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Republican National Committee Threatens to Boycott NBC and CNN

Aug 5, 2013  •  Post A Comment

The Republican National Committee is upset about a couple of TV projects that are in the works, and has threatened action against both NBC and CNN unless the projects are pulled, CBS News reports.

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus sent letters to the two networks today warning that the RNC will not partner with them on presidential debates during the 2016 election cycle unless they "pull the plug on recently announced documentary programs about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton," the story reports.

"Last month, NBC said it would air a four-hour miniseries about the former first lady and top-seeded contender for the Democratic nomination titled, ‘Hillary’; days later, CNN Films announced its intent to produce a documentary about her. In separate letters to NBC Chairman Robert Greenblatt and CNN President Jeff Zucker, Priebus called each documentary a ‘thinly veiled attempt at putting a thumb on the scales of the 2016 presidential election,’" the piece reports.

In the letters, Priebus wrote: "This special treatment is unfair to the candidates for the Democratic nomination in 2016 who might compete against Secretary Clinton." He specifically named Vice President Joe Biden, Govs. Martin O’Malley, Andrew Cuomo and John Hickenlooper, and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the piece reports.

The report adds: "’Should Clinton compete in the general election,’ he continued, their programs could also disadvantage the GOP nominee."

In a statement, Priebus said: "It’s appalling to know executives at major networks like NBC and CNN who have donated to Democrats and Hillary Clinton have taken it upon themselves to be Hillary Clinton’s campaign operatives. I hope Americans will question the credibility of these networks and that NBC and CNN will reconsider their partisan actions and cancel these political ads masked as unbiased entertainment."

The report adds: "Priebus also pointed out the hoopla among Democrats in 2008, when the conservative group Citizens United planned to air a pay-per-view documentary about Clinton on election eve. ‘And yet they’re conspicuously silent now that a major news network will launch a documentary of its own. They must trust that you’re doing her a favor,’ he wrote."

Priebus reportedly attached a nine-day deadline to his demand.

In his statement, he wrote: "If they have not agreed to pull this programming prior to the start of the RNC’s Summer Meeting on August 14, I will seek a binding vote stating that the RNC will neither partner with these networks in 2016 primary debates nor sanction primary debates they sponsor."

NBC and CNN had not yet responded to the action, the piece notes.

14 Comments

  1. It’s not like they plan to debate on the issues anyway. If they are that concerned, they should commission Fox to produce a biopic on Chris Christie or Rand Paul. What a punk!

  2. Now they think the Fairness Doctrine is a good idea?

  3. I did say it so many time everyone needs to boycott NBC they are the Nobody Cares Network!!

  4. Myke25…You’re missing the point. Fox has no plans to do a “documentary” on ANY candidate running for higher office. And they shouldn’t need to. “News” organizations are supposed to report the news. Not shape it or influence it. This is why MSNBC was recently called out for having 85% opinion and 15% reportage. Fox was 50/50. ABC was 40/60.

  5. Boy, aren’t you the pot calling the kettle black. The RNC pulled it’s PPV documentary due to the DNC raising cane about it. Now, that NBC and CNN are planning one and the RNC is likewise raising cane about it, it’s OK? What a hypocrite you are! If one can’t do a documentary, neither should the other be able to.

  6. Yes, Fox is about 50/50. 50% factual, and 50% made up.

  7. To allow politics to dictate television programming is just not going to happen! No network will permit such a precedent to take place, nor should it!
    As for Hillary Clinton, the projects set fort by CNN and NBC have both the potential to reduce as well as enhance her chances at the poles. Now the RNC is lending credibility to Hilary’s election, who has not declared her candidacy. Perhaps Hilary can be elected to the highest office of the land by doing nothing, staying on the sidelines and allowing the foolishness of others to elect her!

  8. To allow politics to dictate television programming is just not going to happen! No network will permit such a precedent to take place, nor should it!
    As for Hillary Clinton, the projects set fort by CNN and NBC have both the potential to reduce as well as enhance her chances at the poles. Now the RNC is lending credibility to Hilary’s election, who has not declared her candidacy. Perhaps Hilary can be elected to the highest office of the land by doing nothing, staying on the sidelines and allowing the foolishness of others to elect her!

  9. How short-sighted the Republicans are. These are high risk programs. Based on the history of such previous programs, these are not likely to get great ratings, especially if the competitors properly program against it. And the high-profile nature of these programs provide excellent opportunities to attack Hillary if she is a candidate. Historical accuracy is not usually the best on these dramas, so there will be lots of opportunity to attack there. By being an “historical” account, issues like Benghazi and Lewinski can be legitimately brought up by the Republicans and the liberal news media can’t claim that it is old news since her history is now part of major television programs. The Republicans should be cheering these developments and the Clinton campaign should be wondering if her friends are really helping. Reminding everyone of Bill’s time in the oval office may not be all positive memories. And there may be a lot of questions asked about how he will be spending all of his free time as First Gentleman.

  10. David Lefforge is such a dickhead. All he ever does is complain about NBC. It’s time to complain about his crappy catering business.

  11. This is laughable!! The RNC is going to”boycott” NBC and CNN?!! Really? Seriously??… The RNC needs NBC and CNN, not the other way around. … That’s like the Tea Party whackjobs threatening the Republican Party… what are they going to do, vote Democrat?! The RNC better do a reality check on who needs who, or they will expedite the extinction of the Republican Party.

  12. Scott – Yell us what’s ‘made up’?

  13. That’s ‘Tell’ us – not ‘Yell us’. We shouldn’t be yelling here.

  14. Considering NBC has no real news division ,I believe this is much adieu about nothing. I doubt the NBC mini-series will mention anything about
    a) being married to a philandering governor, candidate or president.
    b) It will not cover Sec. Clinton landing in Syrian airport under heavy gun fire (or so she reported , later found to be untrue via surveillance tapes
    c) Death of Vince Foster .
    d) tax issues with IRS paid for with campaign funds .
    e) legal fees paid for by CBS’ Viacom CEO Sumner Redstone.
    f) Benghazi.
    And the list goes on. If you take these topics away , you just have 4 hours of fluff. No thank you.

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