ARIZONA: Time to put the screws to local CBS advertisers!

Here's the text of a message I sent to a couple of management types at the local CBS affiliate in Phoenix, KPHO (Channel 5).

I would encourage other FReepers in Arizona to follow suit. Pressure on LOCAL advertisers and LOCAL CBS affiliates is the best way to get rid of the liar Dan Rather.

Complaining to nationally-advertising companies or the CBS headquarters is fine, but nothing would get their attention like a large local auto dealer calling up the GM of a CBS station and grilling him about Rathergate.

Too bad about the LSU/Auburn game today. I really wanted to watch it, but it was on CBS-- a network that passes off obvious forgeries as legitimate news, in a transparent attempt to advance the fortunes of a particular political party.

Not only are we boycotting all CBS television until Dan Rather is gone and the source of the forgeries is fully exposed....

But if this does not happen very soon, I and many others will be contacting your largest local advertisers and asking sharp questions about why they would do business with peddlers of fraud and forgery.

Pass it on to those in a position to make the decision that *must* be made if CBS is to survive with any shred of legitimacy intact.

So, if you would like to help stir the pot in Phoenix, call the flagship Earnhardt Ford dealership at 480-838-6000 on Monday. Ask for the manager, and let him know you'll be withholding your business from any place that advertises on CBS, until such time as the forgery mess is cleaned up and Dan Rather is unemployed. You might also try an e-mail to 'sales@earnhardtford.dealerspace.com', and a cc: to the KPHO addresses noted above.

If you get a better number or e-mail address, post it here.

If you have another proposal for a target of calls, post it here too. It would be best if everyone called a particular advertiser on the same day, so they feel blitzed.

-ccm

Here's an e-mail I sent yesterday:

KPHO-CBS 5
Channel 5

Dear Stationmanager:
I am writing in regard to Dan Rather’s 60 MinutesII “memogate”.
I am reminding you of statements from the Standards and Procedures, Page 37B which say, in part:
Anonymous sources should be used only when it is determined:
(1) that there is no other practicable way to obtain and report the information;
(2) that the information is factual and of sufficient newsworthiness to warrant its use despite the fact that we cannot disclose its source; and
(3) that the source and his information are highly reliable in the particular instance."

Also,
"Where the use of an anonymous source is necessary, as much information as possible about the nature of the source should be provided to the audience, assuming, of course, that this information would not lead to disclosure of the source.
Where the source may have a vested interest in the matter to be reported, it is especially important that information be provided as to the nature and/or motivation of the source."

And I would add: Absolutely NO false statements or representations be made.

Some of the sources for “memogate” are not anonymous, but they are highly suspect (or dead).
There are NO credible sources, or countering sources.

Please review ALL of the strong evidence that shows that the memos are fake, the content is absurd, and that Rather has ulterior motives for presenting such programming.

I realize that you have no control over the content or presentation of 60 MinutesII, but this letter is to inform you that I will NOT watch Channel 5 and I will not – to the best of my ability – patronize your advertisers, as long as you show ANY programming associated with Dan Rather.

This hurts me, because I enjoy some of your programming (CBS News [while I hold my nose], Cold Case, Everybody loves Raymond, The King of Queens, Two and a Half Men, CSI, 48 Hours [I really enjoy this], David Letterman [occasionally], Local News, and other programs once-in-a-while).

Sincerely (literally)

(Name, etc)

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