7 ABC affiliates ordered not to air 'Nightline'

[smashp]

good ol John McCain With a big ol Yuck Fou to Sinclair and their "Unpatriotic" Ceo.

McCain Letter to Sinclair Broadcast on Preemption of Nightline


McCain Letter to Sinclair Broadcast on Preemption of Nightline
Fri Apr 30 2004 11:29:49 ET

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) issued the following letter today to Mr. David Smith, President and CEO of Sinclair Broadcast Group, in response to the preemption of this evening's Nightline program:

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.

-end-

___________________________________________________

Rebecca Fisher
Press Secretary

 

[tnitsuj]

McCain sure does stand by his principles.

Originally posted by: smashp
good ol John McCain With a big ol Yuck Fou to Sinclair and their "Unpatriotic" Ceo.

McCain Letter to Sinclair Broadcast on Preemption of Nightline


McCain Letter to Sinclair Broadcast on Preemption of Nightline
Fri Apr 30 2004 11:29:49 ET

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) issued the following letter today to Mr. David Smith, President and CEO of Sinclair Broadcast Group, in response to the preemption of this evening's Nightline program:

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.

-end-

___________________________________________________

Rebecca Fisher
Press Secretary

 

[leeboy]

Originally posted by: smashp
good ol John McCain With a big ol Yuck Fou to Sinclair and their "Unpatriotic" Ceo.

McCain Letter to Sinclair Broadcast on Preemption of Nightline


McCain Letter to Sinclair Broadcast on Preemption of Nightline
Fri Apr 30 2004 11:29:49 ET

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) issued the following letter today to Mr. David Smith, President and CEO of Sinclair Broadcast Group, in response to the preemption of this evening's Nightline program:

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.

-end-

___________________________________________________

Rebecca Fisher
Press Secretary

Now there is a man with integrity. Why oh why did the reps not nominate this man in 2000!

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: smashp
good ol John McCain With a big ol Yuck Fou to Sinclair and their "Unpatriotic" Ceo.

McCain Letter to Sinclair Broadcast on Preemption of Nightline


McCain Letter to Sinclair Broadcast on Preemption of Nightline
Fri Apr 30 2004 11:29:49 ET

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) issued the following letter today to Mr. David Smith, President and CEO of Sinclair Broadcast Group, in response to the preemption of this evening's Nightline program:

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.

-end-

___________________________________________________

Rebecca Fisher
Press Secretary

I wish I could figure out why all of the so called "Republicans" out there don't come out and say "Ok, so we made a piss-poor decision; Let's have McCain run for 2004!"

 

[lozina]

McCain is the man

 

[leeboy]

Originally posted by: lozina
McCain is the man

Yep. I have openly stated here on many occasions that if JMC were an option to me back in 2000, I would not have wasted my vote on Gore. My Gore vote, like this time with Kerry, will not be a yes to the democratic candidate, but a big, fat, NO to GWB. Melongs for a real choice.

 

[DealMonkey]

You know, it sickens me to hear these pro-war types claiming that the only way to honor our war dead is for them to never been seen or heard about again once they're dead. That seems to run contrary to the point of honoring them in my opinion. Seems like the pro-war attitude and "hide the bodies/don't talk about the KIA" are the tied at the hip. So who's really playing politics with dead soldiers?

 

[Bitek]

Originally posted by: leeboy

Originally posted by: smashp
good ol John McCain With a big ol Yuck Fou to Sinclair and their "Unpatriotic" Ceo.

McCain Letter to Sinclair Broadcast on Preemption of Nightline


McCain Letter to Sinclair Broadcast on Preemption of Nightline
Fri Apr 30 2004 11:29:49 ET

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) issued the following letter today to Mr. David Smith, President and CEO of Sinclair Broadcast Group, in response to the preemption of this evening's Nightline program:

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.

-end-

___________________________________________________

Rebecca Fisher
Press Secretary

Now there is a man with integrity. Why oh why did the reps not nominate this man in 2000!

Because they couldn't get the fundies to vote for him. Bush has Jesus in his back pocket.

 

[smashp]

Originally posted by: leeboy

Originally posted by: lozina
McCain is the man

Yep. I have openly stated here on many occasions that if JMC were an option to me back in 2000, I would not have wasted my vote on Gore. My Gore vote, like this time with Kerry, will not be a yes to the democratic candidate, but a big, fat, NO to GWB. Melongs for a real choice.

I still Voted For McCain in nov00. knowing My vote Meant Little more than knowing I personally Didnt Support Either candidate.

 

[Bitek]

Originally posted by: sward666

Originally posted by: lozina

Originally posted by: tnitsuj

Originally posted by: lozina

To justify the decision, a statement on the company?s Web site cited the fact that Koppel will read the names of the more than 500 U.S. troops killed in Iraq, and not the names of Americans killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and similar attacks since.

Riiiight... good excuse! Well then, the 9/11 reading of the names was political motivated as well! they did not read the names of Americans killed in Vietnam, or the Korean War, or World War 2, or Custer's last stand!!

Censorship and secrecy, the main tools the Bush Administration have to solve any problem.

Welcome to USFA, the United States of Fundamentalist America

Wait, didn't Koppell read the names of the 9/11 victims one year after the event?

I don't think he did... Nightline is not long enough to read that many names unless it was made into a 2-hour special?

They did read the names at the memorial ceremony at Ground Zero - no idea if Koppel was one of the readers or not.

And this is a really stupid decision on Sinclair's part. I'll reserve judgement on whether Nightline is "motivated by a political agenda" until I see it (though I doubt it), but Sinclair is without a doubt motivated by their own agenda. Weak.

I'll wait until it airs to judge. Sinclair has obviously make their political stance. I never watch nightline, one as its on too freaking late.


Question is, why would they want to show this during the sweeps? Perhaps a nice tribute, but would make boring TV. Who would go out of their way to watch that?

As far as timing goes, how can it not be appropriate to remember those who have fallen at the conclusion of the bloodiest month during the war? Why ignore their sacrifice until it is more politically "convient" for the admin?

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey
You know, it sickens me to hear these pro-war types claiming that the only way to honor our war dead is for them to never been seen or heard about again once they're dead. That seems to run contrary to the point of honoring them in my opinion. Seems like the pro-war attitude and "hide the bodies/don't talk about the KIA" are the tied at the hip. So who's really playing politics with dead soldiers?

To chickenhawk neo-cons like tnitsuj, cad, burnedout, johngalt, and heartsurgeon the support for the iraqi war is much more important than honoring the fallen.

 

[jahawkin]

Originally posted by: lozina

Originally posted by: totalcommand
Sinclair is possibly the most unpatriotic company I have heard of. Refusing to air a remembrance of soldiers who died in Iraq? That's just horrible. I guess they like the heroism that Pat got, they just think these soldiers aren't as good as him. These soldiers are just as much heroes as Pat is.

Did they air the Bush campaign ad with 9/11 images?

Yes they did and they also declined to air an ad that calls out Bush's lie about Niger yellowcake.

 

[MonstaThrilla]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
In a statement online, the Sinclair group said the "Nightline" program "appears to be motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq."

...

"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," the statement said.

About time someone stood up for the truth!

How is censoring a Nightline tribute about REAL heroes who REALLY died "standing up for the truth"?

I'm ashamed to have attended the same school as you...

 

[xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx]

Originally posted by: Phokus

Originally posted by: DealMonkey
You know, it sickens me to hear these pro-war types claiming that the only way to honor our war dead is for them to never been seen or heard about again once they're dead. That seems to run contrary to the point of honoring them in my opinion. Seems like the pro-war attitude and "hide the bodies/don't talk about the KIA" are the tied at the hip. So who's really playing politics with dead soldiers?

To chickenhawk neo-cons like tnitsuj, cad, burnedout, johngalt, and heartsurgeon the support for the iraqi war is much more important than honoring the fallen.

[edit] I retract my remarks; after reading your "why do my feet smell" and "my forehead is peeling" threads, I think I'll just let this one go....for the sake of brevity.

 

[burnedout]

Originally posted by: Phokus

To chickenhawk neo-cons like tnitsuj, cad, burnedout, johngalt, and heartsurgeon the support for the iraqi war is much more important than honoring the fallen.

Still huffing mid-grade gasoline in the bedroom while posting, I see.

By the way, Phokus, please make note of the commercials before, during and after this particular Nightline segment and report back to us. Thanks.

 

[burnedout]

Originally posted by: smashp
this Country is Going To Hell in a handbasket. Nothing Can Be done With Out Overanylizing the politics Behind anything before the looney Left or Fascist Right call Foul and cry and Whine. Everyone Hast to Point out The Hidden "Agenda" behind everything.

This is Just another Example of How both Parties only care about themselves and The Power They Have.

This Country Needs a more uniting Less political Leader. Too bad their Isnt one on the november Ballet.

How dare the Washington Post even remotely entertain the notion of critical thought. WTF were they thinking?

 

[xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx]

Originally posted by: burnedout

How dare the Washington Post even remotely entertain the notion of critical thought. WTF were they thinking?

"chickenhawk"

forgot the :beer:

 

[lozina]

Originally posted by: burnedout
How dare the Washington Post even remotely entertain the notion of critical thought. WTF were they thinking?

it may be coincidental that it falls under the may sweeps time (although like someone else alluded to, that would be a dumb decision on their part, as most networks air their best stuff now so who'd want to listen to ted koppel recite names?) however there's another coincidence... the reading of the names comes on the 1 year anniversary of the "mission accomplished" speech where Bush calls an end to major combat operations in Iraq. But I bet you wouldn't even consider that, you're too happy with your other coincidental date.

 

[InfectedMushroom]

Ok, little questions for those that support the war. Do you agree with Sinclair's decission?
If so, then why?

 

[BDawg]

From Senator John McCain

McCain Letter to Sinclair Broadcast on Preemption of Nightline
Fri Apr 30 2004 11:29:49 ET

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) issued the following letter today to Mr. David Smith, President and CEO of Sinclair Broadcast Group, in response to the preemption of this evening's Nightline program:

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.

 

[chrisms]

I don't air Nightline, you don't see me in the news.

 

[burnedout]

Originally posted by: lozina

Originally posted by: burnedout
How dare the Washington Post even remotely entertain the notion of critical thought. WTF were they thinking?

it may be coincidental that it falls under the may sweeps time (although like someone else alluded to, that would be a dumb decision on their part, as most networks air their best stuff now so who'd want to listen to ted koppel recite names?) however there's another coincidence... the reading of the names comes on the 1 year anniversary of the "mission accomplished" speech where Bush calls an end to major combat operations in Iraq. But I bet you wouldn't even consider that, you're too happy with your other coincidental date.

Then you admit that this is a political statement rather than a coincidence?

 

[lozina]

Originally posted by: burnedout

Originally posted by: lozina

Originally posted by: burnedout
How dare the Washington Post even remotely entertain the notion of critical thought. WTF were they thinking?

it may be coincidental that it falls under the may sweeps time (although like someone else alluded to, that would be a dumb decision on their part, as most networks air their best stuff now so who'd want to listen to ted koppel recite names?) however there's another coincidence... the reading of the names comes on the 1 year anniversary of the "mission accomplished" speech where Bush calls an end to major combat operations in Iraq. But I bet you wouldn't even consider that, you're too happy with your other coincidental date.

Then you admit that this is a political statement rather than a coincidence?

Why would you think that? The 'war' was declared over 1 year ago, good time as any to reflect on the sacrifices of our fighting men & women since then.

 

[burnedout]

Originally posted by: lozina

Why would you think that? The 'war' was declared over 1 year ago, good time as any to reflect on the sacrifices of our fighting men & women since then.

So is Nightline also reflecting on the sacrifices of our KIA in Afghanistan during this particular timeframe?

 

[BDawg]

Noone's going to address the McCain letter?