SwiftVets.com

[ohanakat]

Three major advertisers have indefinitely pulled their advertising from our local TV station that will be airing Stolen Honor. One of them is where we buy all of our groceries. Guess we'll be giving that business to someone else. We're drafting email and letters now. May consider picketing the stores and handing out flyers to other customers, if there are any other Mainers reading this who might like to do the same.

Maine has 4 electoral votes and we are one of the few states with a formula so it's not "all or nothing". RealClearPolitics shows 3 leaning Kerry and 1 a toss up. In one of the scenarios, that one could be critical for Bush. Recent polls show Kerry's lead shrinking in Maine, up by only 2.5, within the margin of error.

Guess we'll find out what "battleground state" means here

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/local/041015wgme.shtml

edited: Hannaford's has reversed it's decision. Sweet!

[fortdixlover]

[ohanakat]

Thanks for adding the links, fortdixlover. Hubby and I are collecting our thoughts and planning how to roll this. To moderators: I posted in this section to get quick exposure, but also would like to gather support and advice for our "campaign". Would the research section be the appropriate place for this?

Kat

[fortdixlover]

[ohanakat]

Great suggestion, FDL. Initial thinking is to hit this from the free speech/free press angle -- why are these advertisers trying to prevent Maine (and northern New England) citizens from access to information and news? The news that they're trying to restrict is also important.

Kat

[Stevie]

yeah, Kerry has his stuff showing on MTV and Sundance stations.... no equal time there for Bush....
_________________
Stevie
Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage
morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should
be arrested, exiled or hanged.

[Barbie2004]

By pulling their ads, THEY ARE BEING POLITICAL!

And they insult the intelligence of every American! Don't they think we have a brain? Can't we turn off the TV or change the channel??

We need to keep a list of all those companies who decide "not to be political!"

[ohanakat]

That's exactly the point we plan to drive home, Barbie, especially with Hannaford's. They have openly taken a side by their actions. We aren't dummies

Maine is so evenly divided that it's suicide to do something like this IF the word gets out. Same Same here with the liberal slant in the media. It was okay to cram Dan Rather down our throats every night but heaven help us that our CBS affiliate might show a documentary. This hypocrisy is probably what bothers me most!

Kat

[Barbie2004]

My initial email sent to both email addresses above:

[Paul Woll]

I live in California.

When and on what channel will this documentary be on?
I can't find any information on this.

I have directtv.

[Rdtf]

What advertisers? So they don't want the folks interetsed in that story to see their ads and buy their products?? Thanks for telling us your political views, makes it an easy choice!! Let's find out who they are, and Let's do our thing, ya'll...

[wednesdaychild]

do we have a list of those who have pulled their ads? I would like to tell them what i think and how many people will be watching the show and how much busines they will miss and how mnay people they are insulting by doing what they are doing.
_________________
"...for the good of believing in life after birth..."
Jim Steinman

[ohanakat]

Thanks for the great letter, Barbie! Hit the nail on the head.

This is primarily a local issue, but obviously has wider interest because I suspect the DNC or Kerry Campaign put pressure on these folks to try to stop the airing of Stolen Honor. Some background, if needed...

WGME is a CBS affiliate in Portland, ME that is owned by Sinclair Broadcasting. Last week when I learned here (SBVT) that Sinclair stations would be showing Stolen Honor (or portions), I wrote to the station manager to ask when and also voice my support. Got an immediate reply. I also told him I'd decided never to watch CBS because of the Dan Rather thing, but did like the local broadcasting and would modify my boycott because they had the courage to broadcast Stolen Honor.

This morning, our local paper, the Portland Press Herald, owned by the same folks who own the Seattle Times (Blethen), ran an article and an op-ed piece that several local advertisers had decided to pull their business from WGME because they were going to run the "Kerry smear piece".

The advertisers are Hannaford Supermarkets (operating throughout Maine and into neighboring states, as well), a car dealer, and a law firm (personal injury trial lawyer, of course!)

"Hannaford is apolitical, and our employees have varying views on issues," said Caren Epstein, Hannaford's spokeswoman. "We object to being positioned politically."

Well, IMO, they just positioned themselves VERY politically!

Since posting earlier, I've called our Hannaford store where we do ALL of our grocery shopping, and talked to the store manager. Told him we had had excellent experience with them and spoke highly of the store, but unfortunately we would have to take our business elsewhere because of the corporate political decision. I told him it was a free speech/free press issue and Hannaford should have stayed out of it, I see their decision as nothing but political and clearly supporting John Kerry and taking a stand against the Veterans who have served this country and deserve to be heard. Also that we citizens have a right to see all sides of an issue and don't expect our grocery store to try to "protect" us from anything. I was polite, and he clearly listened and will pass the word along.

Next I called WGME and talked to one of the news folks. Same comments for them, except renewing my support for their airing of the documentary and that I know the newspapers' comments about all negative response simply isn't true.

Maine is a battleground state and in one scenario could play a key role relative to our small population. The state is quite evenly divided. Two R. Senators (moderate); two D. representatives (also moderate) and an evenly split state house and senate. People tend to vote for people here, not straight ticket either way.We've had two independent governors and were the first to elect one back when I was a kid.

SBVT folks (unless in markets served by these particular advertisers) probably can't have a big impact on this particular situation, but I think this comes from "outside Maine" and can be expected in other markets, particularly where Sinclair has a presence. How it plays here could impact other places.

I'm still pondering my next steps, letting it percolate a bit before doing more. We're considering trying to organize a boycott/protest of the stores in addition to a letter campaign to the local stations and newspapers.

If anyone here wants to weigh in (as Barbie did), it certainly wouldn't hurt. Might be good practice for what else may be coming.

WGME is the TV station (good guys!)
Dave Kaplar
News Director
WGME News 13
dkaplar@wgme.sbgnet.com

Hannaford Supermarkets only has form email for feedback:
http://www.hannaford.com/contact.htm

The Portland Press Herald
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com

Thanks to all for any support! It's wonderful having the resources here, and should this be repeated in other Sinclair markets, we may be onto some sort of Kerry conspiracy to block our rights and freedoms once again.

Sorry for the long post!

Kat

[Lee Gauge]

I shop at the York Hannaford's regularly. I just sent them an email to let them know that I would go somewhere else if censorship was their corporate policy.
_________________
Prophets have honour all over the Earth,
Except in the village where they were born,
Where such as knew them from birth
Nature-ally hold 'em in scorn.

[ohanakat]

way to go, neighbor

here is the email I just sent to Dave Kaplar at WGME: