences resulting from it.

That is why the right is so quick to back war because they rarely have to accept responsibility for their actions. Even I feel some guilt for not doing enough to try and stop the war.

[tom_paine]

9. Bushevik Pravda

Not worth the electrons it's printed on.

Like listening to a Stalinist Front Group in 1929.

"Oh nooooooo, they've got noooo ties to the Communist Party."

Yeah right, you Bushevik Bootlicking fucks!

[Irishladdie]

11. Sinclair feeling the Heat of Outraged viewers

See drudgereport, <<i hate him