The Associated Press: Lessons Learned From ABC's `9/11' Folly

[liberal N proud]

What does "The Path to 9/11" tell us instead?

— For one thing, it reminds us that aggrieved liberals can get just as riled at the media as conservatives. Never mind that ABC and its parent, the Walt Disney Co., are part of what the right wing slams as the liberal media elite. Disney was nonetheless accused of shelling out $40 million to craft a docudrama that would curry favor with the Bush administration, its airing shrewdly timed to the midterm election.

— The film's brutal reception also demonstrates how, when a protest hits its stride, nearly everybody loves to pile on. Rush Limbaugh and Hugh Hewitt heartily endorsed "The Path to 9/11," but their fellow conservative pundit (and former Reaganite) Bill Bennett weighed in against it. And even Harvey Keitel, the film's star, confessed on CNN to doubts about its accuracy back when he was shooting it.

Meanwhile, the "Path to 9/11" ambush should have taught ABC and the filmmakers these valuable lessons:

— First, get your story straight. When you deal with a subject as disturbing and painful as the 9/11 attacks, it's a good idea to not misrepresent it. And when your film shovels blame on powerful people, especially a former president, it's wise to remember that those bigwigs bite back. It's best to have the facts on your side.

— The other lesson: Get your story straight. When you're hyping a program, make sure, up front, to nail down what you're hyping it as.

Full-page magazine ads last week billed "The Path to 9/11" as "Based on The 9/11 Commission Report." Period. The message being peddled: This film would stay faithful to the definitive written account, with commission chairman Thomas Kean on board to certify its authenticity.

And yet by Sunday, ads were omitting any mention of the 9/11 Report. So did the opening credits of the film in the version that aired.

http://www.adelphia.net/news/read.php?id=13083671&ps=1005&srce=news_class&action=3&lang=en&_LT=HOME_TVNWC03L3_UNEWS

[bobbolink]

1. Our task: to preserve freedom of speech while protecting the

nation against lies.

We now take it for granted that we have to deal with lies all the time. How did this come about, and what is the way out of this quagmire?