] I write to strongly protest your decision to instruct
] Sinclair's ABC affiliates to preempt this
] evening's Nightline program. I find deeply offensive
] Sinclair's objection to Nightline's intention
] to broadcast the names and photographs of Americans who
] gave their lives in service to our country in Iraq.
]
] I supported the President's decision to go to war in
] Iraq, and remain a strong supporter of that decision. But
] every American has a responsibility to understand fully
] the terrible costs of war and the extraordinary
] sacrifices it requires of those brave men and women who
] volunteer to defend the rest of us; lest we ever forget
] or grow insensitive to how grave a decision it is for our
] government to order Americans into combat. It is a solemn
] responsibility of elected officials to accept
] responsibility for our decision and its consequences,
] and, with those who disseminate the news, to ensure that
] Americans are fully informed of those consequences.
]
] There is no valid reason for Sinclair to shirk its
] responsibility in what I assume is a very misguided
] attempt to prevent your viewers from completely
] appreciating the extraordinary sacrifices made on their
] behalf by Americans serving in Iraq. War is an awful, but
] sometimes necessary business. Your decision to deny your
] viewers an opportunity to be reminded of war%u2019s
] terrible costs, in all their heartbreaking detail, is a
] gross disservice to the public, and to the men and women
] of the United States Armed Forces. It is, in short, sir,
] unpatriotic. I hope it meets with the public opprobrium
] it most certainly deserves.

[ John McCain proves again that you can garner respect and admiration without pandering. I disagree with damn near all his political stances, but I absolutely respect the honesty and commitment to *public service* with which he approaches his job. I'm glad someone with a little clout is responding to this situation -- my rant earlier, while genuine, isn't likely to go far. -k]

U.S. Senator John McCain -- Letter to Sinclair