Blatant Propaganda: Swift Boat-type 'Documentary' to air days before Election...

Sky Warrior Bob · 10-12-2004, 06:49 PM

Politics has just hit a new low, and I'm sure its illegal.

NEW YORK — The conservative-leaning Sinclair Broadcast Group, whose television outlets reach nearly a quarter of the nation's homes with TV, is ordering its stations to preempt regular programming just days before the Nov. 2 election to air a film that attacks Sen. John F. Kerry's activism against the Vietnam War, network and station executives familiar with the plan said Friday.

...

Sinclair has told its stations — many of them in political swing states such as Ohio and Florida — to air "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal," sources said. The film, funded by Pennsylvania veterans and produced by a veteran and former Washington Times reporter, features former POWs accusing Kerry — a decorated Navy veteran turned war protester — of worsening their ordeal by prolonging the war. Sinclair will preempt regular prime-time programming from the networks to show the film, which may be classified as news programming, according to TV executives familiar with the plan.

For Full Story:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedi...,3472617.story

New York Times similar story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/11/po...rint&position=

Watchdog website that is reacting:
http://www.sinclairwatch.org/

Sinclair's advertiser's if you're interested:
http://www.boycottsbg.com/advertisers/default.aspx

And feel free to ask McCain to denounce this, just as he did the original Swift Boat ads that broadcast prior:
http://mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?f...n=Contact.Home

Sky Warrior Bob

shiney · 10-12-2004, 06:55 PM

Isn't there some requirement for "fair coverage" that would then require them to cover something in a positive light for Kerry or a negative for Bush? I forget if that's only relevant to news media or if it's relevant at all.

reality_deviant · 10-12-2004, 07:22 PM

This is a sobering example of what can happen when control of the media lies in the hands of only a few. I commend your dedication to keeping us informed, SWB.

Sky Warrior Bob · 10-12-2004, 07:26 PM

Shiney,

Well there's going to be a forum of experts assembled after the documentary airs, and the Kerry campaign was invited to participate. (And if you can't tell, everything I put in Italics are intended to be read with heavy sarcasm.)

Of course, the forum won't be nearly as long as the documentary, and in one of the articles I read, the forum was put in place to specifically deal with the issue you raise Shiney. Plus, I wouldn't be suprised if the forum ran for only 15 minutes, while the documentary ran for at least an hour (I forget if the length was mentioned in one of the articles.)

Sky Warrior Bob

reality_deviant · 10-12-2004, 07:38 PM

The article stated that Kerry declined the "generous" invitation to speak after the documentary...who will be present on the forum?

Sky Warrior Bob · 10-12-2004, 07:42 PM

I don't think that's been settled upon. (But its doubtful they'll get any big name legitimate Democrats. Heck, I wouldn't be shocked if they only use people who claim to be Democrat, but obviously aren't.)

But then, I haven't been keeping tabs on this story minute by minute, if you're really interested, why not follow the Sinclair watchdog link. Or maybe check out http://www.airamericaradio.com and listen to a stream.

I can't help you out much more than that.

Sky Warrior Bob

reality_deviant · 10-12-2004, 07:47 PM

Duly noted, SWB.

I'm curious to see how this is going to play out...

10-12-2004, 10:19 PM

But if these veterans were to do the same on a televised campaign rally for bush, would you be just as upset?

Raerlynn · 10-13-2004, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anarchy_Balsac

But if these veterans were to do the same on a televised campaign rally for bush, would you be just as upset?

You mean Michael Moore? Farenheit 9/11 is in AAFES (Army & Air Force Exchange Services, the Army and Air Force's private Walmart) stores. On DVD. Many many people are angry.

Drooling Iguana · 10-13-2004, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raerlynn

You mean Michael Moore? Farenheit 9/11 is in AAFES (Army & Air Force Exchange Services, the Army and Air Force's private Walmart) stores. On DVD. Many many people are angry.

Having a partisan documentary available on DVD so that those who want to see it can watch it is hardly the same as pre-empting television programming on several channels during prime-time in order to show a piece of partisan propoganda.

10-12-2004, 06:49 PM	#1
Sky Warrior Bob bOB iZ brOkeN Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: It's a nice place to visit... Posts: 3,755	Blatant Propaganda: Swift Boat-type 'Documentary' to air days before Election... Politics has just hit a new low, and I'm sure its illegal. NEW YORK — The conservative-leaning Sinclair Broadcast Group, whose television outlets reach nearly a quarter of the nation's homes with TV, is ordering its stations to preempt regular programming just days before the Nov. 2 election to air a film that attacks Sen. John F. Kerry's activism against the Vietnam War, network and station executives familiar with the plan said Friday. ... Sinclair has told its stations — many of them in political swing states such as Ohio and Florida — to air "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal," sources said. The film, funded by Pennsylvania veterans and produced by a veteran and former Washington Times reporter, features former POWs accusing Kerry — a decorated Navy veteran turned war protester — of worsening their ordeal by prolonging the war. Sinclair will preempt regular prime-time programming from the networks to show the film, which may be classified as news programming, according to TV executives familiar with the plan. For Full Story: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedi...,3472617.story New York Times similar story: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/11/po...rint&position= Watchdog website that is reacting: http://www.sinclairwatch.org/ Sinclair's advertiser's if you're interested: http://www.boycottsbg.com/advertisers/default.aspx And feel free to ask McCain to denounce this, just as he did the original Swift Boat ads that broadcast prior: http://mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?f...n=Contact.Home Sky Warrior Bob __________________ :bmage: Because breakdancing is evil, and so am I, you will click on this link: The power of evil compels you... You are in error. No one is screaming. Thank you for your cooperation. Yes I know the breakdancing BM link doesn't work, and I don't care. Last edited by Sky Warrior Bob; 10-12-2004 at 06:52 PM.

10-12-2004, 06:55 PM	#2
shiney Derrrrrrrrrrrrrp. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The land of fartz and buttz Posts: 8,266	Isn't there some requirement for "fair coverage" that would then require them to cover something in a positive light for Kerry or a negative for Bush? I forget if that's only relevant to news media or if it's relevant at all. __________________ boop

10-12-2004, 07:22 PM	#3
reality_deviant Unlikely Hero Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Beautiful Southern Illinois Posts: 747	This is a sobering example of what can happen when control of the media lies in the hands of only a few. I commend your dedication to keeping us informed, SWB. __________________ "Being a mage is about giving a damn."~2nd Ed. M:tA Handbook "Hope is the bravest rebellion."~Phil Brucato "this is clearly the fault of those wacky money-hating environmentalists, with their tye-dyed t-shirts and their total lack of political power, making life miserable for those poor oppressed three-hundred-billion-dollar-market-cap oil companies."~fifthfiend

10-12-2004, 07:26 PM	#4
Sky Warrior Bob bOB iZ brOkeN Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: It's a nice place to visit... Posts: 3,755	Shiney, Well there's going to be a forum of experts assembled after the documentary airs, and the Kerry campaign was invited to participate. (And if you can't tell, everything I put in Italics are intended to be read with heavy sarcasm.) Of course, the forum won't be nearly as long as the documentary, and in one of the articles I read, the forum was put in place to specifically deal with the issue you raise Shiney. Plus, I wouldn't be suprised if the forum ran for only 15 minutes, while the documentary ran for at least an hour (I forget if the length was mentioned in one of the articles.) Sky Warrior Bob __________________ :bmage: Because breakdancing is evil, and so am I, you will click on this link: The power of evil compels you... You are in error. No one is screaming. Thank you for your cooperation. Yes I know the breakdancing BM link doesn't work, and I don't care. Last edited by Sky Warrior Bob; 10-12-2004 at 07:36 PM.

10-12-2004, 07:38 PM	#5
reality_deviant Unlikely Hero Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Beautiful Southern Illinois Posts: 747	The article stated that Kerry declined the "generous" invitation to speak after the documentary...who will be present on the forum? __________________ "Being a mage is about giving a damn."~2nd Ed. M:tA Handbook "Hope is the bravest rebellion."~Phil Brucato "this is clearly the fault of those wacky money-hating environmentalists, with their tye-dyed t-shirts and their total lack of political power, making life miserable for those poor oppressed three-hundred-billion-dollar-market-cap oil companies."~fifthfiend

10-12-2004, 07:42 PM	#6
Sky Warrior Bob bOB iZ brOkeN Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: It's a nice place to visit... Posts: 3,755	I don't think that's been settled upon. (But its doubtful they'll get any big name legitimate Democrats. Heck, I wouldn't be shocked if they only use people who claim to be Democrat, but obviously aren't.) But then, I haven't been keeping tabs on this story minute by minute, if you're really interested, why not follow the Sinclair watchdog link. Or maybe check out http://www.airamericaradio.com and listen to a stream. I can't help you out much more than that. Sky Warrior Bob __________________ :bmage: Because breakdancing is evil, and so am I, you will click on this link: The power of evil compels you... You are in error. No one is screaming. Thank you for your cooperation. Yes I know the breakdancing BM link doesn't work, and I don't care. Last edited by Sky Warrior Bob; 10-12-2004 at 08:07 PM.

10-12-2004, 07:47 PM	#7
reality_deviant Unlikely Hero Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Beautiful Southern Illinois Posts: 747	Duly noted, SWB. I'm curious to see how this is going to play out... __________________ "Being a mage is about giving a damn."~2nd Ed. M:tA Handbook "Hope is the bravest rebellion."~Phil Brucato "this is clearly the fault of those wacky money-hating environmentalists, with their tye-dyed t-shirts and their total lack of political power, making life miserable for those poor oppressed three-hundred-billion-dollar-market-cap oil companies."~fifthfiend

10-12-2004, 10:19 PM	#8
Anarchy_Balsac Guest Posts: n/a	But if these veterans were to do the same on a televised campaign rally for bush, would you be just as upset?