Kerry Team Demands Equal Time from Sinclair Media
/Republican TV Group to Air Critical Movie Before Election - 61 Channels
John F. Kerry's campaign demanded yesterday that Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. provide his campaign equal time after broadcasting a movie attacking his Vietnam record, but the company said it is holding out for an interview with the Democratic nominee himself. In a letter to Sinclair chief executive David D. Smith, the Kerry campaign's top lawyer said that the planned airing of "Stolen Honor" "constitutes an attack on Senator Kerry by supporters of President Bush" and that Sinclair "must provide a similar opportunity for Senator Kerry's supporters" on its 62 stations. "This is a 42-minute attack ad they are putting on the air at no cost to the Bush campaign," spokesman Chad Clanton said. He said that the equal time should be of the same duration and that the Kerry camp should control the content, rather than appearing with Sinclair anchors. [more
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John F. Kerry's campaign demanded yesterday that Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. provide his campaign equal time after broadcasting a movie attacking his Vietnam record, but the company said it is holding out for an interview with the Democratic nominee himself. In a letter to Sinclair chief executive David D. Smith, the Kerry campaign's top lawyer said that the planned airing of "Stolen Honor" "constitutes an attack on Senator Kerry by supporters of President Bush" and that Sinclair "must provide a similar opportunity for Senator Kerry's supporters" on its 62 stations. "This is a 42-minute attack ad they are putting on the air at no cost to the Bush campaign," spokesman Chad Clanton said. He said that the equal time should be of the same duration and that the Kerry camp should control the content, rather than appearing with Sinclair anchors. [more
]
