An internal memo for a prominent Hollywood organization reveals plans to incorporate President Obama's political talking points into the storylines of shows on all four leading broadcast networks.
The memo, uncovered by Jim Nolte, a writer for the Big Hollywood website, cites Obama's call "for a new era of responsibility – recognition on the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and world to serve others." Nolte has posted the "working" document from the Entertainment Industry Foundation, which calls itself a "leading charitable organization of the entertainment industry."
The memo says "unprecedented week-long of television programming on all four leading broadcast networks – ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and all affiliated broadcast and cable properties … beginning October 19" will feature "organically" created storylines about service and volunteerism touching on the "key issues" of education and children, health and well-being, environmental conservation and reduced energy consumption, economic development and financial security and support for military families.
Those subjects and such volunteerism have been key parts of Obama's agenda since even before he lobbied for and obtained the "GIVE Act," H.R. 1388, which massively expands the National Service Corp. and allocates to it billions of dollars – for the use, according to one executive, of "managing" up to 8 or 9 million people.
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WND has reported on Obama's desires since he told a campaign stop in Colorado Springs last year he wants a "Civilian National Security Force" as big and as well-funded as the U.S. military.
Nolte reported the EIF plan between Oct. 19-25 for "more than 60 network TV shows [to] spotlight the power and personal benefits of service," and it is forecast to be just the first wave of a "multi-year 'I Participate' campaign."
"On its face this all sounds rather benign in that silly, liberal do-gooder kind of way. The networks have launched these kinds of campaigns before and other than some clunky exposition awkwardly inserted into your favorite show to meet the mandate — no harm, no foul," Nolte said.
"But this year there are a couple new strangers in town: 'Volunteerism' and 'Service.' You've heard of them. Their names have been bandied everywhere since President Obama took office, and this internal memo from the EIF to network showrunners obtained by Big Hollywood shows that the entertainment industry is well acquainted and eager to introduce both to as vast an audience as possible."
He said the promotion is similar to the issue of the White House seeking support from artists participating in the National Endowment for the Arts. In that recent development, the NEA and the White House encouraged a handpicked, pro-Obama arts group to address political controversial issues.
At that time, a White House staff member said, "We're going to come at you with some specific asks here. … I hope you guys are ready."
"Once again we see the same buzzwords pop up; suggested topics pitched to an overwhelmingly left-of-center group: Education, health, environment, the economy and lastly — almost as an afterthought as some kind of 'bi-partisan' cover – support for military families," Nolte reported.
He said it appears – whether it's the NEA or the EIF – "all roads funnel into one place: online volunteer portals, including Serve.gov, where if you plug in 'health care' all kinds of Planned Parenthood openings pop up along with a video dispelling those ugly 'myths' knocking ObamaCare."
"Next week, tens, if not hundreds of millions of Americans, will be urged through the (ab)use of public airwaves to log on to the EIF iParticipate site and volunteer," he continued.
The website reveals that some of the organizations to which interested people are referred to volunteer include Planned Parenthood and a student organization for the atheist, agnostic and nonreligious student.
Among the shows scheduled to take part:
- America’s Funniest Home Videos
- Brothers and Sisters
- Castle
- Dancing With the Stars
- Desperate Housewives
- Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
- Grey's Anatomy
- Hank
- Modern Family
- Private Practice
- Scrubs
- The Forgotten
- Ugly Betty
- All My Children
- General Hospital
- One Life to Live
- The View
- Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- 30 Rock
- Access Hollywood
- Community
- Heroes
- The Biggest Loser
- The Jay Leno Show
- The Office
- Today
- Accidentally on Purpose
- Cold Case
- Criminal Minds
- Gary Unmarried
- Ghost Whisperer
- NCIS
- The New Adventures of Old Christine
- Numb3rs
- Rules of Engagement
- Two and a Half Men
- Late Show With David Letterman
- America’s Most Wanted
- Bones
- Brothers
- COPS
- Lie to Me
- Major League Baseball
- So You Think You Can Dance?
- TeenNick HALO Awards
- Army Wives
- Wizards of Waverly Place
- Hannah Montana
- The Suite Life on Deck
- Jerry Springer
In the announcement about its efforts, Lisa Paulson, president of EIF, said, "Most people know that volunteering can have an enormous, positive impact on their communities, but they often don't realize how much volunteering benefits the person who does it. We're trying to broaden the collective national conversation about service; volunteering is rewarding, but it's also energizing and fun. It can even be a great way to meet people."
"We think hearing that from the cast members and characters on shows like 'Mercy,' 'American Idol,' 'Private Practice,' 'Ugly Betty' and 'The Good Wife' will help millions of viewers consider volunteerism," said Tony Award Winner Bernadette Peters. "I think it’s important to help people and causes that need our help."
On the Big Hollywood site, one observer commented, "When coerced, it is not volunteerism, when service is involuntary or unpaid, it is slavery. It is bad enough that the government is stealing our freedom, now they want us to help."
Joseph Farah, founder and editor of WND, earlier used his daily column to raise the first alarms over a "National Civilian Security Force" and then to elevate it with a call to all reporters to start asking questions.
"If we're going to create some kind of national police force as big, powerful and well-funded as our combined U.S. military forces, isn't this rather a big deal?" Farah wrote. "I thought Democrats generally believed the U.S. spent too much on the military. How is it possible their candidate is seeking to create some kind of massive but secret national police force that will be even bigger than the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force put together?
"Is Obama serious about creating some kind of domestic security force bigger and more expensive than that? If not, why did he say it? What did he mean?" Farah wrote.
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