NEW YORK — The conservative-leaning Sinclair Broadcast Group, whose television outlets reach nearly a quarter of the nation’s homes with TV, is ordering its stations to preempt regular programming just days before the Nov. 2 election to air a film that attacks Sen. John F. Kerry’s activism against the Vietnam War, network and station executives familiar with the plan said Friday.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-na-sinclair9oct09,1,4817545.story?coll=la-home-headlines
Good. That’s what a free press is supposed to do.
These guys are not the press. They are a private organization using private soft dollars to try and influence the election. They limited soft dollar campaign funds so now organizations spend it in ways that circumvent the law.
No matter which side you’re on you should not support this type organization. If you hate lobbyists then these organizations are even worse.
And Michael Moore is different how? His desire to run F9/11 the night before the election is no secret.
**These guys are not the press. **I’m sorry, I thought you said they owned a bunch of television outlets. That would make them the press.
They are a private organization using private soft dollars to try and influence the election. Oh, no, a private organization using private dollars to influence the election! Call the cops!
They limited soft dollar campaign funds so now organizations spend it in ways that circumvent the law. They shouldn’t have limited the funding in the first place. It’s restrictive of a Constituionally guarenteed right.
Companies that own television stations are called Media & Entertainment businesses. The “press” is a completely different thing.
A private organization using soft dollars to influence the vote is not the press. They are not reporting the news and are only providing one side of the story.
The consititution does not guarantee the right to limit funding - the law is being challenged under the “freedom of speech” definition.
I don’t think anyone is calling Michael Moore the press. And yes, he wants to influence the decision and has said so.
Companies that own television stations are called Media & Entertainment businesses. The “press” is a completely different thing.
I suggest your understanding of the First Amendment is rather narrow. If television stations are not part of the press and therefore not due Constitutional protection, I guess I’m entirely SOL when it comes to free speech, huh? After all, I’m just a private citizen, and not part of whatever you think constitutes the press.
A private organization using soft dollars to influence the vote is not the press. They are not reporting the news and are only providing one side of the story. So what? They don’t have that right?
The consititution does not guarantee the right to limit funding - the law is being challenged under the “freedom of speech” definition.
It was already challenged, and the challenge lost. Shamefully.
Actually, freedom of the press and freedom of speech are two different things. You aren’t part of the press. You do though have freedom of speech, and so does a guy who owns a big TV station.
I don’t think anyone is calling Michael Moore the press. And yes, he wants to influence the decision and has said so.
What’s your point? So both liberals and conservatives are trying to use the media, films in this case, to portray the opposite candidate in a negative light. Yet only the conservatives are wrong?
My definition of “free press” is one that is impartial and allows equal time.
I guess we’ll have to disagree. You can keep your PRAVDA.
you are trying to reason with the unreasonable.
That fatass came to speak at my campus a couple weeks ago. He is good at manipulating stupid people, and is the first to admit it.
I think “press” was derived from printing press, for newspapers and magazines. No big deal to me either way. J
Just noticed what word in the dictionary (well my version anyway) comes before press. Its President – scary……
Sorry, just bored at work, and as our PM has been elected for the 4th time in a row, I find the US elections more interesting (given the potential impact on the rest of the planet).
Kerry or Bush, don’t know who will win, just surprised that for a country that has accomplished so much, and is full of amazing gifted leaders and talented individuals, these are the two choices you are left with.
Cheers