The Fallen
So I saw Nightline's tribute to the soldiers killed in Iraq this last Friday. After having watched it, I think Sinclair Broadcast Group's decision to preempt the show looks even more ridiculous now.
Sinclair argued that the reading of the names of those killed in Iraq and having their pictures shown was "not in the public interest."
"While the Sinclair Broadcast Group honors the memory of the brave members of the military who have sacrificed their lives in the service of our country, we do not believe such political statements should be disguised as news content. As a result, we have decided to preempt the broadcast of Nightline this Friday on each of our stations which air ABC programming.
In the end, Sinclair got blasted because their decision to preempt the show was so blatantly a "political statement" in light of their monetary contributions to the Bush campaign. I think John McCain had the best comments on the matter in a letter he sent to Sinclair:
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. 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.
Jesus General also lanced Sinclair through the heart with his own biting sarcasm here. Score one for the good guys, and never forget those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
posted by Hankblog @ 5/03/2004 01:17:00 PM
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