If NBC goes through with allowing Donald Trump to host Saturday Night Live on November 7 it could provide a powerful enhancement of his public image far beyond the number of viewers. SNL over its four decades has been viewed at least once by the vast majority of voters becoming a type of institution beyond mere entertainment. Those who host the program are seen in a certain light, that of being at the least part of a cutting edge of progressive cultural values, whether entertainers or public intellectuals.
This is an "action diary" based on this Boston Herald article that provides a method that legal pressure - financial pressure can be brought to bear on NBC to cancel his appearance.
There are intricacies to the equal time rule, officially known as the "equal opportunities" rule.
For one thing, it is not the same as the fairness doctrine. That was a policy that stations present controversial topics with balanced points of view. The doctrine was abolished in 1987 and officially taken off the FCC's books in 2011.
What's more, the FCC does not police the airwaves. A rival campaign has to request equal time. And candidates who seek it have to show that they have a legitimate campaign in the state of an affiliate where a request is made. (Requests for equal time have to be made to the local station, not the network).
They also have seven days after a notice is posted of a candidate's appearance to make an equal-time request.
I don't know whether the seven days have expired, but even if they have, every candidate from both parties can post a demand that they get equal time. They must do this to to every local affiliate and do it now.
Below the break, I'll go into a few of the hundreds of people who have been Guest Hosts. Most are entertainers, but this select group includes at least two men who ran for president, though at the time of their appearance neither were candidates. One, who may have adversely determined the election of 2000, also had a lifetime of challenging vested interests and saving thousands of lives by promoting auto safety, Ralph Nader.
Trump, conversely, has lent his name to projects that have only preyed on the gullible, from investors in his many shell corporations to those who signed up for "Trump University." He has only gotten away with this by turning his last name into a brand, one that overshadowed the deep moral corruption of his every activity. His hosting SNL will be the ultimate realization of this lifetime quest. It could very well lead to his nomination, and possible victory -- allowing this caricature of a human being becoming the President of the United States of America.
Before I read the article about the legal challenge by candidates I felt the only possiblity of stopping his appearance was leverage to companies that advertise on the program. They probably have a right to cancel their ads for that evening, or pull them altogether. If we could get the names of regular advertisers and post them on a new diary on Dailykos, to be picked up by others, it could have an effect.
Sponsor reaction has forced the hand of networks before, and should be done this time.
Giving any candidate, even a legitimate one this kind of platform would be questionable. But, contempt for Donald Trump, who ridicules not only Mexicans, but every women who isn't a 10, and every man who has to actually work for a living, should be clearly conveyed to every advertiser.
Here are some of the public figures, as contrasted with entertainers, that Donald Trump will join. Perhaps targeted contact with them to elicit their response to SNL adding Trump to this select group would at the very least convey the error that NBC-SNL is making.
Al Gore-Hosted in 2002
Ralph Nader- Hosted in 1977
Julian Bond- Deceased civil rights leader and statesman
Jesse Jackson
Norman Lear -- now he should be enlisted for this effort
Ron Reagan
Rob Reiner
Jon Stewart
The full list is in Wikipedia at this site
Al Frankin- As a long time writer and cast member should also be encouraged to weigh in.
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Stopping the obscenity of Donald Trump hosting this legacy Television Institution is possible. Immediate contact to the campaigns of candidates urging their making an immediate protest and claim to the FCC is the first step. It would also be beneficial if this were made to those vying for the Republican nomination at this point.
In addition, and as a backup, those who find his elevation to the SNL host list reprehensible should contact regular advertisers, telling them that this will affect our feelings about their company.
I know it will for me.