Posted on 11/04/2003 5:27:05 AM PST by mikeb704
Fresh from congratulating itself for 75 years of broadcasting wonderfulness, CBS now finds itself in some difficulty. Its planned miniseries, "The Reagans," was scheduled for airing later this month.
Now the project is in jeopardy. Details of its slanted, heavily unflattering portrayal of the couple emerged. So did opposition from Reagan friends, loyalists and just average Americans who are acquainted with the very impressive Reagan record of achievements.
Now the series may be postponed. Or even cancelled. Or possibly sold to the cable channel Showtime. (After this was written, the Drudge Report stated that CBS was giving the program to Showtime. No verification of that story from other sources was readily available).
CBS chairman Leslie Moonves acknowledges problems. In an interview last week he admitted: "... there are things we think go too far. So there are some edits being made trying to present a more fair picture of the Reagans."
Mr. Moonves is paid several million dollars a year to make sound decisions. How in the world did he decide a film with James Brolin playing Ronald Reagan would be impartial?
James Brolin won some acclaim several decades ago in the TV series "Marcus Welby, M.D." It’s been downhill ever since.
Brolin pretty much exhausted his acting skills by peddling AAMCO transmissions in ads. Facing the inevitable, he made a rewarding career decision five years ago. He married part-time entertainer and full-time Leftist wacko Barbra Streisand.
I’m certain it was a coincidence, but just a few months later he appeared in a TV movie titled "A Marriage Of Convenience." Then again, in a career marked with roles in "Pee-wee’s Big Adventure," "Indecent Behavior II," and "Beverly Hills Cowgirl Blues," how selective can a guy be?
Which brings us back to Ms. Streisand. She’s not about to let her household pet, I mean husband, appear in anything that could be interpreted as even mildly favorable toward President Reagan. Not as long as she’s got her mitts on the checkbook.
So forget about facts. Make up events and dialogue. Let the American public finally learn what monsters the Reagans really are.
Leftists like Mr. and Mrs. Streisand strut their supposed love, compassion and empathy. Yet their rabid loathing of Ronald Reagan and the conservatism he represents permit them to thoroughly distort reality with no compunction.
President Reagan is 92 and has been suffering from Alzheimer’s for almost a decade. His wife Nancy has been caring for him all this time.
Now is the time they attack. When he can no longer defend himself.
Such love, compassion and empathy. It’s reminiscent of something that happened a couple of years ago in the House of Representatives.
The Congress voted on extending greetings to President Reagan on the occasion of his 90th birthday. The proposal swept through the Senate on a unanimous voice vote. In the House, however, seven Democrats voted "present" rather than endorse that simple expression of kindness and respect.
Can you say "tacky," boys and girls?
If there’s any good that came from CBS’s misadventure with the Reagan miniseries, it’s an awareness that at least some things have significantly changed for the better in recent years.
The Internet, talk radio and cable TV news programs allow people to get facts quickly. Moreover, information is delivered without the Leftist slant that has permeated network news for so long.
Average folks learned about the planned Reagan ax job. They let their voices be heard, loudly, by CBS and its affiliates, potential advertisers, and one another. They could no longer be ignored.
Mark this down as a victory for the Gipper. And for everyone interested in the truth.
How do you edit dog poop to be less poopy?? I hope they regret the making of this production big time. Let it come out and be viewed in ignominous fashion as it deserves. We won't censor it. Hell, it's a free country. If a person or in this case a network wants to commit hari-kari let 'em do it.
The level of hate these people are possessed with is phenominal. I don't remember ever in political history that emotions have sunk to this level of animosity.
Why not? After all, they'll sell anything on infomercials nowadays.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, coming to a K-Mart dollar bin near you!
Well, you get the picture.
. . .
So forget about facts. Make up events and dialogue. Let the American public finally learn what monsters the Reagans really are.
The first sentence more accurately should read "slanted, heavily untrue portrayal . . ."
There is a gaping difference between an "unflattering" rendition (which may be true) and one that is composed heavily of flat-out lies and complete make-believe.
So many commentators, even O'Reilly on the Factor last night, seem to gloss over this distinction. At least this author addresses the real problem later in his article.
This isn't just about showing disrespect for President Reagan and his wife. It is about lying about them to promote a political agenda. Slander should never be excused.
I enjoyed that movie. It was SOOOOO hokey it was fun!
BIG difference. Showtime is a premium cable/satellite movie channel that is not a "rated" channel and whose audience for this showing will be a couple hundred thousand Amurricans at best. On CBS, even if it had been the lowest-rated show of the week, it would have nonetheless be seen by several million. This is a very big victory.
Michael
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.