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October 15, 2004
Kerry Requests Response Time to Sinclair Film
By Doug Halonen
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry's campaign Friday morning formally requested equal time to respond to Sinclair stations' planned airings of "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal," a documentary critical of Sen. Kerry's Vietnam-era antiwar activities, before the Nov. 2 election.

Industry sources said Sinclair has directed all of its 62 TV stations in 39 markets to pre-empt regular programming to air the documentary over several days beginning Oct. 21. Despite intense protest by Democrats, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell told reporters Thursday that the agency doesn't have the authority to block the broadcasts.

But in an Oct. 15 letter to Sinclair President and CEO David Smith, Sen. Kerry's campaign charged that the FCC's equal time obligations require Sinclair to give Kerry campaign supporters air time to respond to the documentary.

"Please consider this a request that each Sinclair station that airs the documentary provide supporters of the Kerry-Edwards campaign with a similar amount of time on that station before the election at a time where an audience of similar size can be expected to be viewing the station," said Marc Elias, general counsel for the Kerry-Edwards campaign, in the letter.

Bona fide news shows are generally exempt from FCC equal time obligations. But the Kerry campaign argued that the documentary does not meet the requirements for an exemption.

"The content of the program will not be controlled by Sinclair or an independent journalistic organization," the campaign said. "The program instead is intended to be an attack on Senator Kerry and thus is not the result of decisions made on the basis of newsworthiness."

In a statement on the company's Web site, Sinclair characterized the presentation as a "special news event" and said it has already offered Sen. Kerry equal time to respond.

Also on Friday, Equity Broadcasting announced that its independent station WPXS-TV in St. Louis will carry the ABC programming that Sinclair pre-empts for the documentary. Sinclair owns ABC affiliate KDNL-TV in St. Louis. Equity officials said Sinclair plans to air the Kerry documentary on KDNL between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Oct. 22.

"WPXS is thrilled to be able to offer an outlet for the popular Friday-night ABC shows that viewers would otherwise not be able to see in the St. Louis market," said Steven Soldinger, Equity VP of television.

In "TV Week.Com"

This should be very very interesting.. wonder what they are gonna come up with??

MikeM · Ensign Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 71

Lets see, equal air for his BS to try and balance the truth?

Only Dems would fall for that!

Stevie · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 8:59 pm Post subject:

Muller.... darn! the Kerry stations aren't givving Bush equal time! how disgusting! They'll turn Stolen Honor into another lie....
_________________
Stevie
Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage
morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should
be arrested, exiled or hanged.

ord33 · Rear Admiral Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 670 Location: Ohio

Guarantee you it wont be John Kerry defending himself, I think that can be assured.

Barbie2004 · Commander Joined: 18 Sep 2004 Posts: 338

They should also have Veteran and/or Bush supporters there, or it will only turn into a Bush bash, with no fact checking!!

We should write to Sinclair and pleasantly request this.

flagreen · Seaman Joined: 10 Sep 2004 Posts: 175

Because they request it doesn't mean that they are going to get it. The show is all about Kerry anyway and does not even mention Bush or any of the other candidates. So equal time doesn't apply if you ask me.

ord33 · Rear Admiral Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 670 Location: Ohio

hanna · Rear Admiral Joined: 07 Aug 2004 Posts: 701

This is outrageous. They offered Kerry time ON THE PROGRAM.....apparently he declined. Now he wants his own slot??? I don't think sooooooooooooooooo

P. Aaron · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 9:30 pm Post subject:

Bob_P · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 9:31 pm Post subject:

rhv5862 · PO2 Joined: 21 Aug 2004 Posts: 379 Location: Massachusetts

It will be interesting to see how Sinclair replys. They have said Kerry was welcome to come on but you can bet anything Kerry will not be the one to show up. If Muller, there should be someone there to counter him. He says anyting to defend Kerry. Truth does not matter to him. He is Kerry's attack dog when it comes to defending Kerry's Vietnam Record.

RHV

greenvale · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 9:49 pm Post subject:

Don't trust these people. He wants equal time to show his film..what's the name? Going upriver..without a paddle I hope!
Greenvale

Fort Campbell · Vice Admiral Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 896

Oh, crap Mueller and Del Sandusky Rolling Eyes

hanna · Rear Admiral Joined: 07 Aug 2004 Posts: 701

If Sinclair has to give Kerry time, then PBS and all these other stations that have run an endless array of Kerry propaganda owe BUSH air time. Any day/night of the week you can find at least 2 broadcasts on somewhere touting the democratic cause.

rhv5862 · PO2 Joined: 21 Aug 2004 Posts: 379 Location: Massachusetts

Muller and Sandusky, one can only imagine what these two would say to protect Kerry.

RHV