The Path to 9/11 and Freedom of Speech

I normally try to keep my political viewpoints on the back burner, if not out of sight, here on The Nerdly Arts, but this just has to be said.

This weekend ABC will be airing "The Path to 9/11". A furor erupted when Bill Clinton and members of his administration began to lobby ABC to change the film. Depending on which side of the political spectrum you inhabit Clinton was either trying to get factual errors in the film corrected or attempting to whitewash his administration's terrorism policies. Now I'm somewhat conservative to I tend to believe the latter; I think Clinton was trying to polish his legacy while paving the way for his wife's Presidential run in '08. While I think Clinton is wrong to lobby to change a movie he has every right to do so. The same thing with a group of Left wing bloggers who are organizing a 'google bombing' in protest; I think it's hypocritical and wrongheaded but it their perogative.

Then I read this. A letter from the Democratic leadership in the Senate basically threatening the broadcast licences of ABC and it's affiliates if they broadcast the movie. It may be the most overt act of extortion I've ever seen. Here are some relevant quotes

The Communications Act of 1934 provides your network with a free broadcast license predicated on the fundamental understanding of your principle obligation to act as a trustee of the public airwaves in serving the public interest. Nowhere is this public interest obligation more apparent than in the duty of broadcasters to serve the civic needs of a democracy by promoting an open and accurate discussion of political ideas and events.

Should Disney allow this programming to proceed as planned, the factual record, millions of viewers, countless schoolchildren, and the reputation of Disney as a corporation worthy of the trust of the American people and the United States Congress will be deeply damaged. We urge you, after full consideration of the facts, to uphold your responsibilities as a respected member of American society and as a beneficiary of the free use of the public airwaves to cancel this factually inaccurate and deeply misguided program. We look forward to hearing back from you soon.

This is the legislative equivalent of walking up to a motorist, showing him a gun and saying "Give me your car." Threatening to take down an entire broadcast network if they don't conform to your political orthodoxy in such a public way is the most sickeningly corrupt act I've ever seen.