This post is a call to action to protest the censorship of a nationally syndicated newsmagazine (NOW with David Brancaccio)
by a local PBS affiliate in the Ft. Hood area and Democratic Congressional Candidate Mary Beth Harrell.
This is a call to action for all those interested in a free press, eliminating voter suppression and a level playing field for candidates of all stripes during this election cycle.
Today (Saturday November 4th) at 1pm in Killeen, Texas - there will be a press conference on the campus of Central Texas College, the home of KNCT TV.
(http://www.knct.org/...)
The purpose for this press conference is that the local PBS decided to pre-empt the showing of the PBS weekly newsmagazine NOW with David Brancaccio.
(http://www.pbs.org/...)
This last minute change of programming (they advertised the show right up until 7:30pm on Friday November 3rd) was based upon falacious reasoning. The reason given - and might I add, by a staffer anticipating inquiries into the cancellation of the show - was "legal" in nature and resulted from the lack of inclusion of all the candidates in the race. However all three candidates Harrell, McAdoo and Carter where pictures and quoted in the piece (I know because I saw it on another PBS channel.) This last minute changed had a cooling effect on voters and lessened the likelihood that voters would be truly valued.
For more on this see A. Stanley's earlier post on the same topic.
(http://www.dailykos.com/...)
Funny - but Baylor, UT and Texas A& M didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with the representation of all candidates in the piece. Just the local affiliate that serves the community featured in the piece and includes the largest manned military base in the United States. I guess the opposition is running scared and afraid of the power of the piece on NOW and hoped to suppress our voters.
So, if you think this doesn't pass the "smell test" and you would like to attend and support Mary Beth Harrell join us in front of the KCNT TV Studios on campus.
(http://www.ctcd.edu/...)
However, if you cannot then join us virtually and help us continue this fight by contributing on-line.
(https://secure.bluehost.com/~marybeth/html/donations)
I appreciate everyone's patience with my attempt to get my links to work. If you should have any additional questions feel free to email the campaign at the address below. Don't forget to bring your signs; wear your lapel stickers today!
(info@marybethharrellforcongress.com)
In situations like this, how can any vote be cast consensually (... or how can the voter be informed?) Ahhhh! It's the old, "you may have a cheesburger or a hamburger; but we have no cheese!" Bait & Switch or Dog and Pony Show. Anyway enough for now, I hope to see you all in a few hours, until then...
... Connect! Collaborate! Unite!