Sinclair backing down

Intense public pressure forces right-wing executives to tone down anti-Kerry "news" program

Outrage is growing every day towards the antics of Sinclair Broadcasting Group, which originally planned to air a blatantly partisan, anti-Kerry documentary over the public airwaves and require all of its stations (62 in all) to air the documentary. The company even went so far as to fire its Washington bureau chief because he openly spoke out against the airing of such a biased film.

Today, the company says it only plans to show "excerpts" of the documentary.

Sinclair is paying a terrible price for the ridiculous, right-wing agenda of its top management. A boycott has been organized against the company, the company's stock price has declined almost 17 percent and its market capitalization drop by $140 million in the last week and a half. And the NY Times reports:

The protest grew yesterday. The Burger King Company announced that it would pull all its commercials from Sinclair stations all day on the date the program is broadcast. "Burger King wants to maintain neutrality during this election," said Eric Anderson, a spokesman.

The Kerry campaign had already filed a complaint with the F.C.C. asking for equal time. Chad Clanton, a spokesman for Mr. Kerry, said: "Sinclair Broadcasting has been all over the map on this issue. One thing that is certain is that they have a partisan agenda."

A group of shareholders, represented by the prominent lawyer William S. Lerach, announced it would file suit against Sinclair's management, charging it with damaging the company financially by pursuing the partisan political interests of its owners and with insider trading.

You can read the full article from the NY Times. And the AP reports:

U.S. Cellular Corp., the nation's eighth largest wireless telecommunications provider, has asked Sinclair affiliates not to run its commercials two hours before, during and after the program's airing, said President and CEO John E. Rooney. Nationwide Insurance said it "plans not to advertise during this perceived politically motivated program if Sinclair Media elects to broadcast it without fair and equal opportunity for response." And Regis Corp., an operator of haircutting salons, said it has asked Sinclair not to run any of its ads near or during the program.

Sinclair's top executives are learning that their attempt to openly use the public airwaves to support President Bush is backfiring - big time. It was a terrible mistake to proclaim that Sinclair stations would have to air "Stolen Honor" to bend to the whims of right-wing management.

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