In a letter to Sinclair Broadcast Company CEO David Smith, Sen. John McCain blasted the Bush-supporter's decision to black out tonight's airing of 'Nightline,' which will dedicate its broadcast to paying tribute to the American soldiers and marines who have been killed in Iraq.
"... 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.
"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."
In response, CEO Smith claimed that tonight's 'Nightline' is essentially an anti-war protest. His reasoning is that the Life Magazine listing of the Vietnam War dead at that time was "widely credited with furthering the opposition to the Vietnam war." In other words, the owner of eight television stations in the United States is admitting that he will not allow the airing of facts that might cause American citizens to question their government.
He writes as much in the opening paragraph of his response to McCain, saying that "I also support the President's decision to go to war in Iraq" and that the 'Nightline' black out decision was made so as not to "support an anti-war position".
If you previously doubted that this administration and their supporters are leading this country into some frightening times, I dare you to deny it now.
posted by Scott |
4/30/2004 |
| Thursday, April 29, 2004
One broadcast company owns eight ABC-affiliated TV stations. Said broadcast company has also ordered its aforementioned ABC affiliates not to air tomorrow's Nightline, profiling the 742 US servicemen and women who have been killed in Iraq. Said broadcast company has also contributed a hefty chunk of change to Team W.
Is there a sinister correlation here?
Answer: You bet your ass there is.
posted by Scott |
4/29/2004 |
| Sunday, April 25, 2004
One million people (give or take a few) marched today in Washington, DC to protect reproductive freedom in America. As Billy Bragg once sang, you can either be "active with the activists or sleeping with the sleepers." I think we know what side this crowd was on.
posted by Scott |
