Everyone Email ABC Family and tell them Robertson MUST GO.

[growlypants]

Here's the link: http://abcfamily.go.com/feedback/

**They'll ask you to select a show, I believe you can leave that blank becuase the "700 Club" is convieniently ABSENT. OR, select any old show and begin a rant about Robertson, but I BELIEVE you can leave that blank.

[mopaul]

1. did it

[greekspeak]

2. I think it's been said that they can't legally ditch the 700 club

Some sort of stipulation when Pat Haterson sold his family channel (now the ABC family channel) to them.

[Tesla]

3. Done!!

I can't believe this man has this much POWER!!!

[Touchdown]

4. They're under a forced contract to carry his show.

That was part of their deal for Disney to buy The Family Channel. I remember reading an article when the deal was made. Disney didn't want to, but the only way they could buy the channel was if they were legally bound to carry Robertson's hate-sermon on the channel, and at certain times a day...of his choosing. They relented. Whack-job or not, he's a shrewd business man.

Who knows how long the contract is for, but they will probably drop him when it expires. It's a money loser for the company who worships witchcraft (Bedknobs & Broomsticks, Herbie the magic car, Malificent the Dragon Lady, Aladdin's Genie, Sorcerer's Apprentice, etc.).

[chaulieu]

12. Force ABC/Disney to figure out a way to deal with it

If Disney got themselves into this kind of contract should not stop the public from asking that they stop broadcasting his program. We need to make it their problem, not something we work around.

If the contract is as stated here, that itself is an embarrassment to Disney/ABC and needs to become publicly known.

[NewJeffCT]

19. welcome to DU - and, you are right

While not "Force", I am sure every "talent" in Hollywood has a morals contract that allows ABC (or CBS or NBC, etc) to cancel the contract if they do something that is deemed as not representing ABC in a positive light.

[newyawker99]

20. Hi chaulieu!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Hobarticus]

24. I call bullshit...Disney could put off the Second Coming if they wanted

They can put the kibosh on any contract with the Christianazis anytime.

[lectrobyte]

14. forced? Hardly. They agreed to it...

They could have started a new channel etc., I have trouble imagining Disney/ABC being "forced" into anything.

[drbtg1]

18. Actually, I think we can blame Fox for this one.

If memory serves, I believe Robertson sold "The Family Channel" to Fox first, who ranamed it "Fox Family". Fox had to agree to the 700 Club broadcast for themselves and anyone they sold it to or no deal. Still, it seemed like a good idea at the time since "The Family Channel" had incredible coverage on analog cable ("Basic tier").

However, Fox did horrible with the property and decided to dump it before the property started losing cable systems, so they swiftly sold it to Disney, which then became "ABC Family".

Starting a new channel on analog cable? Pretty damn impossible as this space is overcrowded to begin with and cable systems want to do other things with their spectrum (on demand, HDTV, etc.). I believe only sports has the consistant power to get on there in recent years (the YES network being a preeminent example), but even the NFL network is digital tier for most folks. I'm sure Disney also recalls their fights with cable over getting "The Disney Channel" changed from premium to basic as well as a devil of a time over rights fees for "ESPN", so why start a new channel (and new headaches) when this piece of cable real estate was for sale?

Finally, Disney was the company that refused to distribute F9/11 but carries OxyRush on its radio stations, so The 700 Club wasn't much of a stretch for them.

[Dhalgren]

5. Sent it! I displayed great displeasure with ABC for their support

of such "terroristic" programming!

[Sick_of_Rethuggery]

6. Done!

Here is the note:

I trust that you have already fired Pat Robertson by the time you receive this email. If not, why not? If you are not sure, here is a scale:

Profanity/Boobs: just silly/indecent.
Advocating killing: incendiary/
(esp foreign leaders) seditious.

When the latter comes from a purported religious leader, what are you waiting for? In this day and age of complete appreciation for moral clarity, this situation not clear enough for you? Ask President Bush to clear up the moral waters for you: he has this unerring sense of moral clarity, he can help you do the right thing, just as he did with Karl Rove and the other miscreants in his office.

Oops, sorry, no he does not, he just says he does and you all give him and his minions a pass -- because of what, I might ask, but wont bother, since I know the answer.

[deutsey]

7. My note

Why do you allow someone to advocate assassination on your airwaves?

If a "radical cleric" in Iraq or Iran said something similar about Bush, people would justifiably be outraged over such dangerous, hateful remarks. I believe the same applies to someone like Pat Robertson saying the democratically elected Hugo Chavez in Venezuela should be assassinated.

Mr. Robertson seems to be someone who espouses "personal responsibility and accountability." Why don't you help him live up to these values?

[Tim4319]

8. Done.

I've also added something about the diamond mines he run too.

[growlypants]

11. HAHAHAHA.

[ThomWV]

9. Done

This is the way to drive them from the airways. Complain every time they show their face of hatred.

[niallmac]

10. If the 700 Club is untouchable

what about the sponsors? Who are they?
Email sent.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

13. put commercials. seems fitting.

[terrya]

15. Done. Here is my note.

On 08/22/05, Pat Robertson, host of "The 700 Club" (a show ABC Family is affiliated with) advocated the assassination of Venezulean President Hugo Chavez. This disgraceful episode is one of the most appalling things I've ever seen on television.

This episode shows that it is unconscionable to continue to carry Pat Robertson and his show. It is morally indefensible to air a show where an alleged Christian would advocate the death of another human being.

I demand that ABC Family disassociates themselves with Pat Robertson and "The 700 Club"

[elehhhhna]

16. DONE. Told 'em we put al ABC & Affiliate channel on BLOCK

until Pats' gone (& did so).

[The Stranger]

17. Kicked and recommended.

We need some action.

[Jara sang]

21. Done

[NYCGirl]

22. ABC Family "strongly rejects" Robertson's comments

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001019969

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)

[ProfessorGAC]

23. Fire The Lawyers!

If they signed a contract that prevents them from dumping his access to the airwaves (of transponder codes) assigned to the channnel they bought, no matter how he behaves, then the lawyers for ABC need to be fired, posthaste. He proposes killing a leader of a sovereign nation, and that isn't cause to drop his show? Any decent contract of sale may have included a "must carry" clause, but should have also contained a clause against certain on-air behavior to keep their own tails out of the soup.

It would appear the lawyers didn't include this self-protection clause. Incompetence = termination.
The Professor

[Hobarticus]

25. They've asked that comments re:Robertson be directed to CBN...don't fall

for the runaround.

As the broadcaster, they must get called out for it, contract or no. I told them that my household and my friends now equate ABC and ABC Family with Roberston's organization and statements.

[terrya]

27. I sent emails to both ABC Family and CBN

Fuck this runaround shit.

[Hobarticus]

28. Damn straight! n/t

[OnionPatch]

26. I wrote them

and your puppy is adorable!