Message from Wes Clark - RE: rightwing zealots & the FCC

Respect the Sacrifice -- Protect the Freedom -- Stop Government Censorship Today

Dear XXXX,

This past Veterans Day, ABC honored America's vets for a third straight year by airing "Saving Private Ryan." But 66 local ABC affiliates, bullied by a small group of right-wing zealots who objected to the realistic violence and language in the film, asked the Federal Communications Commission for a ruling to protect themselves before proceeding.

How did the FCC respond? Silence. They left the stations hanging out to dry. And these 66 affiliates, fearing hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, chose not to air "Saving Private Ryan," depriving one-third of the country from watching it.

Just a few weeks ago, the FCC finally ruled that the stations could air the film -- but it was too little, too late. And in the meantime, the damage to our democracy had been done -- a small group of right-wing zealots had held these stations hostage, using the fear of fines as a political tool, and the FCC played along.

This kind of de facto censorship is wholly unacceptable. We deserve a government that will stand up to these groups, leaving the decision about whether or not to watch these programs up to us. That's our right as Americans. That right was secured by the sacrifice of the fighting men and women portrayed in "Saving Private Ryan" and by all of us who have served in America's armed forces.

I urge you to email FCC Chairman Kevin Martin by signing my petition below and demand that he end this de facto censorship. Tell Chairman Martin that we will not stand idly by as the government enables the erosion of one of our most precious freedoms.

And then invite everyone you know to join our cause.

Sincerely,

Wes Clark

Link to petition: http://www.securingamerica.com/ (it's the first action item, you can't miss it.)

:)

:kick:

Until you put it on T.V. and let people see what war looks like. :eyes:

Passed it on!

"Saving Private Ryan" came out when I was still reporting and I went to the theaters to see it with a bunch of WWII vets, including one who survived the Battle of the Bulge.
All of them - every single one of them - broke down in tears at the realism portrayed in that movie. And all of them - every single one of them - said that this movie should be viewed before we ever venture to get involved in another war. They said that, while we had to get involved in WWII, this is what happens and we must make absolutely sure that we're fighting the right cause before doing this to another generation of young men (and now women).

If you are going to be a cheerleader for war, the very least you can do is see exactly what your cheering for.


I guess they didn't want to dirty their beautiful minds. :eyes:

it will always have its fascinations. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular."

-- Oscar Wilde, in The Critic as Artist

Clark is really tackling a lot of great liberal issues.

The U.S. Constitution was designed to protect the inherent and inalieble rights of America's citizens. Specifically, it was crafted to protect the minority from excesses of the majority.

Increasingly, we are seeing minority splinter groups from a conservative ideology with an extremist agenda having an impact on the entire country. Were the constitutional rights of individuals from these groups being violated, I would be the first to sign on and march in protest. However, this is in no form or fashion happening.

Whereas I can choose with my remote control what to watch, the same is true of those with an agenda who wish to control and limit my choice.

The FCC must not be complicit in the undoing of one of our most precious freedoms. I urge you to put an end to this kind of de facto censorship, and allow the American people to make their own informed decisions about what we choose to watch in our own homes.

Sincerely,

n/t

Give 'em hell, Wes.

He's out talking in different states. He never left.

Masterful and compelling essay.

he also talks about the PBS Frontline episode:

Regrettably, this is not the only time this tactic has been utilized effectively.

Emboldened by their success, these special interest groups used the threat of FCC fines to pressure many cash-strapped PBS affiliates into airing a sanitized version of a "Frontline" documentary about our American fighting force in Iraq. This is wholly unacceptable in a free society because it denies us the ability to know for ourselves what it means to wage war.

I love it! Talk about framing the bad guys into a corner. (And God forbid anyone should see what war really looks like. We might actually decide to try to find ways to avoid it...)

I don't think I've ever heard the phrase "right-wing zealot" before. "Zealot" makes me think of dangerous religious fanatics and terrorists.

I like the reframing.

He gets to smack around the fringe fundie fanatics without attacking the church or Christians or religion. And by defending WWII vets, he stakes out the higher moral ground by default. The General's instincts are impeccable.

You are so right (uh correct). I am trying to collect some reframing words--thanks for bringing this to our attention.

...that's way you don't want to have them." ~Wes Clark


Commander Bunny-pants, the man who served in the bars of Alabama, doesn't know shit.

and it won't be pretty.

Right Wing Zealots is a great label. Let's keep using it. Fits to a "T"!

I second the motion that this should be published as an op-ed everywhere!

:party:

you wonderful Newbie, you! :headbang:

I also contributed to WesPac:

The following summarizes your contribution:
Total Contribution Amount: $25.00
Reference ID: 15116153

Thanks for the heads up Lara :)

Done

Welcome! :toast:

We've seen the politicization of the FCC under Powell. This is the place the GOP goes to put the media in a hammerlock. This is the most corrupt administration in my lifetime. We need to take up the fight before it reaches us here on the internet.

I know that at least three (maybe four) people who have posted here so far are in red states (two from Tennessee).
I just think that's something worth mentioning. We red-staters understand the tactics of the neo-cons and religious wingnuts far deeper than some in blue states (I'm not saying blue-staters aren't savvy - it's just that sometimes, when they come down here and see some of the everyday stuff we have to put up with, it shocks them that it's allowed to continue).
And, because of this understanding, it's apparent we consider Clark to be the toughest of the tough in combatting these idiots.
Just a thought.

From another red stater. :hi:

Wes received more endorsements from Democratic elected officials in TEXAS than any other candidate.

If those guys don't know what it takes to win in a red state... no one does 'cos they have to do it day in and day out.

Hell, nobody would even campaign with our 2004 nominee in Texas unless they were in 'safe' districts.

Texans ran TO Wes, though regardless of whether they were 'safe' or not.

and thank you Clark2008 for posting this. :)

This is a great cause for Wes to take up.

It warms my heart when I see Clark working to get folks together to fight the good fight. Clark 2008, IMHO.

Check this out:

http://www.military.com/Opinions/0,,Clark_031805,00.html

He's taking his message STRAIGHT to our men and women in the service!!!

The op-ed, posted above, is on the military.com website!! And there's a link to WesPAC there, too!

:loveya: This is gettin' good!!!

Very inspiring!

Paint the Republicans as being "un-american." Clark knows exactly where to hit them. How many other Democrats can get an essay like this featured on military.com, a website for military families and personnel?

of the General on the phone. Where did you find it?

Just steal from here if you'd like.

Thanks!

I'm glad he's speaking out.

The Dems have gone mum on Terry Schiavo case...they're worried about the next election.

This puts us on the side of "Saving Private Ryan" vs right wing zealots who discourage the truth and honoring of the military.

When I found this earlier today, I found that many people were very happy to sign this petition. And they should be. What is going on at the FCC is a misuse and an abuse of power with no accountabilty.

"...using the fear of fines as a political tool."

It is good to know that someone with a public voice and guts to use it, agrees with me..and you.. and you. We are lucky. Thank you Wes Clark.

Coming from a military man, & the way he's framing it, puts the fundies on the defensive, which is how it should be.

Wes on the Offense! Terrific!

:bounce: Go Clark!!!

and done!

And I will sign the petition tomorrow. Not only do we want to give him our support, but he needs to see how serious WE are about this issue.

Recommended.

"War is brutal. Even masterful war films such as "Private Ryan" clearly are not suitable for everyone. The right to make that decision ourselves, however, does belong to everyone. That right was secured by the sacrifice of the fighting men portrayed in "Private Ryan" and by all of us who have served in America's armed forces."

I'm a person who dislikes violence in movies so much that I made the decision not to watch "Saving Private Ryan" when it was on television here. My husband and daughter also hired the video of it a couple of years back and I chose to do something else while they watched it.

I had no problem at all with them seeing it, and think it's important -- like the General says -- that we understand what it means to send people to war.

I think I've got a good enough imagination not to need the picture painted for me any more clearly than I've had it painted by reading about war.

I don't respond well to overly graphic violence, myself. I do think, however, that people need to be made constantly aware of what's really involved in the superficial reports and faceless stats that pass for war coverage these days.

And it makes me sick to my stomach that anyone can support censorship when freedom of speech is one of the main things that American servicepeople have been dying to protect for centuries. That's one of the reasons that I think it's perfect for Clark to carry this banner...

Go get'm Wes

a major political figure standing up against censorship!

...is that we're not talking about Janet Jackson or Howard Stern or sex in the media. We're talking about Oscar winning portrayals of the "Greatest Generation" at the precise moment in time when they made the ultimate sacrifice for Freedom. I'm amazed that Bush can even say the word without his mouth turning to salt...

Yes, right here in America!

Oorah!

:kick:

again to everyone for helping with this, and especially to Clark2008 for posting it here. Remember to pass this on to friends and others on your own lists!

:kick:

If we want to influence the FCC, this is the time -- during the transition in leadership. At least we won't have to deal with Michael Powell. Whether Martin will tack a more sensible course remains to be seen -- but now is the time to bring pressure. We can't allow the neocons to continue to intimidate through the media.

I'm glad Clark's speaking out on this.

every time I read something that Wes has written, it just breaks my heart that we don't have that brilliant, thoughtful man as our president. ...well, maybe I'll just have to be patient...

... totally!

TC

I am going to kick this so everyone can sign this petition who wants to!

www.securingamerica.com

If you are against The RW Regressive or the Ultra RW Christian arms of the Republican Party telling the FCC what they want us to see and hear, go to the link above, and sign Wes's petition there!

TC

for the Sunday morning crowd...:kick:

Thanks WES!!!

as in banning video games--the answer to our prayers.

Wes Clark supports free speech and honest dialog. It's really quite simple if you know what you stand for.

n/t

I'm on a bit of a roll today--too many views of Terry Shiavo?

So the FCC declines to offer a reply to "Saving Private Ryan," a film that aired in total before on the MSM. We're also not allowed to see some Reagan movie out of fear we might form a bad opinion of the SOB. Frontline gets cut for consumption. Al Jezera can show pictures of the Iraq dead, but god forbid that we who pay for the bombs get a glimpse of our dollars in action.

Today I read that teachers, fearing reprisals, are conveniently neglecting the teaching of creationism. And of course, IMAX theaters across the south will not be showing a movie called "Volcanoes" since the writers in an effort to explain science included those no-no references to creationism.

Fake-ass news--No Problem. Creepy bug-killers calling Michael Shiavo a "murderer" ditto.

The list goes on and on. My hair is on fire because how can liberals, thinkers, and everyday progressives expect to ever enter "main stream" America, when the censors are carefully crafting what that term means?

Participants on this board are quick to type in the words "spineless" whenever a Democrat betrays the country, but here they have a chance to support someone who wants to change the dialog-- wants to support the truth so that we at least have a fighting chance.

Well, support whomever for president; but sign the damn petition.

there's been a developing thread in the Illinois forum about our governor's initiative to ban violent video games for minors. We've got a lot of serious problems in our state, but I don't think many would have listed that in the top fifty, let alone top ten. There's been a lot of speculation about him playing to the so-called "values" crowd. How refreshing it is to see the people here standing up for some real American values!

Thanks for posting this.

I hadn't even heard about this particular FCC issue until Wes Clark spoke out about it.

It's a great fit, and a way to take back the Security issue.

"Nothing is more American; nothing is more patriotic than speaking out, questioning authority and holding your leaders accountable." Wes Clark

Clark calls on all of us to help stop the creeping fear-mongering and intimidation that Right Wing Zealots have used to browbeat voters, elected officials and our institutions.

The airwaves belong to US. They aren't the property of Bush, Delay, Frist and should NEVER be used as a weapon against us!

A
Clark, Clinton
or
Clark, Boxer

campaign would be a great situation.

:kick:

Okay, now that my hyperbole is vented, I really recommend doing this.

I hope Democrats of every stripe heed Wes Clark's call. We are getting outshouted by the vociferous and vile far-right. I love talking to other Democrats and not having a hoot in hell to do with the right, but....we are not going to be heard unless we hit them broadside with some volume.

Do this. Now.

(Sit. Stay.)

Sharon King
Austin

Actually, it's a treat just to do something positive. I'm tired of talking. Need to do stuff.

Took my seven-year-old daughter to her first peace rally last weekend. It was as much her idea as mine. Feels like spring. Feels good!

Will a virtual scratch behind the ears do? Gooooood puppy. Goooood puppy! (Thanks)

...and once again, thank you, General, for all you've already done for us.

...and thank you in advance for all you're yet to do for us. It's a tremendous amount to ask, but we're asking because we need you.

But I now see that I had not.

Anyways...

Done (when I got the email)!

:hi:

But, yes I signed. Thanks for posting.

I hope everyone pays attention to this. We need to take back control of the media from the zealots.