Lather, Rience, Repeat – The GOP Is Upset With TV Networks Now

In July, NBC announced plans to air a four-hour miniseries devoted to the public and personal life of Hillary Clinton. In truth, there are actually four movie plans in production, each by different networks. Aside from production plans at NBC, production plans are also in the works for a Hillary Clinton documentary at CNN.

There have also been a number of television series that have modeled female political characters after the former first lady and Secretary of State. Not only has Clinton not yet announced her candidacy, she has not endorsed any of these films and outside of speculation, there is no comment as to what sort of light she will be portrayed in any of the films. The Republican Party however reeks of fear at the thought of her growing popularity, and has now resorted to issuing a threat to the networks planning production of these movies. Monday, Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, sent two-page letters to both NBC and CNN threatening to pull all Republican officials from the networks, as well as the campaign debates and primaries themselves if they do not abandon plans to air programs about Hillary Clinton. In each of the letters, Priebus gives a deadline by which he expects the networks to halt their plans before he will “seek a binding vote of the RNC” to pull all partnerships and sponsorships for the campaign coverage. Priebus contends that the possibility of a movie regarding the former secretary of state is a “thinly-veiled attempt at putting a thumb on the scales of the 2016 Presidential Election.” Amazingly, he also specifically points out the 2010 Supreme Court decision of Citizens United v Federal Election Commission, which also centered on a movie regarding then presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
The suit was in regards to an unflattering portrayal of Clinton in various scandals in which she allegedly participated, such as the?White House travel office controversy,?White House FBI files controversy, Whitewater controversy, and?cattle future controversy. The film, produced by Citizens United, featured biased commentary from right-wing pundits like Ann Coulter and Dick Morris. The government was able to block the film in 2008 during the presidential election campaign, but was then ordered to re-argue the case before the Supreme Court in 2009. The 2010 5-4 decision on that case is what precipitated the whole disturbing Citizens United controversy which allows essentially unlimited contributions by corporations and unions to political action committees (Super PACs). It wasn’t that long ago that Republicans agreed to seek a broader reach in mainstream media and to look outside of conservative outlets like Fox News in order to appeal to a wider base. Now, Priebus has apparently tripped over his bottom lip in a pouting fit and wants to alienate all mainstream media in one massive temper tantrum. This may even be a planned strategy on the part of Republicans to force the mainstream bipartisan media to cast a dim light on any potential Republican candidates and their shenanigans. Given the previous election and how radical or extreme moderate Republican candidates, such as Mitt Romney, appeared to the public, Priebus may be seeking to “hide” potential political pitfalls to ensure a worthy candidate in the next election. Can you blame him? Whatever threat ‘His Royal Snootiness’ wants to make, networks that he has targeted do not seem to be backing down at all. CNN released the following statement in response the letter they were sent:

CNN Films, a division of CNN Worldwide, commissioned a documentary about Hillary Clinton earlier this year. It is expected to premiere in 2014 with a theatrical run prior to airing on CNN. This documentary will be a non-fiction look at the life of a former first lady and Secretary of State. Instead of making premature decisions about a project that is in the very early stages of development and months from completion, we would encourage the members of the Republican National Committee to reserve judgment until they know more. Should they decide not to participate in debates on CNN, we would find it curious, as limiting their debate participation seems to be the ultimate disservice to voters.

Related articles from Liberal America: NBC To Air Unauthorized ‘Life Of Hillary Clinton’ Miniseries ? Edited/Published by: SB

"...And so I say to all of you here and to all in the nation tonight that those who appeal to you to hold on to the past do so at the cost of denying you your future. This great rich, restless country can offer opportunity and education and hope to all--all, black and white, North and South, sharecropper and city dweller. These are the enemies: poverty, ignorance, disease. They are our enemies, not our fellow man, not our neighbor. And these enemies too--poverty, disease and ignorance--we shall overcome." ~excerpt from speech by President Lyndon B Johnson, given two days after the start of the Selma Marches in an event that became known as Bloody Sunday.