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All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
"WELCOME TO THE REAL AMERICA WHERE CRIMINALS GET TO BE
CELEBRITIES AND CELEBRITIES GET AWAY WITH MURDER."
"TO DIE FOR" Columbia Pictures
Posted on 09/12/2006 8:34:00 AM PDT by DocFarmer
Folks,
I'm planning to send a letter to the DoJ as regards last week's attempt by five lib/dem/soc/commie senators to stop the ABC program, "The Path To 9/11". However, since I'm not a member of the legal profession, I'm not sure if I've worded this correctly. I'd appreciate any help or advice you'd be willing to provide. Many thanks.
Doc Farmer
*************************************************
The Honorable Alberto R. Gonzales
Attorney General of the United States
Department of Justice
Room 4400
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
12 September 2006
Dear Mr. Attorney General,
I write today to request a formal investigation of five (5) United States Senators
Senator Harry Reid
Senator Dick Durbin
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Byron Dorgan
on the following charges:
(1) Violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America
(2) Violation of the Senate Oath of Office
(3) Abuse of Power
(4) Attempted Blackmail/Extortion
The specifics of the accusation are as such. On or about 07 September 2006, the above-mentioned Senators sent a letter to one Mr. Robert Iger, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Walt Disney Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Disney). In that letter, the Senators made specific threats of legal action against the corporation unless they removed or significantly edited a privately-funded and created television program, entitled “The Path To 9/11”. The Senators used the letter to threaten Disney and its program distributor, the American Broadcasting Corporation (hereinafter referred to as ABC) with sanctions (including but not limited to the revocation of broadcasting licenses of ABC affiliate stations) should their demands not be met.
In the matter (1) above, the action of these elected government officials is a clear violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, which provides all private citizens with the right to comment on government actions (past and present) without fear of reprisal or interference by the government. While Congress may create laws to regulate broadcast frequencies (as “public” airways), they have no business controlling political content, whether it be “positive” or “negative” coverage. To threaten a private corporation with sanctions simply because a certain political party or group may disagree with the message is a most fundamental and base violation of American rights.
In the matter (2) above, the action of the Senators shows a clear disregard of their Oath of Office, to wit:
I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
The letter sent by the Senators shows a clear disregard of their oath to support and defend the Constitution (and all of its amendments), as well as their inability to bear true faith and allegiance to same.
In the matter (3) above, the actions of the Senators show, they have gone beyond the scope and authority of their good offices, and have indeed abused their position of power not only in the Senate, but as part of the Senate leadership. While no elected official should be tolerated in such a base manner, the fact that these five Senators are part of the Senate hierarchy makes their action all the more offensive.
In the matter (4) above, the actions of the Senators show, their actions are such that they tried to blackmail or extort actions (not funds) from Disney and ABC, if the demands in their letter were not met. The fact that Disney and ABC did not bow to that pressure does not excuse or ameliorate their attempt.
The letter from the Senators mentioned in specifications (1) through (4) (inclusive) is a matter of public record, and can be obtained by your office directly, from the Senate offices, or from the recipient of the threat (Mr. Robert Iger).
I would appreciate that swift action be taken to investigate this obscene action by duly elected officials of the United States Senate.
Many thanks.
Yours sincerely,
Doc Farmer
cc: Senator Harry Reid
Senator Dick Durbin
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Byron Dorgan
Senator Bill Frist
Mr. Robert Iger
President George W. Bush
I'm planning to send a letter to the DoJ as regards last week's attempt by five lib/dem/soc/commie senators to stop the ABC program, "The Path To 9/11". However, since I'm not a member of the legal profession, I'm not sure if I've worded this correctly. I'd appreciate any help or advice you'd be willing to provide. Many thanks.
Doc Farmer
pang
You're going on the DOJ watch list.
"WELCOME TO THE REAL AMERICA WHERE CRIMINALS GET TO BE
CELEBRITIES AND CELEBRITIES GET AWAY WITH MURDER."
"TO DIE FOR" Columbia Pictures
I think you would have marginally better luck with writing to the ACLU. The DOJ seems more interested in what the big guys do or say.
I'm telling!!
The Dem Senators had a temper tantrum, but they didn't do anything illegal. The Dem Senators were engaging in free speech, a First Amendment right they have. They exercised it irresponsibly, but they didn't use the power of their office in any manner to punish ABC.
You are tilting at windmills.
I say go for it. I doubt the DoJ will do anything, but the point needs made and you did it very well.
I'm not a lawyer either. However, last time I consulted one, they advised me that I should not threaten to bring prosecution in exchange for anything. This type of extortion is illegal. If the Senators hinted that the actions of Disney were illegal, then threats of prosecution are also illegal.
That would be an historic violation of the First Amendment.
Respectfully, I disagree. They attempted to use their position in the government to block the free speech rights of ABC/Disney. To me, that is a direct violation of the First Amendment.
As to tilting at windmills, you say that as if it were a bad thing... :D
Seriously, SOMEbody has to take these scumbags to task for their actions...
then, consider that Sabbenow is vulnerable and up for reelection.
You may not be correct.
Yes, they have every right to free speech. However, as the lawmakers of the land, they cannot threaten ABC with revocation of their broadcast license (which they did) just because they do not like what is being aired. At the least, this would be a seem to be serious abuse of power.
What I asked for in "exchange" in my original article on this subject was for those Senators to retract their letter and to apologise. I don't believe that can be viewed as a "threat", but their actions in the letter to Iger (in which they used the Communications Act as a leverage point) DOES constitute a threat.
Frankly, I'm not too concerned with what the Senators or the DoJ think. I'm more concerned with doing what I believe to be right.
There are a lot of thoughts on this and many of them differ. Is there an attorney out there who can advise if this is worthwhile or foolhardy so this gentleman can decide what to do? His intentions are good.
It appears you misunderstood the post. I believe the post was referring to the Senators, not you.
Sorry, my bad. I thought you meant that MY threat of prosecution action against the Senators would be illegal (which I have to admit confused me).
Go for it! Shouldn't Bill Clinton be included though, as well as his attorney?
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