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Revision as of 03:57, 26 October 2005 editRex071404 (talk | contribs)7,103 edits →October 2004 media controversy: wiht the addition of the NYT quote, it's clear this was a media controversy← Previous edit Revision as of 06:56, 26 October 2005 edit undoGamaliel (talk | contribs)Edit filter managers, Autopatrolled, Administrators93,883 editsm Reverted edits by Rex071404 to last version by JamesMLaneNext edit →
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'''''Stolen Honor''''' is a 45-minute video ] that was released in ] ]. It features interviews with a number of American men who were ] in ], who contend they suffered increased maltreatment while prisoners as a direct result of ]'s ] testimony in ] ]. The subtitle of the film is ''Wounds That Never Heal''; on the production company's website the complete title is given instead as '''''Stolen Honor: John Kerry's Record of Betrayal'''''. Its name was based on the book '']: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History'' by ] and ] '''''Stolen Honor''''' is a 45-minute video ] that was released in ] ]. It features interviews with a number of American men who were ] in ], who contend they suffered increased maltreatment while prisoners as a direct result of ]'s ] testimony in ] ]. The subtitle of the film is ''Wounds That Never Heal''; on the production company's website the complete title is given instead as '''''Stolen Honor: John Kerry's Record of Betrayal'''''. Its name was based on the book '']: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History'' by ] and ]


''Stolen Honor'' was a project of Red, White and Blue Productions, whose public affairs are managed by Quantum Communications , a company owned by lobbyist Charles Gerow . In 2000, Mr. Gerow ran on the ] ticket for Congress . In 2003, he was nominated by President Bush to be a Member of the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission . ''Stolen Honor'' was a project of Red, White and Blue Productions, whose public affairs are managed by Quantum Communications , a company owned by lobbyist Charles Gerow () who later ran on the ] ticket for Congress in 2000 and was appointed to be a Member of the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission by President Bush . The production company's website states that
⚫ :"''Stolen Honor'' investigates how John Kerry's actions during the Vietnam era impacted the treatment of American soldiers and POWs. Using John Kerry's own words, the documentary juxtaposes John Kerry's actions with the words of veterans who were still in Vietnam when John Kerry was leading the anti-war movement."


⚫ ], a spokeman for the ], stated:
⚫ The production company's website states that "''Stolen Honor'' investigates how John Kerry's actions during the Vietnam era impacted the treatment of American soldiers and POWs. Using John Kerry's own words, the documentary juxtaposes John Kerry's actions with the words of veterans who were still in Vietnam when John Kerry was leading the anti-war movement."
⚫ :"This group is the poor, distant cousin of the Swift Boat Veterans for Bush . It's comprised of people with questionable backgrounds whose sole mission in life is to smear John Kerry." (Nevins was making a derisive reference to ], an anti-Kerry organization.)


One of the ex-POWs interviewed in ''Stolen Honor'' is ], who resigned in 2004 from his role as an advisor to the Bush campaign, after it was disclosed that he was simultaneously working for SBVT, which as a ]—a tax-exempt organization. Under current election laws, such dual roles can be barred. One of the ex-POWs interviewed in ''Stolen Honor'' is ], who resigned in 2004 from his role as an advisor to the Bush campaign, after it was disclosed that he was simultaneously working for SBVT, which as a ]—a tax-exempt organization that is created primarily to influence the nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates for public office—is barred from coordinating its activities with any candidate's campaign.


According to conservative commentator ], According to conservative commentator ],
:"It presents POWs who argue that John Kerry's fallacious spring 1971 claims that U.S. atrocities occurred 'on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command' amplified their agony under America's North Vietnamese enemies." :"It presents POWs who argue that John Kerry's fallacious spring 1971 claims that U.S. atrocities occurred 'on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command' amplified their agony under America's North Vietnamese enemies."


The producer of ''Stolen Honor'' was journalist, ] veteran, and private military corporation executive ], who was part of the 1980 ]-winning Gannett News Service team. The producer of ''Stolen Honor'' was journalist, ] veteran, and private military corporation executive ], who was part of the 1980 ]-winning Gannett News Service team. Sherwood was criticised as a partisan because of his appointments to several positions by Republican politicians and for allegedly not being an impartial journalist because ''Inquisition'', Sherwood's "purportedly independent investigation" of the ], had been subject to prior review and revision by its subject.


⚫ === 2004 election campaign controversy ===
At one time in the past (1992), Sherwood was criticised for allegedly having not remained impartial as a journalist. These complaints were in regards to ''Inquisition'', Sherwood's controversial investigative report regarding the ], allegedly having been subject to prior review and revision by its subject. . Additionally, there have been complaints alleging that Sherwood is a partisan, his political inclinations being evidenced by his appointments to several positions by Republican politicians.


⚫ In early October 2004, it was reported that ], which owns ]s in nearly one-quarter of the ], had ordered all of its stations to air ''Stolen Honor'' in the days leading up to the November 2 ]. . These news reports were followed by various complaints that such a direct criticism of Kerry would violate the "]" provision of the ] that governs airtime for political candidates.
=== Kerry Campaign complains ===

⚫ ], a spokeman for the ], stated:
⚫ :"This group is the poor, distant cousin of the Swift Boat Veterans for Bush . It's comprised of people with questionable backgrounds whose sole mission in life is to smear John Kerry." (Nevins was making a derisive reference to ], an anti-Kerry organization.)

⚫ === October 2004 media controversy ===

⚫ In early October 2004, it was reported that ], which owns ]s in nearly one-quarter of the ], had ordered all of its stations to air ''Stolen Honor'' in the days leading up to the November 2 ]. .

These news reports touched off a media firestorm. According to ]
the New York Times:

:"This film is payback time, a chance to punish one of the most famous antiwar activists, Mr. Kerry, the one who got credit for serving with distinction in combat, then, through the eyes of the veterans in this film, went home to discredit the men left behind."

:and

:"Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal," the highly contested anti-Kerry documentary, should not be shown by the Sinclair Broadcast Group. It should be shown in its entirety on all the networks, cable stations and on public television . . . . t does help viewers better understand the rage fueling the unhappy band of brothers who oppose Mr. Kerry's candidacy and his claim to heroism."

The news of the possible Sinclair broadcast was followed by various complaints that such a direct criticism of Kerry would violate the "]" provision of the ] that governs airtime for political candidates.


When questioned about this contention, then current ] chairman ] announced the FCC position that a broadcast of this documentary would not be a violation of the equal time provision. However, former FCC chairman, ], contended that Powell was offering "tacit and plain encouragement of the use of the Sinclair airwaves to pursue a smear campaign." When questioned about this contention, then current ] chairman ] announced the FCC position that a broadcast of this documentary would not be a violation of the equal time provision. However, former FCC chairman, ], contended that Powell was offering "tacit and plain encouragement of the use of the Sinclair airwaves to pursue a smear campaign."
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:"It's biased political propaganda, with clear intentions to sway this election ... For me, it's not about right or left—it's about what's right or wrong in news coverage this close to an election." :"It's biased political propaganda, with clear intentions to sway this election ... For me, it's not about right or left—it's about what's right or wrong in news coverage this close to an election."


Shortly after making this statement to the newspaper, Lieberman was fired. After being fired, Lieberman contended that lost his job because he criticized Sinclair's plan to air ''Stolen Honor'' - a plan that he said originated with ], a Sinclair executive. Shortly after making this statement, Lieberman was fired by Sinclair. Sinclair Vice-President ] attributed the firing to Lieberman, also the television chain's lead reporter, "speak to the press about company business." Lieberman contended that he was fired for his criticism of the plan to air ''Stolen Honor'', a plan that he said originated with Hyman.

Regarding this firing, Sinclair Vice-President Mark Hyman said:

:"Everyone is entitled to their personal opinion, including Jon Leiberman. We are disappointed that Jon's political views caused him to speak to the press about company business."


Reacting to reports that Sinclair was to air ''Stolen Honor'' soon before the election, more than 100 ] members of the ] asked the FCC to consider the legality of the planned broadcast. Senator ] asked the ] to investigate. The ] filed a complaint with the ]. After these and other complaints were made, Sinclair announced that it had never intended to air ''Stolen Honor'' in an hour slot in the first place, indicating that it might instead show clips of the video in a discussion panel format. Ultimately, Sinclair did not broadcast any such show and the media controversy from this fell out of the news within a few weeks. Reacting to reports that Sinclair was to air ''Stolen Honor'' soon before the election, more than 100 ] members of the ] asked the FCC to consider the legality of the planned broadcast. Senator ] asked the ] to investigate. The ] filed a complaint with the ]. After over 100 advertisers pulled their ads and the company's stock price dropped significantly, Sinclair announced that it had never intended to air ''Stolen Honor'' in the hour slot in the first place, indicating that it might instead show clips of the video in a discussion panel format. Ultimately, Sinclair did not broadcast any such show.


== External links == == External links ==

Revision as of 06:56, 26 October 2005

Stolen Honor is a 45-minute video documentary that was released in September 2004. It features interviews with a number of American men who were prisoners of war in North Vietnam, who contend they suffered increased maltreatment while prisoners as a direct result of John Kerry's Fulbright Hearing testimony in April 1971. The subtitle of the film is Wounds That Never Heal; on the production company's website the complete title is given instead as Stolen Honor: John Kerry's Record of Betrayal. Its name was based on the book Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History by B.G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley

Stolen Honor was a project of Red, White and Blue Productions, whose public affairs are managed by Quantum Communications , a company owned by lobbyist Charles Gerow () who later ran on the Republican ticket for Congress in 2000 and was appointed to be a Member of the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission by President Bush . The production company's website states that

"Stolen Honor investigates how John Kerry's actions during the Vietnam era impacted the treatment of American soldiers and POWs. Using John Kerry's own words, the documentary juxtaposes John Kerry's actions with the words of veterans who were still in Vietnam when John Kerry was leading the anti-war movement."

Mark Nevins, a spokeman for the Kerry presidential campaign, stated:

"This group is the poor, distant cousin of the Swift Boat Veterans for Bush . It's comprised of people with questionable backgrounds whose sole mission in life is to smear John Kerry." (Nevins was making a derisive reference to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, an anti-Kerry organization.)

One of the ex-POWs interviewed in Stolen Honor is Kenneth Cordier, who resigned in 2004 from his role as an advisor to the Bush campaign, after it was disclosed that he was simultaneously working for SBVT, which as a 527 group—a tax-exempt organization that is created primarily to influence the nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates for public office—is barred from coordinating its activities with any candidate's campaign.

According to conservative commentator Deroy Murdock,

"It presents POWs who argue that John Kerry's fallacious spring 1971 claims that U.S. atrocities occurred 'on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command' amplified their agony under America's North Vietnamese enemies."

The producer of Stolen Honor was journalist, Vietnam War veteran, and private military corporation executive Carlton Sherwood, who was part of the 1980 Pulitzer Prize-winning Gannett News Service team. Sherwood was criticised as a partisan because of his appointments to several positions by Republican politicians and for allegedly not being an impartial journalist because Inquisition, Sherwood's "purportedly independent investigation" of the Unification Church, had been subject to prior review and revision by its subject.

2004 election campaign controversy

In early October 2004, it was reported that Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns television stations in nearly one-quarter of the United States, had ordered all of its stations to air Stolen Honor in the days leading up to the November 2 presidential election. . These news reports were followed by various complaints that such a direct criticism of Kerry would violate the "equal time" provision of the Communications Act that governs airtime for political candidates.

When questioned about this contention, then current FCC chairman Michael Powell announced the FCC position that a broadcast of this documentary would not be a violation of the equal time provision. However, former FCC chairman, Reed Hundt, contended that Powell was offering "tacit and plain encouragement of the use of the Sinclair airwaves to pursue a smear campaign."

A spokesperson for Sinclair said that the airing would be followed by a panel discussion, which Kerry would be asked to join. The Kerry campaign declined the invitation. Sinclair did not accept Michael Moore's offer for free broadcast of his documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 to balance its reporting.

At time this issue was in the news, Sinclair's then Washington bureau chief, Jon Lieberman, publicly condemned the expected broadcast in an interview in the Baltimore Sun:

"It's biased political propaganda, with clear intentions to sway this election ... For me, it's not about right or left—it's about what's right or wrong in news coverage this close to an election."

Shortly after making this statement, Lieberman was fired by Sinclair. Sinclair Vice-President Mark Hyman attributed the firing to Lieberman, also the television chain's lead reporter, "speak to the press about company business." Lieberman contended that he was fired for his criticism of the plan to air Stolen Honor, a plan that he said originated with Hyman.

Reacting to reports that Sinclair was to air Stolen Honor soon before the election, more than 100 Democratic members of the United States Congress asked the FCC to consider the legality of the planned broadcast. Senator Edward Kennedy asked the Justice Department to investigate. The Democratic National Committee filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission. After over 100 advertisers pulled their ads and the company's stock price dropped significantly, Sinclair announced that it had never intended to air Stolen Honor in the hour slot in the first place, indicating that it might instead show clips of the video in a discussion panel format. Ultimately, Sinclair did not broadcast any such show.

External links

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