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Republicans gone too far! 7 ABC stations won't air NightLine tribute to 500 soldiers
7 ABC affiliates ordered not to air 'Nightline'
Order draws sharp response from network and angry calls Thursday, April 29, 2004 Posted: 11:37 PM EDT (0337 GMT) (CNN) -- Sinclair Broadcast Group has ordered its seven ABC stations not to broadcast Friday's "Nightline" that will air the names and photographs of the more than 500 U.S. troops killed in the Iraq war. In a statement online, the Sinclair group said the "Nightline" program "appears to be motivated by a political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq." Sinclair's decision, announced Thursday, drew angry calls from the public and a sharp response from ABC News. "We respectfully disagree with Sinclair's decision to pre-empt 'Nightline's' tribute to America's fallen soldiers," ABC News said in a statement. "The 'Nightline' broadcast is an expression of respect which simply seeks to honor those who have laid down their lives for this country." Some of the stations have received many calls and e-mails in response to Sinclair's decision. "I have not gotten one positive response," said an assignment desk editor at WSYX, the ABC station in Columbus, Ohio. WEAR in Pensacola, Florida, has been inundated with phone calls and e-mails. A man who answered the phone in the station's newsroom said people mostly wanted to know why the decision was made. On the Web site for WLOS in Asheville, North Carolina, the station invited viewers to e-mail the station and said it would forward the messages to Sinclair. The company's other ABC stations are in St. Louis, Missouri; Charleston, West Virginia; Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Springfield, Massachusetts. The show, titled "The Fallen," will air at 11:35 p.m. Friday. In it, newsman Ted Koppel will read the names of the U.S. troops killed in action while their pictures are shown to viewers. As of Thursday, 533 U.S. troops have been killed in action in the Iraq war; another 204 troops have died from nonhostile incidents. Sinclair general counsel Barry Faber confirmed the company told its ABC affiliates not to air Friday's Nightline. "We find it to be contrary to public interest," he said. ABC said that on the first anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks it aired the names and pictures of all those who died on that day. "ABC News will continue to report on all facets of the war in Iraq and the war on terrorism in a manner consistent with the standards which ABC News has set for decades," it said. Sinclair's statement said ABC is politicizing the war. "Mr. Koppel and 'Nightline' are hiding behind this so-called tribute in an effort to highlight only one aspect of the war effort and in doing so to influence public opinion against the military action in Iraq," the statement said. According to campaign finance records, four of Sinclair's top executives each have given the maximum campaign contribution of $2,000 to the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign. The executives have not given any donations to the campaign of Sen. John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee, the records showed. Sinclair owns and operates, programs, or provides sales services to 62 stations in 39 markets, according to its Web site. In addition its ABC outlets, Sinclair's television group includes 20 Fox, 19 WB, six UPN, three CBS and four NBC affiliates, and two independent stations. It reaches approximately 24 percent of all U.S. television households, according to the Web site. ABC News will show the tribute live on its large television screen in New York's Times Square. REPUBLICAN SCUM |
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So I show it then After they show all our Soliders that died! They should show what they died for!! You Know like all the things they accomplished over in Iraq! Just the little things like this: Iraq Reconstruction Accomplishments: A Brief Overview Working in close cooperation with Iraqi nationals and the Coalition Provisional Authority to improve the lives of Iraqis, USAID is devoting substantial resources throughout the country to restore critical infrastructure, support the delivery of healthcare and education services, expand economic opportunities, and improve governance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Restoring Essential Infrastructure Objective - Rebuild and rehabilitate the vital components of Iraq's infrastructure Program Areas Power/Water and Sanitation/Transportation Airports/Umm Qasr Seaport Irrigation Systems Telecommunications Facilities Schools, Health Facilities, and Select Government Buildings Key Accomplishments An Iraqi student inside a classroom in Baghdad. Photo by Bechtel National Generated 4,518 MW on October 6, surpassing the pre-war level of 4,400 MW. USAID is working to add 827 MW of capacity through new generation and rehabilitation projects. Conducting water and sanitation projects worth $183 million that will benefit 14.5 million people. Rehabilitating three key bridges (Khazir, Tikrit, and Al Mat) critical to the flow of passengers and goods throughout Iraq. Al Mat Bridge was the first to be completed and reopened March 3. Reopened Umm Qasr seaport on June 17. Approximately 40 ships offload cargo per month. Completed emergency work to prepare Baghdad and Basrah airports for operations. More than 5,000 flights have arrived and departed Baghdad International Airport since July, which now averages more than 20 non-military movements per day. Restored international calling service and activated more than 140,000 subscriber lines in Baghdad. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Supporting Essential Health and Education Services Objectives - Ensure basic health care needs of population are met; improve access to and quality of education. Program Areas Emergency Health care/Health Care Education Strengthening Iraq's Health Care System School Renovation/Teacher Training Accelerated Learning Program School supplies to Iraq's Children US/Iraqi University Partnerships Key Accomplishments Vaccinated 3 million children through monthly national immunization days. Equipping 600 facilities in seven target governorates to provide essential primary healthcare services. Trained 750 people who are training more than 2,000 primary healthcare providers in maternal and child health services. Distributed high-protein biscuits to more than 240,000 children and pregnant and nursing mothers. Renovated 2,356 schools nationwide. Distributed 1.5 million secondary school student kits, 808,000 primary school student kits, and 81,735 primary school teacher kits. Printed and distributed 8.7 million revised math and science textbooks to governorates throughout Iraq. Trained 860 secondary school master trainers, who trained 31,772 secondary school educators nationwide. Awarded five grants worth $20.7 million to establish partnerships between American and Iraqi universities. Giving more than 600 out-of-school students a second chance through the Accelerated Learning Program. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Expanding Economic Opportunity Objectives - Rejuvenate the Iraqi economy and rebuild Iraq's agricultural sector. Program Areas Microenterprise/Tax and Regulatory Structure Agriculture and Irrigation Rehabilitation Private Sector Development/Agribusiness Currency Exchange and Auction Key Accomplishments Implementing 17 high-priority activities with the CPA to reform Iraq's currency, state-owned enterprises, small businesses, banking system, taxation system, budgeting, and utility administration. Began facilitating the Central Bank program to exchange new dinars for old on October 15, 2003, and completed the program January 15, 2004. There are currently 4.62 trillion new Iraqi dinars in circulation. Created more than 77,000 public works jobs through the National Employment Program. Developed a bank-to-bank payment system that allowed 80 banks to resume business by late October. Supporting the Iraqi initiative to revitalize agricultural production, stimulate income, and employment generation through the Agriculture Reconstruction and Development Program for Iraq. Coordinating the Marshlands Initiative to rejuvenate the marshlands ecologically, socially, and economically. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Improving Government Efficiency and Accountability Objectives - Enhance local government administrations and interim representative bodies; promoting community development in cooperation with the NGO community. Program Areas Improvements to Service Delivery Rapid Response Grants Local Governance Administration NGO Community Development Programs Increasing Citizen Participation Interim Representative Structures Key Accomplishments Local governance teams are working in all 18 governorates as part of CPA Governance Teams. Facilitated an interim structure of government, the Governorate Council, to represent the population of 18 governorates, including Baghdad. Established 16 governorate councils, 78 district councils, 192 city or sub-district councils, and 392 neighborhood councils, allowing more than 19 million people to engage in local policy discourse. Committed $2.4 million for the implementation of the CPA's nationwide Civic Education Program to introduce Iraqis to democratic principles and ideas in preparation for the upcoming transition to sovereignty. Awarded rapid-response grants worth $13.4 million to allow local governments to deliver essential services. Rehabilitated nine key central government ministries, Baghdad mayoral buildings, headquarters of nine Baghdad municipalities, and urban water and electric authorities, while providing 40 directorates and agencies with enough furniture, equipment, and basic office supplies to enable them to return to service. Assisting local governments in budget formulation. Established more than 660 community associations in 16 governorates as part of a campaign targeting grassroots democracy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Humanitarian Assistance Objectives - Anticipate and respond to emergency humanitarian needs. Key Accomplishments Immediately after the conflict, provided 516,800 metric tons of food worth over $389 million through the World Food Program. Deployed one of the largest ever Disaster Assistance Response Teams, including doctors, public health professionals, water and sanitation experts, food distribution and agricultural specialists, and other experts. Pre-positioned substantial amounts of food and supplies before the war: water, hygiene and health kits, blankets, and plastic sheeting. Awarded grants to staff and prepare U.N. agencies and NGOs for response. Repaired water and sanitation facilities quickly and furnished emergency healthcare assistance. Distributed medical kits containing enough medicine and supplies for 10,000 people for three months. Back to Top ^ http://www.usaid.gov/iraq/accomplishments/ |
I'm sure the GFY repubs have a perfect explanation for this! :1orglaugh
It's probably a National Security or Terrorist related issue. Or maybe NOT! :winkwink: Shouldn't we be fair and allow them to open mouth and insert foot BEFORE calling them names?! :glugglug |
Disgusting.
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They are scum.
"ABC said that on the first anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks it aired the names and pictures of all those who died on that day." It figures they didnt have much of a problem with that because it got Bush his Oil but now that they want to show the people bush sent into iraq and died it's a different story? Wow. |
I would like to see someone read the names of all of our soldiers that are in Iraq protecting my Freedom, about 125-130k. That would be great!
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It's a pure anti war propaganda piece.
Many parents are mad as hell but he could care less. I can't wait to all of these over the hill hippies retire. :Graucho |
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the excuse is that its a 'tribute' because people don't see names, just numbers. i wonder who they ask but i for one see the faces/stories all the time. i see every other day the families being interviewed after a troops death. ABC has an agenda and are using this to fan the flames to put an uglier face on the war. the people who use their power to not have it shown have an agenda to keep the bad perspective off the tv. both sides are scum, and society falls for both sides instead of condemming them all together. such bllshit. |
theDUDE... it may BE to fan the feelings to be against the war... but hmmm, isn't that one of our rights? Or do you read the first admendment some OTHER way?
If this sort of thing is allowed to continue, the right to assemble as well as to say what you want will be next. It's natural progression. |
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The standards are to do the anniversary shows on things like this is when they are over! 9/11 happend in one day!So they had an anniversary show one year later! The war is not over so there is no anniversary yet! So ABC's own statement makes them look stupid in my eyes! I would also like to know why they are only showing those who died in Iraq! What about the other soliders fighting in Afgan. who died there? I guess they aren't qualifed to appear on their anniversary show? They don't fit into their political agenda maybe? They should air it so we can see it so we can see how much ABC really cares about our troops by using them as political tools! I won't ever watch anything from them again if it's as bad as it seems people who saw it are saying it is! ABC and the whitehouse forget one thing! Americans aren't stupid and can put two and two together!:winkwink: Will we know by watching it if it is political or not!If it is like they say it is then ABC will go down in flames!:1orglaugh |
Political agenda or not, it's a free country and they should be able to express themselves. Journalists aren't robots.
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GO March in the streets or something have talk shows about your view ect.. But to use the dead is disgusting! |
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NO! This really looks like Vietnam ( and yes, I know what I am talking about, because I was a teem in those years...) : when the soldiers will come back from Irak, people will spit on them or on their graves... |
I'm surprised at the 737 death total. Wasn't it only about 120 after the war had "finished"?
I guess the daily "2 or 3 killed" has added up. Surprising. :( |
500+ haha..how about multiply that by 4..same ol coverup game
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Bush knows he is gonna lose his job, nothing new here
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Sorry Bambi... the last time they had a peace march and physically drug channel 6's building along, they got a ticket for scuffing the pavement.
It IS an anniversary... tomorrow of Dubya saying the heavy war was OVER. Whether its a tv station or a person, they should have the right to say what they want and over the airwaves if the can.. Whats next? Jay Leno and David Letterman are taken off ther air for poking fun?? |
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People still watch TV?
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Why can't republicans just change the channel instead of having shows taken off air
POLITICALLY INCORRECT - BILL MAHER THE REAGANS - CBS HOWARD STERN - CLEAR CHANNEL NIGHTLINE - ABC WHO IS NEXT? |
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we'll have all the choice we'll ever need. |
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If your going to quote Bush saying the war is over your wrong he never said it was over his exact words were: "The battle of Iraq is one victory in a war on terror that began on September 11th, 2001, and still goes on." One Victory not the whole WAR!http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/...q.bush.speech/ |
no matter how they see it, there are lots of tasteless or politically motivated things on tv.
no matter what the reason, i think taking the anonymity away from those who died for us is a good thing. they deserve the recognition - there is nothing else left for their families now but to know that each one has the respect of his country AS A PERSON instead of just being part of an anonymous "500 soldiers". |
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Bambi pry your foot out of your mouth long enough to read what I said...
I said HEAVY WAR... not THE war. I don't dote on ANY politicians words enough to totally memorize them for later quoting. Obviously some folks do. Sounds like you are grabbing for straws and sounding off that its just hunky dory to remove ANYthing that is LEGAL from the airwaves, just cuz. So its the annivesary of dubya saying the MAJOR COMBAT is OVER folks... SEE MY SIGN BEHIND ME?! It says so, so it MUST be true. And before you pull the tired old line out that its all the sailors fault for such a sign being there... someone even checks the screws in the floor and its alllllllll ok'd before the president even shows up ANYwhere. They knew that sign was there and ok'd it. |
The answer is sooo simple
They don't want you to put a face to the number of death Look how easy - 500 Soldiers have died in Iraq or 500 pictures of young boys and gals - smiling at you - in there uniform - but now you know they are dead It's not good for the president Many years ago they did that about Vietnam. Read the names and showed pictures and you know what it was for? ANTI War demonstration - To show the rest of the world how fucked up our government was at that time. Lot's of people my age, who actually go and vote and not just talk about it know the similarity, young kids don't and most Americans really don't care about the War in Iraq. My boys are all in draft age, I care... I think they should air it, gives the US a nice wake up call eh? |
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11:35 pm?? They buried it. |
It's always on at 12:35am here. ;-)
When the repubs are snug in their beds. Or SOMEones beds anyhow. :Graucho |
Ha, gawd I love this country.
NOT |
It's funny to see the Republicans so obviously running scared.
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I'd personally be ashamed if I was in that war right now. It's another fucking Vietnam, and we have/had no right to go over there! jDoG |
In a letter to the president of the group, John McCain, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam and is a leading congressional voice on military issues, called the decision to block the broadcast on the company's ABC affiliates "deeply offensive."
"There is no valid reason for Sinclair to shirk its responsibility in what I assume is a very misguided attempt to prevent your viewers from completely appreciating the extraordinary sacrifices made on their behalf by Americans serving in Iraq," Mr. McCain wrote. "War is an awful, but sometimes necessary business. Your decision to deny your viewers an opportunity to be reminded of war's terrible costs, in all their heartbreaking detail, is a gross disservice to the public, and to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. It is, in short, sir, unpatriotic. I hope it meets with the public opprobrium it most certainly deserves." http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/30/po...partner=GOOGLE |
Sig heil.
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what a slap in the face to each and every man and woman who gave their life in this war. its pathetic and sad that they want to pretend the dead don't exist.
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:thumbsup |
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Hail Victory |
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