Sinclair Broadcasting is charting new territory in shamelessness. In
an overt attempt to influence the elections, Sinclair executives plan
to force their affiliate stations (many of which are located in swing
states) to preempt network programming to show an anti-Kerry
documentary days before the election. Here’s an excerpt from the Los Angeles Times article that broke the story:

    “Sinclair's programming plan, communicated to
executives in recent days and coming in the thick of a close and
intense presidential race, is highly unusual even in a political season
that has been marked by media controversies. Sinclair has told its
stations – many of them in political swing states such as 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.”

    “Sinclair stations are spread throughout the
country, in major markets that include Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Las
Vegas; its only California station is in Sacramento. Fourteen of the 62
stations the company either owns or programs are in the key political
swing states of Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where the
presidential election is being closely fought. Station and network
sources said they have been told the Sinclair stations – which include
affiliates of Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, as well as WB and UPN – will be
preempting regular programming for one hour between Oct. 21 and Oct.
24, depending on the city. The airing of “Stolen Honor” will be
followed by a panel discussion, which Kerry will be asked to join, thus
potentially satisfying fairness regulations, the sources said. Kerry
campaign officials said they had been unaware of Sinclair's plans to
air the film, and said Kerry had not received an invitation to appear.”

This cannot stand. I strongly
encourage everyone reading this to file a complaint with the FCC, as
well as write to your local Sinclair affiliate station managers,
congressional representatives, and the editors of your local papers.
These are all good options as far as putting the heat on Sinclair
generally about the content of “The Point,” but this latest move makes
action absolutely necessary, in our opinion.

And that’s The Counterpoint.