ABC/Disney - First Smear Piece On Obama - Stolen Honor II?

[Median Democrat]

ABC Nightline just ran a piece called 10 worst VP choices for Barack Obama, which highlights Reverand Wright, Rezko, and Phager. However, it also goes out on a limb and mentions two Democratic superdelegates who were indicated, who had just recently committed Obama, without any evidence that they were longtime Obama supporters.

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/

It happened last election with John Kerry and the Stolen Honor hit piece shortly before the election. Now, it begins again with Barack Obama. We should seriously consider boycotting ABC/Disney and its sponsors for ABC's efforts to try to tilt another election toward the GOP.

[Zynx]

1. That's so childish it is disgusting.

Shame on ABC.

[Art_from_Ark]

2. "ABC" stands for

Always for
Bu$h and
Cheney"

[Median Democrat]

4. Here's Some Background ABC Affiliates Showing Stolen Honor in 2004

The Sinclair owned ABC affiliates were in key battleground states. Between ABC and Fox, it is just pathetic the lengths these companies will go to ensure that the GOP controls the Presidency.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Stolen_Honor:_Wounds_That_Never_Heal

Decision by Sinclair Broadcast Group to broadcast 'Stolen Honor'
In early October 2004, the Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., which owns television stations in nearly one-quarter of the United States, ordered all of its stations to preempt their regular programming and air Stolen Honor in the days leading up to the November 2 presidential election.<1> This has raised concerns that such a direct criticism of Kerry would violate the "equal time" provision of the Communications Act that governs airtime for political candidates. FCC chairman Michael Powell has declared that such an action would not be a violation of the provision. A former FCC chairman, Reed Hundt, responded that Powell was offering "tacit and plain encouragement of the use of the Sinclair airwaves to pursue a smear campaign." A spokesperson for the company said that the airing would be followed by a panel discussion, which Senator Kerry would be asked to join, possibly as an effort to satisfy the equal time clause. The Kerry campaign declined the invitation. Sinclair did not accept Michael Moore's offer for free broadcast of his documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 to satisfy the equal time clause.

More than 100 Democratic members of the United States Congress asked the FCC to consider the propriety of the broadcast, and Ted Kennedy, Kerry's Senate colleague from Massachusetts, asked the Justice Department to investigate. The Democratic National Committee filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission. Media Matters for America headed a shareholder action against "demanding that Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., provide equal time to those "with views opposed to the allegations" in the film. <2>

Ultimately, Sinclair dropped its plans to run the film in its entirety, instead airing a "news special" to be "produced with the highest journalistic standards and integrity."<3> That special included clips from Stolen Honor as well as the pro-Kerry film Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry.<4>

[Art_from_Ark]

5. Michael Powell,

Colin Powell's son, decided that "such an action would not be a violation of the provision."

Why am I not surprised he made such a decision?

[Selatius]

7. He was appointed by Bush, probably for his pro-corporate views.

Colin Powell should be proud his son is such a whore to the industrialists and bankers who run America.

[formercia]

27. Like father, like son

I bet he will be spewing mea culpas once Obama is sworn-in and probably write a book which will be published by Regnery.

Add him to the list too. He's just another one of the opportunistic scum that has helped to destroy this country.

[Selatius]

3. Actually, I think it would be best if we opened up an inquiry into Walt Disney World, Inc.

ABC is wholly owned by Disney. The inquiry would concentrate on whether they have violated anti-trust laws, and if they have, then they should be considered a monopoly and broken apart through federal anti-trust lawsuits.

For that matter, I think multiple inquiries should be opened up on companies ranging from Exxon-Mobil to Time Warner and others. I want to see many lawsuits brought forward.

[Median Democrat]

6. Why? Disney/ABC and News Corp/Fox Support Relaxation of Media Ownership Rules

The reason why News Corp (Fox News) and Disney (ABC News) support the GOP is because the GOP favors relaxing media ownership rules whereas Democrats have opposed such efforts. Of course, the President gets to appoint the members of the FCC board.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentration_of_media_ownership

The hit pieces we can expect to see are a clear example of why the rules should not be made less restrict. Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake for Disney and News Corp. Do you think they would stop at anything to ensure that the GOP retains conctrol over the FCC? Particularly, after the Stolen Honor fiasco in 2004?

This will be the greatest threat to Obama chances in November. Not Hillary. Not McCain. Not some internet rumors about videos. Rather, a concerted campaign by these two corporations to elect John McCain so that the GOP retains control over the FCC.

[Selatius]

9. I'd like to tighten it like the executioner tightens the noose around the neck of the convicted.

See how they squirm if we repealed Bill Clinton and the Republicans' Telecommunications Act of 1996 and then went and reinstituted the Fairness Doctrine that Reagan abolished.

[Indenturedebtor]

34. That would be the single greatest thing Obama could do as Pres

Fixing those two pieces of legislation would attack a HUGE part of the root of all of our problems.

I don't expect him to mention it during the campaign of course, but I hope desperately that he and the new congress give the evil corp media the AXE big time!

[HughBeaumont]

25. Don't forget the other Repuke bastardo Jack Welch . . .

He was in the control room of NBC when he demanded the station call the 2000 election for Bewsh.

We all know what a hyper-Reaganite, war-favoring fascist like Bewsh in office did for Jack Welch's already overinflated pocketbook, General Electric (one of NBC's puppetmasters) and his ego. Any wonder why he and Steve Forbes are frequent guests on CNBC?

[aquart]

11. Oh, goody. Threatening political reprisals.

There's a change from Bush.

[Selatius]

14. So, what do you propose? If they truly are guilty of monopolism, nothing? nt

[newmajority]

22. ABC was dirty before Disney owned them.

The previous owner, Capital Cities Communications, was a front for ex CIA head thug William Casey.

[HughBeaumont]

24. Tom the Dancing Bug says it all about Disney's hypocrisy.

[still_one]

8. ABC should have been boycoted long ago when they said Bill Clinton was responsible for 9/11

and please remember the swift boating of Kerry, pushed by the ABC sinclair networks

[Selatius]

10. Also, that terrible debate they hosted to basically knee-cap Obama and soft-ball Hillary. nt

[Median Democrat]

13. It Was Designed To Prolong The Democratic Contest and Make Both Look Bad

Sure, they also threw in Bosnia, but the real purpose was to damage the Democratic party's chances. Also, can you blame them? Disney and News Corp have hundreds of millions of dollars at stake in being able to create media monopolies. The only thing that could stand in their way is a Democratic president.

[still_one]

17. Too bad for them because that is exactly what will happen /nt

[aquart]

12. Uh, some of us did. You didn't?

[Median Democrat]

15. But Its More Than Political Bias, Its Money $$$$ - Control The FCC

Disney and News Corp have a vested interest in the Presidency due to the President's ability to appoint the FCC's commissioners. If McCain is elected, the the GOP retains control over the FCC, which can then remove any barriers to acquisitions by Disney/ABC and News Corp/Fox. Thus, this is not political bias. Rather, it is a rational economic decision by these companies. Can you blame them?

http://www.fcc.gov/aboutus.html

About the FCC
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions.


Organization

The FCC is directed by five Commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for 5-year terms, except when filling an unexpired term. The President designates one of the Commissioners to serve as Chairperson. Only three Commissioners may be members of the same political party. None of them can have a financial interest in any Commission-related business.

As the chief executive officer of the Commission, the Chairman delegates management and administrative responsibility to the Managing Director. The Commissioners supervise all FCC activities, delegating responsibilities to staff units and Bureaus.

[Lorien]

31. How do they know that you are boycotting them? n/t

[Monk06]

16. They got the idea for this infantile parlor game from FReepTard Repuglics. (link)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2026905/posts

They've been playing this game since Tuesday.

[tom_paine]

21. Unbelievable. It's getting worse. ABC/Disney is now running Freeper stories straight up.

Every time I think our Toady Media cannot sink any lower in Soviet disgrace, particularly our TV media, it never ceases to amaze, to get worse, to get more obvious and blatant.

I mean, unless the run a similar piece on McCain - REAL EASY TO DO.

Guys like Hagee and Keating could start off. I guarantee within one day of requesting names for such a show here on DU, I'd have a list a mile long.

What are the odds ABC will run such a show on McBush? As we all know, the chance is the same as it would be if we all lived in Communist China, expecting the Chinese Media to run a show critical of The Chosen Candidate. 0% NONE. ZIP. ZILCH.

It's really getting obvious, and it hasn't even started in earnest. Despite some cosmetic changes that make it seem a little bit better, ultimately the Bushies, even down to the Freeptards, it seems, drive the National Dialogue no matter how nonsensical and crazy.

It's getting really bad. And if they steal this "election", which I think between their media control, and their proven and mostly unchallenged voter supression techniques, to say nothing of the possible electronic disenfranchisement which may be going on if ony we could INVESTIGATE FULLY or even a little...if they steal this election when one man is repeatedly filling stadiums and another can't even fill a ballroom, 82% of the nation thinks we are going in the wrong direction, and all of the rest, then it's

:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: for the Old Republic of America, the USA.

Last nail in the coffin. Done, and never to rise again. The Supreme Court, which is right now barely even a court, will go for a generation, the Executive Agencies will go fully criminal and Nazified/Bushified

and HEY, maybe we can get that DOJ Bushie Selective Preosecution of Democrats up from SIX to one to TEN or TWENTY to one!

:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: for the Old Republic of America, the USA.

[truedelphi]

18. The family stopped watching ABC back at the time it showed the faux

Nine Eleven Piece.

The only thing we have ended up missing is Jeopardy.

[cui bono]

19. What the hell.... I can't believe how low ABC keeps going.

Path to 9/11
The Democratic Debate - Enquirer Edition
Obama's Historic Night - Cut away from speech to have Gibson and Stephie talk
Now this? On Nightline?

Geez.

[Luminous Animal]

20. I've been boycotting ABC since the 9/11 hit piece

on Clinton.

I have little faith that any Democrat on this site or any other Democratic has the fortitude to launch and maintain any sort of campaign of protest.

We are not made of stern stuff. Nearly every generation before us has given up both life and liberty for economic and social justice. We can't even muster the fortitude to give up our TV shows.

[Echo In Light]

28. Agree with your sentiment

[EFerrari]

23. I thought we were already boycotting them!

Iirc, calling Disney's communication people had an effect when they ran the bs 9/11 piece.

[Riddler]

26. If it weren't for Alan Shore on Boston Legal, ABC would be a non-existent entitty in my home.

[wryter2000]

29. I went back to CBS

I'm waiting to see if I can stomach Couric. When I realized CBS played all of Obama's speech while ABC tuned out when he started to criticize McCain, I realized I couldn't watch ABC any longer.

[Lorien]

30. I've worked for Disney for nearly 20 years. If you honestly want to stop this

crap, then send HARD COPY LETTERS to corporate. Whining on DU won't do it,emails are easily ignored, boycotting ABC-if you are not a Nielson viewer, then how would anyone know? A good 80% of the people who work for Disney are Democrats, so any boycott of them parks, goods, etc. will mostly hurt your fellow Dems. I know from many, many instances that if corporate gets 10-20 hard copy letters on an issue they get very nervous and meetings are called. Call them on their corporate responsibility: http://corporate.disney.go.com/corporate/corporate_responsibility.html

Robert A. Iger, CEO
c/o The Walt Disney Company
5005 Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521-0001

[tinymontgomery]

32. That's why I don't

watch either ABC or Disney or Fox etc.

[OhioChick]

33. Isn't Disney (ABC)

Also somehow afiliated with Sinclair Broadcasting? For some reason that comes to mind thinking back to when ABC aired the controversial "Path to 9/11."