In New Letter, Clinton's Lawyers Demands ABC Yank Film

tpm cafe ^ | 9/9/06 | Greg Sargent

[finnman69]

On Friday evening, Bill Clinton's lawyers sent a new letter to ABC chief Bob Iger demanding that ABC yank "The Path to 9/11." We've obtained a copy of the letter, and it reads in part: "As a nation, we need to be focused on preventing another attack, not fictionalizing the last one for television ratings. `The Path to 9/11' not only tarnishes the work of the 9/11 Commission, but also cheapens the fith anniversary of what was a very painful moment in history for all Americans. We expect that you will make the responsible decision to not air this film." Full text of the letter after the jump.

Dear Bob,

Despite press reports that ABC/Disney has made changes in the content and marketing of "The Path to 9/11," we remailn concerned about the false impression that airing the show will leave on the public. Labelng the show as "fiction" does not meet your responsibility to the victims of the September 11th attacks, their families, the hard work of the 9/11 Commission, or to the American people as a whole.

At a moment when we should be debating how to make the nation safer by implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, "The Path to 9/11" calls into question the accuracy of the Commission's report and whether fabricated scenes are, in fact, an accurate portrayal of history. Indeed, the millions spent on the production of this fictional drama would have been better spent informing the public about the Commission's actual findings and the many recommendations that have yet to be acted upon. Unlike this film, that would have been a tremendous service to the public.

Although our request for an advance copy of the film has been repeatedly denied, it is all too clear that our objections to "The Path to 9/11" are valid and corroborated by those familiar with the film and intimately involved in its production.

-- Your corporate partner, Scholastic, has disassociated itself from this proect.

-- 9/11 Commission Chairman Thomas Kean, who served as co-executive producer on "The Path to 9/11," has stated that he raised concerns about the accuracy of several scenes in the film and that his concerns were not addressed during production.

-- Harvey Keitel, who plays the star role of FBI agent John O'Neill, told reporters yesterday that while the screenplay was presented to him as a fair treatment of historical events, he is upset that several scenes were simply invented for dramatic purposes.

-- Numerous Members of Congress, several 9/11 Commissioners and prominent historians have spoken out against this movie.

-- Indeed, according to press reports, the fact that you are still editing the film two days before it is scheduled to air is an admission that it is irreparably flawed.

As a nation, we need to be focused on preventing another attack, not fictionalizing the last one for television ratings. "The Path to 9/11" not only tarnishes the work of the 9/11 Commission, but also cheapens the fith anniversary of what was a very painful moment in history for all Americans. We expect that you will make the responsible decision to not air this film.

Sincerely,

Bruce R. Lindsey Chief Executive Officer William J. Clinton Foundation

Douglas J. Band Counselor to President Clinton Office of William Jefferson Clinton

[My2Cents]

You're probably right, but I have to hand it to the Clinton/Dem propaganda machine. They make the White House and RNC communications operations look amateurish.

[fschmieg]

I agree. That's what is strange. Why the big ruccus? It can't just be the election. Are they afraid of something? Why did Sandy Berger steal things from the National Archives? All very strange.

[NutCrackerBoy]

This passive response to Democrat outrages is frustrating, particulary when the Dems are trampling upon such things as the First Amendment.

I assume we are not talking about write-in campaigns, but strictly the Democratic Party's official letters which contain veiled threats. One thing is the RNC is planning ahead. If it became strategically necessary and morally appropriate to put pressure on the Nets some time in the future, they will not be branded hypocrites for hammering the Dems now.

I'm not sure I buy that there is a smoking gun that the Democratic Party is violating the First Amendment. I do think their tactics are way overboard unless it were the slam-dunk case that the mini-series is Michael Moor-esque as lying political proganda. And, by all accounts, with its admitted fictionalizations, it is far, far above that low standard, and via drama tries to tell some unvarnished truths.

[fruitintheroom]

Ok, I'll take a wild-assed guess. Sen. James WILLIAM Fullbright? Maybe had a free lifetime pass at a Hot Springs whore-house back in the 40's?

There's got to be some reason for all those scholarships, etc. They don't just drag 'em through a trailer park to see who steps on one.

[Beagle8U]

"It's a double bind for Dems. If it gets pulled, everyone will wonder what they missed and why they weren't allowed to decide. And the pirated copy is already out, so everyone will see it anyway. If it gets edited, every edited part will now be analyzed to death, further highlighting the problem. And the more they try heavyhanded censureship, the more people will ask "What do they have to hide?"."

Bingo!

This is a lose, lose for the RATS, Nothing that could be said on the 2nd day of this show ( about President Bush) will have any effect or meaning.
The RATS have been calling him everything from Hitler to Satan for 6 years.

My thinking on this is 180 degrees from most of the posters here, the RATS lose and nothing will change that now.

[XR7]

...a very painful moment in history for all Americans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP5FunbZvJ8

[Katydidnt]

Just heard on FNC that ABC is finished editing and it WILL be shown.
I thought I heard Tom Kean say yesterday on FOX that he was please with the product and thinks every American should see it.
On Michael Medved's show yesterday I heard the writer Cyrus (forget last name) respond to a question that 900 copies were sent out to all different people by ABC for promotional use. The caller was extremely hostile and reportedly told Cyrus that he hopes he dies-they wouldn't air it.

Also at the National Press Club, they showed only the first half, and then everything came to a halt because they were bombarded with complaints by a Clintonista(I think it was Bruce Lindsey). BTW, the goodie bags for all attending did have the 2nd DVD for everyone to watch the complete version.

I plan to tape, show my college age kids and my Marine, and everyone I know, and will buy the DVD.
Katie

And yes, Condi did give a Bin Laden speech prior to 2001.

[Mr Cobol]

From what I remember is that the 'event' took place somewhere in Florida. Whereabouts of 'daddy' can't be pinpointed but it wasn't Fullbright

[Bahbah]

I'll never believe that Condi didn't know who Bin Laden was until Clarke told her.I have read things that made very clear that Condi was well aware of Bin Laden and the Islamist threat, but I can't remember where I read it. Someone with a better memory than I have may come along and help out.

[tflabo]

They know that Bush won't shoot back, and so they pile on.

Perhaps it's the Rope-a-Dope tactic. Let your enemy outpunch himself while you take the hits....then in his moment of weakness........BAM.

[dennisw]

Now that ABC got this BS letter I'm sure it won't be pulled. Maybe altered too much but not pulled.

Bill Clinton was an effin' traitor (Loral deal etc.) and deserves whatever expose there is of his time in office. Did this creep blow getting Bin Laden and lay America open to attack? Of course he did along with Jamie Gorelick who went on to raid FANNIE MAE for a fat undeserved salary and bonus of $26 million in 6 years

[Sal]

I thought I heard Kean on television say that the movie was faithful to the 9/11 Commission Report and any changes he suggested were made?

Yes, Peach, I saw that with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears, too. The contempt these lying sacks show for the American people is amazing.

[Gaffer]

If he'd spent half as much time trying to get OBL as he has trying to get this miniseries dropped, 9/11 wouldn't have happened....

[King Moonracer]

Dear ABC:

We'd hate to think you might commit suicide over a moive. Wink, Wink.

Bill'n Hill

[reformedliberal]

If the donks in the Senate could yank anyone's FCC broadcast license, why follow up the threat with an order by an attorney to *yank* the miniseries?

The only way the Democrats can even dream of pulling someone's license is if they get into power. Just getting control of the Senate won't do it, either. The appointments to the FCC aren't controlled by the Senate and I believe it is one of those agencies mandated to be split by party.

Does anyone seriously believe any politician would pull any broadcast license without a huge counter-suit all the way up to SCOTUS by the network involved? IMO, all the media watch groups could be subpoenaed to produce logs of any given network over at least ten years. These would prove that ABC, for example, usually came out in favor of the donks, although I do recall some analysis that showed them to be the most balanced of the alphanets.

I, too, want to see the lawyer's letter verified. If it is valid, then the "mole at ABC' theory has some legs, meaning ABC is fighting back.

Once the unedited DVDs hit the Internet and the street, we will see just what changes were made. I am tending to believe that the last two hours will so excoriate the Bush administration that the donks will only be praised for wanting to "spare the country" or some such rot.

[Lazamataz]

Dear Bill Clinton,

Eat me.

You know all about that. That was what you were doing while Rome burned.

Love,

Laz

[freedumb2003]

I have a question: Does anyone know whether most of the objection to this miniseries is coming from individual viewers or just the Democrat bigwigs.

The latter only.

[hardworking]

Has anyone seen any press releases from ABC, or response from ABC Chairman/CEO? Any idea if they are filming an 'apology but we aren't going to air the series afterall and so sit back, relax and enjoy these re-runs of I Love Lucy'

The ABC lawyers must be working l-o-n-g hours right now.

[My2Cents]

I assume we are not talking about write-in campaigns, but strictly the Democratic Party's official letters which contain veiled threats.

Yes.

One thing is the RNC is planning ahead.

I'd like to think that too. I hope you're right.

And a veiled threat to trample on ABC's First Amendment rights is not an actual trampling. If the Dems were to follow-through on their threats (which I don't think they have the ability to do), that would be a trampling.

[freedumb2003]

It is NOT being cut, trust me.