posted October 19, 2004 04:34 AM              

By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 19, 2004; Page C01

The Washington bureau chief of Sinclair Broadcast Group was fired yesterday after accusing the media company of "indefensible" conduct for planning to air a movie attacking Sen. John Kerry's Vietnam record in the coming days.

Jon Lieberman, who also was the lead political reporter for the 62-station television chain, told CNN last night that he was terminated for his criticism, which was quoted in yesterday's Baltimore Sun. He spoke out, he said, because "I feel so strongly that our credibility is at issue here. . . . I feel our company is trying to sway this election."

The Baltimore-based firm, which has drawn harsh criticism from Kerry and the Democrats, found itself explaining why it dismissed a top journalist for speaking to the media.

Sinclair Vice President Mark Hyman said in a statement: "Everyone is entitled to their personal opinion, including Jon Lieberman. We are disappointed that Jon's political views caused him to speak to the press about company business." The statement called him a "disgruntled employee."

Lieberman, 29, called that characterization "completely unfair," telling CNN's Paula Zahn that Sinclair had promoted him twice and treated him well until he criticized plans to have the news division handle the upcoming hour-long special at a meeting Sunday.

He told the Sun's David Folkenflik that the program -- which is to include the anti-Kerry film "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal" -- is "biased political propaganda, with clear intentions to sway this election. For me, it's not about right or left -- it's about what's right or wrong in news coverage this close to an election."

The movie, which a Kerry spokesman has called "a 42-minute attack ad" in demanding equal time for the Democratic campaign, features 17 former prisoners of war accusing Kerry of betraying his country -- and in some cases extending their captivity -- by testifying in 1971 about U.S. atrocities in Vietnam. "Those were point-blank lies," one ex-POW, Tom McNish, says in the film.
Lieberman called it a "slanted documentary" and said there was The Baltimore-based firm, which has drawn harsh criticism from Kerry and the Democrats, found itself explaining why it dismissed a top journalist for speaking to the media.

Sinclair Vice President Mark Hyman said in a statement: "Everyone is entitled to their personal opinion, including Jon Lieberman. We are disappointed that Jon's political views caused him to speak to the press about company business." The statement called him a "disgruntled employee."

Lieberman, 29, called that characterization "completely unfair," telling CNN's Paula Zahn that Sinclair had promoted him twice and treated him well until he criticized plans to have the news division handle the upcoming hour-long special at a meeting Sunday.

He told the Sun's David Folkenflik that the program -- which is to include the anti-Kerry film "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal" -- is "biased political propaganda, with clear intentions to sway this election. For me, it's not about right or left -- it's about what's right or wrong in news coverage this close to an election."

The movie, which a Kerry spokesman has called "a 42-minute attack ad" in demanding equal time for the Democratic campaign, features 17 former prisoners of war accusing Kerry of betraying his country -- and in some cases extending their captivity -- by testifying in 1971 about U.S. atrocities in Vietnam. "Those were point-blank lies," one ex-POW, Tom McNish, says in the film.
Lieberman called it a "slanted documentary" and said there was no way for Sinclair, which owns the nation's largest collection of network affiliates, to verify the allegations. "Call it commentary, call it an editorial . . . but don't call it news," Lieberman said. He added: "Viewers aren't going to trust us if we call it news. . . . I couldn't be part of this special and call it news when what it is is political propaganda."

Lieberman acknowledged that he was violating Sinclair policy by giving an unauthorized interview and revealing part of what happened at a company meeting, but said he felt he had no choice but to speak out. "I knew I had nothing to gain by doing it and everything to lose," he said. "I need to be able to sleep at night."

"America's at its best when people stand up to powerful interests and tell them the truth," said Kerry campaign spokesman Chad Clanton. "That's what happened here."

Sinclair chief executive David Smith and his three brothers, who are company directors, have given $121,000 to President Bush and the Republicans since 1999. Some liberal groups are organizing a boycott of Sinclair's advertisers, which include prominent national chains.

Lieberman said he objected to the fact that the idea for the special originated with the commentary department and what he called "a very right-wing" Hyman, an on-air editorialist who has called Kerry a liar. Hyman told The Washington Post last week that he wants to put on "a balanced and honest program" and did not back off a charge that the other networks "are acting like Holocaust deniers" in ignoring the former POWs. The movie was made by Carlton Sherwood, a former journalist, Vietnam veteran and aide to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

Lieberman noted that Sinclair, which has built a new studio for the program, has not done an hour-long special on any other matter related to the campaign or the war in Iraq.

© 2004 The Washington Post Company

posted October 19, 2004 05:43 AM              

Jon Leiberman is (was) currently the Washington Bureau Chief for News Central. He joined News Central in June of 2003 and since then has filed extensive reports from Iraq, Cuba, both political conventions and Washington DC.

Before joining News Central he was the investigative reporter for WB-54 News at 6:30 and Fox-45 News at Ten in Baltimore.

Jon graduated from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Since then, he's worked in television in Baltimore, Md., Topeka, Kansas and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jon's reporting experience has earned him a number of awards including a regional emmy award and nomination, and a number of Society of Professional Journalist and Associated Press Awards.

Jon has covered a variety of national stories including the wildfires in Los Alamos, New Mexico, the scandals at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the tragedy of 9-11. He received an Emmy Award for his breaking news coverage of the New Mexico wildfires and an Emmy nomination for his coverage of 9-11 in Washington.

His reporting has also taken him overseas to file a series of reports on drug policies in Europe, on the war in Iraq, and on detainee treatment at Guatanamo Bay, Cuba. His investigative reports have focused on problems in the criminal justice system and government corruption.

Jon is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Investigative Reporters and Editors Association. Jon volunteers at various community organizations, and is on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers, Big Sisters as well as a big brother in Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

posted October 19, 2004 11:03 AM            

Not to worry, PBS is the residence of other whiners about how unfair everything is, surely they will offer this twit a job...on the government dole, no less.

Only in the fantasy land of the radical liberal twits do words and actions NOT have direct consequences.

posted October 19, 2004 11:36 AM              

THAT, you're not allowed to do in this world.

If my husband told anyone higher up who he was voting for.. they'd find a reason to fire him. Washington is an at will employment state. They can fire him for any reason they wish with no notice.

This is the narrow-minded world we live in.

Quite disgusting.

posted October 19, 2004 11:37 AM              

Jwhop, Take note of the actions of Jon Lieberman. You might learn something about what a true American patriot and man of honor is all about. He put his job and livelihood on the line for his principals and for Democracy and fairness in America. He put his principals above the costs he might have to pay. He ignored the intimidation tactics of threatening to fire him if he spoke out for his principals and democracy and did it anyway.

Liberman is a true American patriot and it is going to be those true American patriots fighting for honor and integrity and democracy who will bring down the house of cards built on lies and deceit of the Bush administration.

And of course because he believes in honor, integrity, democracy and fairness and spoke the truth you will label him a "liberal" or "Marxist" jwhop. Why? Because his values and principals are not the same as yours. His conscience is not the same as yours. His values and principals and conscience are not the way you want them to be.

posted October 19, 2004 12:29 PM            

His actions were deliberate and intended to do his employer harm.

His actions were premeditated in that he formed the intent ahead of the action he took.

If he had a shred of character, he would have resigned ahead of being fired or resigned prior to talking to the press. Resigned, citing differences with the companies operation procedures and/or editorial policies.

He got exactly what any employee should expect in a world where actions and words have consequences.

Only in the fantasy world of Libo Land are the rules of decency, character and honesty suspended.

Welcome to the real world.

CBS should lose their broadcast license for using fraud and forged documents against the President. Not for speaking out against the President.

I don't give a flip what side of the political spectrum the media of America happens to be.

I do care about their lies that they are neutral, politically.

posted October 19, 2004 12:56 PM            

Then why is (left) Kerry attempting to suppress information from POW's who have an issue with his actions surrounding Vietnam?

posted October 20, 2004 12:32 AM              

There are far more of us out here in the real world fighting for democracy and all it stands for than you know or think you know. We aren't going to let corporate America or the likes of Bush and those in his administration take democracy and freedom away from us. We are fighting back,jwhop and if you read the posts I just put in tonight, Sinclair Broadcasting is already answering to the true patriots in America. Their stock has gone down this week due to stock analysts fear of lost advertising. We are sending emails to all those advertisers letting them know we will boycott their services and products if Sinclair Broadcasting goes ahead and airs this propaganda on the free airwaves. Airwaves that don't belong to large conglamorates but to the American people. When Sinclairs broadcasting license comes up for renewal we will petiton the FCC in large numbers to finish off Sinclair Broadcasting Co. by protesting the renewal of his license. The American consumer has power with advertisers. Sinclair Broadcasting is already losing money and business as some of its advertisers have already begun to drop out.

posted October 20, 2004 02:42 PM            

Congratulations, you've arrived.

Your comparisons lack credibility. Your constitutional points defy logic, reason and court decisions as well as decisions of the FCC which defy your position.

Your notion that Sinclair cannot air "editorials" fly in the face of FCC regulations and court decisions.

Your notion that Sinclair cannot air "attack ads" also flies in the face of FCC regulations and court decisions.

Your notion that Sinclair is somehow being unfair to Kerry is, in itself flawed.

The major media in America has for 3 or more years attacked the President relentlessly. Further, since Kerry became the dimocrat candidate, the American press has had a hands off attitude about Kerry's war record, questions concerning his war record, his 4 year late discharge from the military. In fact, the press has failed to ask Kerry a single question about any of that...hands off Kerry.

Now, we have a memo from an ABC news exec telling everyone that no care to treat the statements of the candidates equally is necessary...perhaps not even logical. I agree, that would be illogical from the standpoint of a press that is ideologically in the Kerry camp and in his pocket.

For the entire period of the Bush administration, the American press has acted in such a way as to actually be contributors to the dimocrat party. Since Kerry was nominated, the press has gone out of their way to push for, advocate for and give every aid possible to Kerry. Using the megaphone of virtually every newspaper and every news outlet in America, the press has contributed to the Kerry campaign what would amount to Billions of dollars of free advertising. Not only that but their actions against the President gave the Kerry campaign Billions more of free dollars in attack ads against the President.

One must have their head somewhere it doesn't belong to not be able to recognize this as objective fact.

Enter Sinclair....the only major player who will examine the Kerry war record and the events during and immediately following Kerry's military service. One media outlet against the totality of all others who are doing their damnedest to elect John Kerry...and it's Sinclair who is unfair? Hello, pull your head out.

You say Moore's bubble headed fantasy was shown in movie theaters and therefore should not count. Bush never threatened to sue, harass or otherwise interfere with those showings.

Now, we have Kerry and the Kerry campaign threatening to sue a movie theater for showing Stolen Valor.

You need to get you head screwed on straight Mirandee. You need to get your facts straight as well and lastly, you need to apply whatever intellectual honesty you can muster to take one position on a subject and apply logic, reason and truth to whatever comes up and stick to it, which ever way it cuts. Good luck.

Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2004 12:30 p.m. EDT
Kerry Campaign Stops Pennsylvania Showing of 'Stolen Honor'

Michael Moore has been running around the country for months showing his anti-Bush film.

But when a local theater in Pennsylvania tried to show the new film "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal," the Kerry campaign and lawyers friendly to it caused the theater owner to stop its showing.
Editor's Note: Get your copy of "Stolen Honor" and find out why John Kerry is afraid you and millions of Americans will see it – also find out how to help "Stolen Honor" – Click Here Now.

"Stolen Honor” was to have been shown Tuesday night at a local theater in Jenkintown, Pa., near Philadelphia.

The documentary features 17 POWs who say Kerry's anti-war actions in the early 1970s prolonged the war and their captivity.

Apparently, the Kerry campaign sent out an urgent e-mail last week to supporters asking them to protest the showing.

After being threatened with litigation, the theater owner decided not to show the film. Local Philadelphia radio station 1210 WPHT 1210-AM had been sponsoring the event.

"Former Swiftees and POWs were to be given the red carpet treatment, the whole nine yards," wrote Chronwatch.com in an e-mail it posted to its site.

"They just announced - within the hour - that the premier here is cancelled because the theater was threatened with litigation. Is this what free speech will look like under a Kerry administration if he gets elected?" Chronwatch asked.

Maybe.

We hear that Carlton Sherwood, the producer of "Stolen Honor,” showed up outside the theater last night to hand out DVD copies of his film.

Pro-Kerry protesters also showed up and started to get physical. Police were called to quiet their protest.

Sherwood's Red, White and Blue Productions is considering a lawsuit against the Kerry-Edwards campaign for improperly interfering in the showing of the film.

EDIT*****
I didn't post the source of this story because yesterday, the link went to zedo and not to the story. This is the link to the source of the story and also a link to ChronWatch, which the article mentions...a site I've never visited and didn't know exists. Now that I know about ChronWatch, it looks interesting enough to go and browse.
http://www.newsmax.com/r/?http://newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/10/20/123154.shtml
http://chronwatch.com/site.asp?id=10467