What we know, as expressed very well by Rush Limbaugh, is that "The Path to 9/11" clearly shows that we cannot trust the Democrats with national security. It's interesting how well that theme plays with the expressed Republican campaign strategy for November. The single driving message from the Republicans, no matter what else Democrats chose to discuss, will be that Democrats got us into this fix, and only Republicans are strong enough to get us out of it.
The question of why ABC (Disney) would chose to do this, to me, is obvious. There has been much talk in the media about the possibility of the Democrats retaking congress. Among the topics on the Democratic agenda is the restoration of the Fairness Doctrine and re-regulation of media consolidation. This clearly is against the interest of Disney and ABC. In order to prevent it, they need to make sure that Republicans retain the majority. The best way to do that is to validate the fear campaign the Republicans have planned for the Fall.
There is little doubt that no matter how much we complain, this show will air as planned. Its brilliance will be discussed endlessly by the like of Hannity and Limbaugh. So what can we do?
My thought is that we will have no choice but to watch it be aired. How we respond to its airing is the important thing - in fact, the only thing. We're going to have to watch it. But when we watch it, we are going to have to deconstruct it with every fact at our disposal. We're going to have to turn their own plan back at them, and use this film as a basis for the return of the Fairness Doctrine and anti-consolidation regulation. We are going to have to show how ABC (Disney) is not responsible enough to operate a broadcasting network without such regulation. We will have to point out how ABC has limited any response to this program, including from people who were directly involved in the historical events. We will have to point out that people have been viciously slandered by ABC, and ABC has provided no opportunity for equal time, or an opposing point of view in the same time slot.
To skirt this, ABC may mention the controversy on some of their talking head shows, but under the prior legislation that is insufficient. Equal time required the same time slot so that it could reach the same audience. This show will be presented in a time slot which does not have a large demographic of people interested in the news, so there is little opportunity to correct their faulty information on a Sunday talking head show.
I suggest we use this as an opportunity for a direct assault in favor of responsible broadcasting and journalism. Turn it back on them. Make this a positive statement regarding an issue that ABC is attempting to avoid.