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leeinwv · PO3 Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 268

http://newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/10/18/223705.shtml

New York Times Says Sinclair in Trouble
Jon E. Dougherty, NewsMax.com
Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004
If David D. Smith, the CEO of Sinclair Broadcasting, knows what's good for him, he'll forget about airing a documentary critical of Democratic presidential contender Sen. John Kerry.

At least that's what the New York Times appears to be saying in its Monday article.

The Times openly acknowledges the impact this film could have: "Senator John Kerry could find his presidential hopes damaged this week when the 62 television stations owned or managed by the Sinclair Broadcasting Group carry a documentary about his antiwar activities 30 years ago."

The Times is clearly worried that Smith, head of the nation's largest owner of television stations, has already informed his 62 affiliates to pre-empt their regular programming and instead air the controversial "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal."

In "Stolen Honor" 17 former POWs charge that Kerry's anti-war activities were a betrayal that prolonged the war.

Sinclair executives have defended the decision to broadcast the film because, they say, it is a vital and newsworthy project that should be presented to voters before the election.

While the Times admits the film could hurt Kerry's White House chances, especially in key swing states that are vital to his bid, the paper also claims airing the program could hurt Sinclair as much, if not more.

The paper says local advertisers in Portland, Maine, Madison, Wis., Springfield, Ill., and Minneapolis, Minn. – not exactly bastions of conservatism – have pulled their ads from the local Sinclair-owned affiliates.

"I've decided I don't want to advertise on them," Adam Lee, the president of Lee Auto Malls, which owns 10 auto dealerships in Portland, Maine, told the Times. "It's a public trust. It seems they're abusing it. If it were a news show and they were really trying to do a fair and balanced story on both sides, that would be a different matter. I don't think they are. That's not their intention."

And that's the extent of the paper's examples. There are no other quotes from other businesses or advertisers who claim they are pulling ads, though the Times alleged "car dealers, furniture makers, supermarkets and restaurants" were among the disenfranchised advertisers.

Liberal Groups Join to Hurt Sinclair

There's more. The Times admits that a number of left-leaning groups – including Common Cause, the Alliance for Better Campaigns, Media Access Project, Media for Democracy and the Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ – are compiling a list of Sinclair advertisers, with plans to urge them to drop their advertising as well.

"The public airwaves should not be used by television executives to promote their partisan political agenda," Common Cause President Chellie Pingree told reporters in a telephone press conference. "This action crosses a line."

Besides contacting Sinclair advertisers, which include Wal-Mart, Applebee's, Domino's Pizza, Lowe's, Papa John's and Best Buy, these groups also are looking to give Sinclair problems when it seeks to renew each individual station's broadcast license.

It's not about getting those licenses revoked, however – it's about employing a typical left-wing legal tactic: "Such challenges almost never result in lost licenses, but they often result in heavy legal costs for the station having to defend them," said the Times.

Other media are piling on the bandwagon, predicting that Sinclair will suffer mightily for its decision.

CNN/Money reported Monday that Sinclair's decision "has stirred up considerable political controversy, but the planned program may also cause some pain for Sinclair's business."

The newswire says Sinclair will lose out on about $430,000 in revenue if it decides to forgo advertising altogether and pre-empt the entire 90-minute slot with the program.

"That's not quite pocket change, but it won't put a big dent in Sinclair's revenue. The company last year posted a net profit of $24 million on sales of $739 million," CNN/Money reported.

Fair and Balanced

For its part, Sinclair believes it is approaching the issue in the fairest way it can.

The network, on its Web site, has invited viewers to comment on the appropriateness of showing the documentary.

The network has also repeatedly invited Kerry to appear as a guest on the special – in fact, he's the only one who's been asked to appear. So far, however, he's declined.

Executives are also quick to point out that the production of "Stolen Honor" hasn't even been completed yet.

"The program has not been videotaped and the exact format of this unscripted event has not been finalized. Characterizations regarding the content are premature and are based on ill-informed sources," says an announcement on the network's Web site.

The Times article did not address why CBS continues to have anti-Bush newsman Dan Rather anchor its nightly news program.

Editor's Note: Get your copy of "Stolen Honor" and find out why John Kerry is afraid you and millions of Americans will see it – also find out how to help "Stolen Honor" – Click Here Now.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
2004 Elections
B.G. Burkett - Stolen Valor
Media Bias
Sen. John Kerry

We need to send our e-mails to the advertisers for Sinclair

sevry · Commander Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 326

leeinwv · PO3 Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 268

If it was against the President they would praise it

one more captins mast · LCDR Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 438 Location: Texas

GOT UP AFTER SEEING IT WENT OUT SIDE AND PROMISED MY SELF

THAT I WOULD NEVER LET THE WORDS AND DEEDS OF ONE

JOHN KERRY

HURT ME OR MY FAMILY AGAIN, HE IS NOW IN THE JOKE ROOM OF

MY BRAIN, NEVER TO BE REMOVED , AS ,IF YOU PUT HIM IN THE

OTHER SIDE, ITS JUST TO SAD AND ALOWS HIM TO AFFECT YOUR

LIFE, AND I REFUSE TO LET HIM DO ME HARM ANY LONGER.

WILL TRY TO GIVE MY COPY TO "SOMEONE TO DAY, WILL LET YOU

KNOW IF HE ACCEPTS IT OR HANDS IT TO SOMEONE ELSE.

JERRY MICHAEL SHRIVER HAS YOU SUROUNDED FROM THE INSIDE

"JOHN KERRY"

OTHER THAN THAT HAVE A NICE DAY JOHN
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the strange mr aj

drjohn · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 1:22 pm Post subject:

How many stations braodcast that Dan Rather forgery story? How many stations broadcast that stupid Kerry story on Nightline?

How many stations broadcast Michael Moore on Jay Leno the other night?

GIVE ME A BREAK Mad

Marine's Wife · PO3 Joined: 10 May 2004 Posts: 267

fortdixlover · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 2:30 pm Post subject:

shadowy · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 2:43 pm Post subject:

They are everything they accuse the "right wing fundamentalists" of being. Hypocrites.
Self-righteous, holier-than thou bigots. Hostile. Closed-minded. They think they have a monopoly on the truth, and whoever doesn't believe it is evil.
Ironic, ain't it?

SooZQ · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 2:44 pm Post subject:

The truth will win out, and
Sinclair will survive. The advertiser
emails is a great idea, as that impacts
the revenues of the local stations and
their employees. There are other
threads on this bb with the emails to
all the advertizers.
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Tom Poole · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 2:51 pm Post subject:

All we have to do is get Sinclair to list the names of advertisers who withdrew their business, along with their corporate heads and suppliers followed by a statement justifying the pre-emption. The list should be carried on Sinclair stations as well as here, the blogs at large and any other media that wishes to join. It might polarize to some extent but they might just "shut up and sing" or do business or whatever theyre good at.
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'58 Airedale HMR(L)-261 VMO-2

Anker-Klanker · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 3:03 pm Post subject:

Isn't the NYT message (subject line of this thread) the very same line used by "Hanging Chad," the Democrat "strategist" during last week's Linda Vester show? Anybody have any more doubts that the NYT has become the propaganda arm of the DNC?

ATACKM · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 3:19 pm Post subject:

I'm wondering how many companies will embrace Sinclair Broadcasting and will begin advertising with them.
_________________
ATACKM
Gulf War Veteran
Proud American
http://www.buglesacrossamerica.org

Nomorelies · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 3:27 pm Post subject:

By airing "Stolen Honor" Sinclair Broadcast Group is doing the most savvy, politically astute thing a company has ever done. It will be an on-air coup d'etat of the MSM. They are bucking the MSM at a time when the public is seething over the rampant liberal bias. They are betting the house that decent Americans have had it with the mainstream media and are anxious to see the truth aired.

The NY Times has dug its grave with the public. Once the most admired newspaper in the world, political bias and mean-spirited journalism have tarnished its reputation in a way that no single scandal could do. Folks, I don't think that newspaper can ever recover from what they have done to themselves. The powers that be at the NY Times delude themselves that the public doesn't "get it." They still believe they are the "intelligent" force to enlighten the unfortunate masses. No more. Truth has a way of surfacing and the internet is stabbing holes in their balloon every single day.

Sinclair Broadcast Group has the vision to see the future and they are driving a Mack truck right through the smoke-and-mirrors of the MSM. They wll emerge victorious beyond our wildest expectations. These people are wise and they are betting on the power of truth not lies.
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Spiess · Lieutenant Joined: 30 Jul 2004 Posts: 246

Good Keep letting them talk it up. The more they bluster and threaten the more interest will be stirred.

msindependent · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 3:34 pm Post subject:

The Jayson Blair affair confirmed that the Times is not a creditable source for information.