Sinclair Broadcast Group To Air “Stolen Honor”
Federal Communications Commission topper Michael Powell doesn’t think the federal government should get into the messy business of telling broadcasters what types of political shows they can and cannot air.
Powell said Thursday the FCC will not step in to prevent Sinclair Broadcast Group from airing an anti-Kerry docu called “Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal” in the final days before the election because the agency does not and should not have the power to do so.
“There is no FCC rule of prior restraint of a program being aired on television,” he told reporters following an FCC meeting. “I think that would be an absolute disservice to the First Amendment and I think it would be unconstitutional if we attempted to do so. So don’t look to us to block the airing of a program.”
With all the bickering this past week over whether or not Sinclair Broadcast Group could broadcast this documentary about John Kerry the eighteen Democratic Senators and House Members could only come up with “equal time” as a reason for the FCC to step in and block it. This was clearly a lame excuse since equal time was offered to John Kerry. That took place when Sinclair sent him an invitation to discuss the documentary and to respond immediately after it airs – - he declined and the Dems lost.
Articles of Interest:
Stolen Honor
More Stolen Honor
Now I wonder if he will find the time to meet with them.
This is what happens with the consolidation of media. Whether it is legal or not, I do not know, but it is definitely partisan and unfair only in terms of equal time. Morally, I think it is an outrageous thing to do, regardless who he favors. I would say the same thing for a broadcaster in favor of Kerry.