| KNCT provided a completely bogus explanation for the outage. Despite the fact that almost all the PBS affiliates around the country found no problems with the broadcast, KNCT attorneys were concerned that the report failed to give equal time to the Libertarian candidate for Congress in Texas' 31st district.
A more believable explanation is developing that Carter, while at the Metroplex Health System's Gold Star Gala, told Central Texas College chancellor James R. Anderson to stop the broadcast. Both men attended the event on Thursday, one day before the PBS national broadcast. Central Texas College owns and operates KNCT, so the chancellor has the ability to make management decisions at the station.
Harrell campaign manager Ken Stewart has issued a call to action in his dKos diary. Please read and recommend these posts. No one should be surprised that a sitting congressman, afraid to face voters and his opponent, has engaged in repeated, intentional deceptions to prevent the voters in Texas' 31st district from getting the information they need to make an informed decision. The reason is simple. Mary Beth Harrell is the most qualified, most informed and best equipped to represent us in Congress.
UPDATE: KNCT attorney Max Rudolph today told the Harrell campaign that no one from the station asked him for a legal opinion on the broadcast before deciding to cancel it. PBS attorney Josh Schwartzberg today said that the segment in last night's episode of NOW is a bona fide news interview program and, as such, is exempt from the equal opportunities requirement under Section 315(a)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934.
The excuse provided by KNCT is an outright lie. KNCT did not consult attorneys with their concerns about last night's episode of NOW before deciding to cancel the broadcast. This was a simple act of censorship by Dr. Anderson for Rep. John Carter. Carter's position on the House Appropriations committee puts him in a position to steer federal dollars toward Central Texas College. This is a craven act unbecoming of a member of Congress.
A protest at KNCTs studios will take place at 1pm. Please speak out! |
