Dateline: Fantasyland
Succumbing to pressure from liberals and historians vigilant against obsequious portrayals of a supposedly wise and brilliant Ronald Reagan, CBS ditched its plans to broadcast "The Reagans."
The television biography of Reagan had elicited a wave of criticism and warnings from political figures such as Congressman John Dingell (D-MI), ranking member of the House Commerce Committee. In a letter sent last week to CBS President Leslie Moonves, Dingell put the network on notice that they should not gloss over some of the more infamous events of the Reagan presidency; Dingell's list included such nuggets as "$640 Pentagon toilets seats; ketchup as a vegetable; union busting; firing striking air traffic controllers; Iran-Contra; selling arms to terrorist nations; trading arms for hostages; retreating from terrorists in Beirut; lying to Congress" and many, many more.
Sources close to the decision say the network was wary of angering the listeners of the aggressive and well-coordinated left-wing talk show circuit, which largely parrot the talking points sent to them after each "Wednesday morning meeting." This attendees at this weekly strategy meeting represent the power brokers in the nation's capitol: lobbyists and political operatives from a wide range of progressive groups, including organized labor, environmentalists, organizations seeking expanded social service coverage for the poor, foundations laying the groundwork for a national health care system, and a highly secretive cabal of activists seeking to use the internet and low-wattage community radio stations to spread a message of love and tolerance. CBS did not want to antagonize such a varied and influential constituency.
Another source suggested that an unbelievable amount of squawking from Republican National Committee chair Ed Gillespie and right-wing radio hosts might have had something to do with the cowardly retreat by CBS.