CONTACT ABC--with a few clicks of your mouse! Do it NOW!

[MADem]

I've noticed that I am not the only one who is a bit pissed off about this 911 Mockudrama that ABC has ginned up to boost the ratings of the Monkey in Chief's failed and incompetent GOP ahead of the elections.

I've read what Richard Ben-Veniste had to say about the film after seeing it, and I tend to believe him.

Here's a way to express your displeasure. It takes just a few seconds out of your day:

http://abc.go.com/site/contactus.html

You've got 500 character spaces in which to call them out on their hypocrisy, accuse them of interfering in politics, question their patriotism, note that the author of the piece is a conservative shill, that the work is flat out full of lies, or what have you. Pick a theme, and stand and deliver.

It would be grand if everyone here would take a minute to do this, and send the link to their friends as well.

Some background that might assist you in preparing your comments can be found HERE:

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001468.php

DU mentioned here: http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=97334&ntpid=0

I thank you for your attention to this matter!

[MrCoffee]

1. hey, i'm all for prior restraints on the press, but

are we maybe getting a little hysterical here? it's a MotW for crying out loud. anyone who can't figure that out probably can't figure out how to register to vote, so who cares?

[MADem]

2. They're meddling in politics. That's a bozo no no

They're doing it deliberately, ahead of primaries and a general election.

Express your displeasure, if you are displeased.

If you aren't, well, what can I say.

Again, I invite your attention to this article: http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001468.php

At a recent screening in Washington, D.C., former commissioner Richard Ben-Veniste "rose to denounce the veracity of a key scene involving Clinton national security adviser Samuel R. Berger," CQ's Jeff Stein reports:

Berger, portrayed as a pasty-faced time-server by Kevin Dunn (Col. Hicks in “Godzilla”) freezes in dithering apprehension when a manly and virtuous CIA agent played by Donnie Wahlberg radios in from the wilds of Afghanistan to say that he and his noble band of local tribesmen have Osama bin Laden within sight and begs for the green light to terminate him with extreme prejudice. In the film, the line goes dead before Berger offers any reply. . . .
he camera pans back to show Berger surrounded by a supporting cast of fellow Clinton administration nervous Nellies, including Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and Defense Secretary William S. Cohen.

“There was no incident like that in the film that we came across. I am disturbed by that aspect of it,” Ben-Veniste, a loyal Democrat, told the panel, which included both the producer and the commission’s GOP chairman, former Gov. Thomas H. Kean of New Jersey.

[stanwyck]

11. ABC is now Jeff Gannon

male prostitute. But, according to the Bushies, "distinguished journalist." ABC is trashing the people who have worked there. Their network is now the equivalent of Gannon, whoring for the Bush oil money.
ABC employees should make their displeasure known. This is more of the infomercials the Bushies sent to TV stations promoting their agenda while being shown by unwitting (maybe not) TV stations as real news. Only the "journalists" were actors with fake names reading GOP scripts.
And this is happening in America.
We had the faked "New Orleans Rockey" and his staged trip to D.C. His little televised meeting with Bush was beyond bizarre. "I wish you had a third term!" screeched the GOP plant. Even Bush appeared embarrassed by his over the top performance. It was GOP theater at its worst.
And now this.
Don't watch ABC. We have plenty of alternatives.
Don't reward the Bushies and the oil men behind this charade.
Turn them off.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

7. "restraints" on the press? How about demanding that they tell the truth.

and stop spewing propaganda?

[MADem]

Well, said, that's all I want out of them. Lies and bullshit we get from

the White House already!!!!!!!!

[alfredo]

9. My letter asks questions about fairness. I asked if those who

were mischaracterized will have a chance to refute how they were characterized in this docudrama. I mentioned that I lived in a right wing dictatorship for several years and the media was awash with docudramas that glorified their leader, smeared his political opponents and those smeared had no chance to fight back.

[MADem]

14. Bravo, bravo!

Reminds me of that 'Glorious Saddam' film they used to show on Iraqi TV every year, with the handsome young fellow playing "Young Saddam" shooting his gun in a failed assassination effort, getting shot, and bravely escaping by swimming across the river....!

So horribly partisan and propagandistic that it was actually humorous...

[alfredo]

20. Reminds me of that awful movie "Red Dawn."

I can't remember any right wing movie or TV show that wasn't cartoonish.

[immoderate]

22. Restraints? I told them they should display a disclaimer.

Viewers should be cautioned that this tripe
contains fascist right wing propaganda.

If they flash that on the breaks, I'll be OK.B-)

--IMM

[MADem]

23. Hahahahahaha!!!!

That's brilliant! :thumbsup:

[Taylor Mason Powell]

25. It's not a prior restraint.

This is not the government coming in and telling a media outlet that it can't broadcast something.

This is people making their displeasure known at right-wing propaganda masquerading as a "documentary." We're exercising OUR freedom of speech. Nothing wrong with that.

[MADem]

26. Exactly, well put. NT

[tbyg52]

30. It's a movie of the week

About an actual event with what one of *their own advisers* (Clarke, whom they apparently didn't listen to) says are flat lies. And not everybody will read any commentary on it. They'll just swallow it whole.

[stepnw1f]

38. You Own ABC Stocks or Something? (nt)

[Clark2008]

63. You're for restraining the press?

Um - what part of the First Amendment do you NOT understand?

Also - this IS a movie of the week and not the news department, so there's no press to restrain.

The problem is that millions of Americans won't realize this is propaganda-drama and not a factual telling of events. THAT'S why we're in an uproar - and, no, this thinking is not just limited to those who can't figure out how to vote. The problem is that they CAN and DO vote, but they do it without any critical thinking skills.

[peacebird]

3. done - thanks. k&r

[Divine Discontent]

10. done n/t

[Richard Steele]

4. Category: ABC Movies. Subject: Complaint

Re: your 9/11 Pro-Bush Propaganda film:
Your actions in distributing this make it clear
that the falsehoods contained therein are not
the result of error or oversight, but a deliberate
attempt to LIE to your viewers for partisan political gain.

This will not be allowed to pass unnoticed.

Your network's sponsors will never recieve another dime
from me or mine.

[Bluzmann57]

5. Already contacted them twice

Anymore may be overkill. I will contact the local ABC affiliate and urge others to do the same. If the locals get enough pressure maybe they can contact the national network and urge them not to show this tripe.

[MADem]

45. Send that contact page around to friends, and urge them to pass it on

too. These corporate assholes need to start understanding that there is one pissed off electorate out there, and these pissed off folks have a remote for their TV, and they'll click it every time they see ABC come up on the screen!

[seabeyond]

6. done n/t

[Onlooker]

8. I wrote

I think they should be ashamed at politicizing the tragedy in a way that implies New Yorkers (mostly Democrats) were partly to blame because they supported Clinton. Okay, it's a little bit of a stretch, but it has some logic to it.

[MADem]

15. Not a stretch--and there are a SHITLOAD of viewers in NYC

They'd better "check themselves"...they might realize they don't have their finger on the pulse of a HUGE market.

[TheFriedPiper]

12. Here's what I said:

-------------

Are you really going to go through with airing that 2 hour Republican commercial that outright LIES about Clinton an 9/11?

Were you out of the country all those years that the REPUBLICAN controlled congress fought against EVERY anti-terrorism bill proposed by Clinton?

I will be keeping track of your sponsors during that week and will be publishing that list to my group and your sponsors will hear from them and may reconsider advertising on a network that publishes KNOWN LIES.

-------------

[MADem]

18. 2 hour Republican commercial !!!!!!!

That's great, cuts right to the chase. Well done!

[Danascot]

28. Is there a way to find out who the sponsors are in advance?

In the past, there were have been cases where a controversial show was pulled because the sponsors got cold feet and bolted in anticipation of viwer backlash.

[MADem]

46. NO SPONSOR!! NONE!!! Yes, I was surprised too

They were gonna have DISNEY do it (Disney owns ABC) but I guess cartoons and pirates didn't mix too well with the theme of TERRA TERRA TERRA AND ONLY THE GOP CAN SAVE U!!!!

They're CRAVEN bastards, all of them!

[readmoreoften]

13. Done and done. /nt

[gully]

16. Here's an easy link from Thinkprogress as well.

http://www.ThinkProgress.org/TellABC

[Mabus]

24. Done

This is the third time I've sent them a message on this. The first time it was a phone call to their switchboard. The second was through their website. This my third time. I think they'll get the message that I'm pissed.

[nicknameless]

36. Thanks for posting that. (n/t)

[Cha]

17. abc needs to hear from

us like cbs or whatever heard from the insane wing about showing the ronnie reagun film that Showtime ended up with.

[AX10]

19. K & R!

[pacalo]

21. Done

[elvisbear]

27. Done.

:kick:

[Tinksrival]

29. Here's my comments to ABC

Hasn't America been damaged enough by half truths, manipulations, misinformation and outright lies and attacks on those who disagree. I am very disturbed by what I have heard about the mischaracterizations and outright fiction in your 9-11 special. I read statements by Richard Clarke which point out events in your special that just never happened. I am very disappointed and disturbed that your company is working to put out this propaganda that is dangerous to our security and our democracy.

[tbyg52]

31. Email or call the local ABC affiliates also

Being smaller, maybe they'll pay more attention.....?

[NMDemDist2]

32. i did last week MaDem, should I do so again? n/t

[MADem]

47. Yes, and as the poster above notes, call your local affiliate, too NT

[DemInDistress]

33. MADem.. how's this.. I haven't sent it yet

Dear ABC,
For decades I've been an avid viewer of your station. This week you will air a movie about 911 which I hear is riddled with inacuracies. I hope you (producers) had the insight to include the President's August 6 2001 PDB indicating Osama determined to strike inside the USA.
Also,I demand (this household) thatABC permit a rebuttal to this seriously flawed promotion for the Bush Crime Family and his hopes of retaining the majority control in Congress this November,

let me know and I'll click send (submit)

[nicknameless]

34. Subjective, maybe ...

I would change the last line a bit.

"This household demands that ABC permit ..."

Your characterization of this drivel as "inaccuracies" is generous. ;)

Otherwise very good!

[DemInDistress]

35. thanks for the input MADem will do...

consider it sent...

This household demands that ABC permit.. yes, forceful and pointed. thanks

[MADem]

48. That wasn't me, but it was good input...thanks for rallying to the cause

I'm in favor of any fair criticisms, but this bit of propaganda is not fair criticism. It's fiction and falsehoods. It's got Rove's stinky pawprints all over it.

[MADem]

43. Go for it!!!!!! NT

[uppityperson]

37. thank you for posting this contact info

[MADem]

49. My pleasure, pass it on to like minded souls in your address book if you

have a spare moment!

[uppityperson]

59. passed it on.

and a kick

[wiley]

39. Time for ABC Series actors to come out against this Republican Commercial

Sorry, actors, but if you support airing this divisive, painful lie that insults the intelligence of the American people and does nothing but further distract them from the failures of Republican leadership, then you're fair game. Actually, you're probably just desperate little hacks who will do anything for the money. How does it feel to have corporations put you in your place?

[progressoid]

40. Ha - I looked at their other shows. Seems I don't watch anything on ABC!

But I wrote a complaint anyway!

[KoKo]

41. K & R!!!!

[Cobalt-60]

42. missile away!

I feel a profound sense of disappointment in ABC.
Like most other working class lads, television was my main form of entertainment. (I'm much better now, thank you.)
Space Age coverage with Jules Bergman, some really fine Movies of the week and a lot of other fine programming kept my morale up.
Now that ABC is pandering to fascists, we're finished.
Should I ever restore my Dish service, I won't bother with any of the alphabet network stations.

[LunaC]

44. Don't forget to drop the truth around town, too!

Support ammunition here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2061966

[MADem]

50. Wow, that's quite a summation!!!! NT

[LunaC]

55. Thanks! Pass it along far and wide! nt

[Breeze54]

51. What 'is' the truth?

:shrug:

[MADem]

53. It's not that Sandy Berger had his thumb up his ass, or Clinton didn't

give a shit. It's not that Bush actually gave two shits about this, expressed concern about the PDB, or that Condi paid attention during her turnover.

Here's some reading to help clarify: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/06/us/06path.html?_r=2&ref=us&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 5 — Days before its scheduled debut, the first major television miniseries about the Sept. 11 attacks was being criticized on Tuesday as biased and inaccurate by bloggers, terrorism experts and a member of the Sept. 11 commission, whose report makes up much of the film’s source material. ...On Tuesday, several liberal blogs were questioning whether ABC’s version was overly critical of the Clinton administration while letting the Bush administration off easy.

In particular, some critics — including Richard A. Clarke, the former counterterrorism czar — questioned a scene that depicts several American military officers on the ground in Afghanistan. In it, the officers, working with leaders of the Northern Alliance, the Afghan rebel group, move in to capture Osama bin Laden, only to allow him to escape after the mission is canceled by Clinton officials in Washington.

In a posting on ThinkProgress.org, and in a phone interview, Mr. Clarke said no military personnel or C.I.A. agents were ever in position to capture Mr. bin Laden in Afghanistan, nor did the leader of the Northern Alliance get that near to his camp.

“It didn’t happen,” Mr. Clarke said. “There were no troops in Afghanistan about to snatch bin Laden. There were no C.I.A. personnel about to snatch bin Laden. It’s utterly invented.” ...

[Breeze54]

60. I actually was referring to what

happened on 9-11!

But thanks for the info. I have the same in my files. ;)

[Clark2008]

66. Well, you said a mouthful

I don't agree with the official conspiracy theory either.

I think some people on the inside either knew about this, helped it along and/or possibly helped plan it for the New World Order/PNAC plans.

But, yes... telling the truth about 9/11 may not be a simple as saying 19 hijackers flew planes in some buildings and a field.

[undeterred]

52. Done!

I hope they back down, I'm gonna miss LOST.

[Judi Lynn]

54. Thanks for opening the door. Feel far better already! n/t

[johnaries]

56. Cool! He's quoting my post in the Madison article.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1992136

I noticed DKOS also linked to my post.
Wow, I think I was actually the first one to post about this on DU. First time that ever happened to me, someone always beats me to it.

[MADem]

58. WOW, that's great!! How does it feel to be 'ahead of the curve?'

You led the way in getting this issue some traction, well done!

[AlamoDemoc]

57. Done. K&R

[otohara]

61. done

with pleasure

[Hosnon]

62. Done. I told them they, at the very least, should run a disclaimer at the

bottom of the screen during EACH fictionalized scene.

[MADem]

67. Go here, there's more to do!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2071696&mesg_id=2071696

[ThomWV]

64. Done and kick

Tell them what you think, it only takes a minute. Tell their advertiser too.

[MADem]

68. But wait, there's MORE!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2071696&mesg_id=2071696

Scholastic publishes HARRY POTTER...I found the contact info for Ms. Rowling's literary agent, which is at the thread above...we need to hit them hard in the wallet...

[bigtree]

65. .

:kick: