ABC Family "strongly rejects" Robertson's comments

[NYCGirl]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/brief_d...

ABC Family moved to distance itself Tuesday from controversial comments religious broadcaster Pat Robertson made on the channel. Robertson was live on the air hosting "The 700 Club" when he suggested that U.S. operatives assassinate Venezuela president Hugo Chavez. The Walt Disney Co.-owned cable channel is contractually required to air the program, which is produced by the Christian Broadcast Network. "ABC Family strongly rejects the views expressed by Pat Robertson in the Aug. 22 telecast of the program," the network said. "All comments about 'The 700 Club' should be directed to the Christian Broadcast Network through their toll-free number or via their Web site at www.cbn.com ." (Andrew Wallenstein)

[henslee]

1. Yeah, we in the media only believe in character assasinations and

lots of them.

[samsingh]

37. conservatives have contracts to protect them.

anyone else is asked to prove WMDs don't exist in Iraq before an ad can be played. Censorship at its most hypocritical.

let's face it - the conservatives have beaten us at the war of the media. we must level the playing field.

[saigon68]

43. RIGHT WING FUNDY NUT-JOBS

Play by their own rules.

[whatever4]

2. Yeah, they strongly reject it

But they'll air it, while they'd censor nudity or cursing.

Having fun is bad. Murder is good.

So sad.

[Roland99]

6. Exactly. $$$ is more important than values.

[Lorien]

21. Actually, a binding contract is the issue here

My cousin works with ABC and knows most of the top executives there. They tend to be liberal, and many are gay-hardly allies of the 700 Club. I'm sure they would cut themselves free of that program if they were legally able to (and there are PLENTY of programming options that would bring them more $$$).

[Roland99]

22. And there's nothing in that contract that would allow ABC to break it?

I find that hard to believe.

[Lorien]

26. Since neither you nor I have a copy of the contact

it would be foolish for either of us to assume what is or isn't possible. However, I CAN assure you that Robertson doesn't have any big fans among those in charge of programming (my cousin works in programming and she's a former democratic county commissioner).

[Roland99]

31. There's a difference between not liking a program and being able to

cancel it.


I cannot imagine ABC putting itself at risk to allow any "client" to put up whatever programming they want without fear of retribution (cancellation).

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

38. I can't imagine...

that ABC would turn over the keys to the airwaves and a programmer say anything he/she wants. What if Robertson had advocated killing minorities -- which he probably does at the country club among friends, but that's another matter -- would ABC just sit by and say there's nothing they can do?

[Lorien]

41. They gave a statement (see the OP)

If they are going to take any legal action, I'm certain it will take them more than 24 hours to issue anything.

As I said earlier; we do not have the text of the contract. There's no point in gnashing teeth over what they can and cannot do without knowing the content of the original contract.

[Beetwasher]

3. But He's Still B'Casting-So, Howard Stern Can't Say "Penis", But

this scumbag can make terrorist threats and nothing happens to him except people reject his comments?

[tuvor]

4. ...but not the 700 club's $$$$$$$$$$ n/t

[msongs]

5. abc will do anything for $$ nt

[getmeouttahere]

7. Not even remotely close to good enough, ABC!

[Cha]

16. It's the same as rummy and

mccormack's "inappropriate" remark that Chavez' VP Rangel didn't think was "enough".

ON Edit~Actually it was Bernado Alvarez(The Venezuelan Ambassador) who said ..here's the quote..

"On Tuesday, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Robertson's comment was "inappropriate" and the United States did not agree with him, but neither he nor anybody else condemned the comment. Both McCormack and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Robertson was a private citizen stating an opinion.

"We don't consider that it is enough just to say that this is a private citizen with an opinion," Alvarez said."

[BlueJac]

8. Sickness

Neo-con fools. They get all up in arms when they hear radical cleric go off the deep end, but when one of their own does it.........shit no big deal. :puke:

[AngryOldDem]

9. I don't buy it

Are contracts REALLY that ironclad that ABC Family feels compelled to air this dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric? Where is the concept of "responsible use of the airwaves" in this instance?

This is a half-assed and -- quite frankly -- bullshit explanation.

EDIT: Fix typo

[merwin]

36. I'm pretty sure that there's a clause in their contract that would nullify

the contract if they broke ABC Family's decency rules.

[corkhead]

10. [phone] for 700 club "prayer line"

:evilgrin:

[MidwestTransplant]

18. Call ABC anyway too. They say to call 700 because they

don't want to get more phone calls. It's obviously working...

BTW does anybody know if Robertson's prayer for a supreme court justice to esentially die was made on ABC Fam?

[kestrel91316]

32. Hey, what say we all pray for Pat ............................

to be struck dead by lightning, or assassinated himself, or maybe just get a really unfortunate social disease.

:evilgrin:

[HuckleB]

11. FCC says nipples are bad, but calling for assassination is good.

The fines for this should be massive, but we all know there won't be any.

[TrueAmerican]

12. I'm not trying to defend ABC

But, ABC has a contract to air the 700 club. If ABC defaults on this than their would be a chance for CBN to mount a lawsuit and CBN could wind up with more than just the 700 Club, they could wind up with the whole channel as damages.

The history of ABC Family. CBN was the original name of the channel and wholely own by CBN. CBN was very profitalbe and renmed it the The Family Channel. Than Fox wanted the channel, so CBN sold out to Fox with the condition that the 700 Club is aired. The Family Channel was rebranded Fox Family and the 700 Club is contractually needed to air. Fox Family sold out to Disney and became ABC Family. But CBN still has a contract and they aren't going to give it up.

[R Hickey]

13. Glad you explained that, but wouldn't PR's threat be a breach of contract?

If Pat Robertson exposed his breast on the show, wouldn't that make it easier to void the contract?

[MarkTwain]

14. In any Contract for Broadcasting Service....

... there are always "standards and principles," "good conduct," and other lengthy stipulations and clauses for the broadcaster to protect himself against immoral (i.e., ordering the death of an elected President of a foreign country), outrageous (ibid), and illegal (ibid) conduct of the show or product to which he is binding himself contractually to air.

It's time for Mickey Mouse to act upon those stipulations and cancel that contract. Terminate the show and say "we'll see you in court," Radical Cleric Robertson.

That rodent hasn't shown any balls in a long time over a number of issues, it's time he grew a pair and put his fifty lawyers up against Robertson's fifty.

[mccoyn]

23. ABC is still responsible for entering that contract.

The fact is they aired it and they agreed to the contract that "obligates" them. Signing a contract doesn't waive your responsibility. It is still thier fault it aired.

How could we protest this? How could we boycot it? We have to blame ABC and they will have to find a way out of the mess they agreed to enter into.

[Frances]

15. ABC can refuse to air Cindy's ad

but they can't wiggle out of a contract where a person recommends that our government do something illegal?

[KittyWampus]

17. not good enough, he broke the law, engaged in terrorism & endangered

American citizens.

[NYCGirl]

24. Would ABC be able to prove that in court? That's the issue. NT

[Oreegone]

19. Screw ABC

There is no doubt language that allows them to say not cancel the program, but demand someone else host the show? ya think? I mean what happens when this dino keels over, CBN is over? And as for the "values" people they are so full of it, I can't believe it. I agree that this is the kind of thing that should be cited by the FCC and as for the object of his disdain, I hope there is a court where he can sue the shit out of this deranged bastard.

[davidinalameda]

20. write ABC Family

and tell them you're not going to watch until they drop The 700 Club

I sent them feedback yesterday and included my email address

If they get enough feedback on this, they're going to listen, especially when it starts affecting their bottom line

[Gregorian]

25. Chong funds a pipe company- 9 months + $109k fine.

Robertson suggests assasination- gets distancing.

(And Limbaugh?)

[OfireitupO]

33. It just shows

That we are run by corrupt politicians who dont care about law, but what they want instead. Chong going to jail was a criminal act perpetrated by this government.

[paineinthearse]

27. ABC Family "Strongly Rejects" Robertson's Comments

...but "There are no plans to drop "700 Club" from ABC Family, a spokeswoman for the network added...."

See related initial post from yesterday, based on a Media Matters for America news release - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1721829&mesg_id=1723989 - Media Matters Calls on ABC Family to Discontinue Robertson Broadcasts
Posted by paineinthearse
Added to homepage Tue Aug 23rd 2005, 04:31 PM ET

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001020091

ABC Family "Strongly Rejects" Robertson's Comments
August 24, 2005
By Andrew Wallenstein, The Hollywood Reporter

ABC Family moved to distance itself Tuesday from controversial comments religious broadcaster Pat Robertson made on the channel. Robertson was live on the air hosting "The 700 Club" when he suggested that U.S. operatives assassinate Venezuela president Hugo Chavez. The Walt Disney Co.-owned cable channel is contractually required to air the program, which is produced by the Christian Broadcast Network.

"ABC Family strongly rejects the views expressed by Pat Robertson in the Aug. 22 telecast of the program," the network said. "All comments about 'The 700 Club' should be directed to the Christian Broadcast Network through their toll-free number or via their Web site at www.cbn.com."

There are no plans to drop "700 Club" from ABC Family, a spokeswoman for the network added. "700 Club" has been a staple of the channel since it was known as the Family Channel, before Disney acquired it from News Corp. and Haim Saban in 2001. Robertson sold it to News Corp. in 1997 on the condition that "700 Club" air on the channel in perpetuity no matter who owns the channel.

On the air Monday, Robertson said of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez: "If he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war." The comment prompted liberal watchdog group Media Matters for America to publicly press ABC Family to drop "700 Club" from its schedule.

[marmar]

28. What wimpy B.S.

If Al Franken suggested that Tony Blair be taken out for leading Britain into a phony war his show would have been dropped so quickly.

[jackstraw45]

29. ABC "Stands with TERROR!"

They've made their choice.

I know how to make mine.

[Kagemusha]

30. As others have said, contracts have good behavior clauses

... or should.

[giant_robot]

34. ...and this is the same network that fired Bill Maher?

How much would you like to bet that Robertson doesn't get yanked from the air?

[TankLV]

35. Notice who all the repuke and media whores never "condemn" or

otherwise scold, chastize, wail and moan about patty boy?

They all "distance themselves", or go about it in an obtuse angle, "he's a private citizen and has a right to speak his mind" or "he's just one person using his freedom" or some such bullshit.

NOT ONE CONDEMNATION. STRONG. UNEQUIVOCAL. POINTED.

But call bunkerboy and the repukes what they are - war mongering murdering liars - and oh how they howl and wail a scream and rant and rave and "DEMAND apologies".

And how quickly our so-called "democratic" leaders do the same - usually within the same day of the latest insult to repuke sensibilities.

I am so thorougly sickened by all of this. But especially with our "finger in the wind" rubber-spined so-called "democatic" leaders.

[dchill]

39. Under the ABC Corporate "Umbrella" of decency...

Bill Maher lost his job for using the word "cowards" to describe our lobbing missiles into Afghanistan, as opposed to extremists who would give their lives to fly planes into the World Trade Center. So "coward", "nipple", "penis" = indecent, and "assassinte Chavez" = strongly rejected.

It just seems to me that Robertson should lose his ABC contract AND his tax-exempt religious status for his right-wing political advocacy, and his career for being a morality-challenged lunatic.

But that's just me, I guess.

[The Dude]

40. CBN.com's take on the story....

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/news/050824a.asp

This reporters response reminds me of Powell at the UN.

[mom cat]

42. Even Powell at the UN was not this bad!...Welcome to DU and thanks

for the link!
:hi:
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