Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Sinclair update

[see "October surprise" below for background]

From the LA Times:
The DNC said it would file a complaint today with the Federal Election Commission, charging Sinclair with making an illegal in-kind campaign contribution by running the film.
An interesting approach. The folks at dailyKos.com are still coordinating a massive campaign to complain on multiple fronts -- to the stations, advertisers, large investors, the FCC licensing office, and anybody with ears.

My concern isn't that the Swiftboat stuff will stick more this time (although more exposure always risks more sticking), but that the national dialogue will get hijacked. Currently, the press and the lunchrooms are talking about issues, about the debates, about the policy plans and leadership abilities of the two candidates. I dread a return to August and the mire of Vietnam charges and counterclaims . . .

Update: also this, from USA Today -- guess the ruckus is having an impact:
"I don't want my media companies that cover the news to be making news," says Barry Lucas of Gabelli & Co., which owns about 4% of Sinclair

Update 2:
perhaps the protests are having an effect? Sylvan Learning Center pulls its ads from Sinclair affiliates

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