ABC to air distorted 9/11 Film

ABC is planning on airing a "docudrama" called "The Path to 9/11" on September 10th and 11th. The film was written by an avowed right-wing activist and "good friend" of Rush Limbaugh. Apparently ABC does not care that the writer completely made up many scenes critical of President Clinton. For instance the film contends Bill Clinton was too distracted with the Monica Lewinsky scandal to go after Osama bin Laden. Ironically during the Lewinsky scandal Republicans were the ones in a huff over President Clinton ordering strikes against camps of Al-Qaeda.

Clinton has written a letter to ABC, from the NY Post (h/t Daily Kos):

A furious Bill Clinton is warning ABC that its mini-series "The Path to 9/11" grossly misrepresents his pursuit of Osama bin Laden - and he is demanding the network "pull the drama" if changes aren't made.

Clinton pointedly refuted several fictionalized scenes that he claims insinuate he was too distracted by the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal to care about bin Laden and that a top adviser pulled the plug on CIA operatives who were just moments away from bagging the terror master, according to a letter to ABC boss Bob Iger obtained by The Post.

The former president also disputed the portrayal of then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as having tipped off Pakistani officials that a strike was coming, giving bin Laden a chance to flee.

"The content of this drama is factually and incontrovertibly inaccurate and ABC has the duty to fully correct all errors or pull the drama entirely," the four-page letter said.

Last year ABC cancelled a reality show featuring a gay couple, "Welcome To The Neighborhood" after ultra-conservative crazyman James Dobson complained. Back in 2004 ABC's parent company Disney tried to kill Michael Moore's documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" because it was "too political." Yet Disney/ABC seem to be perfectly fine in airing "The Path to 9/11" despite 9/11 commissioner Richard Ben-Veniste finding a number of inaccuracies and distortions, despite the top counterterrorism official in the Clinton and both Bush Administrations, Richard Clarke, pointing out many of the events depicted in the film never happened, and even despite ABC admitting some scenes are entirely fictional.

Does ABC using the fifth anniversary of 9/11 as a way to promote GOP distortions and propaganda bother you? Contact the Twin Cities ABC affiliate KSTP at programming@kstp.com or call them at (651) 646-5555 to let them know what you think.

-Justin

Update: The Senate Democratic Leadership sent this letter to ABC...wow.