Every progressive, liberal, moderate, centrist
and any other American who believes that
9-11 should be treated with dignity and honor
and truth, should launch a two week boycott
and refuse to watch any television on any
property owned by the Disney Company
starting with ABC.
For those who may not know the details of
this issue, the Washington Post story today
reasonably lays out how this ABC mini-series
misrepresents facts in ways grossly dishonest
to Clinton Administration officials and then
selectively leaked information about the program to right wing sources.
I have been more than critical of the national
security establishment of the Democratic Party
for much of the last six years, largely but not
solely for their acquiesence and support for
the Iraq war when they could have made a difference.
But this Disney/ABC miniseries is one of the
most shameful, dishonest, scandalous and
disgusting ripoffs in the history of American
television and American media. This cheap
commercial exploitation of 9-11, this sleazy
and dishonest presentation, this partisan and
shameful leaking to right wing forces embodies
all of the poison in the politics of our era and
all of the corruption of our major media.
Even worse, this fraudulently presented shame
that directly misrepresents senior officials in the
Clinton Administration, is the mother of all media
exploitations against 9-11 that should be a
national source of unity, resolve and goodwill
rather than abused and exploited for partisan
politics of commercial gain.
This fraudulent television production embodies
the Ann Coulterization of network television.
Let me take this moment to stand with the
Jersey Women and the fact that any widows
from 9-11 could be slandered and demeaned
by any source, for any purpose, is a nauseating
aberration that future historians will look back
on with disgust as the low point, of many low
points, of the Bush era.
This is not an essay about blaming the Bush
Administration for 9-11. There is at least some
responsibility for many people in both parties,
in different Administration. Though when the
President was warned in a daily briefing and
treated the warning with the same contempt
he has shown for alternative viewpoints for
his entire Presidency, he does deserve a
special place.
This is not about blame, but about integrity,
honor, truth, dignity. About the responsibility
of major American companies and major
American media to treat such momentous
events with the seriousness and elevation
they deserve.
About respect for the truth above the lie.
About respect for the country above the sick
and ugly partisanship that has infected our
national life in large measure because of our
hyper-partisan President.
About respect for the heroes of 9-11, who
should unite the nation in admiration that
soars above partisanship and should always
be above the commercial and partisan
exploitation of small minds, with sick ideas,
and ulterior motives.
This is about respect for all of the survivors,
widows and widowers, friends and neighbors
and of all who we lost on 9-11, without any regard for the personal
politics, whatever
they may be, because on this occasion we
should honor and love and stand with them
all, and with each other.
If Disney does not pull this travesty, and
persists in using the public airwaves, loaned
to them as a public trust, I call for a complete
and total boycott of all programs on ABC and
all other Disney properties for a two week
period.
This is actionable, this is real, this can make
a difference and we should spread the word
far and wide: either Disney and ABC honor
this momentous national occasion in a manner
that respects honor, integrity and truth or we
will cease to honor Disney with our business.
If the Republican National Committee wants
to buy airtime to air these slanders, let them
do it at their expense.
If Disney and ABC insist on airing a pre-election
farce to exploit this moment for commercial
profit, leak it for partisan politics to ideologues
and extremists, and treat this moment in such
a shameful and shabby manner we should:
Boycott Disney.
Boycott ABC.
Boycott everything they own for two solid weeks because if there is one
thing we will
no longer stand for, it is this.