Risks Seen for TV Chain Showing Film About Kerry

[Mizmoon]

Senator John Kerry could find his presidential hopes damaged this week when the 62 television stations owned or managed by the Sinclair Broadcasting Group carry a documentary about his antiwar activities 30 years ago.

But the Democratic nominee for the White House may not be the only one adversely affected.

Sinclair - the nation's largest owner of television stations, many of them in electoral swing states - is itself running a significant financial and political risk by telling its stations to pre-empt regular programming and carry the film. Already, Sinclair's decision has alienated some advertisers; enraged consumer and media watchdog groups, who are vowing to challenge its station licenses when they come up for renewal; and given pause to some analysts and investors considering the company's financial outlook.

Representatives of Sinclair did not return repeated phone calls seeking comment. But the company, whose executives have been among the largest media contributors to President Bush, has said the documentary deserves to be seen because it is news, and as such does not fall under federally mandated equal-time provisions for political candidates.

In the film, "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal," former prisoners of war in Vietnam call Mr. Kerry's 1971 Senate testimony a betrayal that prolonged their captivity. In that testimony, Mr. Kerry quoted other veterans talking about American atrocities.

The Kerry campaign has called the film a politically motivated attack that is unfair and inaccurate.

Link

FOLKS - READ THE WHOLE THING - IT'S NOT ALL BAD NEWS

[jean]

1. broadcasting it is un-American and a blatant abuse of the public airwaves

[Isere]

2. Take the pledge now!

Boycott the advertisers who funnel their money to Sinclair. If Bush is re-installed on Nov 2, then plan to spend the next four years punishing the advertisers who made this possible.

Never again!

[alittlelark]

4. I already did w/ Iams

but must wean pets off of it over 1 mo. I must purchase $20 or so $ worth.x(

[PartyPooper]

5. What is a good alternative to Iams?

I still have quite a supply of assorted Iams to feed my dog. So, what is a good replacement (in small cans) for my dog?

Thanks.

:-)

[henslee]

11. Innova is great! Better than Iams. visit naturalpet.com for info.

this is great stuff. All natural. Dry and wet. They have a senior formula too. I've been a dog guy my whole life, rotties, rescues, etc. IM me with any questions.

[PartyPooper]

19. Thank you. I will check it out!

:hi:

[crossroads]

13. Ask your vet...

You don't want to change your dogs diet instantly! I would give 1/2 iams and 1/2 mixture of the new food for a couple of days, and each day give more of the replacement. (I use science diet for my dogs)
Good luck!
:hi:

[PartyPooper]

20. Thank you. I will ask my vet. But, he may be partial.

He sells dog food out of his office. But, I will ask him for his opinion, anyway.

:hi:

[NNN0LHI]

15. Nutro is the best pet food made. Expensive. But worth it. I promise

http://www.nutroproducts.com/

[PartyPooper]

21. Thanks, Don!

I've been mixing Nutro "Mini Chunks" dry food with the canned Iams for a couple of years now. My dog eats that combination (along with "people" food like scallops, tuna, chicken, turkey, etc.). But, he won't eat it dry...unless he's particularly hungry. Of course, he's given treats during the day.

But, I will check out all of Nutro's other products.

Thanks.

:hi:

[NNN0LHI]

35. I put both my Keeshonds on Natural Choice Senior when they hit 2 years old

That is what my vet suggested. They have both done really great on it. Have not found anything better. And the pooches seem to really like the stuff too. Good luck.

Don

http://www.nutroproducts.com/ncdogsenior.asp

NATURAL CHOICE® SENIOR
For Dogs 5 Years or Older

Benefits of Natural Choice Senior:


Guaranteed to improve skin & coat
Guaranteed antioxidant protection for a healthy immune system
All natural fortified with vitamins & minerals
Guaranteed smallest stool volume
No chicken by-products
Glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints

Natural Choice Senior isn't like the typical dog food. It's special. It combines naturally great taste with the highest nutritional benefits. That's because Natural Choice Senior is scientifically formulated using 70 years of Nutro experience combined with research from veterinarians and nutritionists. And it's manufactured with state-of-the-art technology using only the finest ingredients for premium nutrition and superior performance.

Healthy Joints
New research shows that glucosamine and chondroitin, two naturally occurring dietary components, help repair and maintain joint cartilage. This is important for strong hips and healthy joints.

Rice & Wholesome Oatmeal
High quality carbohydrates are so good for your dog's stamina and energy. Rice is the most digestible cereal grain and contains natural anti-oxidants.

Real Chicken Protein
High quality chicken protein for muscle development and body maintenance. Fewer ingredients mean less opportunity for digestive upsets.

Stay Healthy Longer
Chelated minerals get into your senior dog's system more efficiently. By providing chelated zinc and manganese (along with other important minerals) Natural Choice Senior may help your senior dog stay healthy longer.

Smallest Stool Volume
A unique fiber system and high digestibility means small compact stools for easy cleanup. That means more nutrition for your senior dog and up to 56% less backyard cleanup.

Healthy Skin & Shiny Coat
With up to 158% more linoleic acid, combined with other key vitamins and mineral, we guarantee your dog will have healthy skin and a shiny coat.

Great Taste
All the nutrition in the world won't do your dog any good if he won't eat it. So we guarantee the great taste of Natural Choice Senior to be sure your dog eats enough to meet its nutritional requirements. In fact up to 95% of dogs tested preferred Natural Choice Senior.

more

http://www.nutroproducts.com/nccansenior.asp

NATURAL CHOICE® SENIOR
CHICKEN & RICE FORMULA
For Dogs 5 Years & Older


Benefits of Natural Choice Senior:


Guaranteed great taste
Real chicken protein
Helps support a healthy immune system
Scientifically formulated for dogs 5 years & older
Glucosamine & chondroitin for healthy joints
Guaranteed to improve skin & coat
All natural fortified with vitamins and minerals

more

[auburngrad82]

37. I agree. Nutro is the best

We've got five dogs, three of which are 9 years old, and they all love Nutro. Plus, they are all in great shape for their age.

[alittlelark]

22. 'Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul'

it is accessible in many areas now!

[PartyPooper]

25. Thank you!

:hi:

[alittlelark]

30. Tell your pet to 'ENJOY"!!!

<edited for fr-english>

[jdj]

27. I think Nutro products are top notch.

I began using them when one of my dogs developed dry skin, she has since passed on, but her coat became flawless and really shiny.

I think the ones I used were called Nutro Max, in lavendar cans.

[belle]

45. I've been giving my kitty Wellness--I think it's actually better than Iams

It's made with "real" food, no meat by-products. Anyway, he seems to like it.

[arikara]

49. Eagle Pack is really good

made with natural food, no byproducts. Iams is not one of the better ones although they would have you believe that they are the best.

[Lizzie Borden]

62. Yes, Eaglepack is good,

so is Ucanuba, and I still feed mine Science Diet. It's the one Iv'e had the most consistent results with over a period of time with different dogs.

[kranich]

56. We use

Science Diet products, they seem comparable but cost a little less.

[Iceburg]

61. Try Nutro Natural Choice ... a healthier and safer product

...(real meat -- no byproducts such as intestines, heads, feet.)
http://www.nutroproducts.com/naturalchoicedog.asp
My fur dotters luv it!

[Buck Rabbit]

6. I so pledge,

[jdj]

32. I tried to do the one-click letter and I think it had been hacked.

It kept sending me back saying there was an error.

If anyone can re-post that link, I would appreciate it.

[Tropez]

50. word is born

[bluestateguy]

3. Kerry will put them out of business if he wins

How? Just bypass the FCC all together, and use the USA Patriot Act to declare the Sinclair Group a terrorist organization, which would shut them down.

The neo-cons should be careful what they wish for (the Patriot Act) the just might get it.

[KittyWampus]

24. Maybe Kerry's Admin Could Get Them Under RICO?

[jdj]

33. I'm suspicious that Poppy Bush is behind Hyman

and probably tons of other polyester punks throughout America.

He's "ex" CIA, it just sounds like an 80's re-work of operation mockingbird.

[RaRa]

7. Confused

There's no mention of Iams (that I saw) and why would Lowe's be advertising there? I thought they were good Dems?

[crossroads]

8. I signed the petition!

Made phone calls to the advertisers that I was able to get ahold of and will continue to do my part tomorrow during business hours when their customer service depts are open.. I also sent many emails to friends and co-workers to do the same! It is time for our voices to be heard against this right-wing propaganda! I also made a donation to help the grand work! Go Dems!
:dem: :kick:

[factcheck]

10. I don't know

if they are 'good Dems' or not, but haven't I seen Wal-Mart trashed pretty good here? Wouldn't Lowes then, by extension, be 'bad' too?

Or did I miss something?

[jdj]

28. I've always heard Lowe's is heavily repuke oriented.

Actually, I think Home Depot is as well.

Since their main dollar comes from the timber industry, why would either support dems?

[KoKo]

39. I think it's Home Depot that's Repuke and not Lowe's, though.

Been some articles here on DU about Home Depot. Lowe's has more helpful staff, than Home Depot...imho.

[Lizzie Borden]

63. Iams is on the list.

Or it was on the original list as an advertiser.

[Iceburg]

9. Purge your home of P & G products now ...

P&G is a major advertiser on sinclair's network. The exective of p&g has provided in excess of $1,000,000 to the republican machine thru direct contributions and its very own PAC. This is an advertiser who will not back down. This is a company that alleges to be "alert to situations that pose questions of right and wrong." P&G has chosen to sit on the sidelines in silence, complicit with the sins of Sinclair.
In the words of Martin Luther King, Junior: "We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. "

Goodbye P&G

[jdj]

29. Too funny, this is the company the fundies call satanic.

Because of the stars and moom emblem

They think it is a satanic symbol, the stars and moon.

I have heard this forever, my mother will by nothing with the stars and moon on them, she won't have it in her house.

Wow, politics makes strange bed-fellows.

[silverpatronus]

44. P&G needs all the support it can get...

they have publicly come out in support of gay rights, especially gay marriage, and are taking a hit on the bottom line from the fundies. they need our support.

edited for a wrong word.

[conflictgirl]

47. I was going to say much the same thing

I boycotted P&G for a number of years, both for their environmentally destructive habits as well as a corporate culture that is frighteningly controlling over its employees. And yet, they have very vocally supported gay rights, sponsored local GLBT parades in Cincinnati where they are based, etc. It made my boycott of them a lot harder and I eased up on it a bit.

I will certainly be writing letters to P&G expressing my disapproval that they're supporting Sinclair with their advertising, but I don't think I'll be able to threaten an all-out boycott. It's so much easier when companies are completely unredeemable on all counts.

[Pithlet]

12. I hope it costs them dearly

It sounds like it will, regardless of who wins the election.

[henslee]

14. Sinclair is vulnerable to a shareholder suit. Not acting in best interest

of shareholders in a variety of ways.

[WhiteCross]

16. I de-programmed my local Sinclair station.

And for me, that means NBC. So I'm missing the few shows I watch (Scrubs, SNL). Before I did it, I phoned the station manager and asked if they were going to broadcast the movie. He was very polite, apologized, and told me Sinclair has given them no choice. I politely informed him I would be contacting their advertisers to let them know I would boycott their products and would ask my friends and family across the country to do so as well. Finally, I told the station manager that was the last day his station would play in my home.

[young_at_heart]

17. I just emailed (ABC) WLOS.......Asheville, NC

Been loyal viewers for years..........no more!

[jdj]

31. It's tough, when I was in Asheville I could not believe the

turnover at that place. It was like a revolving door, now I know why. They are such good folks, I used to keep Stan Pamfilis's son in daycare and he is a very nice man. Darcel Grimes is the only one who has stayed, and Tammy Wofford, Darcel has been there probably 20 years (probably way longer than Hyman.) Heather Childers is on Channel 9 in Charlotte now, and with Mike Bettis on the weather channel I can turn them on when I get homesick for Asheville.

I know these are a great group of people, and whenever I get bummed about the fundies I work for, then I draw inspiration from the WLOS folks.

[young_at_heart]

18. Forgot to say WELCOME to DU

Glad to have you aboard!

[WhiteCross]

42. Thanks!

[glitch]

23. Good Lord - check this guy Sinclair out

Smug, arrogant and not very attractive. Surprise!

[crossroads]

59. Wow, he's even wearing a *brown* shirt!

You know he is a Bushie.
:tinfoilhat: :dem:

[madrchsod]

26. earlier thread

today-the company has lost 80 cents a share -the major players have personally lost millions and the stocks ratings are dropping..

[jdj]

34. can you post a link to it?

[nedbal]

36. It dropped 7 cents, or 1 percent, on Friday to

The controversy of the last week comes at a time when Sinclair's stock, like that of other local broadcasting companies, has already been hammered by a sluggish advertising environment and the dashing of deregulation hopes. It has fallen 53 percent this year. It dropped 7 cents, or 1 percent, on Friday to close at $7.04, near its 52-week low of $6.87. Before The Los Angeles Times first reported Sinclair's plans to show the documentary more than a week ago, the stock was at $7.50.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/18/business/media/18sinclair.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5094&en=1bbebca7c5f805bf&hp&ex=1098072000&partner=homepage

[llmart]

38. Can anyone here give me a list of who to boycott?

I already boycott P&G products in my home.

[Gin]

40. their license is up for renewal.....moveon.org has an email campaign

to get it revoked. That may be one truly effective way to get these bas**rds where it hurts.

[jayctravis]

41. I have a question...

I haven't been watching tv much at all lately except for the debates, Comedy Central and Cartoon Network now and then for Adult Swim. And I know probably nobody is watching a Sinclair station much if at all right now.

Are they *advertising* this as a special, or are they just going to spring it on the viewers? I know if I tuned in as an average Joe and the show I was wanting to watch was preempted by something political, I'd either switch or turn it off, being somewhat miffed. I figure they're hoping to grab those that are still waffling and somehow haven't been paying attention to the internet and mostly radio news programs that have talked about this.

Anyone who is for Kerry by now *probably* isn't going to be swayed, so I'm predicting that they're preaching to the choir.

[GinaMaria]

43. Here you go

http://www.boycottsbg.com/advertisers/default.aspx

[llmart]

54. Thanks GinaMarie...

Since I practice voluntary simplicity, I spend very little money. The only companies on that list that I would even remotely buy anything from may be P&G and Johnson and Johnson. So I'll be extra careful with the few household purchases I may make. However, I may still send emails and lie and tell them I'm boycotting their products:)

[GinaMaria]

60. I used the one mass mailing

from the link on the top of this page. I added my own stuff to the letter at the bottom about how I will walk right by Betty Crocker and go for Duncan Hines. How Dr. Pepper and 7-up were on sale at the store this week and I walked right past the display. Our Home improvement needs will not be met by Lowes. And although my cats have been on Iams for 10 years, the current bag is almost up and I will switch them to a different brand, no matter how much cat puke I have to clean up. Told them that I would not serve Corona or Miller for my husbands birthday. I would not be buying him his new Tivo and DVD gifts from Best Buy or Curcuit City. That my nephew will not receive a Mattel made gift from me this year for his birthday or Christmas.

It was a lengthy message but this way all of the advertisers get to hear about the other ones since I named them in my letter. I told them if they stood up for the American people they would be rewarded with customer loyalty.

Unfortunatley, I use a lot of those products. Fortunately, my husband has so far gone along with any boycott I've participated in. So I'm not in it alone.

[Emboldened Chimp]

46. Sinclair stock is DOWN $0.36 or 5.11%

[Bozita]

48. now down $.42 (5.97%) at 2:07pm EDT

couldn't happen to nicer folks

[JPZenger]

51. Sinclair: 10% Stock Decline in 8 Hours of Open Trading

Chart for today is provided below. Sinclair's stock has decreased 50% in last 6 months, and 10% in the last 8 hours of open trading.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=SBGI&t=1d&l=on&z=m&q=l&c=

Maybe people have started to realize the huge conflicts of interest in having 4 shareholders owning less than half of the stock but controlling 95% of the votes.

[llmart]

55. Keep it up DU'ers.....

Keep up the pressure until their stock is in the toilet. That'll fix 'em.

[arikara]

52. The shareholders must be ecstatic with their decision...

Not!

:mad:

[Just Me]

57. I hope the price they pay for corporate-funded political propaganda,...

,...is enormous enough that they will either go belly-up or never do this anti-American, anti-democracy bullshit again!!!

[Bonobo]

53. I got a local sponsor to pull out their ads from WGGB!!!

I'm in Western Mass and kaoud's Oriental Rugs agreed to pull advertising with WGGB indefinitely in response to mine (and others I'm sure) e-mails.


A great DU victory i say!

:toast:

[demokatgurrl]

58. Please donate to Stop Sinclair

so they can run full page newspaper ads:


Donate Today: http://stopsinclair.kintera.org

[symbolman]

64. Here's a flash attack ad I did to support the fight

All the links are clickable and will help with this cause, use this please and pass it around, the more people that get it the more damage we can do to those bastards!

Turn up your speakers and get the word out with MEDIA as well..

Don't forget to WRITE to the Advertisers that have folded and THANK THEM -- when we did our Limbaugh Boycott we found that that is what helps them feel like they did the right thing..

Here's "Our Media is Broken"

Hope you like, my pleasure...

http://web.takebackthemedia.com/geeklog/public_html/staticpages/index.php?page=20041013042650709