A small win

The FEC ruled against the Democrat National Committee that had contended that Sinclair Broadcasting had violated federal election laws by broadcasting "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal" before the 2004 presidential election.

The DNC filed the FEC complaint on Oct. 12, contending that showing the film would be an illegal in-kind contribution to President Bush's campaign. Kerry's campaign asked that each station carrying the program give a similar amount of time to Kerry supporters.

After shareholders complained such a broadcast could hurt their investment in the company, Sinclair announced that only segments of the documentary would be shown during a program examining the use of such documentaries to influence elections. The program aired Oct. 22 on 40 Sinclair stations.

The AP story carried in most newspapers quoted Commissioner Ellen Weintraub. The AP chose not to quote Commissioners David M. Mason and Bradley A. Smith who found the respondent Sinclair had the same press exemption accorded the MSM. Of course that is probably because Mason and Smith are both Clinton appointees and it doesn't portend well that broadcasters have the same privileges as, well, CBS.