From Bob Herbert's editorial in today's New York Times, "Webs of Illusion":
It's understood that incumbents campaigning for re-election will spotlight the good news and downplay the bad. The problem for President Bush, with the election just three weeks away, is that the bad news keeps cascading in and there is very little good news to tout.So the president and his chief supporters have resorted to the odd tactic of claiming that the bad news is good.
The double talk reached a fever pitch last week after the release of two devastating reports - the comprehensive report by Charles Duelfer, the chief U.S. weapons inspector, which destroyed any remaining doubts that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction; and the Labor Department's dismal employment report for September, which heightened concerns about the strength of the economic recovery and left Mr. Bush with the dubious distinction of being the first president since Herbert Hoover to stand for re-election with fewer people working than at the beginning of his term.
Mr. Bush turned the findings of the Duelfer report upside down and inside out, telling crowds at campaign rallies that it proved Saddam Hussein had been "a gathering threat." It didn't matter that the report, ordered by the president himself, showed just the opposite. The truth would not have been helpful to the president. So with a brazenness and sleight of hand usually associated with three-card-monte players, he pulled a fast one on his cheering listeners.
Vice President Cheney had an equally peculiar response to the report, which said Iraq had destroyed its illicit weapons stockpiles in the early 1990's. Referring to the president's decision to launch the war, Mr. Cheney said, "To delay, defer, wait wasn't an option."
The September jobs report, released on the same day as Mr. Bush's second debate with Senator John Kerry, was deeply disappointing to the White House. Just 96,000 jobs were created, not even enough to keep up with the monthly expansion of the working-age population.
The somber findings forced the president's spin machine into overdrive. Reality, once again, was shoved aside. The administration's upbeat public response to the Labor Department report was described in The Times as follows: "The White House hailed it as evidence of continued employment expansion, saying that it validated Mr. Bush's strategy of pursuing tax cuts to support a recovery from the 2001 economic downturn."
In the president's parallel universe, things are always fine.
Mr. Bush sold his tax cuts as a mighty force for job creation. They weren't. The Times article that reported the sunny White House response to the disappointing job creation figures also said: "In September, an estimated 62.3 percent of the working-age population was employed, two full percentage points below the level at the beginning of the recession in March 2001. That difference represents over 4.5 million people without work."
Hyperbole is part of every politician's portfolio. But on the most serious matters facing the country, Mr. Bush's administration has often gone beyond hyperbole to deliberate misrepresentations that undermine the very idea of an informed electorate. If unpleasant realities are not acknowledged by the officials occupying the highest offices in the land, there is no chance that the full resources of the government and the people will be marshaled to meet those challenges.
The president continues to behave as if he's in denial about the war. Iraq remains a tragic mess and the electorate needs to know that.
In yesterday's Week in Review section, The Times's Dexter Filkins wrote movingly from Baghdad about the reporters trying to cover the war. There's been a relentless expansion, he said, of areas that reporters dare not venture into because they are too dangerous. Most European reporters have left the country, and there are far fewer Americans than just a few months ago.
Forty-six reporters have been killed and Mr. Filkins himself has been attacked by a mob, shot at and detained by the Mahdi Army.
If Mr. Bush has a plan to clean up the mess in Iraq, he should say so. If he has a strategy - besides more tax cuts - to bolster employment in the U.S., he should tell us. If he's in touch with the real world in which these and other very serious problems exist, he might consider letting us know.
Spinning gets old after a while. A president who spends too much time spinning webs of illusion can find himself trapped in them.
Oct 11, 2004
Sinclair Broadcasting Group
The Sinclair Broadcasting Group is a conservative broadcasting network that controls television airwaves in dozens of major television markets, including markets in battleground states such as Florida and Ohio. Recently, it has banned shows that are critical of the war on terror, ordered its stations not to air a tribute to our fallen U.S. soldiers, and now plans to air an anti-Kerry movie days before election day. The Sinclair Broadcasting Group has historically contributed thousands of dollars to Republican causes and its CEO also contributed the maximum to Bush-Cheney.
"Sinclair—They're Big Supporters of the Bush Administration" [Chicago Sun Times, 5/3/04]
Sinclair Broadcasting Group: Consistent Anti-Kerry, Pro-Bush Programming
Sinclair Broadcasting Group Ordered Preemptions To Air Anti-Kerry Program Days Before Election. According to the Los Angeles Times, "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." [Los Angeles Times, 10/9/04]
The Show Will Be Aired In Swing States Around The Country. Sinclair Broadcasting has ordered stations in swing states like Ohio and Florida to "air 'Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal,' sources said. The film, funded by Pennsylvania veterans and produced by a veteran and former Washington Times reporter, features former POWs accusing Kerry — a decorated Navy veteran turned war protester — of worsening their ordeal by prolonging the war. Sinclair will preempt regular prime-time programming from the networks to show the film, which may be classified as news programming, according to TV executives familiar with the plan." [Los Angeles Times, 10/9/04]
Previously, Sinclair Group Ordered Its ABC Stations Not To Air American Soldier Tribute. While millions of viewers across the country watched a moving ABC special honoring the 500 U.S. soldiers who had died in Iraq at the time, the Sinclair Group forced its ABC affiliates to not show the program. [CNN, 4/30/04]
Senator John McCain Criticized Sinclair's Decision. "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," McCain, a Vietnam veteran, wrote in a letter to David Smith, president and CEO of Sinclair Broadcast Group. "It is, in short, sir, unpatriotic. I hope it meets with the public opprobrium it most certainly deserves." [CNN, 4/30/04]
Previously, Sinclair Broadcasting Ran Misleading Medicare Advertisements. In May, the General Accounting Office (GAO) found that fake news segments produced to promote the administration's Medicare law violated federal laws against producing propaganda. The video news releases were distributed to local television sessions to be run as part of the stations' news programs. One of the broadcasters that ran these misleading and illegal advertisements was the Sinclair Broadcasting group, owned by David Sinclair, a major bush donor. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 3/20/04; GAO, Decision in Matter of Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services - Video News Release, 5/19/04]
Previously, Sinclair-Owned Station Refused to Air DNC Ad. Sinclair Broadcasting decided not to air a DNC ad criticizing George Bush. "While three Madison TV stations are airing an ad this week from the Democratic National Committee criticizing President Bush for his Iraq war policies, one station — Fox 47 — is taking heat for deciding not to air the ad. The 30-second spot, which is now only being aired in the Madison market, includes a clip of Bush's State of the Union address regarding Iraq's acquisition of uranium from Africa. Executives of the Maryland-based Sinclair Broadcast Group, the parent company of Fox 47, did not return phone calls." [Madison Capital Times, 7/24/03]
Previously, Sinclair Forced Stations to "Broadcast Spots Declaring Support for President Bush and Other Government Leaders." "Sinclair Broadcast Group directed its more than 60 stations, including WBFF-TV and WNUV-TV in Baltimore, to broadcast spots declaring support for the efforts of President Bush and other government leaders. The spots direct viewers to log on at www.supportournation.com or to call a 900 number to register their views. (Officials said the 50-cent fee for each call simply covered its costs.) At WBFF, anchors were drafted to tape the messages in support of the White House, stirring internal fears they were compromising their professional objectivity." [Baltimore Sun, 9/19/01]
Residents "Tricked" Into Thinking They Are Watching Local News. Sinclair Broadcasting tapes a daily half hour session of conservative news at their corporate headquarters in Baltimore. Sinclair then transmits the conservative news segment to coincide with the half hour of local news aired by its affiliates, creating a one hour news segment. Mark Hyman, Vice President of Corporate Relations for Sinclair, appears on the air and gives a daily conservative commentary named "The Point." Hyman portrays animal activists as "wackos" and denounces the "leftist agenda." According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Critics say viewers are tricked into thinking they're watching an all-local newscast when, in fact, much of it is being piped in." [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/24/03]
"The Point" and Sinclair Executive Mark Hyman's Refrain: Attack John Kerry
Hyman Claimed Kerry Joined Navy Because It Was The "Least Likely" To Go To Vietnam. In his daily commentary program "The Point," on 9/19/04, Sinclair VP Mark Hyman said that Kerry dodged the Army draft by enlisting in the Navy. "The reality is Kerry joined the Navy because it was the military branch least likely to involve assignment to Vietnam — in order to avoid being drafted into the Army." [The Point, 9/19/04]
Hyman Accused Kerry of Falsifying Military Records. In his commentary on 9/27/04, Hyman accused John Kerry of "Gun Decking". According to Hyman "'Gun decking' is the falsifying of official records and reports, usually to cover-up a wrong doing or to make one look better than he is." Hyman continued in his commentary to state that, "Extensive records review shows Kerry guilty of 'gun decking' his military career." [The Point, 9/27/04]
Hyman Claimed Kerry Supported Communists. In his commentary on 9/22/04, Hyman argued that Kerry supported Communist regimes. "Kerry has a lifetime of experience in foreign policy. Unfortunately, it is a lifetime of supporting Communist forces opposed to the U.S. in Vietnam, in Nicaragua…." [The Point, 9/22/04]
Sinclair Broadcasting Group, CEO and Other Executives are Longtime Republican Donors.
Sinclair CEO Is A Maxed-Out Bush Donor. David Smith, CEO of Sinclair Broadcasting Group, gave the maximum to Bush-Cheney 2004, contributing the legal limit of $2,000. [FEC]
Sinclair Vice President Donated $175,000 to RNC and Maxed Out To Bush-Cheney. Frederick Smith, Vice President of The Sinclair Broadcasting Group, has donated $175,000 to the Republican National Committee since 1999 and contributed the legal limit to Bush-Cheney 2004 and 2000. [FEC]
Other Sinclair Executives Maxed Out to Bush-Cheney 04. Julian D Smith, Vice President and Secretary of the Sinclair Broadcasting Group, and Robert Smith, an analyst with SBG, both maxed out the legal spending limit to Bush-Cheney 2004. [FEC]
Sinclair VP Mark Hyman Donated To the Maryland Republican Party. Mark Hyman donated $2,061 to the Republican State Central Committee of Maryland in 2000. [FEC, tray.com]
Sinclair Broadcasting Group Has Affiliates Around The Country. Below is a list of cities where Sinclair owns at least one major news affiliate:
http://www.democrats.org/news/200410110001.html
· WTTA - Tampa
· KMWB - Minneapolis
· WPGH & WCWB - Pittsburgh
· KOVR - Sacramento
· KDNL - St. Louis
· WBFF & WNUV - Baltimore
· WTTV & WTTK - Indianapolis
· WLFL & WRDC - Raleigh - Durham, NC
· WZTV & WUXP - Nashville
· WCGV & WVTV - Milwaukee
· WSTR - Cincinnati
· KSMO - Kansas City, MO
· WTTE & WSYX - Columbus, OH
· WFBC & WLOS - Asheville, NC
· KABB & KRRT - San Antonio
· WTTO & WABM & WDBB - Birmingham, AL
· WTVZ - Norfolk, VA
· WUTV - Buffalo, NY
· KOCB & KOKH - Oklahoma City
· WXLV & WUPN - Greensboro, NC
· WKEF & WRGT - Dayton, OH
· KVWB & KFBT - Las Vegas
· WCHS & WVAH - Charleston, WV
· WRLH - Richmond, VA
· WEAR & WFGX - Mobile, AL
· WSMH - Flint, MI
· WDKY - Lexington, KY
· KDSM - Des Moines
· WSYT & WNYS - Syracuse
· KBSI & WDKA - Paducah, KY
· WUHF - Rochester, NY
· WGME - Portland, ME
· WMSN - Madison, WI
· WEMT - Tri-Cities, TN
· WGGB - Springfield, MA
· WYZZ - Peoria, IL
· WTWC - Tallahassee, FL
· WMMP & WTAT - Charleston, SC
· WICS & WICD — Springfield, IL
· KGAN — Cedar Rapids, IA
http://www.seethefactsforyourself.com
Posted by: JohnKerryForPresident on October 12, 2004 12:37 AMYou might get a kick out of my site rebutting Sinclair's Mark Hyman and "The Point."
http://thecounterpoint.blogspot.com
Posted by: Ted Remington on October 16, 2004 06:35 PMToday, the day ofter election, another local textile plant has announced the outsourcing of 280 jobs. This will leave about 250 jobs in this
country out of about 4000. All textile, tobacco,
furniture has already left our town. We own our family real estate business; insurance premiums have gone out of reach and business is terrible and having to use personal savings to keep the business operating. Bush has not quite finished the job! We'll be on welfare 4 years from now.
