The question now becomes one of consequences for CBS if the documents are shown to be fake.
First of all, this is a violation of Federal Election Commission rules and Federal law. The lightest penalty would be requiring them to provide equal time to the Bush campaign. There must be much more. Interference in a campaign by a news organization, professing to offer fact, cannot be allowed to slide by the way Sandy Berger has. The Federal Communications Commission should consider revoking CBS’s license, forcing them to reapply. I just sent the FCC Chairman this email:
Sir,
I believe an investigation is in order regarding the possible fake documents used by the CBS News program, “60 Minutes”, in attempting to defame the President of the United States, and acting as a surrogate for the Kerry-Edwards campaign in clear violation of campaign finance laws.
This is no simple faux pas, excuse my French. The FCC license is considered a public trust.
You think your letter will even be read by anyone that cares?? As far as I am concerned the corporate powers that are truly running this nation want a regime change, and they will get it no matter what we “the peons” think. All the president is anymore is a front-man to the corpo-weasles behind the power. Quite probably the last two presidents that were not “bought and paid” for were Truman and Ike. I would like to remind everyone of Ike’s parting shot as he left office:
” This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence — economic, political, even spiritual — is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.
In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.
We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.
Akin to, and largely responsible for the sweeping changes in our industrial-military posture, has been the technological revolution during recent decades.
In this revolution, research has become central; it also becomes more formalized, complex, and costly. A steadily increasing share is conducted for, by, or at the direction of, the Federal government.
Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been overshadowed by task forces of scientists in laboratories and testing fields. In the same fashion, the free university, historically the fountainhead of free ideas and scientific discovery, has experienced a revolution in the conduct of research. Partly because of the huge costs involved, a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity. For every old blackboard there are now hundreds of new electronic computers.
The prospect of domination of the nation’s scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present”
I think he knew of whence he spoke.
Comment by Bubba Bo Bob Brain — September 9, 2004 @ 10:11 pm
Truman is one of my favorites, and Ike was far more effective (as we learn after all the pundits shut up) than many people believe.
I don’t know if anyone will pay attention to my email or not. If they get several thousand, perhaps. The problem with going after CBS is that all the media will rush to their support “to protect their rights under the First Amendment.”
Comment by Bunker — September 10, 2004 @ 5:43 am