Concerned Dems Diss Drama
It's not surprising that Washington Democrats are up in arms about the ABC 9/11 docudrama.
with Republicans looking to hammer the national security issue again in hopes of keeping control of Congress, a movie that suggests, apparently by stretching and bending the facts, that Democrats failed to get Ossama Bin Laden when they had the chance is not high on any Blue Stater's list. There was blame enough for several administrations, by the way.
The potential damage is increased if, as CNN pointed out Thursday, the fictionalized account is being touted to schools by Scholastic as an educational tool on the event.
ABC had been pulling out all the stops to promote the show before it started generating criticism from Dems.
According to Chris Core of ABC-owned WMAL(AM) Washington, ABC made the $40 million show, which he called alternately a "documentary" and a "docudrama," mandatory viewing for key staffers at the station, including flying someone out from L.A. essentially to hand-deliver it for a screening at the station.
Though Core said ABC did not say the on-air types had to hype the movie, that turned out to be the result because, said Core, the movie was great TV.
ABC was still making minor cuts to the show yesterday, apparently to create the general impression of missing the boat on Bin Laden, rather than putting the fateful words in any particular mouth, particularly the wrong one.
By John Eggerton
JOHN EGGERTON commented:
ABC said it had fictionalized parts, compressed timelines, composited characters and created dialog. That is what I meant, and ABC concedes that. It is called "dramatic license" and it is why they called it a "docudrama."
CW2 Sean Carney commented:
You can tell how true this movie is by all the whining the clitonista's are doing. Don't remember seeing President Bush worrying to much about the bogus Farenheight 911.
Wade Ghent commented:
..."a movie that suggests, apparently by stretching and bending the facts,"
I am just curious; on what facts does Mr. Eggerton base the "apparently stretching and bending" comment? Is it from the Democrat's objections that have a purely political objective.
I find it interesting that one of the loudest objectors of the movie is Mr. Berger, who was caught ILLEGALLY removing files from the National Archives, by hiding them in his clothing?
Some would believe that any credible journalist would automatically doubt the legitimacy of Mr. Berger's objections! And then look for facts, NOT political talking points!
But then... if you are a Democrat DBA Journalist, what do doubts, integrity or credibility mean?
Steve Adams commented:
The sorry display of former President Clinton and his cronies strong-arming ABC to get this series pulled or edited is matched by the abomination of a 9-11 Commission front-end-loaded with people from the Clinton administration who were directly involved with and responsible for that administration's failings in preventing the 9-11 attacks on America.
The same people who were appalled at CBS' nixing of its docu-drama featuring President Reagan are the same ones screaming for ABC to submit to Clinton's demands.
What a sad day for America and for Freedom of Speech.