Obama Calls For Media Boycott In Response To Airing Of Ayers Ad. HELP FIGHT THE BULLSHIT

[KittyWampus]

Obama calls for media boycott, for real. w/update
by GoogleBonhoeffer
Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 03:51:38 PM PDT
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/25/181612/598/633/574999


In case your were wondering, it appears as though Barack Obama is totally fed up with the mainstream media right along with us. In fact, he's asking us to do something unprecedented in Presidential elections--to target (read: boycott) media that runs the 'William Ayers' attack ad. We knew that the swiftboat attacks were inevitable but now we know damn well that we can help Barack defend himself as we should. All we have to do is turn off the TV. More details from Politico below.

Make no mistake about it-the primary objective of Republican strategists is to portray Senator Barack Obama as a threat to our national security. Ever since the convention started, the cable networks have been scouring the streets in search of hostile protesters that could be linked to Obama in a way that undermines his peaceful grassroots movement for change.

The recent William Ayers ad plays on the theme of Obama-is-the-enemy and highlights the Republican platform in 2008. Some Republican Billionaire and accomplice of the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth paid for the Ayers ad

Fortunately for us, the Obama campaign is making good on its promise to prevent McSame's efforts to extend the reign of Bush through the same old lies and tricks.

From Politico: Obama’s campaign has written the Department of Justice demanding a criminal investigation of the “American Issues Project,”

Furthermore, the Obama camp has also written 2 letters to news networks

Here is the key of the whole article from Politicoand the essence of the message from our most excellent Presidential nominee:

"The Obama campaign plans to punish the stations that air the ad financially, an Obama aide said, organizing his supporters to target the stations that air it and their advertisers."

So far we have 93,000 emails from people like you and me supporting this target (read: boycott).

KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT!

Note: CNN and Fox News would not comment on their willing participation in this unpatriotic, dangerous and possibly illegal attack on Obama.

Update 1: Thanks guys and gals for all the passion I see here! This is my first trip to the rec list so I want to make it count. A commenter here in this diary, and I'm sure there are many others, wanted to be one of the 93,000 emails urging Sinclair to not air this anti-American attack on our guy. Here's the contact info. I've gathered so far. Mojo for Dengre for the tip.

Corporate Headquarters

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
10706 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030
410-568-1500 (Main Telephone)
410-568-1533 (Main Fax)

Update 2: I'm hearing that the main culprit in the perpetuation of the Ayers swiftboating scheme is Sinclair. Here's a link to their comment form. Tell them how you feel about anti-American activities directed at United States Senators.

Email Sinclair

Update 3:

Everything you need to know about Sinclair including links to sponsors and local TV stations in your area

[tekisui]

1. KNR! Not This Time!

[FrenchieCat]

2. I sent my letter........

and I will be glad to write some more.

I ain't taking this shit anymore....and I'm not going to "hope" that someone else is doing it so that I don't have to....because that's exactly like not doing shit. In the end, I will only have myself to blame after the fact, if I don't do something like right here, and right now!

[AvaMae]

96. I sent my letter....................

Initially I understood Fox and CNN had refused to accept the ad.

Is this not correct?

How about MSNBC?

Can someone please tap in with a list of those networks that are showing the ad?

Or, if appropriate, the few that are not?

Thanks!

[liberalmuse]

3. Done and done, and KNR'ed. n/t

[MichiganVote]

4. I'm in an I've called my local stations.

[Life Long Dem]

5. K & R

:woohoo: :patriot: :yoiks:

[Kaylee]

6. K&R ...it's a shame our nom has to fight the repubs and the media.

[HootieMcBoob]

7. k&r

:kick:

[classiclib4life]

8. K&R

[Median Democrat]

9. Sinclair Broadcasting Also Broadcast The Stolen Honor Film In 2004

[IndyOp]

10. LINKS to Sinclair Broadcasting comment form and info about sponsors & local TV stations in your area

Sinclair Broadcasting comment form:
http://www.sbgi.net/contact/contact.shtml

Info about sponsors & local TV stations in your area:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sinclair_Broadcast_Group

:kick:

[texastoast]

101. More advertiser info

It says the page was last updated 01/2008, but I'm not sure if the list is currently correct.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sinclair_Broadcast_Group/Media_markets_and_advertisers

[CitizenPatriot]

11. k & r, done

posted this on local website for libs, asking everyone to sign letter with me to local stations.

sickening bs, but we are ready for it.

woo hoo -- here comes the Kennedys!

[pleah]

12. K&R!

[symbolman]

13. We're firing up the Takebackthemedia.com website

to promote this and get Obama's back..

We'll post some ideas, we've been hammering the Media for years with some surprising results..

Who ya gonna call?

Media-Busters! :)

We'll spread the word.

[blm]

55. Fire up guys.

.

[skyounkin]

14. What's messed up is that

this organization probalby wouldn't air a video of mccain doing treason videos but since it's smearing Obama it's all good.

I am so glad I stopped watching TV after the superbowl........

[The Wizard]

82. How much is the GOP paying

the Vietnamese to not release the McCane anti American propaganda films he made as a POW?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

15. Hit their sponsors too ie. the people who advertize

[DearAbby]

16. OH HELL YES!!!!

K&R

DID DONE DONE!

[redstate_democrat]

17. Sinclair is SHIT

We need to be ON THIS NOW!

[OHDEM]

18. On it!

We must demand integrity in the election process!

[me b zola]

19. K&R

Fired up, ready to go!

[Limelight]

20. My Email to Sinclair Broadcasting...

I find it pathetic that at this moment in our history where you could be using your microphones and cameras to highlight the important issues we face and the proper solutions to those challenges that you instead choose to use the public airwaves that the American people agreed to lease to you in order to spew forth slanderous lies and innuendo. The fact that instead of making it your duty as a media outlet to tell the truth you instead decided to air the filth that John McCain calls a political ad regard John Ayers, a man who has never been tried nor convicted of anything (over actions taken a little over 3 decades ago), in order to smear Barack Obama.

Instead of conducting a real search for truth and acting like actual purveyors of the truth you instead decide to be political flunkies, spitting out whatever garbage talking points you lap up from the RNC water bowl and baa them out like the sheep you've allowed yourselves to become. You should be ashamed of yourself and, though you may not agree with me, I know you will respect me and my point of view in the end. Why? Because I, like many others, will choose to no longer frequent any of the outlets you own or are involved with. When the ratings drop and the ad revenues dwindle perhaps then you'll stop abdicating the responsibility you have to serve the public interest and start acting with integrity.

Sincerely,
Tobias Elmore

[barbtries]

44. good letter

if i have time at work today, i'll try to find the advertisers and will write directly to them. it is scandalous that on our airwaves they fuck US.

[maple25]

50. Bastards!

Done.

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

66. Good letter. Isn't it William Ayers

Writing mine now

[mckara]

21. Done. Thank You

n/t

[Spiffarino]

22. Good luck with Sinclair

Those pricks are all rightwing zealots. They would have created the ad if somebody hadn't beaten them to it.

If Obama can somehow pull out a victory from the death grip of the Desperate Right, his first act as president must be to dismantle corporate consolidated media outfits like Sinclair. They are destroying democracy and furthering the demise of the American middle class.

[ccharles000]

23. Kick

[Scurrilous]

24. K & R

:thumbsup:

[FVZA_Colonel]

25. "CNN and Fox News would not comment on their willing participation"

I actually thought they had refused to air it (though I know Fox News "accidently" did at one point)?

[rpannier]

37. Both have refused to air any further advertisements from Ayers' organization

From what I read, they are concerned that this organization may be violating more than one law.
As such, they are refusing to air any advertisements from this group until it's clarified.

[Vinca]

49. Has anyone, other than Fox, actually shown the ad?

A boycott against Fox is like a boycott against eating tripe. I do watch CNN on occasion and would have to give up Jack Cafferty.

[Zodiak]

52. They showed it during the closing cermony of the Olyppics in Columbus, OH

I saw it and nearly threw a brick through the TV.

[Vinca]

65. Which network was it? nt

[Zodiak]

77. NBC did the coverage, so I guess it was NBC nt

[OHDEM]

70. psst

I love Jack, too! He's actually the only 1 on CNN on can tolerate anymore.

They lost me recently when they were interviewing a Hillary supporter who said she was now voting for McCain. Come to find out that:
1. She's a republican.
2. Claims only voting for Hillary because she's a woman.

This is the best they could do?!?

[Pathwalker]

78. It's been on the local ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX channels

in Lansing, Michigan - morning, noon, and night. I called them - they don't care what we think.

[Heather MC]

26. Kicking for latter I will respond tomorrow brain shutting down,,,,,

[AuntPatsy]

27. And some say he is not a fighter...what a perfect way to stop them and in a way

that is more than fair, I am impressed..and will help as well.

[anitar1]

28. K&R

[truebluecollar]

29. No Sinclair round these parts to boycott

So I settled with just calling them douchebags in my e-mail.

[nc4bo]

46. Are you 100% sure?

http://www.sbgi.net/

[truebluecollar]

94. YES! 100%, Incontrovertibly and definitively...

THEY ARE DOUCHEBAGS!

[davidpdx]

30. There was an email through some organization, I can't remember

if it was MoveOn that let you email all of the stations involved. I did that and it sounds like they are getting bombarded with emails.

[barack the house]

31. Excellent. This is superb the media sucks well done Obama.. BUT-->

he must redirect his supporters to go libraries or home pcs to follow his campaign at his site.

[barack the house]

32. I tell you what is jaw droppingly good about this too he got republicans registered at his site -->

from the text thing out of human curiosity peopel will switch off in droves we are o the move now.

We are about to whoop their a** so hard they won't know what hit them.

[Hutzpa]

33. That was brilliant

people would be receiving text message about corporation and their malakies,

brilliant move I tell ya... can even do polls based on that.

[deacon]

34. kick and highly recommend! n/t

[barack the house]

35. Invite friends to Rec kepp it up and high.

[PretzelWarrior]

36. this is excellent. Olympics over

I can freely change channels or turn the TV off...and I will make sure the advertisers for these stations hear from me as well.

I love their moxie over at the Obama campaign.

[ClayZ]

38. K and R

[Hekate]

39. Kick. Go get the SOBs.

:kick:

[thoughtcrime1984]

40. K&R!!!!

[Kaleko]

41. Done. Wish I could do more than scare a little bit of shit out of Sinclair

with my boycott messages.

[judasdisney]

42. Finally? Real hardball?

[aaroh]

43. The face of Harold Simmons

It's time to shine a light on Harold Simmons, obviously Harold thought he could lurk in the shadows and didn't want his name to be exposed. Harold Simmons Wiki page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Simmons

[southerncrone]

87. "fornicating with animals" ???!??!!?!!!?!!

:puke:
That gives him a Repuke pedigree!

Note it's listed under the "Career" section of his Wikipedia article......priceless!

[rainy]

45. I saw this ad on 60 mins. Sunday and it is disgusting. I posted about.

I'm so glad someone is doing something about it.

[Kolesar]

47. That dailykos excerpt does not explain what the ad *is*

This is all that it says about the ad: "The recent William Ayers ad plays on the theme of Obama-is-the-enemy and highlights the Republican platform in 2008. Some Republican Billionaire and accomplice of the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth paid for the Ayers ad"

[sendero]

48. Boycotts are fine...

... but lawsuits are better. Obama needs to hit these assholes where it REALLY hurts, make them spend millions and millions and millions defending themselves.

[Baby Snooks]

79. Boycott?

A real boycott would target the ADVERTISERS on these stations - if they get worried, they will pressure the stations and possibly force them not to run the ads. But of course god forbid people will forego convenience to make a statement and give up their "symbol" products these advertisers sell. How many people really boycotted Exxon-Mobil a couple of years ago? I lost count of the people who told me "but it's the closest gas station and I would be late for _______ if I had to drive somewhere else." In many cases making a u-turn was having to "drive somewhere else."

Lawsuits are fine but does anyone really believe a judge in this country would issue a restraining order against someone exercising their 1st Amendment rights? Most of the federal judges in this country, particularly in the appellate system, are Republicans who swore to uphold the agenda when they were appointed.

[grannie4peace]

51. called them!!!!

the bastards!!!!!:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[complain jane]

53. Here's mine

I'm writing in disgust at your obvious complicity in the GOP's character assassination of Barack Obama. The news media has a responsibility to the viewer to present factual information; not biased slander. I refuse to watch any of your channels and will contact your advertisers to tell them so, in addition to gathering as much support as possible to boycott your business until you retract the Republican lies and propaganda that your business is serving as a mouthpiece for.

[PerpetuallyDazed]

54. My husband and I continue to see the ad on "History" channel.

a.k.a. "The History Channel" Now they just go by "History"... :eyes:

[RedLetterRev]

71. And that's GE

aka NBC, MSNBC, Discovery, TLC and a host of other channels. I also watch History, but haven't seen the ad there. Who's your provider? Cable companies are allowed to slip ads in "holes" left for local advertising. I'm on Dish; maybe that's the difference. (I refuse to use DirecTV -- that's Murdoch-owned.)

This could go a fair bit deeper than just Sinclair.

Vigilance is called for, and we need to call each and every sumbitch that airs that POS ad. Each and every one. Let them know that not one single outlet, no matter how small will get away with this and will equally be subject to suit and pursuit.

[9119495]

56. I guess I beat Obama to the punch...

Our local Sinclair affiliate shows only crap anyway so I had a de facto boycot going anyway.

[kaygore]

57. Sinclair ran that awful 911 garbage piece and that hit piece on Kerry

right before the 2004 election.

They need to have their broadcast license revoked.

[Kukesa]

63. Yep, and we all wrote letters to Sinclair and the stations

that carried their ads.

Lot of good it did but it's worth another try.

[kaygore]

98. We need to cut off their money supply by boycotting advertisers.

[Phred42]

58. K & R

Letter going out this afternoon

[No Elephants]

59. I watched the convention on PBS!

[Bolo Boffin]

60. Sinclair Broadcasting???? I shoulda known.

Those are the knuckleheads that blacked out the 60 minutes show about Siegelman in their Alabama stations.

Side note: there is a huge pot of some really rank bullshit in Alabama that is going to rival Mount St. Helens when it blows, and Karl Rove is right in the middle of it.

[lonestarnot]

61. Shut them down!

[MasonJar]

62. Thanks for the e-mail address. DONE!

[ihavenobias]

64. K & R, and this is why I support Alernative Media

I'll send the letter and pass this on!

www.theyoungturks.com

[CC]

67. Haven't watched a Sinclair station

since the whole swiftboat thing so a list of their advertisers would help me out more than to contact them.

Also want to mention, some are saying they see the ad on History or other channels like that. In that case you need to contact who ever is in charge of your local advertising. Most of those channels give time for advertising to the local area. Even though I am in MD I get a lot of PA political ads because my cable company is mostly in PA. It would be a local ad spot then and I would have more effect contacting my cable company to complain.

[ForeignSpectator]

68. Let their sponsors know, too. Hit them where it hurts, the money. n/t

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

69. Done

To whom it may Concern:

It is with deep concern that I write this letter regarding your company’s position to air what equates to political smut/trash. Your decision to broadcast the recent “Swiftboat” attempt of Barack Obama in connection with Weather Underground and Ayers shows not only your complicity with the GOP, but your complete and total disregard for the truth and the best interests of the American public. In doing so, you have shown your irresponsibility by shirking your duty to that same American public which provides you the foundation for your existence.

While truth, conscience and responsibility are not part of your corporate policy, they are part of my personal and patriotic policy. I have taken the liberty of reviewing and documenting your investment holdings as well your broadcast network(s) and can assure you that I, my friends and my family will be consciously avoiding all. Only through monetary means do entities such as yours make decisions. I and others who pay attention intend to assist you in making the right ones moving forward.

[jenmito]

72. K&R! Dan Abrams talked about this and DID NOT PLAY THE AD, but DID play Obama's REBUTTAL

of the first McCain ad linking Obama with Ayers. This may WORK! :bounce:

[listener_]

73. It has to take both sides

I am not so sure about this one, the stations need all the money the can get to keep their employees paid. So they probably have to decide to take both the good and the bad in the commercials.

[CitizenPatriot]

74. this ad violates election LAW.

It's not a matter of good or bad ads. This is illegal. I know it's tough to tell right now, what with the republican DoJ violating election laws by illegally investigation democrats prior to elections and "leaking" out the info, but this is a criminal act.

this ad is criminal.

they are being sued for making this ad, and many networks won't play it because they are afraid of being sued. However, who is in charge of election fraud? Our kriminal in the DoJ, Muckasey, who has himself broken several laws.

The republicans are terrified about a regime change because they know many of them will end up in jail.

THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE OF GOOD OR BAD TASTE. THIS AD IS ILLEGAL AND VIOLATED ELECTION LAW. anyone who airs it is UNAMERICAN. Tell them that in your letters! fu*kers.

yet another need for an air sick bag.

[European Socialist]

75. How about finding a picture of McCain with Ollie North and

say he hangs around with a guy guilty of lying to congress.

[Smarmie Doofus]

76. I'm normally in favor of things like this but....

... I'm worried that reacting thusly makes it *reverberate* as a news story... thereby making this the Billy Ayers Campaign, as 1988 was the Willie Horton Campaign.

Might be better just to take off the gloves big time vs. McTrainwreck. Relentlessy and murderously go after his mental deficiency ( this has nothing to do with age, BTW; he wasn't old when he ranked 894 of 899 at the Naval Academy), judgement, corruption, wealth, opportunism and everything else.... including his recurring cancers if need be.

Relentlessly and murderously.

[theFrankFactor]

80. The Power of the Boycott Can Be Tremendous!

And we should use it "Liberally"! It would be a sure fire way to kick the MSM and its accomplices in the nutz.

[JFN1]

81. Sinclair again?

Different day, same assholes. Amazing.

[Rhiannon12866]

83. K&R. Not them again! Jesus H. Christ, they did the same thing to Kerry, and we

went after them for them that time, too! What does it take?!!! Passing this one on, yet again... *sigh*

[Uncle Joe]

84. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, cryingshame.

[Hope And Change]

85. K & R!

[Cherchez la Femme]

86. Petition: StopSinclair.org

http://www.stopsinclair.org/

[Hestia]

97. Couldn't sign on to the petition - some error - HTTP 500?

[Cherchez la Femme]

99. Hrmmmm

I signed the petition long ago, so I got my roommate to sign it -- she got the same thing. :(
I'll see if I can dig up any info on the current status of the petition.


This petition dates back 4 years ago to Sinclair running that hit-job movie on Kerry shortly before the election;
who could forget THAT fuss?

It would be a terrific shame to just let that petition die. Although I eschew Wikipedia in the main, it does have some decent info on them (even so, there is a highly questionable passage in there regarding a 'fair broadcast' of the John Kerry movie). This Wiki article has some really good links, one to a GQ article
http://men.style.com/gq/features/full?&id=content_4024 Not Necessarily the News
that lays much of their sordid story out and it sure ain't no puff piece! Highly recommended if you get a few minutes to read it -- it's 8 pages in length, but they're short pages; and as I said, chock-full of info that can only help us. It also seems to have the full list of all their stations and in what markets.

For instance in that article they succinctly but thoroughly report on one of the oh-so-moral, "Family Values" Sinclair bros. as a guy who started his business career selling bootleg porno on the street, graduating into a bona fide, Grade A "whoremaster" who is addicted to strip clubs and prostitutes and who only trusts the buddies who accompany him to these dens of Republicon virtue. :puke:

...which truly may be closer to 'conventional wisdom's' truth in that he's not a punter for rent boys or cruising a panoply of Glory Holes inside squalid, random Interstate Men's Rooms.
--no offense brothers, I'm not dissing homosexuality, witness my icon ...just commenting on what appears to be the Republican "choice" of gender for sexual partners (if they say homosexuality is a choice, then that should be their descriptor -- they CHOSE to be that way, no? THEY did, the Devil didn't make them do it, either.)

[texastoast]

88. Do we know the puke billionaire yet?

Please tell me this time the son-of-shithead is not from Texas.

[Geek_Girl]

89. Last time didn't we boycott their sponsors?

If I remember correctly the stock tanked too. Maybe something that massive again needs to happen. They seem to pull the same shit every election. It's like re-runs of 2004

[texastoast]

102. Yes

This is the most info I could find.

Not sure just how current it is.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sinclair_Broadcast_Group/Media_markets_and_advertisers

[texastoast]

90. Sinclair Extensions at Corporate Headquarters

The Executive Group phone extension is 1504.
News 2103
Programming 2126

I left a lady named Cam Smart a message to please call me with a list of advertisers.

[AvaMae]

95. I left a lady named....................

Tell them you want a list to post on DU so all the millions and millions of Obama supporters
can avoid their products.

[texastoast]

91. Dupe--bug - please delete

[Jefferson23]

92. K/R. thanks, I sent my letter too. Damn these bastards.

[drm604]

93. Harold Simmons is paying for this ad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Simmons

I posted a thread about him: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6752650

Here's another thread about him: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6760345

Please kick and rec Harold Simmons threads. Let's expose this guy to the light of day.

[texastoast]

100. AIYEEEEE!!

Another heartless asshole Texan.

[spanone]

103. check out their website...complete with disclaimer

http://www.sbgi.net/

As is the case with most television stations, this television station broadcasts advertisements placed by politicians and their supporters. Sometimes these advertisements are negative in nature and, in some of such cases we receive complaints about the negative ads from the campaign committee of the candidate being criticized. When we receive such complaints we carefully consider the positions of both the party complaining and the party that placed the advertisement. If we determine an advertisement is false and misleading, we will refuse to run such an advertisement (except in the case of an advertisement placed by an actual candidate where the law does not allow for such an action).
We are, however, strong believers in Freedom of Speech and will not allow threats and attempts at intimidation to cause our station to remove advertisements that are not false and misleading. Although many people are not in favor of negative political advertisements, such advertisements are in fact legal. Accordingly, it is not this station's policy to reject such advertisements simply because a politician or his or her supporters want to silence the voices of their opponents.

[texastoast]

104. I submitted a contact form from that link

And told them that I didn't expect them to remove the ad, based on their previous biased political activism. But I also told them there was a concerted effort to contact their advertisers and ask their advertisers to remove their business from Sinclair's coffers.

I just wish I knew I had a current list of advertisers.

[wvbygod]

105. unpatriotic, dangerous and possibly illegal attack on Obama

Any idea what this ad is? It's not showing around here. What exactly is so
unpatriotic, dangerous and possibly illegal about it? WTF?

Is there an online version of it somewhere?

[nomaco-10]

106. The coverage of this convention has been SCANDALOUS....

and without merit or precedent.

Boy, oh boy. Is the fix in or what?

Time to hit these people where it hurts, their POCKETBOOK.

Start calling and e-mailing ALL the sponsors on every cable network news channel NOW and let the networks know which HOSTS and which GUESTS (especially the ones on their payroll) have been over the top and unfair without the proper counter to all the biased opinions.

Start a thread with a list of all the sponsors with an update every hour on the hour during the convention on all three cable network channels so we can mount an e-mail campaign to stop this BULLSHIT in it's tracks TODAY.!