CBS decided today to move The Reagans to sister-channel Showtime. While liberals will surely call this "censorship", it just proves that the marketplace of ideas works. If you have an idea to peddle, you better be ready to either defend it or shut up. CBS has surrendered the first battle over whether Ronald Reagan was a bad man and has chosen to move its theories regarding private conversations between Ron and Nancy to its more limited Showtime audience. And now that it's on Showtime, I suspect that the producers are scrambling to insert graphic gay sex scenes and pump up the "edginess" of the language.
The battle continues, as many people on Republican friendly e-mail lists are receiving the following e-mail today:
Dear Republican Friends:Personally, I think it should air in the form that the producers prefer. It will tell us a lot more about their twisted view of the Reagan presidency and make it all the more clear that they are out of touch with reality. Plus, since they know for a fact that certain scenes are untrue, it should not be too hard for Nancy Reagan to prove actual malice.
I am shocked and appalled by the cruel attack on Ronald and Nancy Reagan in the CBS network mini-series that has caused so much controversy in recent days.
Today the CBS network will announce that because of a public outcry they will not air the controversial movie, but insead move the offensive film to the Showtime network.
Whether its CBS or Showtime, I'm sure you share my sentiments that because this political attack is highly offensive and innacurate, that it should not be aired on any television network.
If you have not seen the news uproar over this matter, Bill O'Reilly recently said on Fox News Channel that these Hollywood hacks are purposely trying to make the Reagans look like, "bad, bad people." That they are even "making stuff up" trying to smear the Reagan legacy.
This outrageous movie, made by personal friends of the Clintons according to Fox News Network with no input from former Reagan aides, has been deemed cruel by Nancy Reagan herself, who is actively trying to stop its release.
As a former head of Americans for Reagan in the 1980s, I want to help Mrs. Reagan in this effort.
Barbara Steisand's husband James Brolin plays Reagan, and delivers ridiculous lines by Reagan during the film, such as our former President saying, "I am the anti-Christ!" The movie portrays Reagan as cursing and abusing his staff, and freely using profanities. They allege that Reagan even wished death on AIDS sufferers. (Drudge, 10.26.03)
Around the country, thousands of people organized themselves to boycott CBS during this Hollywood-coordinated personal attack on the Reagans. They got CBS's attention. I would suggest to everyone that if this offensive movie is moved to the Showtime network, that we refuse to watch it just the same.
So just how offensive is this attack on Reagan from the Hollywood left?
They attack without mercy both Ronald and Nancy Reagan. They "insinuate that Nancy pill-popped," that she physically abused their daughter, that her parents were racist, and that she was the hysterical "Mommie Dearest" of the White House.
Nothing could me more outrageous, unsubstantiated and offensive than this attempt by Clinton Hollywood leftists to smear the people we admire. The head of the boycott CBS effort said recently on Fox News, "If the American people think that this is a cruel movie to a dying man and the wife who is tending to him, CBC is never going to get over that." (10.26.03 Fox News Channel)
I am proud to have worked for Ronald Reagan's Presidency and I want to preserve his legacy. It is because of biased messages like this one coming out of Hollywood and the major TV networks that I launched "Fairness In Media" with Senator Jesse Helms in 1985. I urge all of you to refuse to watch this offensive mini-series no matter which network considers airing it.
Thank You, and as President Reagan always reminded us:
God Bless America.
Jim Cain
