Several news outlets are reporting today that CBS will either move its miniseries on the Reagans to its cable network Showtime or will cancel the program all together. This is maddening.
The Republicans’ unwarranted Reagan worship has been nauseating for some time, but this is ridiculous. They’ve now succeeded in trashing a program that they’ve never even seen because they suspect it might paint an unflattering picture of their deity.
Of course, I haven’t seen the miniseries either. I have no idea if it’s a good program, a fair portrayal, or a poorly-written melodrama. Truth be told, I wasn’t planning to watch it even when CBS was standing by the program.
But the GOP’s conniption over the show suggests that they’ve completely lost their perspective on reality.
CBS, an entertainment network, has the gall to broadcast a program that mentions Reagan’s divorce? And Nancy Reagan’s practice of setting the president’s schedule based on the advice on an astrologer? And Reagan’s personal indifference to the millions of people with AIDS? How could they say all of these terrible and completely accurate things? The outrage!
Last week, the Republican National Committee took the bizarre step of writing to CBS, asking the network to submit its script to a panel of historians and Reagan friends for approval or run a disclaimer at the bottom of the screen every 10 minutes that tells viewers that the program is a “fictional portrayal of the Reagans and the Reagan Presidency, and they should not consider it to be historically accurate.”
Funny, I don’t remember the RNC taking such an incredible interest in historical accuracy with the producers of DC 9/11: Time of Crisis, which fraudulently portrayed the Bush White House as heroes without a hint of skepticism or criticism. Maybe they just forgot.
CBS’ spineless response won’t exactly win the network a “Profile in Courage” award. The network paid for the program and approved its script. CBS should air the show and let people decide for themselves what they think. In fact, considering the fit Republicans have thrown, the network probably would have enjoyed huge ratings, since people usually flock to programs they’re told not to watch by America’s moralizers. Hell, I’d probably tune in just to irritate the RNC.
While the controversy surrounding the CBS miniseries has generated responses from across the spectrum, my favorite was a press release sent out last week by Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), which, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, claimed to join in the Republicans’ protest over the program.
In fact, Dingell, like the conservative critics, charged CBS of painting an unfair picture of Reagan’s presidency for the nation. Yet, while the Republicans whined about CBS’ overly negative portrayal, Dingell wrote a letter to CBS President Leslie Moonves explaining that the miniseries isn’t negative enough.
In his letter, Dingell wrote, “As someone who served with President Reagan, and in the interest of historical accuracy, please allow me to share with you some of my recollections of the Reagan years that I hope will make it into the final cut of the mini-series: $640 Pentagon toilets seats; ketchup as a vegetable; union busting; firing striking air traffic controllers; Iran-Contra; selling arms to terrorist nations; trading arms for hostages; retreating from terrorists in Beirut; lying to Congress; financing an illegal war in Nicaragua; visiting Bitburg cemetery; a cozy relationship with Saddam Hussein; shredding documents; Ed Meese; Fawn Hall; Oliver North; James Watt; apartheid apologia; the savings and loan scandal; voodoo economics; record budget deficits; double digit unemployment; farm bankruptcies; trade deficits; astrologers in the White House; Star Wars; and influence peddling.”
Dingell concluded his letter, “I hope you find these facts useful in accurately depicting President Reagan’s time in office.”