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Responses to the Nightline/Sinclair flap:
Anyone want to e-mail me a message for Sinclair? I think I'm going to take a drive up to their Hunt Valley headquarters this afternoon...

ndhapple: I am just as pissed off at Sinclair as you are. This is the company that killed its local newscasts to save money. Now they are not going to air Nightline tonight because it doesn't agree with their political views. Ted Kopple has always been tough, unbiased, honest, and frank. This is a continuation of what Nightline has done for 25 years, put the news in context, show the big picture, explain and show what is really happening in detail. The only thing wrong with this is America is finally going to see what the price of war truly is.

Anonymous: CableNewser, BRAVO! I've sent you some info on what I see on the tube that brings my blood to a boil. Sinclair is the biggest joke of all. I was screwed over by this company during and after my employment with them. They are a lying bunch of scoundrels. I swear management at this company would sell their mothers to the devil if it netted them a few dollars for their coffers. Local GMs are primed in how to twist, lie, and deceive. Once they lose ad dollars from a company they back stab that company. If you do head to the Cockeysville pad, please just give them a hearty "fu&% off!"

Dave: Message to Sinclair....Tell 'em thanks from a vet.

John: Yeah, I'm not in one of their markets, but I read that they thought that Nightline was doing this for political reasons and was trying to exploit the dead. Did they claim that the dead is being exploited with Pat Tillman's name and picture being everywhere, including the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated. It seems to me that there's a lot of exploitation going on with Tillman -- yes, he was an athlete, but he's getting more press now than he ever did as a college or pro football player. And isn't playing up Tillman as a hero who gave up millions of dollars to fight for his country also sending out a political agenda?

Jennifer: Why isn't Ted Koppel also reading the list of dead from Afghanistan? Why is it only Iraq? Say what you will about Sinclair, I think Koppel is trying to make a not so subtle point and using our military dead to do it.

Dee: I just want to know what their problem is in honoring the soldiers who gave their life for this country. Do they know how much it might mean to the families to see/hear their son, daughter, wife, husband, brother, sister, etc, father, mother's name in print- to see/hear their sacrifice acknowledged publically? Or is it that seeing these names, hearing them might actually be too-painful or too vivid a reminder of just how much we've lost in Iraq?

Donald: Crass political leftist agenda.... No wonder Americans no longer respect ABC, Disney, or Nightline. Sinclair is doing the RIGHT thing!

Wes: Don't forget to take pictures if you can... ...for your protest at the Embarassment of Baltimore (Sinclair, HQ). Sinclair, America's Ministry of Information.

Cableguy: Not sure why you are getting all high and all-mighty over Ted Koppel. This guy definitely has an anti-war, anti-Bush agenda, and is using his program for political purposes. Here is what MRC writes about him, from way back...

Anon: Many veterans and military families are supporting Sinclair Broadcasting and Mark Hyman's actions. You will find some of their messages if you'll allow me to direct you to this link and to our website's coverage.

Cindy: To the people at Sinclair: How dare YOU politicize a tribute to the men and women who have given their lives for US in Iraq! I plan to watch in awe of their bravery and courage - apparently, of which, you have none.

"Bunker Hill:" Sinclair is Unamerican: Our soldiers in Iraq are fighting for freedom, and one of the most important freedoms is freedom of the press. This naked attempt at censorship and intimidation UNDERMINES THE VERY PURPOSES FOR WHICH OUR MILITARY IS FIGHTING. IT'S JUST PLAIN UNAMERICAN

MediaDrop: Dear Sinclair-ites, While you decry Ted Koppel and ABC for making a "political" statement, you have successfully made a hypocritical move by doing the same. It's not hard to see that you're doing this on behalf of your own support (or at least executive support)of the current administration. While you're supporting the administration, Koppel is supporting the soldiers. Who haven't been supported at all, on the whole.

Mark Eric Burns had some interesting comments with Shep this afternoon. Here's a good quote: "Here's the real problem. Koppel went on the air today on Air America with Al Franken and enumerated the wrongs of the Bush administration in dealing with Iraq. A non-opinion journalist...cannot be going on the air offering opinions, even if it's a different format, because it suggests there is a lack of objectivity....For him to go on Air America, the liberal network, today...it seems to be is a serious gaffe. It doesn't suggest necessarily to me that what he's doing tonight is political in nature--it could be just a tribute....The point is, he's giving aid and comfort to HIS enemies."

DCRTV Dave: Burns said that Koppel was blurring the distinction between a journalist and an analyst. OK, fine. But what about Fox News itself? Doesn't virtually every single Fox anchor liberally voice his or her opinions during "newscasts." Neil Cavuto does it. Shep Smith does it. Steve Doocy does it. John Gibson does it. Etc. Seems that Burns' comments are just a tad hypocritical...