Even if it airs...we've still won. Seriously.

[CoffeeCat]

As many DUers have so astutely pointed out, David Cunningham (director of "The Path to 9/11") and his father are entrenched in evangelical Christian causes. David founded The Film Institute (TFI)--an organization dedicated to infusing Christianity into film/television and taking "liberalism" out of Hollywood.

Here's what David Cunningham said, while "The Path to 9/11" was being produced:

"TFI's first project is a doozy...Simply being referred to as: The Untitled History Project, it is already being called the television event of the decade and not one second has been put to film yet. Talk about great expectations!"

These smug bastards thought they had it in the bag. They manufactured lies, re-wrote history and created a movie that glorified pResident Bush and cast President Clinton as an evil enabler of terrorism.

Just. Look. At. Those. Words... "the television event of the decade."

The scheme to bamboozle American voters, so close to the 06 elections, was hatched long ago. "The Path to 9/11" was the emotional, melodramatic, earth-shattering springboard from which they would launch their "We can keep you safer, the Democrats will allow terrorists to kill you" smear campaign.

Ladies and gentlemen, "The Path to 9/11" was to be a "Swiftboat" attack on the Democrats--annihilating their patriotism and destroying any credibility the Dems had on national security and terrorism. They planned to confuse Americans with this movie--creating a mushroom cloud of fear and rage--that would put the Dems on the defensive and position them as unAmerican failures who allowed 9/11 to happen.

But then something happened. "We the People" happened. We made a lot of noise. We didn't shut up. We researched and unearthed the truth about these partisan hacks. We wrote ABC. We wrote Scholastic. We wrote Disney. We called our school superintendents. We blogged. We didn't give in.

Now, everyone is talking about the lies, distortions and historical inaccuracies of "The Path to 9/11". ABC downgraded it from a "documentary" to a "docudrama." As we speak, parts of it are strewn on the cutting-room floor. This movie is now the programming equivalent of a soap opera. It's a national joke.

Today, Glenn Beck--a hard-nosed radio conservative--urged his listeners to avoid "The Path to 9/11." He said that the facts of 9/11 should not be messed with--and why bother watching something about this epic, national tragedy that is simply untrue. Even conservative, Bush loyalists see the absurdity.

I guess you'd say the Republicans are up a creek--without a "Swiftboat"--going into the midterm elections.

It really doesn't matter if ABC cancels "The Path to 9/11". We won. This movie can no longer be used to persuade voters or cajole anyone into voting for Republicans because they're, "so angry at Clinton for causing 9/11!"

We did it. We exposed the truth and transformed "the television event of the decade" into the "farce of the decade."

Everyone now....pat yourself on the back.

[AX10]

1. We scared the shit out of the Conservatives.

Disney is in deep shit trouble when we take back congress in November!

This must be forever a black mark on the name Disney and the ABC network!

[eccles12]

15. Dems and Clintonites should be planning for the after-airing strategy.

It will give them a great opportunity to dredge up what really happened during the early days of the Bush administration, bring out the photos of Rummy shaking hands with Saddam, bring out all the old stuff about how Reagan and Republicans built up Saddam AND Osama and how those 1980's left us really vunerable right up to the Desert Storm charade and how leaving our troops in holy Muslim territories sent Osama over the edge. They can really make the most of this conservative mis-step if they want to.
You know those "sleeping dogs" really do bite after they are disturbed.

Anything that places forer Clinton administration officials in the public view is very damaging to Republicans. The Clintonites are very well spoken, smart, and are much more appealing to the public mind...especially after 6 years of the Bush neocons.

[librechik]

22. PLEASE SOMEBODY SUE!! Then we get subpoenas, and discovery

and get those bastards to tell their lies in front of a judge!

[Chimichurri]

18. As much as I'd like to believe what you say, I doubt anything

will come out of it being aired. People have very short memories and it will all be forgotten. Expect to see this docudrama's conjecture as new right wing talking points leading up to and beyond the election. This will cause a ton of damage to the democrats but more importantly to the facts of the most horrific event of our lifetime.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

20. Well, it's been pretty well discredited. When conservatives are steering

clear of this fiasco, it's probably lost its power to convince.

MKJ

[patrice]

2. I think you're right.

At this point they'd just be preaching to their choir and they'd give us a really good excuse to repeat, repeat, repeat the Truth. We'd also get more air time for our questions about 9/11. It would be good for the U.S. to have this discussion.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Holy cow. While you were typing this, I was

typing this:

Even if PT911 shows, we win. Hell, ESPECIALLY if it shows, we win.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2088294

Great minds, eh?

[CoffeeCat]

6. Wow, that's cool...

Great minds...yes. :)

I agree with you--we win ESPECIALLY if it shows--as you said.

More Republican connections to this movie will be unearthed--and more actors and others involved will come forward to reveal how inaccurate this farce is.

ABC will look so foolish by the time this is over.

We're going to be ok if this airs. :)

[seabeyond]

10. i posted on jackpines thread. i agree withyou both n/t

[SeattleGirl]

4. GLEN BECK told people not to watch it?????

Man, I knew some other conservatives/repukes had dissed this crock-u-mentary, but BECK? Wow!

My husband said something tonight about how all the uproar over this piece of crap could just serve to get more people to watch it. I said I doubted it, but even if it DOES air and people do watch it, there are so many people, all over the political map, talking about it, about the lies and falsehoods, and political slant of it that they would probably watch it from a different mind-set than ABC/Disney originally had in mind.

I do hope they pull it, but you're right, TwoSparkles. We did expose the truth! Every single one of us who talked about it around the water cooler, who signed a petition or two or three or more, who emailed and called ABC/Disney and local affiliates, the talking heads on both sides of the political fence -- we did it.

Sometimes, you really CAN fight city hall!

[CoffeeCat]

8. Yes, and Beck had ACLU attorney,

Michael Gross, on his show today--explaining why "TPT911" was not a free speech
issue and why it could incite libel/defamation suits.

Michael Gross hit it point by point--and hit so many great points right out of the
ball park. He was amazing. Beck played "devil's advocate" with Gross, and Gross
came back and explained why ABC is behaving incredibly reckless by airing this movie.

I learned a lot during the interview.

I didn't hear the entire show, but Beck basically said that we shouldn't take creative
liberties with 9/11. We should stick to the facts and that ABC blew it by fabricating
parts of it.

Many callers were upset too. I heard a caller, who blamed Clinton for 911--ask why
ABC had to do this--discredit their entire movie--when all they needed to do was
depict the truth. HA! Even the conservatives know it's a joke.

Anyone watching it will be thinking....ok, is this made up stuff or is this real? Ok
is that guy someone who is real or is he a composite of many people and something
the producer saw in a dream once????

They blew it. Big time.

[SeattleGirl]

12. Never have been able to bring myself to watch Beck, but I wish

I had seen this one today with Michael Gross. Sounds like he did a fantastic job. The remark Beck made, about how people shouldn't take liberties with 9/11, is the basic theme I've been hearing from many different people, regardless of their political bent, regardless of whether the detest Bush or Clinton. 9/11/01 is a day that any of us around at that time will never forget, a day so unbelievably horrendous, that I think it really did bond us together as a solid unit, even if only for awhile. You cannot go through something like that, and then stand back and just watch it be desecrated like ABC/Disney has done.

Yes, those people like Limbaugh and O'Rielly will use absolutely ANYTHING to make "libruls" look bad, anti-American, pro-terrorist, etc. But I think the majority of people in the country do NOT want that day messed with in any way, shape or form. To do that is to desecrate the memories of every person who was lost, it is to disrespect the friends and family left behind, and it is to dishonor what this country went through that day (and what many people are still going through).

I am not a flag-waving jingoist by any means, but damn it, do NOT mess with this. Do NOT make things up about real people who were involved in the years and weeks and days leading up to that day. Do NOT use it to damn a good portion of people in this country.

[napi21]

5. I think you're right. Even my totally non-political husband asked me

tonight at dinner, "what's the big deal with this made for TV movie? Why is it such a big deal?"

Now, to give you an idea of just how non-political he is...when I told him the movie was going toblame 9/11 on Clinton, he said "WHY?"

Yes, I bit my toung, swallowed hard, and said, "Simple! somebody has to take the blame, so they're portraying Clinton to be the bad guy and Shrub the hero!" He responded with a hrumph of disgust, and said "it figures."

Lots of people are talking about this film. I know my hubby wouldn't have watched it even without any publicity,and I surewon't watch it either!

I'm hoping that by Tuesday AM, all the reports will show that viewership ofthat heavily publicized film were DISAPPOINTING!

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

24. LOL, I'm married to the same guy! My husband is pretty politically savvy

but doesn't share my passion for knowing everything I can possibly learn about politics today.

And, he's a good barometer of how effectively the truth and facts are filtered down to the more perceptive, but not as information hungry, parts of our citizenry.

And, he was telling me tonight about this flawed movie.

Excellent. :hi: MKJ

[SoCalDemGrrl]

7. Respectfully disagee if it airs the right will ...

always be able to say that 'THEY SAW ON TV THAT CLINTON MISSED THE CHANCE TO KILL BIN LADEN"

in fact I can already hear my Bush loving stepfather say "You see... I've been telling you for 5 years noW it's

all about how Bill Clinton dropped the ball".


I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW THESE SLIMEBAGS ARE GETTING AWAY WITH IT...


UNLESS WE STOP IT COMPLETELY -- THE LIES WILL BE OUT THERE AND THE DUMBASSES WHO LISTEN TO RUSH ET AL WILL BELIEVE IT...

[Jackpine Radical]

9. The dumbasses who listen to Rush will believe it anyway.

But the controversy is gonna blow the whole issue out of the water for the relatively sane, if generally misinformed and under-informed, majority.

[EFerrari]

11. They're asking the WRONG question to protect their boy!

LOL!

:toast:

They're throwing his competence up for grabs weeks before the election.

Oops!

:)

[GreenTea]

13. Here's phone #'s -Still have two days to give Disney-ABC shit for their

lying propaganda crap.

Hopefully, they'll change more shit in the movie and throw up a disclaimer about it NOT being factual.

Don't give up, keep on those bastards.

Here's Disney-ABC phone numbers and email addresses...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2083093#2087706

[bunny planet]

14. Clinton should sue and serve them with a demand for all of Karl Rove's

emails again. I'm sure this is what he's been busy working on.

Of course, there probably isn't any legal grounds for doing that but no doubt it would be extremely informative.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

16. You are correct

And they've also managed to infuse our side with some righteous indignation. Never a bad thing to have as we go into an election cycle. ;)

They've failed, and in the process have wasted millions of dollars they could have used to further their cause.

Ahh, I love it when truth wins.

[Justice Is Comin]

17. I've been saying for three days now,

I hope they air it. I've never seen one of the three big networks implode before.

There is no upside to them for this, none. The lie fest is now a laughing stock, harpooned by every political stripe, power level and legal profession.

Sinclair found out what the wrath of riling up Americans will do and that was mild compared to what ABC is going to face. We haven't even started warming up yet. Once they put it in the public domain, their troubles just begin.

There are so many fincancial legal ramifications here, I don't know where to start. Even the actors have a potential case for deceptive representations made to them and can easily show that it may well have tarnished their image. It puts ABC credibly in the spotlight of the FCC for abuse of the public trust and misuse of the public airwaves. Disney is screwed. That doesn't even take into account the boycott repercusssions. Or the gift they have handed the Democrats.

There was a shot heard around the world. This will be the fuck up heard around the world. :toast:

[glitch]

25. You and me both.

To us being right: :toast:
Shocked that BBC is running it though, they actually have a reputation to lose.

[formercia]

31. The Mother of all Fuck-ups.

as Saddam would say.

[Chimichurri]

19. It doesn't take much to appease us. No wonder they kick our asses

all the time. The sad rewrite of the material that scholastic will still provide satisfied everyone and now we should be happy because ABC is still airing this destructive inaccurate propaganda piece? I'm sorry but you've got to be kidding me.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

27. I just heard on CNN about 5 minutes ago that ABC is still considering

pulling the movie.

No giving up here. The gauntlet has been thrown.MKJ

[gasperc]

21. It has added mobilization to liberals

far more than the intent of mobilizing con-servatives

[Solly Mack]

23. It will cause people to question the need to lie

and it will cause some people to begin to ask

but the lies will also become more deeply entrenched, harder to combat - and the doubt allows Bush some leeway. And Bush needs that doubt if he is to get away with all of his crimes.

When you begin this kind of propaganda campaign, it's not to convince all the people - but just enough of the people. It's to spread doubt by spreading an alternative to believe in...it's like in court, you want there to be reasonable doubt of guilt...so you shape events to reflect that...as long as there is doubt, guilt is in question.

Take the entire last 7 days into account...Bush's torture speeches, justifying his crimes...bin Laden tape..ABC hit piece...another Bush speech during the hit piece...culminating in the "anniversary" of 911.

It's a masterpiece of propaganda.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

26. Yes, however, they haven't had to contend with this level of anger from

the citizenry, before.

And, the MSM outlets that tap into that anger, by merely reporting the truth, will get lots of revenue.

ABC, FOX and CNN are fighting among themselves to divide up the backwash viewership.

Meantime 60-70% of us are demanding accountability.

We, the people. MKJ

[Solly Mack]

28. And I hope that anger does the job

and there is a lot of anger out there...the smart move would be to tap it.

[ginnyinWI]

29. I think the Right is underestimating the public

First: I know, I know, there is that percentage who would follow the prez anywhere at any time, but they didn't need a movie to convince them that it was all Clinton's fault. That's their default position--of course the Democrats caused every problem in the history of this nation!

But then consider the other 75% of us. Even the non-political types have got to have a sense of how over-the-top all of this propaganda is. How if someone tries that hard to convince you of something, something smells fishy. Most people understand this, even if they don't get the nuances.

That's why I think they're hurting themselves by all of this pounding, this over-reaching. There is something in the American character which says, "wait just a minute---don't tell me what to think or how to feel!"
Nothing they are saying has any basis in fact. They are arguing with straw men and shadows, and that won't go far enough to make people really believe it.

[Solly Mack]

30. I'm hoping that is the case

that the anger is just too deep

Still..

The ABC hit piece isn't directed at those who are angry about Bush, Iraq and everything else...it doesn't need to be. Disinformation plants doubt...that's it purpose. That doubt allows for an escape...escape for the conservatives who are now distancing themselves from Bush...escape for Bush...under whose watch 911 took place.

Bush lied and people died. That's a fact...but if they call it bad intelligence (and they do) then how can it be Bush's fault if he got bad info...then Bush has a way out.

Bush ignored everything Clinton said to him about UBL and Al Qaida...he ignored Hart-Rudman...but if the doubt can be planted that it was really Clinton's doing...then that gives Bush a way out.


I'm just saying this massive propaganda campaign is designed to draw any backlash away from Bush...from conservative policy...

not saying it'll convert the angry...but then it doesn't need to

it'll still serve it's purpose

[cap]

32. yes and no... the visuals and repetition are what sinks in...

so we will need highly VISUAL counterattacks and REPETITION, REPETITION, REPETITION to get the message across: this is a Documentary gone DocuDrama because there is not enough TRUTHINESS to sustain it.