As NewsBusters reported, CNN and NBC are planning programs about Hillary Clinton in the coming months.
On Monday, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus sent letters to both organizations informing them that if they don't cancel these shows, he will recommend the RNC not participate in any primaries sponsored by their networks:
“As an American company, you have every right to air programming of your choice. But as American citizens, certainly you recognize why many are astounded at your actions, which appear to be a major network’s thinly-veiled attempt at putting a thumb on the scales of the 2016 presidential election. This special treatment is unfair to the candidates for the Democratic nomination in 2016 who might compete against Secretary Clinton (including Vice President Biden, Governors O’Malley, Cuomo, and Hickenlooper, Senator Klobuchar and others) and to the Republican nominee, should Clinton compete in the general election.”
To Robert Greenblatt, Chairman of NBC Entertainment, Priebus wrote:
“There’s ample cause for concern. Executives and employees of Comcast, NBC’s parent company have been generous supporters of Democrats and Secretary Clinton. David Cohen, Comcast’s EVP, raised over $1.4 million for President Obama’s reelection efforts and hosted a fundraiser for the president. Comcast Corp. employees have donated $522,996 to the president and donated $161,640 to Secretary Clinton’s previous campaigns.
“Your company has expressly stated that your choice to air the miniseries in the near future would avoid concerns of running afoul of equal time election laws. This suggests a deliberate attempt at influencing American political opinion in favor of a preferred candidate, not to mention a guilty conscience.”
Priebus concluded both letters:
"Out of a sense of fairness and decency and in the interest of the political process and your company's reputation, I call on you to cancel this political ad masquerading as an unbiased production.
"If you have not agreed to pull this programming prior to the start of the RNC's Summer Meeting on August 14, I will seek a binding vote of the RNC stating that the committee will neither partner with you in 2016 primary debates nor sanction primary debates which you sponsor."
How will CNN and NBC respond?
Stay tuned.
