Democrats urge ABC to withdraw 9/11 movie (Reuters)

[Up2Late]

Democrats urge ABC to withdraw 9/11 movie

Thu Sep 7, 2006 04:17 PM ET

By Richard Cowan and Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Amid an election-year debate over who can best defend America, U.S. congressional Democrats urged ABC-TV on Thursday to cancel a miniseries about the September 11 attacks that is critical of former Democratic President Bill Clinton and his top aides.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada denounced the television movie, set to air in two parts on Sunday and Monday nights, as "a work of fiction."

"Yes, they should pull it," Reid said as he unveiled Democrats' latest proposals to improve domestic security and reduce the number of U.S. troops in Iraq.

The furor comes as Democrats and Republicans jockey for political position in advance of the November 7 congressional elections over who can best secure the United States from another attack.

(more at link) <http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=13422749&src=rss/topNews>

[SpiralHawk]

1. Give the republicon propaganda stooges hell, Harry

They deserve it for being such Fox-like propagandists.

[ShockediSay]

2. Time to play hardball like they do ...

Lawyer's letters re defamation suits for publishing in reckless disregard of the truth

Lawyer's letters re contesting TV license renewals if one sided broadcast proceeds w/out equal time
(for something like Fahrenheit 9/11 plus time to counter false assertions)

Tons of letters and emails to sponsors re boycotting their products for sponsoring unfair unbalanced defamatory programs blatantly targeted to sidetrack democracy in a time of elections and unnecessary slaughter of our troops

Think this is WABC (NY) TV's fax number 212-456-4292. Tons of phone calls, mail, faxes, emails and the like to ABC affiliates.

[LSparkle]

6. Remember the REAGAN BIOPIC?

It was scuttled to CABLE. (And for what? Letting slip that Nancy and Ronnie had sex before marriage?) ABC ought to do as CBS did, and move this piece of trash over to ABC Family or some other cable affiliate. Considering that this basically BLAMES CLINTON for 9/11, I think we on the left have EVERY RIGHT to expect ABC to remove this propaganda from "wide" distribution.

[Xipe Totec]

3. I cried when the Germans nuked Pearl Harbor on 9/11

We must never forget. :eyes:

[myrna minx]

5. And when Prime MInister Abraham Lincoln and Orange Julius Caesar

raised the flag on Iwo Jima during the Super Bowl. Never, ever forget.

[Harry Monroe]

11. "The Germans??

Bluto: "Nothing is over, until WE say its over!! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor??

Otter: "The Germans??"

Boon: "Forget it, he's rolling!!"

[ClintonTyree]

33. My thoughts exactly..........

that's the first thing that came to mind. Loved that scene...... ;)

[patricia92243]

4. This look like the Democrats are disgruntled with the truth coming out - w

when exactly the opposite is true. We Do want the truth to be depicted - not some writer's fantasies.

The only part that has to do with election year politics is that the Republicans choose now to show their lies. I never cease to be amazed and scared of them.

[LibDemAlways]

7. The Reuters story sucks.

Nowhere does it state the specific objections of the Dems to the fictitious content - only that Dems object - making it look like a case of sour grapes.

[ClintonTyree]

34. What else would you expect from the media...........

that is hell bent on keeping the RepubliCONS in power. All of those fat Corporate tax breaks are at stake here. They have much to gain keeping the status quo.

[Jawja]

35. Yep. That's

because largely the media is Republican. Either that, or they are in bed with the $$$ interests supporting the agenda that the Bush cabal is carrying out for the same $$$.

[European Socialist]

8. Harry Reid said "pull it"--reminds me of wtc#7 and owner Silverstein.

[Up2Late]

9. Let's not go there O.K.

Let try to stay on topic about THIS "docu-drama."

[tlsmith1963]

10. Good

This is only shameless propaganda to help Republicans win the next election, anyway. And people *who were actually in the Clinton admin.* have said that the film is a bunch of lies. The people behind the film weren't actually there when the events they depict occurred. They are just friends of people like Limbaugh & GWB. So yes, dump the film. Don't waste TV-viewers' time with this garbage.

[maseman]

12. WE MUST hit them in the Pocketbooks

I am writing every advertiser who sponsors this propoganda. I will monitor every commercial and write each advertiser. We NEED to do this. Every ABC sponsor needs to feel the heat. These fucking bastards are using public airwaves to distort the truth.

[connecticut yankee]

13. Who are the sponsors?

Is there a list somewhere?

[Crunchy Frog]

17. I understand that they plan to run it uninterrupted

and commercial free.

It must have sponsors, but maybe they're trying to conceal who they are to prevent boycotts? :shrug:

[lonestarnot]

14. When you get a list compiled post it.

[maseman]

37. They have sponsors to other programs

I want all sponsors associated with ABC especially during their most expensive hours (Primetime 8P-11P) to feel the heat. Even if they are not during the actual show let's go after them.

[lonestarnot]

46. Same response, when compiled, please post! Thanks

}(

[thoughttheater]

15. Visual of "A Guide To The ABC's For Dummies"

See a tongue-in-cheek visual of "A Guide to the ABC’s For Dummies"...here:

www.thoughttheater.com

[Crunchy Frog]

16. I hope the congressional Democrats will INVESTIGATE ABC

on suspicion of making an illegal "in kind" campaign contribution to the Republican party.

[bumponalog]

18. Sanitized for republican consumption

"miniseries... is critical of former Democratic President Bill Clinton and his top aides." (emphasis mine)

Somewhere in the back of my mind I remember being taught that *criticism* is different from *slander.* I think the Reuters people must've missed that class.

[electprogdems]

19. wow - Democrats standing together and fighting the media?!

wow wow wow

I just might start sending them money again.

[bluedog]

20. boy the media tonight is REally trashing Clinton

I don't think I have ever seen the media in such a attack mode...its totally against Clinton and the Democratic party........

every thing is the Democrats did this and that......Clinton didn't do this and that.....

this is what our country has become.......the media is now the mouthpiece of the republican party.........

and I'm afraid there is no way to stop them.....

[AX10]

21. When we get back into power, we MUST bust up every....

media conglomerate, including the smaller ones such as the Tribune co (www.tribune.com).

[rmgarrette64]

42. That freedom of the press stuff is so, like, last year...

I hope you were just being sarcastic or over-the-top due to outrage. If a democratic administration ever started trying to break up press companies, they should be put out on their ear faster than this adminsitration should have been. They should certainly lose our support.

By all means, we (NOT our representatives) should threaten ABC with consequences for showing a distorted picture of the past. But leave it at that. Legal action (barring libel, and the reports I've heard show them probably short of that) should be off the table. Government action - heck, call it what it is - censorship, should be ruled out to begin with.

R. Garrett

[Patchuli]

47. I totally disagree with you

When there is this kind of blatant misuse of media, something must be done. If it were Dems pulling this, you know that Repubs would be screaming!

Journalism appears to be a thing of the past; now what gets on is done by the highest bidder, regardless of right or wrong. Politics is not a game to be played with money and media and our representatives DO need to stop these conglomerates. We no longer even get unbiased news; probably why many of us go to DU for news or other online sources.

The last time this happened was in Germany in the 1930s. I'm sure you know what happened when a lot of good German folks were fed propaganda...

[LiviaOlivia]

22. Senate Dem Leadership Urges Disney CEO to Cancel...9/11 Miniseries

press release

Senate Democratic Leadership Urges Disney CEO to Cancel Misleading 9/11 Miniseries

9/7/2006 6:10:00 PM
To: National Desk
Contact: Jim Manley or Rebecca Kirszner, 202-224-2939; both of the Office of Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Urging him to cancel the grossly inaccurate upcoming miniseries "The Path to 9/11," the Senate Democratic Leadership today sent the following letter to Disney President and CEO Robert Iger. Disney's subsidiary ABC erroneously claims the misleading miniseries is based on the 9/11 Commission report and is planning to air it on Sept. 10 and 11. Shockingly, the network is also planning to use the program as a teaching tool through Scholastic, potentially misinforming thousands of children about the most important event in recent American history.

The text of the letter, signed by Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin, and Senators Debbie Stabenow, Charles Schumer, and Byron Dorgan, is below.

September 7, 2006
Mr. Robert A. Iger
President and CEO
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank CA 91521

Dear Mr. Iger,

We write with serious concerns about the planned upcoming broadcast of "The Path to 9/11" mini-series on Sept. 10 and 11. Countless reports from experts on 9/11 who have viewed the program indicate numerous and serious inaccuracies that will undoubtedly serve to misinform the American people about the tragic events surrounding the terrible attacks of that day. Furthermore, the manner in which this program has been developed, funded, and advertised suggests a partisan bent unbecoming of a major company like Disney and a major and well-respected news organization like ABC. We therefore urge you to cancel this broadcast to cease Disney's plans to use it as a teaching tool in schools across America through Scholastic. Presenting such deeply flawed and factually inaccurate misinformation to the American public and to children would be a gross miscarriage of your corporate and civic responsibility to the law, to your shareholders, and to the nation.

The Communications Act of 1934 provides your network with a free broadcast license predicated on the fundamental understanding of your principle obligation to act as a trustee of the public airwaves in serving the public interest. Nowhere is this public interest obligation more apparent than in the duty of broadcasters to serve the civic needs of a democracy by promoting an open and accurate discussion of political ideas and events.

Disney and ABC claim this program to be based on the 9/11 Commission Report and are using that assertion as part of the promotional campaign for it. The 9/11 Commission is the most respected American authority on the 9/11 attacks, and association with it carries a special responsibility. Indeed, the very events themselves on 9/11, so tragic as they were, demand extreme care by any who attempt to use those events as part of an entertainment or educational program. To quote Steve McPhereson, president of ABC Entertainment, "When you take on the responsibility of telling the story behind such an important event, it is absolutely critical that you get it right."

Unfortunately, it appears Disney and ABC got it totally wrong.

Despite claims by your network's representatives that "The Path to 9/11" is based on the report of the 9/11 Commission, 9/11 Commissioners themselves, as well as other experts on the issues, disagree.

-- Richard Ben-Veniste, speaking for himself and fellow 9/11 Commissioners who recently viewed the program, said, "As we were watching, we were trying to think how they could have misinterpreted the 9/11 Commission's findings the way that they had." ("9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased," New York Times, September 6, 2006)

-- Richard Clarke, the former counter-terrorism czar, and a national security advisor to ABC has described the program as "deeply flawed" and said of the program's depiction of a Clinton official hanging up on an intelligence agent, "It's 180 degrees from what happened." ("9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased," New York Times, September 6, 2006)

-- Reports suggest that an FBI agent who worked on 9/11 and served as a consultant to ABC on this program quit halfway through because, "he thought they were making things up." (MSNBC, September 7, 2006)

-- Even Thomas Kean, who serves as a paid consultant to the miniseries, has admitted that scenes in the film are fictionalized. ("9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased," New York Times, September 6, 2006)

That Disney would seek to broadcast an admittedly and proven false recounting of the events of 9/11 raises serious questions about the motivations of its creators and those who approved the deeply flawed program. Finally, that Disney plans to air commercial-free a program that reportedly cost it $40 million to produce serves to add fuel to these concerns.

These concerns are made all the more pressing by the political leaning of and the public statements made by the writer/producer of this miniseries, Mr. Cyrus Nowrasteh, in promoting this miniseries across conservative blogs and talk shows.

Frankly, that ABC and Disney would consider airing a program that could be construed as right-wing political propaganda on such a grave and important event involving the security of our nation is a discredit both to the Disney brand and to the legacy of honesty built at ABC by honorable individuals from David Brinkley to Peter Jennings. Furthermore, that Disney would seek to use Scholastic to promote this misguided programming to American children as a substitute for factual information is a disgrace.

As 9/11 Commission member Jamie Gorelick said, "It is critically important to the safety of our nation that our citizens, and particularly our school children, understand what actually happened and why - so that we can proceed from a common understanding of what went wrong and act with unity to make our country safer."

Should Disney allow this programming to proceed as planned, the factual record, millions of viewers, countless schoolchildren, and the reputation of Disney as a corporation worthy of the trust of the American people and the United States Congress will be deeply damaged. We urge you, after full consideration of the facts, to uphold your responsibilities as a respected member of American society and as a beneficiary of the free use of the public airwaves to cancel this factually inaccurate and deeply misguided program. We look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Sincerely,

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid

Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin

Senator Debbie Stabenow

Senator Charles Schumer

Senator Byron Dorgan

http://www.usnewswire.com/

[Zorra]

23. Is anyone else worried about our children watching Disney animated

films?

I mean, if Disney would go to this extent to air these horrible lies in order to promote fascist propaganda, what are they putting in their animated films?

Seriously: Can their be any doubt that Disney would put subliminal fascist propaganda in their animated films if they possibly can?

And what is this subliminal propaganda doing to the minds of our young children? Are they working at deliberately turning them into little fascist brownshirts?

Disney has proven that they cannot be trusted, are in fact downright dangerous, and should be boycotted.

[gully]

24. Actually, I've been concerned about Disney for some time as a parent.

They find a way to kill off mothers on a regular basis, promote the idea of "evil" step mothers, and the films are often very violent.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. 
[link:www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html|Click
here] to review the message board rules.

[Erika]

26. I'm really offended by your post

Really offended.

[daisymeme]

27. rose garden

well it happened

[Erika]

28. So what if it did?

We now have 2,664 U.S. troops dead in Iraq because of W's lies and you're worried about a blow job? OK.

We know your priorites.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Erika]

30. Michael Moore did not put his work on TV

Bushbots silenced "The Reagans" scheduled for TV.

[Zorra]

32. Absolutely correct! The "assaultees" are the Senators and People of

the US. Good call!

Bwaaahaahaaahaa!

This film is an assault by fascist propagandists on all of us.

See what drinking the kool-aid does to you?

It totally fucks up your mind, and your soul, until you can't think straight anymore, and can no longer tell right from wrong. It's more dangerous than heroin. Really. Stay off the kool-aid. It'll kill ya.

[Bozvotros]

31. Funny how the suspiciously stained Starr Report

Doesn't mention the Arafat story but Drudge does. Guess that means it really happened because Drudge never gets anything wrong. Just wondering. Is the koolaid better when it is artificially sweetened?

[Quarkie]

40. Seriously, this doesn't make any of you nervous?

Censorship by government. Smacks of McCarthiism to me.

[Quarkie]

36. So, you think Fahrenheit 9/11 was "good" but.this is "bad" ?????

Do you realize that moves to force ABC to "pull the movie" is censorship? That’s a good thing???? You want your elected representatives to be involved in something like that? Get real, wake up, and try to think for yourself.

The liberal response to this just proves to me how stupidly biased the nation has become. Our inability to think for ourselves is going to be our demise. Both “sides” simply regurgitate the crap (“spin” seems to give it some type of credibility) fed to them. Both films are clearly works of fiction – remember the “I Was There” books when you were young? They used some “facts,” but the stories were obviously not true. Please learn to differentiate and understand that fiction is meant for entertainment. If you want “truth” on any topic, you only demonstrate your ignorance by trying to get it from a movie.

I’m so tired of arguing with my liberal acquaintances that I’ve stopped. I know exactly what they are going to say. All I have to do to find out is open my inbox and see what all the email spam says. They’ll most assuredly quote whatever I’ve read there. No analysis, no investigation, no critical thinking. Just parrot what they’ve heard. If I want a more intelligent debate, I go to my garden and shout at the hummingbirds.

Fahrenheit 9/11 was supposedly “good” and The Path to 9/11 is “bad!?”

As far as I’m concerned, if you spoke even one word of praise or support for the slovenly Michael Moore’s film, you have no place to say anything about The Path to 9/11. You’re credibility is shot and you’ve proven you have no ability to think for yourself. Pay no attention to the praise you get from anybody else telling you you’re intelligent for agreeing with them – they are just as stupid.

[madmunchie]

38. Michael Moore's film wasn't on TV right before an election

depicting one single historic event with inaccuracies that obviously slander the previous Democratic administration - who wasn't in office when 9/11 occurred.

Michael' Moore's movies are at the movie theater. HUGE DIFFERENCE. His movies aren't reenactments of a recent event that still traumatizes this nation. If you cannot see the difference then YOU aren't thinking too much about it.

Remember the movie about Ronald Reagan that wasn't shown on TV? Remember that? That movie wasn't nearly as important as this one is.

This is just another OBVIOUS ploy to sway to voters against the Democrats.

Like I said before, how convenient that this movie blaming mostly Clinton Administration for 9/11, being shown right around the anniversary of 9/11 AND right before an election, where the Repubs are projected to lose big! If this isn't an obviously PLANNED political ploy, then you must think we all fell off of the turnip boat along with you.

[Quarkie]

39. Bias is Bias

Everything you said is rationalization. Bias is Bias. Fahrenheit 9/11 was indeed about "a recent event that still traumatizes this nation." Fahrenheit 9/11 did indeed contain "inaccuracies." There is no "huge" difference, only small ones.

You can argue all you want about "Bush" or "Clinton" being to blame, but in truth Congressmen of both parties were around long enough to have had suspicion and taken action. Both parties sit on multiple committees receiving intelligence information. One man can't be held totally responsible - that's naive.

If you criticize one, you must criticize the other when they are this similar. That is “balance” and not bias.

And, concerning previous administrations - all of them - America has been under attack for a long time. Clinton and his predecessors, both Republican and Democrat, deserve blame for not fighting back. We can't blame our politicians if we don't accept our own blame, though. We elect them. They are quite happy to have voters choose sides and bicker among themselves, filtering their arguements with just the information that shows them "right," while the politicians all continue their ineffectual, self-serving careers. Consider this and see if you can "wake up:"

US Navy Captain Ouimette was the Executive Officer at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. This is condensed from a speech he gave but I find it a good list of attacks against the U.S. Many of you are too young to remember this far back. I’m not.

It was a cool fall day in November 1979 in a country going through a religious and political upheaval when a group of Iranian students attacked and seized the American Embassy in Tehran. This seizure was an outright attack on American soil; it was an attack that held the world's most powerful country hostage and paralyzed a Presidency. The attack on this sovereign U. S. embassy set the stage for events to follow for the next 25 years.

Shortly after the Tehran experience, Americans began to be kidnapped and killed throughout the Middle East. America could do little to protect her citizens living and working abroad. The attacks against US soil continued.

In April of 1983 a large vehicle packed with high explosives was driven into the US Embassy compound in Beirut When it explodes, it kills 63 people

Then just six short months later a large truck heavily laden down with over 2500 pounds of TNT smashed through the main gate of the US Marine Corps headquarters in Beirut and 241 US servicemen are killed.

Two months later in December 1983, another truck loaded with explosives is driven into the US Embassy in Kuwait.

The following year, in September 1984, another van was driven into the gate of the US Embassy in Beirut.

In April 1985 a bomb explodes in a restaurant frequented by US soldiers in Madrid.

Then in August a Volkswagen loaded with explosives is driven into the main gate of the US Air Force Base at Rhein-Main, 22 are killed.

Fifty-nine days later a cruise ship, the Achille Lauro is hijacked and we watched as an American in a wheelchair is singled out of the passenger list and executed.

The terrorists then shift their tactics to bombing civilian airliners when they bomb TWA Flight 840 in April of 1986 that killed 4 and the most tragic bombing, Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988, killing 259.

In January 1993, two CIA agents are shot and killed as they enter CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia.

The following month, February 1993, a group of terrorists are arrested after a rented van packed with explosives is driven into the underground parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City. Six people are killed and over 1000 are injured.

In November 1995 a car bomb explodes at a US military complex in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia killing seven service men and women.

A few months later in June of 1996, another truck bomb explodes only 35 yards from the US military compound in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. It destroys the Khobar Towers, a US Air Force barracks, killing 19 and injuring over 500.

They move to coordinate their attacks in a simultaneous attack on two US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. These attacks were planned with precision. They kill 224.

The USS Cole was docked in the port of Aden, Yemen for refueling on 12 October 2000, when a small craft pulled along side the ship and exploded killing 17 US Navy Sailors. Attacking a US War Ship is an act of war, but we sent the FBI to investigate.

And of course you know the events of 11 September 2001. Most Americans think this was the first attack against US soil or in America. How wrong they are. America has been under a constant attack since 1979 and we chose to hit the snooze alarm and roll over and go back to sleep.

Lastly, if you are so convinced that the work of fiction should not even air because American viewers are so incapable of differentiating fact from fiction, if you're so concerned that voters might be swayed because of their ignorance of facts, then you indeed apparently agree with my belief that you "all fell off of the turnip boat" and are incapable of thinking for yourselves.

[jab105]

41. The problem is that it is very rarely mentioned as a "work of fiction"

most advertisements for it say as such...its only recently that I've even heard that it was anything but truth based on reports...

I'm not a fan of Michael Moore, but:
1. his "movie" was not free, you had to pay to see it
2. most people thought it was propaganda chose not to buy the ticket
3. the media made very clear when they were talking about it that it was coming from the "left-leaning" Mchael Moore...NO ONE!! would go into that movie thinking otherwise...

Most Americans are going to beleive a movie that is marketed like "The Path to 9/11" is...it is advertised as taken from realy life events...

And, its the same as what happens when 70% of people believe that Iraq was a part of 9/11, inaccurate and completely incorrect information can lead to absolutely tragic consequences...

[madmunchie]

44. Exactly, Moore's film was also a "Documentary", it wasn't disquising

itself as a depiction of a real life event step by step as this movie is. It is being presented in a whole different way. If somebody wants to get on and blame Clinton for 9/11, in a documentary at the movie theatre - go for it! BUT if somebody wants to air a "timeline DRAMA" about 9/11 portraying it incorrectly, with the convenience of the bulk of the incorrectness pointing at the Democrats, right before an election, on a major T.V. channel....Come On if this doesn't smack of politics, WHAT DOES?????? It is like comparing lemons to bananas, both fruits, but very different qualities.

[laundry_queen]

43. Geez

That's like comparing apples and swingsets.
Farenheit 9/11 was TRUE.
The Path to 9/11 has substantiated LIES.
HUGE difference. Have you even watched Farenheit 9/11??
'slovenly' Michael Moore? 'liberal' response?
Who can't think for themselves again?
buhbye.

[The Stranger]

45. Bullshit -- F911 was in rented theaters, ABC's lies are on U.S. airwaves,

which belong to the people and who grant ABC a free license. If ABC abuses that privilege, then they can rent out theaters to show their lies. The airwaves belong to the people.