Sinclair creates a great opportunity--for us!

[baltodemvet]

Sinclair's anti-kerry movie will be a great opportunity to mobilize out folks and the chance to have the last word going into the elections. Let's keep our cool and play it!

[movonne]

1. How is that???

[daveskilt]

2. huh?

[Guaranteed]

3. I think it's a good chance for us to destroy a stock's price

and take it over for ourselves.

Anyone want to get into 25% of America's households through their TVs?

[jazzfan]

4. Huh?

Free speech costs big money in USA. Play your damm corporate-funded slime movie.

[newyawker99]

18. Hi jazzfan!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[KharmaTrain]

5. Lots Of Opportunities

Several thoughts FWIW from an old mediatype

1.) We should invite a Sinclair competitors to show an airing of Fahrenheit 911 concurent to the Sinclair programming in those markets...or nationally. Michael Moore has stated that he would drop any Oscar considerations so it can go to free TV immediately. I know the Sundance Channel would air it as well, but it has such a limited audience.

2.) Attempt to purchase air time on Sinclair stations...under the same 527 rules it appears they're allowing this anti-Kerry crap to air either F911 or another program. If Sinclair refuses, which they can, this can be noted as grounds to force the FCC to fine or even revocate the company's licenses.

3.) Future groundwork to lobby for the revision of Telcom '96 that enables these large corporations to dominate cable and broadcast television and radio. The goal here is to give priority in licenses to local owners over national corporations.

4.) An activism wing to monitor broadcast stations that aren't fulfilling the requirements of their license and to either revoke or deny licenses through revisions of FCC rules and challenges.

Also...may I once again second the idea of picketing the Sinclair stations while this abuse of their licenses is taking place...a combination protest of this company's abuse as a public steward and a national show of unity by Democrats across the country on the threshold of the most important election in our lives, and possibly that of this nation.

I'm eager to help on this...Cheers!

[WiseMen]

6. Protest without COUNTER-PUNCH, just gives ratings boost to RW crap.

[baltodemvet]

7. Clarification

Think judo. I'm saying that this creates an opportunity for us to energize and mobilize our folks for the final push. And Kerry will have a sigular opportunity to respond. All eyes will be on him. He will get the last word just before people pull the lever. I see it as a gift.

[annabanana]

8. or we could fight it

the old fashioned way:
http://boycottsinclair.blogspot.com/

[baltodemvet]

9. By all means

I'm not arguing aganist a boycott.

[shraby]

11. Isn't there a rule against

airing stuff like that within 20 days of an election?

[Maccagirl]

10. Thanks!

I'm emailing them as we type. It's bad enought that I come across that POS Mark Hyman every time I channal surf.

[David Zephyr]

12. Who's Side Are You On?

We should be anything but "cool" about this illegal action by big money corporate media.

[baltodemvet]

13. Please read my clarification

I'm not saying do nothing--I'm saying that this gives us an opportunity to mobilize, respond and win.

[JerseygirlCT]

22. We need an idea, but I think you're right

I highly doubt that we have time to be successful in forcing Sinclair not to air this. And we all know that the FCC moves at the speed of light on these things, right?

But there must be some way we CAN succeed in using the notoriaty of the event to our advantage. We need some smart PR types to help create the spin -- to be followed with letter and phone campaigns.

I'm not saying ad boycotts are a bad idea -- why not try everything at once, though, and prepare for a broadcast?

Now if I only had a great idea...

[Erika]

14. I couldn't get thru to McCain to raise my objection

"web-site not responding". We need to keep on trying.

[GimmeDANEger]

16. worked for me...

I sent this:



Dear Sennator McCain-

As reported in the LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-na-sinclair9oct09,1,3472617.story), Sinclair Broadcasting is planning on using their television stations to air a film smearing Senator John Kerry's military service right before the presidential election. I know in the past that you have been critical of Sinclair's refusal to air the episode of Nightline which paid respect to the soldiers America lost in the current war, and I hope that you will do the same again. The American people deserve better than for their election to be decided by the underhanded smearing of a candidates military service. I trust that you will focus all of your resources to making sure that Sinclair does not outstep their boundries.

Thank you,
Dane ######

[you forgot Poland]

15. we need more than activism- we need legal intervention

to stop this. Who can (afford to) pursue this? the DNC, Moveon.org, Soros... I don't think the rabid, Right Wing CEO gives a rat's patoot about our hurt feelings- the only thing that he will listen to is a judge's order.

[newyawker99]

19. Hi you forgot Poland!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[you forgot Poland]

21. thank you!

[mcg]

17. David Smith, CEO of Sinclair, arrested for sex offense.

Inspired from the thread "They want to play hardball? Let's play hardball."

Here's more on Smith, the CEO of Sinclair and his arrest for a sex offense. So Smith wants to broadcast falsehoods about Kerry, OK, here's some TRUTH about Smith.

<http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/8578432.htm?1c>

<http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/001708.html>

<http://www.mystolennation.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=194>

<http://news.neilrogers.com/news/articles/2004050110.html>

<http://www.usnewslink.com/2004meatheads.htm>

'Mr. Smith has shown his contempt for the law, a disregard for moral conduct expected of those who possess licenses to broadcast across the public's airwaves...'

'his prostitute who identified Mr. Smith as her "regular date"'

This suggests that this was not just a one-time criminal offense, for why would a prostitute say this if it weren't true? For how long did Smith commit sex offenses? Does he still?

This shows just how hypocritical the FCC is, here we have a sexual deviant running 1/4 of our country's news stations and who won't honor the sacrifice of our soldiers, and the FCC comes down on Howard Stern. Why? because Stern dared to criticize the Bush administration. Smith, on the other hand, sucks up to them.

[newyawker99]

20. Hi mcg!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[noamnety]

23. Suggested strategy

Picketing of the local advertisers, and invite other news programs out to cover the picket.

The advertisers will NOT like being picketed, and will put pressure on the station to reconsider. The competing news stations may jump on the chance to cover a competitor's troubles.