Christy, Thank YOU. This is perfect.

I don’t think Disney wants to tangle with Madeleine Albright.
Paging Edward R. Murrow…..

I would add to contact the Disney Stores — http://disneyshopping.go.com/ They have a handy contact us box for emails.

Update – MSNBC. ABC will issue a statement sometime later today.

Actual reply from WCVB (BOSTON) to my complaint:

Thank you for contacting us regarding the ABC special, “The Path to 9/11.”

This Sunday and Monday WCVB-TV Channel 5 will air ABC’s commercial-free broadcasts of “The Path to 911. On Monday, Part Two will be followed by a special edition of “Primetime Live,” an electronic town meeting.

We will forward your concerns to the ABC Network, since they are still in the final edit of the program.
The following disclaimer will air throughout the movie:
“The following movie is a dramatization that is drawn from a variety of sources including the 9/11 Commission Report and other published materials, and from personal interviews. The movie is not a documentary. For dramatic and narrative purposes, the movie contains fictionalized scenes, composite and representative characters and dialogue, as well as time compression.”

ABC further states, “The events that lead to 9/11 originally sparked great debate, so it’s not surprising that a movie surrounding those events has revived the debate. The attacks were a pivotal moment in our history that should never be forgotten and it’s fitting that the discussion continues.”

From talk shows to internet blogs, the discussions about “The Path to 911” have generated much heat, but precious little light. It is interesting to note that viewers, who have been kind enough to contact us directly, arise from two distinct camps: pro-President Bill Clinton and pro-President George W.Bush. That is correct — both sides have been complaining.

Having reviewed a copy of this mini-series, the management at Channel 5 feels strongly that viewers should decide for themselves the merits of this movie. Unfortunately, there is plenty of blame to go around – Republican, Democrat, government official and everyday citizen.

Neil Ungerleider | Assistant News Director | WCVB | 5 TV Place Needham MA 02494

And why does the “everyday citizen” get blame??

Wow. More awesome pushback.

Great work! It would also be great if people could put together lists of _local_ advertisers for their ABC affiliates.

WRITE LETTERS THEY ARE WORTH MORE THAN A THOUSAND E-MAILS

WTF? (Emphasis mine)

Mr. Kean, whose report criticized both the Bush and Clinton administrations, said Tuesday that the miniseries, like the report, was balanced. “People in both administrations are not going to be happy if it’s portrayed accurately,” he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09…..nted=print

“If it’s portrayed accurately?”

I sent Scholastic an email telling them I was contacting my school board today.

Will post any response I get.

Disney’s old motto: “We Make All Dreams Come True.”

Disney’s new motto: “We Make All Karl Rove’s Dreams Come True.”

I called the Disney complaint number in the post above.
It has been overwhelmed so the lady gave me a new number to try

818-460-7477

Scholastic — Propagandists to the President!

EPU’d from last thread. This little nugget really caught my atention:

The series, which cost almost $40 million, is to be broadcast without commercials, but Ms. Hartman said this had been planned, as a public service, and had nothing to do with any pressure that might have been brought on prospective advertisers.

Since when does a major network “donate” 5 hours of air time for the “public benefit.”

Doesn’t this violate — at least in spirit — federal campaign finance laws? And if it doesn’t, it should.

EPU’ed alas, but after the current kerfuffle dies down one question will remain.

What does a $40 million partisan, factual inaccurate documentary and the controversy it spawned have to say about corporate oversight and governance at ABC Disney? Inquiring minds would like to know.

‘The Little Mermaid’ is the next Dizzney film to be released on DVD. You know, the 5 disc Bonus Complete version in which Ariel’s seashell bikini top is finally snatched by the evil sharks?

Well in spite of that, my kids will continue to watch the aging VHS version if Disney does not answer our call.

That’s $24.99 that I won’t spend. Who else is brave enough to forego what we’ve always wanted to see?

FDL commenter and Bird-o-Blogger Benjamin Lybrand spent TWO HOURS watching According to Jim (eeek!) compiling clickable contact form links for ABC network sponsors. Some comment boxes have a 500-character limit, so edit and then paste at will. Yesterday, I worked through these 20-odd sponsors in 30-odd minutes. Recommended:

http://birdoblog.birdobot.com/disney_propaganda

I have received acknowledgements from some of these corporations, as diverse as Mazda, Ford, LandRover, WishBone, Iams, et.al. Recommended.

meta @
2

I don’t think Disney wants to tangle with Madeleine Albright.
Paging Edward R. Murrow…..

‘Hello, Keith speaking?’

Cozumel @ 4

Update – MSNBC. ABC will issue a statement sometime later today.

Keep your TV tuned to MSNBC everybody – Chris Jansing (is that right?) makes it sound as if this announcement could be at any moment.

webecelts @
8

WRITE LETTERS THEY ARE WORTH MORE THAN A THOUSAND E-MAILS

;) and the Postal Service will surely get your letters there shortly after Tripe Part Two airs! *g*

timewarp @ 14

EPU’d from last thread. This little nugget really caught my atention:

The series, which cost almost $40 million, is to be broadcast without commercials, but Ms. Hartman said this had been planned, as a public service, and had nothing to do with any pressure that might have been brought on prospective advertisers.

Since when does a major network “donate” 5 hours of air time for the “public benefit.”

Doesn’t this violate — at least in spirit — federal campaign finance laws? And if it doesn’t, it should.

I have been harping on the camapaign finance angle of this since the issue first came up. I think this a really shabby attempt to get around it. If you were to buy a rotation of commercials suffient to equalfive hours of prime time How many millions would that cost? On top of the $40 million in production costs?

Anybody out there able to calculate the cost of a media but like that?

Inquiring minds want to know

Terre @ 19

Cozumel @ 4

Update – MSNBC. ABC will issue a statement sometime later today.

Keep your TV tuned to MSNBC everybody – Chris Jansing (is that right?) makes it sound as if this announcement could be at any moment.

Sounds like a typical bullsh*t grab. They all do it all the time, stay tuned ; )

You guys watching those folks beating the crap out of the Fox journalist on MSNBC? Hehe.

At Disney 818 560-1000 I asked for the ABC/Disney Direct Communications Line and it was busy. She gave me the number -818 460-7477) it is very busy now. (press 2, then 6). You can only give a 30 second comment. Who knows if anyone there will be willing to listen to comments.

Exile on Ericsson St. @ 7

Great work! It would also be great if people could put together lists of _local_ advertisers for their ABC affiliates.

Nice content lately on RochesterTurning, exile. A nice blend of local, national, and the intersection of the two. Too bad the Democrat and Chronicle (local rag) doesn’t crib off you the way Keith Olbermann cribs off FDL. NTTAWWT.

MSNBC now updating us… on hotel heiress Paris!

looseheadprop @ 12

I called the Disney complaint number in the post above.
It has been overwhelmed so the lady gave me a new number to try

818-460-7477

I just got the same comment. Line is overwhelmed and busy and they gave me the same number.

Here’s how we go after Scholastic Books. Contact members of your local School Board. I did. Here’s the website for the Seattle School Board members. They usually are quite responsive to parents’ concerns.

http://www.seattleschools.org/…..index.dxml

FDL Football Friends,
Contact ESPN and share your outrage about 911 BS Fest. Disney owns espn also.

Calling and announcing a boycott is an excellent start.

Don’t forget ESPN. Dad’s who are interested should contact ESPN and any sports organization they cover. I has cost them $30-40 million to go this far. Let it be clear to Disney it will cost them HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS to continue this charade.

Also CALL STEVE JOBS. He is now on the board of Disney. He needs to have a sharholder accountability moment, here.

Kurt at 23 — I do not think that a criminal battery — no matter it’s recipient — is the least bit funny. And I’m sure that the journalist, with his injuries, did not find it amusing either.

ONE MORE ACTION ITEM: Remember the Sinclair debacle before the 2004 elections? Sinclair is still hurting badly from their foolish attempt at electioneering by way of publicly-owned airwaves.

Be sure that when you call ABC-affiliates and ABC-owned and operated stations, that you tell them you will ask the FCC to evaluate their licensure since they are violating the public trust by airing partisan-produced and promoted materials within 90 days of an election over publicly-owned airwaves in the guise of “news” (being produced by ABC News and not Entertainment) with inadequate disclaimers about the veracity of the content.

Just left a voice mail at Disney…you can’t get anyone live. Told them that I am cancelling my trip to Disneyland in January.

Terre @ 19

Cozumel @ 4

Update – MSNBC. ABC will issue a statement sometime later today.

Keep your TV tuned to MSNBC everybody – Chris Jansing (is that right?) makes it sound as if this announcement could be at any moment.

AFTER the Paris Hilton DUI kerfuffle.

‘She is a victim of Mel Gibson. This is a marginal case. She was at the minimum alcohol level to be busted.’

Fuck off.

Scholastic has a Community Board.

All protests.

Froomkin’s theme-for-the-day: Believe It or Not (without even mentioning ABC)

If these folks at Disney actually watched their shows they would know that the likes of Mulan, Simba, and Shrek would have the head of the executive who green-lighted this GOP-u-drama on a platter.

You know what really bothers me about this is the link to Steve Jobs (yes, I’m an Apple guy). Steve is no wingnut, but he is the largest single stockholder in Disney now. Where is he on this? I wonder how his friend and Apple boardmember Al Gore feels about this?

Hello, Steve Jobs, wake up. Tick. Tock.

Update:

Waiting for ABC comment.

But in fairness, we should point out that ABC admits that the show is bullshit.

Big Dawg’s team: Airing this is despicable.

Joe uses creative writing majors for polling?

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP)– The owner of DataUSA Inc., a company that conducted political polls for the campaigns of President Bush, Sen. Joe Lieberman and other candidates, pleaded guilty to fraud for making up survey and poll results.

[snip]

According to a federal indictment, Costin told employees to alter poll data, and managers at the company told employees to ”talk to cats and dogs” when instructing them to fabricate the surveys.

[snip]

Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang said on several occasions when the company was running up against a deadline to complete a job, results were falsified. Sometimes, the respondent’s gender or political affiliation were changed to meet a quota, other times all survey answers were fabricated.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponlin…..ref=slogin

To Scholastic:

As a former employee, I have long admired Scholastic’s mission and its people. So I’ve been increasingly troubled by what I’m hearing about Scholastic’s involvement with the ABC docudrama “The Path to 9/11.” It’s clear that Scholastic went into this partnership with the most honorable of intentions. But it is increasingly clear that the movie — which you, of course, did not control — tells repeated and intentional falsehoods about what did and did not happen in the years prior to 9/11.

When we finally have access to the full historical record about 9/11, we will undoubtedly find more than enough blame to go around, for presidents and public officials of both parties. But that does not obviate the importance of honesty and accuracy in current productions concerning 9/11. It is clear that this movie will be interpreted as fact, not fiction, by millions of Americans — and especially by millions of children who will hear about it with Scholastic’s imprimatur.

Quite frankly, I do not expect ABC Entertainment to be especially concerned with the truth of their productions: controversy draws ratings. But association with this movie fundamentally threatens Scholastic’s brand and reputation. More important, it is in irreconcilable conflict with Scholastic’s credo: “We believe that all sides of the issues of our times should be fairly discussed — with deep respect for facts and logical thinking — in classroom magazines, books, and other educational materials used in schools and homes.”

I sincerely hope Scholastic will withdraw its involvement in this regrettable production, while there is still time to do so. Thank you in advance for your consideration, and for your reply.

To ABC’s Path to 9/11 Blog:

To me, this is simple: We know that your documentary presents events that simply did not happen. We know this because you’ve told us so.

Furthermore, these events show specific individuals in a terrible light. Perhaps they deserve the harsh verdict of history. But they do not deserve to be misrepresented or lied about.

It’s wrong when Oliver Stone does it, and it’s wrong when you do it. When the subject is as fraught as 9/11, telling lies damages our entire society.

This seems fairly simple to me. Since it seems anything but simple to you, I can’t help wondering what your agenda might be. (Especially when one considers who has — and has not — been permitted to pre-screen your movie.) I’m afraid your professed good faith is far from self-evident to me.

Center for American Progress Action Fund spurs 25,000 to call on ABC either to correct or not air its 9/11 mini-series. (link)

From Huffpo:

Chafee Delays Vote on Bolton Nomination

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..28_pf.html

OT, Panda Division

Spare a thought for dear ol’ Lun Lun, in labor for 35 hours to produce Hotlanta’s favorite new butter-stick. Video here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..00336.html

I just called Disney and had no problem. Good idea is to tentatively book a couple of rooms at Disney and then call to cancel due to Path to 911.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 31

Kurt at 23 — I do not think that a criminal battery — no matter it’s recipient — is the least bit funny. And I’m sure that the journalist, with his injuries, did not find it amusing either.

But what about the camera man who stood there filming for six whole minutes without intervening? Even after the woman in the video went into the house to try to find a gun?

Sorry, but its my local news.

shooogarp @
33

Just left a voice mail at Disney…you can’t get anyone live. Told them that I am cancelling my trip to Disneyland in January.

If you’ve ever been to Dizzney World, even the folks in the parking booths on the way in are androids.

Bill Camarda, excellent points straight to the heart of the matter and beautifully stated.

Rayne said Be sure that when you call ABC-affiliates and ABC-owned and operated stations, that you tell them you will ask the FCC to evaluate their licensure since they are violating the public trust by airing partisan-produced and promoted materials within 90 days of an election over publicly-owned airwaves in the guise of “news” (being produced by ABC News and not Entertainment) with inadequate disclaimers about the veracity of the content.

Rayne-I heard on the radio yesterday they are doing this in Polk and Hillsborough Counties in Florida. They had the same problem in the 2006 Primary! Woohoo!

kristinejoy at 10:35

“But what about the camera man who stood there filming for six whole minutes without intervening? Even after the woman in the video went into the house to try to find a gun?”

Smart camera man. As was the reporter who did not lift one single hand to defend himself. No way will this couple squirm out of these assault charges….

Attention greater Washington, DC, contact the local ABC affiliate.

Terrorist ‘Bucky Phillips’, he of the ‘Bucky Burger’, is still on the lam.

But in IRAQ!

First of all, great work Christy et al. I too think that the Path to 9/11 will be pulled and not see the light of day. When Scholastic backs out, ABC/Disney will have little choice but to follow suit (I hope!).

BTW did a little googling on Cyrus Nowrasteh, the writer/producer of Path to 9/11:

from Liberty Film Festival website:

A Persian-American whose family had to flee Iran when it was taken over by Islamic fundamentalists, Nowrasteh’s work combines an appreciation for the intimate and the human, with a love of history and respect for America’s founding traditions.

from IMDb Movie database;

Cyrus Nowrasteh was born in Boulder, Colorado and grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. He attended New Mexico State University on a tennis scholarship, but later transferred to U.S.C. to study in their renowned School of Cinema. While teaching tennis in Los Angeles he wrote screenplays. His first break came in 1983 when he was hired by Universal Studios to do a rewrite on a project entitled ‘Bikers’. Mr. Nowrasteh says this first job was a disaster because he tried “to please everybody.” Two years later he wrote his first produced script for the CBS TV series ‘The Equalizer’ which led him to work predominantly in series television for the next five years. He also wrote scripts on assignment for various producers and studios, the best regarded being ‘Black Jack’ and ‘Murder At Nha Trang’ for Interscope Productions. His move into directing began on the independent front with ‘Norma Jean, Jack, And Me’, a zany comedy about a young drifter who washes up on an island and discovers that Marilyn Monroe and JFK are alive and well! It starred Sally Kirkland and Michael Murphy and became a festival favorite throughout the world.

Cyrus Nowrasteh recently wrote and directed the Paramount/Showtime production The Day Reagan Was Shot (2001) (TV) which starred Richard Dreyfuss. Produced by Oliver Stone, The Day Reagan Was Shot received rave reviews and a number of awards including the Pen USA West Literary Award for Best Teleplay 2001-2002. Presently, he is developing a four-hour mini-series on John Dillinger for the USA network which Mr. Nowrasteh will write and direct. Also as writer/director, Mr. Nowrasteh is developing 3rd Down & Forever with Chris Columbus’s 1492 productions.

Aside from the fact that he must have been only three or four years old when he was first hired by Universal Studios (if his family indeed fled Iran when the Shah was overthrown), it struck me while reading his movie background that our own Jane Hamsher might have some personal knowledge of the esteemed Mr. Nowrasteh…

MSNBC scolding the cafe that offered the ‘Bucky Burger’. Not appropriate!

Coming up next, we scold the Bush Admin for similar offenses.

Or not.

Send a email to scholastic, tell them you will demand that your local scholl board remove them from the public schools if they have anything to do with Disney or ABC. Also I have spent my last dollar on ANYTHING Disney related. If you live in Florida it is also time to start asking about all the tax breaks and sweetheart deals Disney gets from the State of Florida. Why should you pay higher taxes to support a multi billion dollar corporation?

http://www.LiebermanForLieberman.com

Well done, Bill Camarda!

Just sent this follow-up to the (woman) GM at WFTV-ABC Orlando:

Ms. Bartelt, please excuse my misreading of your given name. I understand that ABC is to make an announcement concerning “Path to 9/11″ later today. Perhaps Corporate is about to solve your problem? If so, and if your input had any influence on this wise decision, my congratulations and thanks!

Meanwhile, you may be interested in this update at firedoglake.com:

http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..used-to-it

Thanks again,
(Ms.) [lotus]

timewarp @ 49

kristinejoy at 10:35

“But what about the camera man who stood there filming for six whole minutes without intervening? Even after the woman in the video went into the house to try to find a gun?”

Smart camera man. As was the reporter who did not lift one single hand to defend himself. No way will this couple squirm out of these assault charges….

When was socializing out basic survival insticts ever a good thing? Just me, but when I watched that I kept thinking “Bitch, fight back!” Nobody ever gets to beat on me, no matter how good it makes the evidence look.

This thing pissed me off so much it put me off buying the LOST season 2 dvds I’d planned on buying. In fact, I am not planning to buy any LOST episodes off of iTunes anymore like I did last season.

This is not easy as I really like the show, but since that show is a cash cow for ABC, well TS for them. Now if even a small percentage of LOST fans started talking smack about buying shows off of iTunes….well that might get more attention that us mad bloggers.

Just a thought.

lotus @ 58

Well done, Bill Camarda!

Just sent this follow-up to the (woman) GM at WFTV-ABC Orlando:

Ms. Bartelt, please excuse my misreading of your given name. I understand that ABC is to make an announcement concerning “Path to 9/11″ later today. Perhaps Corporate is about to solve your problem? If so, and if your input had any influence on this wise decision, my congratulations and thanks!

Meanwhile, you may be interested in this update at firedoglake.com:

http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..used-to-it

Thanks again,
(Ms.) [lotus]

Oh Ms. lotus – how you lead by doing and never fail to inspire….whooo hoooo!

LOL The Disney stock message board on Yahoo is getting pounded ; )

http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/mb/DIS

This movie’s fictional content being passed off as historic fact is what I would consider an INDENCENCY.

Shouldn’t we also be calling the FCC? I mean seriously, the country can recover from Janet Jackson’s bare breast but can they recover from ‘rehistorification?’

Eavesdropping Bill Stalls in Committee

http://tinyurl.com/pjhka

Seems that the R’s are not having a very good day!

This is what I wrote to Scholastic this morning:

“Gentlemen/Ladies,

This morning, The Washington Post published an article about ABC’s docudrama
“The Path to 9/11.” In this article, the following appeared:

“Former secretary of state Madeleine K. Albright called one scene involving her
“false and defamatory.” Former national security adviser Samuel R. “Sandy”
Berger said the film “flagrantly misrepresents my personal actions.” And former
White House aide Bruce R. Lindsey, who now heads the William J. Clinton
Foundation, said: “It is unconscionable to mislead the American public about one
of the most horrendous tragedies our country has ever known.”

I understand that your company is going to distribute materials related to this
docudrama to schools across the U.S. As a parent of an eight-year old in public
school, if this movie is broadcast w/o significant changes that address the
above charges, or isn’t pulled, I will insist that our household not purchase
any Scholastic books not specifically required by my child’s teachers, and we
will not return to any Disney facilities, nor watch any Disney movies or TV.
This whole thing smells of a massive government snowjob on the American people
during an election season, and I’m disturbed and disappointed that your company
would have anything to do with this movie, and the lies it will tell.”

OT but funny — Joe’s official blog is thoroughly trashed — sockpuppetry run rampant! It reminds me of the halcyon days of the WaPoo Blog — back in the day!

Moral: never ever start a political blog without ever-vigilant moderators !

My letter to Scholastic:

I received your email from a website that indicates you have some role in making the decisions concerning participation in the Disney/ABC 911 docudrama.

Your partnership with Disney/ABC over its phony 911 film will tarnish your company’s reputation for a generation. The film is blatant propaganda — it relies on blatant falsehoods to tell the “story.”

The movie is marketed to some extent as a docudrama (though also portrayed as “factual” and based on the 911 Commission report — but its not).

However, your company’s involvement does not purport to be in the same vein as docudrama — you are treating it as a factual documentary and preparing to peddle its filth to America’s children. Your involvement is much more disgusting than Disney/ABC misuse of entertainment to peddle historical lies.

Simply put, your participation reduces your company to partisan hackery. You might as well just put together campaign ads rather than pretend to present school materials for the education of children.

As a parent, I would do everything in my power to insure that your company never did any business of any kind with my school district. Snake oil and education are not compatible, and you cannot mix the two types of business and expect to continue to do business with school districts in this country.

Thank you for your time.

David M. Browne

*ilson46201 @ 64

OT but funny — Joe’s official blog is thoroughly trashed — sockpuppetry run rampant! It reminds me of the halcyon days of the WaPoo Blog — back in the day!

Moral: never ever start a political blog without ever-vigilant moderators !

Man, are they taking a beating over there.
It’s good for a laugh a minute though. *g*

To follow up on LeislerNYC’s comment on Disney stores:

They are seemingly everywhere, in malls, on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, etc., etc. I would think a few people exercising their First Amendment rights with placards reading “Disney, stop politicizing 9/11″ and so on outside their stores (and corporate headquarters) might be quite effective.

Cozumel @
62

LOL The Disney stock message board on Yahoo is getting pounded ; )

http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/mb/DIS

WOW, Coz, thanks. People are talking about shorting the stock!

I can longer support ABC/ Disney inc. or anyone else affiliated with the 911Mockumentry.
That includes all advertisers on ABC and the Disney affiliates.
I have three children and three businesses. We are currently distributing bocott information in their schools and in my businesses,(bookstore-resturant-clothing).
I deal with over 500 customeres daily and will enthusiastically recomend that they follow my lead.

RE: Scholastic

Scholastaic makes its money selling learning materials to schools. Schoolboards approve these purchases, often with input from PTAs and teachers.

The strongest thing you can do, and the one that will impact Scholastic the most, is to contact your PTA and/or schoolboard, and to get them to tell Scholastic that participating in this travesty will make them reconsider any future purchases.

Teachers, who it is said, are predominately liberal, also can have an impact here.

WOW, Coz, thanks. People are talking about shorting the stock!

Hey, that’s what smart peeps do to dumb companies.

*ilson46201 @ 64

OT but funny — Joe’s official blog is thoroughly trashed — sockpuppetry run rampant! It reminds me of the halcyon days of the WaPoo Blog — back in the day!

Moral: never ever start a political blog without ever-vigilant moderators !

Like this one? – “Last week somebody compared me to Lavrentii Beria — I was so impressed with his knowledge of history! and then I deleted him . . .”

;)

Crust – yes. Also a few days back, I suggested handing out sheets of toilet paper to passers by in front of ABC (local affiliates as well as NYC -this would certainly get people’s attention). Maybe one should do it in front of Disney too. (TP – i.e. clean up the act)

A response from my local ABC affiliate:

Note: ABC now is claiming the movie contains fictionalized scenes; boy, the “based on the 9/11 Commission Report” claim is sure getting dulited with each clarification.

Thanks for your feedback. “The Path of 9/11″ is ABC Programming which we are required to carry. Here is a statement issued by ABC regarding the show.

Thanks again for taking the time to write.

Statement from an ABC Spokesperson

The Path to 9/11 is a dramatization, not a documentary, drawn from a variety of sources, including the 9/11 commission report, other published materials and from personal interviews. The events that lead to 9/11 originally sparked great debate, so it’s not surprising that a movie surrounding those events has revived the debate. The attacks were a pivotal moment in our history that should never be forgotten and it’s fitting that the discussion continues.

The following disclaimer will air throughout the movie:

“The following movie is a dramatization that is drawn from a variety of sources including the 9/11 Commission Report and other published materials, and from personal interviews. The movie is not a documentary. For dramatic and narrative purposes, the movie contains fictionalized scenes, composite and representative characters and dialogue, as well as time compression.”

Just posted this at http://abc.go.com/site/contactus.html

As the parents of two young boys (aged 2.10 & 10 months) My wife & I have slowly introduced them to limited television & DVD’s and our prime sources both for entertainment & education have been Baby Einstein DVD’s (of which we own 25); and the Playhouse Disney and Noggin (non Disney owned) cable channels.
However due to your company’s blatant (and admitted) disregard for accuracy the use of any and all Disney/ABC products will cease in our home.

Best wishes to the loss of two future customers.

Which used 499 of their 500 character limit. Do you think they’ll understand?????

OK, I admit I was too lazy to go back and track down some of the specifics on the “good” intelligence gathered through torture which Bush cited in his speech yesterday. I was kind of hoping that the MSM would do it and they did.

So about that Abu Zubaida who was Bush’s big success story. By way of Froomkin and note the reliance on Ron Suskind who did that investigative thingy that reporters have such trouble with these days:

Dan Eggen and Dafna Linzer writes in The Washington Post: “The secret interrogation of senior al-Qaeda aide Abu Zubaida provided U.S. authorities with the clues they needed to capture the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and other key terrorism suspects around the world, according to new accounts provided yesterday by President Bush and administration officials. . . .

snip

“But in his recent book, ‘The One Percent Doctrine,’ Ron Suskind reported that a tipster led the CIA directly to Mohammed and subsequently collected a $25 million reward. Intelligence sources said yesterday that Suskind’s description is correct but that Zubaida’s information was also helpful.”

And addressing a point about Abu Zubaida and his reliability that I remembered, i.e. that he wasn’t:

But as Barton Gellman noted in his Washington Post review of Suskind’s book:
“Abu Zubaydah, his captors discovered, turned out to be mentally ill and nothing like the pivotal figure they supposed him to be. . . . Dan Coleman, then the FBI’s top al-Qaeda analyst, told a senior bureau official, ‘This guy is insane, certifiable, split personality.’”

Nevertheless, “Bush ‘was fixated on how to get Zubaydah to tell us the truth,’ Suskind writes, and he asked one briefer, ‘Do some of these harsh methods really work?’ Interrogators did their best to find out, Suskind reports. They strapped Abu Zubaydah to a water-board, which reproduces the agony of drowning. They threatened him with certain death. They withheld medication. They bombarded him with deafening noise and harsh lights, depriving him of sleep. Under that duress, he began to speak of plots of every variety — against shopping malls, banks, supermarkets, water systems, nuclear plants, apartment buildings, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty. With each new tale, ‘thousands of uniformed men and women raced in a panic to each . . . target.’ And so, Suskind writes, ‘the United States would torture a mentally disturbed man and then leap, screaming, at every word he uttered.’”

So although we don’t torture, when we do torture, we get really good, reliable info, except it’s not. Questions?

*ilson46201 @ 65

OT but funny — Joe’s official blog is thoroughly trashed — sockpuppetry run rampant! It reminds me of the halcyon days of the WaPoo Blog — back in the day!

Moral: never ever start a political blog without ever-vigilant moderators !

*ilson, have I told you lately that you and all the mods on this blog rock? Consider yourself told.

Simon @ 74

Just posted this at http://abc.go.com/site/contactus.html

As the parents of two young boys (aged 2.10 & 10 months) My wife & I have slowly introduced them to limited television & DVD’s and our prime sources both for entertainment & education have been Baby Einstein DVD’s (of which we own 25); and the Playhouse Disney and Noggin (non Disney owned) cable channels.
However due to your company’s blatant (and admitted) disregard for accuracy the use of any and all Disney/ABC products will cease in our home.

Best wishes to the loss of two future customers.

Which used 499 of their 500 character limit. Do you think they’ll understand?????

Shorter version: Simon says “See ya!” Nicely done.

ABC stands by its crock.

From ABC’s own description:

Former ABC News anchor John Miller, now the FBI’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, was also a consultant on the project. His book, The Cell, co-authored with Michael Stone, was optioned by ABC for use in the teleplay.

mighty handy for Bush to have one of his guys giving advice.

ABC statement just issued: (read on air on MSNBC)

“The following movie is a dramatization that is drawn from a variety of sources including the 9/11 Commission Report and other published materials, and from personal interviews. The movie is not a documentary. For dramatic and narrative purposes, the movie contains fictionalized scenes, composite and representative characters and dialogue, as well as time compression.

No one has seen the final version of the film, so criticisms are premature.” [And sorry, I missed the remainder of the statement…my fingers got tired…will find a link as soon as I can.]

Clinton “will not be happy unless it is pulled” acc to his atty per Nora.

Nora does point out that nobody in Clinton admin got the DVD despite requests but critics of the admin have gotten them…

Nora O’D going to town on Clinton v. ABC!

Common Sense @ 81

From ABC’s own description:

Former ABC News anchor John Miller, now the FBI’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, was also a consultant on the project. His book, The Cell, co-authored with Michael Stone, was optioned by ABC for use in the teleplay.

mighty handy for Bush to have one of his guys giving advice.

I read The Cell and it’s excellent, IMO. Nothing at all like what the ABC thing is.

Christy @83

I think I have the full quote at @76

OT – maybe a mod could copy/past to Imman or send link?

Immanentize – re: questions for the director – I’m pretty bitter and going too far around the bend, but one or two of these has a kernel of something that could be reshaped for a “for real” question —

1. Can’t you call Warren Buffet and Bill Gates and appeal to their patriotism to help you line up some first rate problem solvers and fix the computer issues?

2. Do you believe illegal or unconstitutional government actions should be protected as state secrets?

3. If the President or the Attorney General order you to violate existing criminal laws of this country and engage in secretive cover up, if you did not feel you should comply, what would or could you do?

4. What should an FBI agent do if exposed to people and activities that violate existing criminal laws of this country and involve conspiracies to cover up those activities – if those criminal violations were ordered by the Attorney General or President’s office.

5. Does the President’s embrace of torture and coercion to obtain testimony mean that the FBI will not be actively working cases involving suspected terrorists in the future and that they will all be handled by military commission, including those involving US Citizens?

6. Does torture testimony go into the data base and is it relied upon to start investigations of Americans in America?

7. Any plans to open War Crimes files soon?

8. If the Office of Legal Counsel has been so wrong, so often, can it’s opinions still be relied upon and will the Executive Branch waive attorney client privilege if an agent or individual is forced to use reliance on and OLC opinion as support for their illegal activities? (I don’t’ know how you assert reliance without doing what all the big boys do and waiving privilege — would be an interesting situation, since the waiver needs to come from the President — how can someone who can’t waive assert reliance?)

9. What would be the FBI’s role if the head of the Department of Justice and the Head of the Executive Branch engaged in actions, known to the FBI, which violate the criminal laws of this country – any difference if the criminal victims are American Citizens or not?

10. How is it a good idea to have sections of the Patriot Act which rely solely upon whistleblower’s within the FBI to leak “classified” (whether correctly or not) information without protection and without recourse for the violations?

11. If the head of the Executive Branch or the Head of the Department of Justice order that members of the Executive Branch violate the criminal laws of the United States, and those members comply, who bears the responsibility?
12. As head of the FBI, do you have the same authority to order violations of criminal law as those claimed by others within or heading the Executive Branch.
13. How do you wake up every day and work for George Bush and Alberto Gonzales.

Hugh @ 10:15am (#15)

EPU’ed alas, but after the current kerfuffle dies down one question will remain.

What does a $40 million partisan, factual inaccurate documentary and the controversy it spawned have to say about corporate oversight and governance at ABC Disney? Inquiring minds would like to know.

Good question. I’ve been looking through their standards of business conduct, which (in case you haven’t worked for a large corporation in the last twenty years or so) explains to employees what the company expects them to do regarding customers, the government, and other businesses. So far, no mention of being honest in labeling fiction as fiction, and not misleading the public, but there might be some gold there. Meanwhile, here’s part of the cover letter to this booklet written by Bob Iger, CEO of Disney:

People trust us because of our commitment to them and to the standards to which we hold ourselves. We alone are responsible for upholding our excellence and our integrity. This means acting responsibly in all our professional relationships, in a manner consistent with the high standards we set for our business conduct.

Might want to remind them of this if you communicate with them.

lotus @
73

WOW, Coz, thanks. People are talking about shorting the stock!

Hey, that’s what smart peeps do to dumb companies.

Lotey!!

When the Reagan docudrama got pulled from the network, it ended up being broacast on the network’s cable outlet, TNT I think. Probably what ABC will do with Path To 9/11.

Good. They’ve responded, so we know we have their ear -and more importantly- the ears of their corporate masters, etc. If none of this made a difference, they would never have uttered a word. Keep POUNDING!!

At first I was unconcerned about this movie. Now with Scholastic being involved and the possibility that schools may lend this offal some sort of legitimacy, I can no longer sit on my hands. I have emailed scholastic and called my local ABC affiliate. If you haven’t done the same here is a link to find your affiliate. Call them, be calm and clear. Don’t write down your statement first (it sounds like you’re reading it). Make a couple of notes about the points you want to hit and then speak extemporaneously. Your “uhm”ing and “ahh”ing will show that your are a bonafide regular person.

jinny @64

Eavesdropping Bill Stalls in Committee

http://tinyurl.com/pjhka

Seems that the R’s are not having a very good day!

Excerpt:

Forced to delay his committee’s vote, Specter grumbled that without his legislation the White House would continue its domestic wiretapping program virtually unchecked by the courts.

Oh, boo-hoo, Arlen! If they’re not obeying the current mandatory restrictions, why should we believe that your bill making them voluntary would help?

Oh, right, because the President promised. That’s much better than being legally required to do it.

Twit.

gregdewar.com @ 10:44am (#60)

Now if even a small percentage of LOST fans started talking smack about buying shows off of iTunes….well that might get more attention that us mad bloggers.

I’d bet that just making some mention of the fact that you got this information via the Internet would get them to thinking. The folks who buy things online are often the folks who get their news via the Internet. If they’re even remotely savvy about online business they’ll know that.

Send E-mail, not enough time for a letter!

I sent Scholastic this email:

Dear Friends,

I have been distressed to read of Scholastic’s involvement with the controversial and factually-disputed ABC TV docudrama (I believe they are not calling it a documentary because it fails to meet the standards of a documentary film) on 9/11.

The Scholastic imprimatur carries great weight with the schools and the reading public, and I would be greatly disappointed to see such a good and well-respected company name attached to this historically inaccurate fiction. I agree that it is critically important to promote discussion of 9/11 but I, respectfully, strongly suggest that this is NOT that project. As a filmmaker and a writer, I know how easily a film project such as this can be used as a political tool for the benefit of an ideology; I hope this is not the position the Scholastic company chooses to take by supporting this docudrama. All that you have, in the end, is your reputation.

As a financial contributor to the support of my local library as a Friend of the Library, I hope that I can continue to be a proud supporter of the expenditure of funds on Scholastic products.

Best wishes,

newspaperbrat and meta!!

Hugh @78 – I’m glad you put the Suskind info in – the President lies.

Part of what Suskind’s book reveals, too, is that there were some higher hopes for Zubaydah, bc his name had appeared a lot on intel. There were hope that this was bc he was a big wheel in the clockwork, but it turned out that he was something in the nature of a travel fixer – so a guy who might know some stuff, but by no means the “number three” or other prominent planner that was hoped for.

However, the President, in donning his cherrypicking suit, had already made a huge big deal out of Zubaydah, so his direction to Tenet was to make sure that Zubaydah WAS important – somehow. To Tenet, in essence *I’ve said this guy was important – don’t let me down* and Tenet’s reponse – sure, okey dokey (slightly mumbled through bootlicking).

Message from Tom McMahon, DNC via AmericaBlog

Just talked to Mr. Prop (who is a financial advisor — buys and sells stocks and bonds for rich people who can’t won’t do it for themselves)

he says (andIwill check in a minute) that the Waal Street Journal is now saying that Path to 9-11 is a “fictionalized account”

Off to see if I can read them on line

I just sent an email to news@scholatic.com and got a reply saying that it did not appear to be an accurate email address.

Can anyone confirm?

lotus!

From Raw:

Congressional Democrats will be holding a press conference late Thursday afternoon which will call on Scholastic to keep ABC’s docudrama The Path to 9/11 “out of schools,” RAW STORY has learned.

“Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY-28), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, will today be joined by Rep. Bill Pascrell (NJ-8), a member of the Homeland Security Committee and a former high school teacher, to call for Scholastic Inc. and ABC to keep the upcoming, and already challenged, docudrama The Path to 9-11 out of America’s classrooms,” said a press release sent out by Rep. Slaughter’s office.

Mary4, — got it

Just a drive by — back later but,

Just let me THANK!!! everyone else on the last thread for your input to my request. Anne especially for putting herself into the scary head of a lawyer….

I am going to digest them all and figure out what to submit…. As someone said, at least he’ll get an idea about what we are thinking. I do not however think I will be asking him when he plans on arresting Bush :~)

Y’all are the most!

Nora has Bob Barr & Roger Cressey on the “docudrama” — jooosy!

ABC will not back down — just announced they will air it — we must double our efforts NOW

susan @ 98

I just sent an email to news@scholatic.com and got a reply saying that it did not appear to be an accurate email address.

Can anyone confirm?

It’s misspelled.

I don’t remember if this has been mentioned before. (Apologies if it has. Too many blogs, too many comments…)

Matt Stoller and Jennifer Nix created the site openlettertoabc.blogspot.com for all things related to ABC’s film “Path to 9-11″. From the site:

This is a clearinghouse site for content created all across the blogs. Please send tips, new actions, blog posts, and news articles that you think are relevant to openlettertoabc at gmail.com.

Oh, and its Spotlight enabled. :-)

Further to my letter to ABC posted @ 77 – I just wrote a similar letter to Julie Aigner-Clarke, founder of the Baby Einstein company – which is now owned by Disney. Not trying to brag at all but we are extremely affluent and spend way too much money on our kids – Disney, ABC etc. just lost two very big potential customers and my two kids are about to get a whole lot of Non Disney DVD’s.

Is this trueblue from OZ? Way to go girl!

– TrueBlue provides these e-mail addresses: (Please be polite — you get more flies with honey than with vinegar.)

LSchaefer@Scholastic.com
MAtwater@Scholastic.com
CNobel@Scholastic.com
GHymowitz@Scholastic.com
MMcGuire@Scholastic.com

— Trueblue also pulls this information from a ThinkProgress comment:

URGENT!!!!
Just got off the phone with Ms. Kyle Good, VP of Corporate Communications at Scholastic. They have pulled the material and are meeting shortly to discuss what to do. They know there are many materials already out there and are discussing what to do or how to deal with it.
Please call their offices right now (10:55 AM – Eastern Time).
Contact Us

For comments or questions concerning Scholastic products or services, please contact:

Investor Relations
212-343-6741

Corporate Communications
(Kyle Good’s office)
212-343-4563

Justice for David Hicks!

FYI, the story has now hit the front page of the WaPost website. It’s also in the NYTimes website, but buried in the “Television” section.

We’re getting some traction… keep it up!

immanentize @ 102

Mary4, — got it

Just a drive by — back later but,

Just let me THANK!!! everyone else on the last thread for your input to my request. Anne especially for putting herself into the scary head of a lawyer….

I am going to digest them all and figure out what to submit…. As someone said, at least he’ll get an idea about what we are thinking. I do not however think I will be asking him when he plans on arresting Bush :~)

Y’all are the most!

Not to deny you the fun of your conversation, or to denegrate your own chops, but what about disguising Mary4 and sending her in your place?

*G*

Oh, to be a fly on the wall!

Statement from 9/11 families – just pulled it off of kos:

As we mark five years since 9/11, we are inundated with the media’s portrayal of that tragic day. Television miniseries, Hollywood films, comic books and countless “documentaries” are dramatizing and sometimes distorting the events leading up to and happening on 9/11.

Families of September 11 believes the best way to honor those who were lost is to make sure that what happened to them never happens again. As such, we must understand exactly what took place, and not allow “entertainers” to promote misleading or incorrect information as fact to the public.

If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. Any depiction of 9/11 that is not accurate and factual propagates myths, myths that may cause us future harm.

In order to make our country safer and more secure, we owe it to those who were lost to acknowledge that which took place, so that we can ensure it never happens again.

http://www.dailykos.com/

Bob Barr as harsh on it as Nora & Roger! All three kicking ABC in the teeth, boom boom boom!

Barr: “All this reduces the cred of television and the news biz in particular — it really reduces the cred of the product.”

Kurt, duh!

Christy,

Can you change the link in the post to read news@scholastic.com ?

Thanks!

Christy Hardin Smith @ 83

ABC statement just issued: (read on air on MSNBC)

“The following movie is a dramatization that is drawn from a variety of sources including the 9/11 Commission Report and other published materials, and from personal interviews. The movie is not a documentary. For dramatic and narrative purposes, the movie contains fictionalized scenes, composite and representative characters and dialogue, as well as time compression.

No one has seen the final version of the film, so criticisms are premature.” [And sorry, I missed the remainder of the statement…my fingers got tired…will find a link as soon as I can.]

Note the verbal slight of hand: there may be “fictionalized scenes” but there are only composite and representative . . . dialogue.” No. The complaints from fact witnesses are that there is fictionalized, even completely false, dialogue attributed to government officials, who have publically said so, as well as fictionalized scenes. Calling the dialogue “representative” is also a lie, if the statements were never made and misrepresent what was actually said and done by the people who were actually there — and have now publically said so.

ABC is still digging with the same shovel. Hit em again.

OT Q – I didn’t watch the Couric debut, mostly since her vicious attacks on Gore and Kerry when she interviewed them, I have come to see her as a right winger. But, Ed Schulz (another often righty) indicated a few days ago that she was going to have Rushhhh Limpball on her first show. True? If she did, I think that is pretty significant – Unless she was planning on having Al Franken the day after.

lotus,
glad to see you back. Where you been?

My @ 103

I just checked and it’s correct in the post and also correct in my email, wondering why that response.

Anyone else get a weird response from news@scholastic.com ?

The worst part about them going ahead with it is this.

They say it is unfair to criticize them when no one has seen the “final” version of the film and we can discuss it after it airs. Problem is that once it airs the lies, they are virtually impossible to combat the impression that it sets with the general public.

assholes.

All blogs should start doing what Aravosis did at Americablog. By making parodies of Mickey Mouse,(or for that matter any Disney character will do) will grab Disney’s attention much faster than any letter or phone call.
Disney is like a mother hen when it comes to protecting product so when you defame Mickey or whoever you will get a much swifter response.

Networks better get used to the idea that the majority of the nation is now dem- that he house is likely to be dem in a couple of months- and perhaps the senate. When they figure out who is going to be running the FCC after 08- they will adjust their priorities- whores all.

Been here all along, Margot, just so deep in mod that usually y’all can’t see me. It’s to do with the new WP software, apparently, and I hear that Jamie’s working hard to fix it.

Props and Godspeed to Jamie, everybody! Can I get an Amen?

Taylor has one up about Big Dawg vs. ABC.

CLINTON to ABC: It’s Malice, Baby

http://www.taylormarsh.com/

scarecrow @ 11:26 am (#113) – Note the verbal slight of hand: there may be “fictionalized scenes” but there are only composite and representative . . . dialogue.”

It might be more accurate to say that these scenes are composites of the fantasies of right-wing fanatics.

scarecrow @ 113

Christy Hardin Smith @ 83

ABC statement just issued: (read on air on MSNBC)

“The following movie is a dramatization that is drawn from a variety of sources including the 9/11 Commission Report and other published materials, and from personal interviews. The movie is not a documentary. For dramatic and narrative purposes, the movie contains fictionalized scenes, composite and representative characters and dialogue, as well as time compression.

No one has seen the final version of the film, so criticisms are premature.” [And sorry, I missed the remainder of the statement…my fingers got tired…will find a link as soon as I can.]

Note the verbal slight of hand: there may be “fictionalized scenes” but there are only composite and representative . . . dialogue.” No. The complaints from fact witnesses are that there is fictionalized, even completely false, dialogue attributed to government officials, who have publically said so, as well as fictionalized scenes. Calling the dialogue “representative” is also a lie, if the statements were never made and misrepresent what was actually said and done by the people who were actually there — and have now publically said so.

ABC is still digging with the same shovel. Hit em again.

Exactly, election year lies.

If CBS starts suckin gooper dick just as the goopers begin their collapse of power- well that really earns em the loser label doesn’t it?

Also you might want to note the Scholastic art competition, an annual high school art competition that is THE stepping stone for art students to go to college. They are VERY proud of this competition and, as an art teacher, I plan to mention that I am very familliar with the competition and that Scholastic is putting it’s own repuation in danger with this garbage.

Since the gop-u-drama really does spread lies about the Clinton administration (and specifically about Albright, and Berger), even if under the guise of “fiction,” could not Berger and Albright request immediate injunctive relief from the Courts based upon damage to character (i.e. defamation, etc?)

It seems to me that this is what should be done. If the two-night “event” goes along as planned, the damage could be horrible. Kids and their parents (the uninformed masses) who miss the “disclaimer” will undoubtedly think that the film is factually correct.

This is a sorry state of affairs. Not surprised that conservative Patricia HEaton was a part of the whole messy film.

However, I had no idea that Keitel was a conservative. This film must be stopped. The damage it could cause in terms of the political discourse of this country could be irreversible.

Look how long it took for the majority of the country to see that Saddam and Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. And yet still you get idiots like Chris Hitchens going on Bill Maher’s show and claiming a link (pre-9/11) between terrorists and Iraq.

What a sorry state of affairs!!

Can we put Mark’s link to the ABC-9/11 blogspot (#108) at the top. I found it a good source. And also the others for Scholastic. Thanks!

rwcole @ 11:30 am (#119) I think the reason they’re doing this is that they’re trying to prevent the Democrats from gaining control of Congress.

Susan at 119 – the address wouldn’t load for me so I went to their website and got a contact us address there.

“No one has seen the final version” because they haven’t released it to anyone but wingnuts who will say the love the damn thing.

Their entire marketing of this show goes against every established television procedure. They ALWAYS show advance copies of a show to critics so they can spread the word about it. The fact that ABC won’t show it to anyone means they KNOW the content is bullshit…

…or it means they are marketing geniuses, and they’ll get a 90-share when it airs.

But that excuse “no one has see the final version” is really lame. Like, does that mean they don’t know what the content is? Bullshit.

brainfaht– this one is easy. Pinocchio is Disney/ABC and the cricket is bushco/rnc/rove.

http://www.merveilleux.ca/fond…..cchio3.jpg

My letter sent via fax to the superintendent and the curriculum director of my school system — use as you see fit in your own backyard.

Dear Sirs:

As a parent with children enrolled in [school system name], I am writing to express my concern about Scholastic Education’s downloadable materials developed and made available to instructors in concert with ABC-Disney’s scheduled program, “Path to 9/11″.

The content of the program is currently under fire as it contains many gross factual errors. Former President Bill Clinton has asked for the program to be corrected before it airs next week or pulled because these errors; former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright wrote a letter to ABC-Disney telling them that program content is “false and defamatory”. Former National Security Council counterterrorism coordinator and ABC news consultant Richard Clarke described portions of the content as “180 degrees from what happened” and “deeply flawed”. All three persons are portrayed in this program and are certainly in the best position to ascertain the veracity of the content.

Further, there is a distinctly partisan effort at work in the development and promotion of this program; only partisan supporters of a particular political party were provided advance copies of the materials as well as assurances of the aim of the program.

Scholastic, in conjunction with ABC-Disney, promoted educational materials to be used in classroom discussions around this program. The materials were available as PDF’s; they have been temporarily pulled while Scholastic reviews its position in light of the controversy around the program and protests from parents.

My concern for [school system name] is that Scholastic may decide to promote the materials again after their management meeting today, or that [school system name] instructors have already downloaded the materials for use in the classroom. Although I am not a lawyer, it appears to me that Scholastic’s encouragement to teachers (to download PDF’s of these particular educational materials related to this ABC-Disney program on school computers, resulting in copying factually incorrect national political campaign materials using public school system copy machines and distributed to students) may be illegal. Scholastic may be in violation of federal statutes regarding distribution of electioneering materials under false guise. They have engaged educators and schools in possible violation of federal law, have asked teachers to violate both their employment contracts and union bylaws, and may have gotten schools whose instructors have already downloaded this material unwittingly into the same shaky legal territory.

Additionally, I am concerned about the use of inadequately vetted and false materials used in public classrooms. I hope that [school system name]’s curriculum screening process does not permit the use of materials that have not received screening for quality including veracity. My children attend public schools in an effort to obtain an unbiased, neutral education that encourages them to develop critical thinking skills, the kind that may not be found in privately-funded educational programs.

I realize you are quite busy since this is the first week of school. Do not feel compelled to respond unless [school system name] or instructors have integrated the Scholastic materials around this ABC-Disney program into the curriculum. If this has happened, I would like to know what steps [school system name] will take to correct the situation, including communications with Scholastic Education.

I expect I will be getting a call tomorrow morning in spite of that last paragraph, don’t you?

Heh.

And Ed*ward Teller, thank you so much again for that brilliant bit I lifted and inserted in my letter.

Susan (#118) – Doublecheck that the address you’re using doesn’t include a period at the end. That’s what was wrong with the address I initially used – not sure where I copied it from.
Nan

Richmond at 131 — It’s already in the post — the Open Letter to ABC blog.

From Think progress:

ABC Statement: Critics of Path to 9/11 Are ‘Premature and Irresponsible’
ThinkProgress has obtained a statement released just now by ABC Television about its planned docudrama “The Path to 9/11.” The release says the “editing process is not yet complete, so criticisms of film specifics are premature and irresponsible.”

Statement from ABC Entertainment on The Path to 9/11

“The Path to 9/11″ is not a documentary of the events leading to 9/11. It is a dramatization, drawn from a variety of sources including the 9/11 Commission Report, other published materials, and personal interviews. As such, for dramatic and narrative purposes, the movie contains fictionalized scenes, composite and representative characters and dialogue, and time compression. No one has seen the final version of the film, because the editing process is not yet complete, so criticisms of film specifics are premature and irresponsible. The attacks of 9/11 were a pivotal moment in our history, and it is fitting that the debate about the events related to the attacks continue. However, we hope viewers will watch the entire broadcast of the finished film before forming an opinion about it.

The blogosphere rocks! Power to the people!

I just called Disney and re-canceled (?) my movie membership and filed a complaint re: Pathway to 9-11. I felt the person on the phone was more than helpful to document my concern…

I also recommend to bloggers out there that we start contacting some of the actors involved in this flam. I used to respect Harvey Kitel and Donnie Wahlberg, but now I think I will avoid their films for awhile. I definitely will not see them in theaters anyway. I did the same for Schwartzenhager…

Thanks Jane for everything you do!

Not having any kids nor morals, I not really up on this, but isn’t it possible to install blocks on certain channels in your cable lineup? If so, what if we all called our cable provider to block all ABC/Disney connected channels, and dropped Disney a line advising them we have done so?

Just my opinion, but I think it is even more important to contact your local school system than scholastic.

karelroc @ 128

Since the gop-u-drama really does spread lies about the Clinton administration (and specifically about Albright, and Berger), even if under the guise of “fiction,” could not Berger and Albright request immediate injunctive relief from the Courts based upon damage to character (i.e. defamation, etc?)

It seems to me that this is what should be done. If the two-night “event” goes along as planned, the damage could be horrible. Kids and their parents (the uninformed masses) who miss the “disclaimer” will undoubtedly think that the film is factually correct.

That’s a really good idea. How could you get the ball rolling?

Why would you issue a movie for previewing if you weren’t finished editing it yet?

Unless Christy objects, can I suggest that those who spotlight this and other ABC-related posts at fdl to reporters to include in their spotlight comments links to Glenn Greenwald’s excellent posts dealing with the same topic. Or include fdl and Glenn’s links in your letters/e-mails. There are several worthwhile Greenwald posts on this topic in the last few days that complement Christy’s, Jennifer’s and Jane’s posts; the most recent, giving us the history of how the right objected to the CBS docudrama about the Reagans in 2003, is here:

http://glenngreenwald.blogspot…..html#links

This background information can be used to say, “what’s sauce for the goose . . .” and it just might show up in tv reports, reminding viewers that when the shoe was on the other foot, the network withdrew the offending programs.

Bustednuckles @ 121

Taylor has one up about Big Dawg vs. ABC.

CLINTON to ABC: It’s Malice, Baby

http://www.taylormarsh.com/

Democratic politicians, take note: This is how it’s done. Fight back promptly, fiercely, repeatedly. Don’t whine, don’t take the “high” road, don’t ignore the slurs – pin their hair back.

could the slander lawsuit put ABC out of business? Last I heard, knowingly publishing false or misleading statements about a person is still a cause of action. Sounds to me like if ABC runs their little show, just about everyone who was a part of the Clinton administration will have grounds to sue.

So ABC ran a ‘prelimiinary’ version by several hundred right-wing writers two weeks before release and ignored the left-wing writers completely. They also didn’t run it by the people who were actually present at the time of the events that ABC is now claiming are ‘dramatized’. So they’re going to spend how long fixing the (apparently) many errors of fact that they should have found out about, say, three months ago?

Fall over, ABC/Disney. You’re dead weight now.

ABC’s excepted, BushCo cain’t get NO respec’ today.

Pentagon Lawyers Warn Against Evidence Limits

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 12:27 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon’s top uniformed lawyers took issue Thursday with a key part of a White House plan to prosecute terrorism detainees, telling Congress that limiting the suspects’ access to evidence could violate treaty obligations.

Their testimony to a House committee marked the latest time that military lawyers have publicly challenged Bush administration proposals to keep some evidence — such as classified information — from accused terrorists. In the past, some military officials have expressed concerns that if the U.S. adopts such standards, captured American troops might be treated the same way.
[…]

Anne @ 142

Why would you issue a movie for previewing if you weren’t finished editing it yet?

Only if you needed a lame excuse to NOT release the movie for previewing.

It’s got to be 99 1/2% done by now, or it can’t air. They’re full of crap.

Cujo359 @ 130

rwcole @ 11:30 am (#119) I think the reason they’re doing this is that they’re trying to prevent the Democrats from gaining control of Congress.

ding! ding! ding!
we have a winner!

Mary4

Very funny questions for the director

I think Clinton et al need an actual copy (surely they’ve dug one up by now?) but I think that things are postured now to where ABC is pretty screwed on the inaccurate scenes.

A “composite” has to be composed of things that happened – even for public figures, I don’t see how ABC goes forward with scenes showing the things shown without it being actual malice.

Maybe injunctive relief would be available – depends on several things, but having ABC’s own consultant, and the ex-President of the United States, calling foul – has to juice that. Especially when you have the Rice backrub elements of pretending Bush wasn’t flicking off CIA briefers and sending them home with a “you’ve covered your ass” and was instead very upset and concerned.

I think Clinton can handle this.

What bothers me is that we aren’t really ever going to get something objective that digs in and examines where things could have been handled differently, to end up with something constructive and people having a more concrete understanding.

Clinton did screw things up – people screw things up. There is tension about different approaches and aspects – they could be discussed and weighed.

Instead we get partisan propaganda that isn’t satisfied with accurate criticism of both administrations and accurate praise of both administrations (and early on – Bush had people who did do a few things correctly as well) and has to go into fairy tale land.

I was glad to see Bill Clinton’s statement about the documentary earlier today. But, if ABC still plans to go through with this, without making the fixes or completlely reshooting the whole thing, then I would petition CLinton, Sandy Berger and Madeleine Albright to files the biggest M.F. libel, slander and defamation of character lawsuit in the history of the US, which would, in all probablity, bankrupt Disney, reeling as they are from having to pay Eisner’s retirement package.

Morris at 140

I guess one thing we could do (and it seems as if Bubba may have already started doing so) is contact the attorneys or media publicists who represent Berger, Albright, Clinton, and ask them to seek immediate injunctive relief.

I am looking to see how I can contact these people now. One thing is clear though, only the people wrongfully depicted in the film could seek relief (because you have to have legal standing to seek relief).

In addition, the person seeking relief must have personal knowledge or at least proffer declarations from people who have seen the film, who can attest to the glaring inacccuracies.

I wonder if this is why the key people have not been allowed to see the film (any legal attack could be defended by stating that the person seeking relief has not seen the film and therefore is basing their attack upon mere speculation)

Something should be done immediately though.

Didn’t one of the FirePups in the UK say that ABC was running it over BBC???

Correct me if I’m wrong on this.

But if I’m right, then THAT is the FINAL program and we are already well within our rights to bitch.

Even if this was a dramatization, why the partisan handling? Why the Scholastic educational materials for a drama instead of educational materials on the event itself?

I call bullsh*t, as so many of you already have.

Nora did say she had spoken with Bill Clinton’s attorney…

it got my attention :>)

Rayne @ 11:50 am (#150) – You are correct. I did a Google search of the BBC site yesterday and found the listings. Go to this article at Taylor’s site to find the search string URL – I can’t embed it in the comments here:

http://www.taylormarsh.com/arc…..p?id=24477

The first part appeared on Sept. 5, and the second part will be shown on Sept. 11.

Well I just sent my email to Mr. Jobs outfit Apple/ Mack. Off to the river after restoring my 50 year canoe(Old Town). Great effort on the peoples part. Bravo! In a couple of days, Wilbo

angie @ 154

Nora did say she had spoken with Bill Clinton’s attorney…

ABC better hope it’s not Hillary.

Did someone say new thread?

Angie @ 134

That was great, I forwarded to aravosis I hope he makes quick work of that.

karelroc @ 153

Morris at 140

I guess one thing we could do (and it seems as if Bubba may have already started doing so) is contact the attorneys or media publicists who represent Berger, Albright, Clinton, and ask them to seek immediate injunctive relief.

I am looking to see how I can contact these people now. One thing is clear though, only the people wrongfully depicted in the film could seek relief (because you have to have legal standing to seek relief).

In addition, the person seeking relief must have personal knowledge or at least proffer declarations from people who have seen the film, who can attest to the glaring inacccuracies.

I wonder if this is why the key people have not been allowed to see the film (any legal attack could be defended by stating that the person seeking relief has not seen the film and therefore is basing their attack upon mere speculation)

Something should be done immediately though.

Ben Veniste saw the section of the “drama” that contains the Clinton/Albright/Berger defamations

Whoever had the NYT link up to the illegal wiretaps legislation – thank you.

Warms my heart that Feingold is considered obstructionist by Specter.

Feingold is about the only real deal that we have left.

BTW – Albright has sent a notice letter to ABC and mentioned that certain scenes described to her about her are untrue and defamatory.

Re: possible defamation claims, Taylor Marsh has the entire letter from Clinton’s attorney up at her blog. The letter cc’s the following people:

Ms. Madeleine K. Albright
Mr. Samuel R. Berger
Mr. Richard A. Clarke
Mr. Stephen McPherson
Mr. George J. Mitchell
Mr. John D. Podesta
Mr. David Westin

We’ve already heard publicly from some of these people; is this our preliminary list of defamees, perhaps?

retrogrouch @ 65

This is what I wrote to Scholastic this morning:

“Gentlemen/Ladies,

This morning, The Washington Post published an article about ABC’s docudrama
“The Path to 9/11.” In this article, the following appeared:

“Former secretary of state Madeleine K. Albright called one scene involving her
“false and defamatory.” Former national security adviser Samuel R. “Sandy”
Berger said the film “flagrantly misrepresents my personal actions.” And former
White House aide Bruce R. Lindsey, who now heads the William J. Clinton
Foundation, said: “It is unconscionable to mislead the American public about one
of the most horrendous tragedies our country has ever known.”

Great idea to quote chapter and verse from Lindsey’s 9/1 letter.

It’s online for others who want to do the same. Just click HERE. For yesterday’s letter to ABC from Conyers, Dingell, Harman and Slaughter, click HERE.

Those who made it through the preface of John Dean’s Conservatives Without Conscience will notice a tonal similarity between Lindsey’s letter and Dean’s regarding Silent Coup. This is how a public figure lays the groundwork for a libel suit in the teeth of NY Times v. Sullivan. The words say, “Let’s all be reasonable,” but the subtext reads, “Let’s not be reckless.”

I understand ABC’s next planned docudrama will include a scene in which a non-fictionalized pollster gives “representative” polling results to Bush and Lieberman seen together in a “composite” scene.

http://news.aol.com/elections/…..3409990001

The sad thing is, it might actually have happened! Air it! Air it!

Christy Hardin Smith @ 137

Richmond at 131 — It’s already in the post — the Open Letter to ABC blog.

Apologies Christy. Too much multitasking, not enough coffee.

McGee @ 54
The Day Reagan was Shot: I thought wingnuts hated that movie.

op99 @ 140

Not having any kids nor morals, I not really up on this, but isn’t it possible to install blocks on certain channels in your cable lineup? If so, what if we all called our cable provider to block all ABC/Disney connected channels, and dropped Disney a line advising them we have done so?

Funny, and true. Blocking can be done locally, but the provider (at least Comcast-Bay Area) can’t/won’t, except by package.
Hi op! Who are you @ scrutator again?

percy @ 145

Bustednuckles @ 121

Taylor has one up about Big Dawg vs. ABC.

CLINTON to ABC: It’s Malice, Baby

http://www.taylormarsh.com/

Democratic politicians, take note: This is how it’s done. Fight back promptly, fiercely, repeatedly. Don’t whine, don’t take the “high” road, don’t ignore the slurs – pin their hair back.

“When you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time – a tremendous whack.” Winston Churchill

Singing overheard from a stall in the exec washroom @ ABC Corp. HQ (amid other sounds):

“Letters!
We get letters!
We get lots and lots of letters!”

Mary4@88
Incredible questions, but this one is really a doozy:

“5. Does the President’s embrace of torture and coercion to obtain testimony mean that the FBI will not be actively working cases involving suspected terrorists in the future and that they will all be handled by military commission, including those involving US Citizens?”

I remember that there were stories of FBI agents at Guantanamo who refused to play. So who would play in your scenario? I wonder about Rummy’s Northern Command, or DHS.

You may want to share this. AOL is running as news story about the Clinton administration and the 9/11 film. With it they’re running a Clinton culpability poll which the right seems to be jamming up with anti-Clinton votes.

If you and others want to see the story, vote in the poll, it’s at:

http://articles.news.aol.com/n…..0000000001

OK, I am now done with ABC, Disney and AOL. Is anyone digging to find out where the $40 million to make this shit came from? Follow the money…I’m sure it leads back to Karl Rove’s pocket.

The more people boycott ABC and Disney, the more they’ll feel it in lost advertising revenue and the bottom line. You may miss some of your favorite programs and movies, but how else are we going to send a message?

FS 174, AOL always slants toward Bush, in headlines, poll questions, news articles, etc. AOL has always veered right – Steve was born into a very nice moderate Rockefeller Republican family (his brother Danny was an absolutely extraordinary guy who died prematurely) but Steve steered into the arms of the extremist right (he was photographed at a Federalist Society gala) after he was born again and remarried. Sad.

And, uh, 174, I get that you can cut and paste, really very nice cutting and pasting, kudos to you on your word processing skills, but apart from the repetitive screaming, your point is what? Call me crazy (and I am sure you will, but ) I am actually interested in your point of view, I just don’t get much from your post.

My letter to Scholastic:

I am writing to protest your distribution of educational materials based upon viewing of ‘The Path to 9/11′. I don’t believe ABC’s assertion that it is not biased propaganda designed to shift the blame for this horrible tragedy onto the Clinton administration, with a further goal of bolstering the public’s flagging support of the GOP 2 months from a very important election. If this is not right-biased propaganda, then why were 900 copies of it distributed for previewing to only hard-right commentators, and why were members of the Clinton administration denied a copy to review? ABC has admitted that the show is a ‘dramatization’ and that it contains false information, even though they also claim it was based on the 9/11 report – and yet by Scholastic’s involvement it will be debated in schools as simply another valid viewpoint, on top of any half-hearted disclaimer by ABC sure to go unnoticed by most.

It is bad enough that we adults must learn to sort through the daily barrage of fearmongering and propaganda issued by our government and its lackeys, but to foist this upon impressionable children under the banner of education is simply reprehensible. I urge you in the strongest terms possible to retract your participation and materials relating to this travesty. If I do not hear of Scholastic’s withdrawal and public renouncing of this project by tomorrow, I will organize a boycott and a letter-writing campaign in my neighborhood and I promise you I will never personally buy another Scholastic product nor endorse my children’s schools’ purchases again.

Please, Scholastic, do not abet the trampling of our democracy in this manner.

Adrienne @
175

OK, I am now done with ABC, Disney and AOL. Is anyone digging to find out where the $40 million to make this shit came from? Follow the money…I’m sure it leads back to Karl Rove’s pocket.

I wonder. If a corporation wanted to repay a favor, like a change in copyright legislation, or a juicy slice of a nice unregulated Internet, for instance, wouldn’t this be a nice way to say thanks? For services rendered or future consideration…..

Christy,

Question for you as a lawyer … If Berger and Albright are portrayed, by name, in totally ficticious scenes that defame them, would they not have cause for a slander/libel suit?

CJ @
180

Christy,

Question for you as a lawyer … If Berger and Albright are portrayed, by name, in totally ficticious scenes that defame them, would they not have cause for a slander/libel suit?

Follow up question: if they would have cause, how could their claim of fully vetted by legal staff be true? Time for a new legal staff, I’d say.

I have already e-mailed the superintendent of my school district. I informed him that my child is not to watch The Path to 9/ll. In our school district, children are not allowed to watch controversial material without a notefrom home. I also informed him about the scholastic material. I will now call the people at Scholastic and thank them for pulling the material and request that theyplease send a letter that is not in support of the material that has already been sent.

The current administration has their own propaganda wing. They don’t need ABC/Disney doing their misinformation for them.:-(
JG-L.A.

An outragous abuse of the airwaves–if I wanted this sort of biased propoganda ,I would watch Fox.

all of you make me feel good. The Democrats and the decent people of this country are finally tired of this BS and are showing this brazen Pres.and all his {Charlie McCarthy}followers what we are made of,and are not going to take it anymore.
Thank you all You have made my day.

Some alternatives & some more bias problems–

Chinaberry is a pretty good children’s book provider.

I’ve considered Scholastic unethical for quite some time. Scholastic was marketing cosmetics to 4rth grade girls in the margins of its book catalog.

My child’s school explained to me that although they didn’t like the marketing, they did like
the commission they received from book sales
through Scholastic.

Scholastic also marketed the “goosebumps” series of children’s books for approx. 7 year
olds, which were quite controversial due to
their violent and sadistic content, such as
featuring teens burning down a house hoping the
occupant would die, and being deemed “not that
bad” by the other kids.

A version of Time magazine marketed for schools, Time for Kids also features heavily
biased material. Their coverage of genetic
engineering was reckless, one-sided cheerleading, practically an
advertisement.

A good
book for parents on TV is James P. Steyer’s
“The Other Parent”. It features moderate, workable recommendations for making conscious
choices about media consumption. I believe
he also had a company for marketing alternative
video. I recommend
getting a group together with your kids friends
parents to work out some community standards.

I raised my child TV-free, and found the things people worry about not to be a problem.
She didn’t have any trouble fitting in or being popular and it wasn’t the cause of
endless struggles–alot of my friends found trying to do limited video to
be much more of a source of conflict with their
children.

Former ad-man Jerry Manders “Four Arguments for
the Elimination of Television” is something everyone should read for background, even if they intend to continue moderate watching watching.

If folks could list some small, alternative
providers of kids videos/books–that would
probably help everyone with the work of
turning off Disney, ABC and Scholastic.

The organizers of the national TV turn-off
week in April probably have some good resources. The Anthroposophical Society also
may.

Some more silver lining:

Jerome L. and Dorothy Singer of Yale University, among others, have suggested that more viewing may contribute to a shorter attention span, diminished self-restraint and less patience with the normal delays of daily life. More than 25 years ago psychologist Tannis M. MacBeth Williams of the University of British Columbia studied a mountain community that had no television until cable finally arrived. Over time, both adults and children in the town became less creative in problem solving, less able to persevere at tasks, and less tolerant of unstructured time.

Chinaberry books is a good place to look
for an alternative children’s bookseller to Scholastic.

TV-free America or the anthroposophical society may be good places for folks looking
to deal with changing off or partially off video. Education professor Steyer’s “The Other
Parent” is a very good guide to the political
context in which our media regulation has changed, and also practical suggestions for
parents to guide their kids with both TV and
internet. West Point professor Grossman’s
studies of media and violence are fascinating.

Any small alternative video companies out
there to replace the Disney?

Silver lining to all this effort- check out
former ad-man Jerry Mander’s Four Arguments for
the Elimination of TV.

Also:

More than 25 years ago psychologist Tannis M. MacBeth Williams of the University of British Columbia studied a mountain community that had no television until cable finally arrived. Over time, both adults and children in the town became less creative in problem solving, less able to persevere at tasks, and less tolerant of unstructured time.

Moderator, could you delete comment 186? Its

an accidental send and duplication of 187,

which is shorter and more

to the point.

For residents of Texas and Ohio: Go to ABC’s website and get a link to your local ABC affiliate. Let them know you will be listening to the Ohio State v. Texas game on the Longhorn or Buckeye radio network rather than watching the broadcast on their station.

I didn’t watch the whole thing but one comment I must make, on a purely aesthetic note: More and more TV dramas these days are using this maddening neo-’realist’ technique of shaky hand-held cameras in every single scene. I could only take about five minutes of ‘P29/11′ before I felt a headache coming on.
This constant shaky camera (some of which I suspect is done in post production) and frequent use of zooming, rapid cutting, etc. during even the most undramatic scenes is ridiculously annoying.
On a political note, it also might lead certain unsophisticated viewers into believing that these dramas are actual documentaries, tho they flash disclaimers.

Today, 9/13, Scholastic replied with a form letter which does not address specifics and merely attempts further damage control.

It contradicts the corporation’s earlier statements and indicates that Scholastic will dismiss concerns in favor of further distortion.

No indication that they acknowledge their mistake in being complicit and no indication that they intend to renounce the film or their participation in foisting that folly on the masses.

Scholastic needs to be denied access to our children.