RE: A Despicable, Irresponsible Fraud
Posted by Tracy Russo on September 8, 2006 at 11:07 AM
Following up on our most successful petition campaign ever, DNC Executive Director sent the following e-mail to over 150,000 people who added their name to tell ABC to keep their "docudrama" off the air. (A slightly different version was sent to those who have yet to take action!)
Dear Fellow Democrat,
This is it: crunch time for getting the slanderous ABC television docudrama "The Path to 9/11" yanked off the air. The network schedule has this slanderous attack on Democrats slated to start on Sunday night, September 10, at 8 o'clock -- and as long as it stays on the schedule, we have work to do. Take a minute right now and tell Disney president Robert Iger to keep this right-wing propaganda off our airwaves:
http://www.democrats.org/pathto911/send
Here's the good news: the suits at ABC and the Walt Disney Company have started panicking under pressure, thanks to your ferocious response to the outrageous decision to put this irresponsible miniseries on the air. But until Disney quits defending its plan to broadcast conservative propaganda -- fraudulently presented to Americans as "based on the 9/11 Commission Report" -- the company should plan to keep taking every bit of heat we dish out.
Here's a quick catch-up on developments over the last 48 hours:
- President Clinton, through his attorney, rebuked ABC for producing a "factually and incontrovertibly inaccurate" miniseries -- and walked the network through three make-believe scenes in the "the Path to 9/11" that defame people and misrepresent events during his administration.
- Clinton's spokesman later stepped up the pressure, condemning Disney as "despicable" for "airing a fictional version of what is a serious and emotional event for our country. No reputable organization," he said, "should dramatize 9-11 for a profit at the expense of the truth."
- The families of September 11 victims have weighed in on the controversy, telling "entertainers" not to "promote misleading or incorrect information as fact to the public."
- House and Senate Democratic leaders hammered Disney president and CEO Robert Iger, in letters that questioned the company's commitment to its "reputation ... as a corporation worthy of the trust of the American people and the United States Congress."
- Scholastic has pulled teaching materials off its website and has scrambled to adopt a plan to help teachers show students "the differences between factual reporting and a dramatization," but is still encouraging teachers to show their students this propaganda.
Thanks for helping to make all this happen by joining over 150,000 Americans who told Disney president Robert Iger to keep this cheap right-wing miniseries off our airwaves. But our work isn't done. Before we deliver your letter today, tell your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues to insist that Disney and ABC live up to its duty to tell the truth:
http://www.democrats.org/pathto911/send
Thank you,
Tom
Tom McMahon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee
Comments (21) «
These strongarm tactics are something I would expect from the Bush Administration. If they were attempting the same thing we would be all over them with criticizm -- and rightfully so.
Since when did our party stand for censorship and squelching the free exchange of ideas? I am sorely disappointed in this pathetic display. It's time for me to move on from the Democratic Party. I'll be sitting this year out.
These strongarm tactics are something I would expect from the Bush Administration. If they were attempting the same thing we would be all over them with criticizm -- and rightfully so.
Since when did our party stand for censorship and squelching the free exchange of ideas? I am sorely disappointed in this pathetic display. It's time for me to move on from the Democratic Party. I'll be sitting this year out.
We have to remember that what goes around, comes around.
ABC (along with the administration) is playing into the hands of bin Laden, who does not want us to leave Iraq. He wants us to stay there because he promised to destroy us politically, economically, and militarily. That's why he keeps releasing these horrific tapes just before elections so that we will stick with the Republicans who have taken his bait. So far, he has been right on the money.
What fools the Republicans are. Led by the scrappy Bush who won't back down no matter what. Especially when his religion is threatened. We have to accept the fact that we will be in Iraq, under the guise of fighting terror, until we are broke, all of our good young men are gone or terribly wounded, and our country is in political turmoil. God save us.
Since when is calling for FACTUAL representation considered censorship??? Smearing a former president, distorting facts, and airing a show for political gain is NOT abhorent to you?
Don't let the door hit you in the butt on your way out of the Democratic party.
Libertas
Since when is calling for FACTUAL representation considered censorship??? Smearing a former president, distorting facts, and airing a show for political gain is NOT abhorent to you?
I would think the fact that this fictionalized movie going into high schools would encourage any person to question where this government is trying to take us.
Perhaps you are just a republican in sheep's clothing?
Don't let the door hit you in the butt on your way out of the Democratic party.
I am guessing that a "docu-drama" is supposed to be a dramatized documentary -- with the drama providing an entertainment component for those who would never sit through a real news documentary. The "docu" part of this concoction implies that this film should have the journalistic standards of a documentary, with diligence given to full research, accuracy, and truth. Apparently, the research and consultation for this film was limited to that which would portray a desired conclusion -- much like the selective use of some information and the supression of important facts that slickly misled the public to war in Iraq.
I am all for exchanges of ideas and against censorship. However, I abhor the abuse of power that can abuse the sacred responsibilities of journalism that are vital to democracy. Some named characters in this film, who have been allowed to see only portions and have denounced those as completely false, should have the opportunity within this film to correct what they perceive as misinformation and untruths. Absent sufficient editing and corrections, I hope ABC and Disney are prepared to defend themselves against libel at the very least.
We need to step up and stop allowing the right wing to walk all over us. Come on! This is a critical moment in history for all of us.
Leebie
Wasn't 9/11 dramatic enough without fictionalizing it.
The problem with the right wing and their pundits are they will use this ABC version of things as fact, just as Fox News does. We need a serious examination of the events leading up to and after 9/11 and let the chips fall where they will, it is too important to history not to do so; i.e. 9/11 commission report!
What makes the airing of "The Path to 9/11" more pathetic is that the folks at ABC/Disney knew that this piece of garbage would create a public outcry... This is nothing more than a marketing tool and a shameless attempt to increase visibility to "their product" and thus boost viewership when it airs.
I really don't see what you are whining about. Madeline Albright was none too bright when she insisted on telegraphing our planned attack on Osama by giving advance notification to Pakistan.
Sandy Berger was just plain stupid to not order the attack on Osama when he had the chance.
Slick Willy should've kept it in his pants long enough to treat the office of the President with the respect it deserved. The Lewinsky drama was a completely avoidable distraction.
This is CYA at its worst. There was a time when the Party had more integrity than this, though it's been decades.
Posted by tuxiecat on September 8, 2006 at 02:26 PM
That's the most astute thing I've heard said so far about this.
Here we have ABC commericialing and seeking to make money off the 5th anniversary of 9/11 by fictionalizing the events that led up to it. Not only are they showing a lack of respect for those that died and their families, they are also making a mockery of the 9/11 Commission's work.
But then nothing is sacred in this country now that the Republicans are afraid of losing power.
When is Disney's next shareholder's meeting? I bet there are enough Democrats that own stock personally or through their 401Ks/mutuals funds that they could stage a major "incident."...questioning the management/the boards interest in protecting shareholder returns with a possible boycott.
CAN ANYONE TELL US WHO IS GOING TO ADVERTISE DURING THIS SERIES?
The people at ABC and Disney need to put a stop
to this sham of a movie before it's too late.
How on earth did they think they could get away
with these out right lies. The truth always wins
out in the end and they will be sorrier for it.
The people at ABC and Disney need to put a stop
to this sham of a movie before it's too late.
How on earth did they think they could get away
with these out right lies. The truth always wins
out in the end and they will be sorrier for it.
The tragedy and historical significance of that fateful day and the events leading up to the attack need not be minimized by "dramatizing" it. Most Americans saw it unfold before their very eyes. How more dramatic do you need it to be? 9/11 will more than likely be the single most significant historical event of my(our) life time. Discussions and presentations of this tragedy should be made for educational purposes and to gain insight into its impact ... NOT to entertain. Dramatizing this event infers the latter.
Posted by LYLE on September 8, 2006 at 03:55 PM
The last I heard was that ABC was going to run it without commercials. I assume a GOP think tank with some trumped up patriotic name is underwriting the broadcast.
Good question, LYLE.
Freedom of Speech must be protected and along with that we must protect the truth. Mass media is so powerful! Remember what happened when "War of the Worlds" was first broadcast by radio in 1938? People actually believed we were being invaded by Martians! It was also played in a mock-documetary format well ahead of its time. Well this is much subtler and seems intentional. Americans won't run for cover in the literal sense...they'll just be more likely to vote based on what they saw on TV.
Posted by wxgeek on September 8, 2006 at 05:30 PM
Don't ever underestimate the need by some to make money off any tragedy and the ability of political forces to take advantage of it.
billmann1 - Why did I think you were writing a poem?
I present for your reading pleasure:http://www.defendreagan.org/
Think about it.
This show is not a big deal. From reading the 911 report it is fairly accurate. The party is just giving more and more free publicity when we should be doing things which will count into votes.
So what if Clinton screwed up? We all knew Albright was a ding bat, so why is everyone defending her now? We sure can't defend Sandy Berger after his little "pants stuffing" of classified documents.
If we are to stand a chance we better get busy doing what will win votes, not worrying about some stupid TV docudrama that likely no one would have watched before.
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