April 12, 2003
|
BuzzFlash Unearths National Baseball Hall Of Fame News Release Announcing Ari Fleischer Lecture
Anti-Democracy Republican Operative Who Barred Sarandon And Robbins From Baseball Hall of Fame Welcomed Ari Fleischer To Speak at Hall Lecture Series.
A BUZZFLASH BREAKING NEWS ANALYSIS
Hundreds and hundreds of BuzzFlash.Com readers have inundated the venerable Baseball Hall of Fame with letters, calls and e-mails protesting the cancellation of an event honoring the legendary film "Bull Durham."
(http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/04/10_baseball.html)
The celebration -- featuring stars Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins and Robert Wuhl -- was abruptly deep-sixed by Dale Petroskey, a former White House assistant press secretary under Ronald Reagan and obvious Karl Rove protégé.
Petroskey wrote to Sarandon and Robbins to lambaste their political views:
"In a free country such as ours, every American has the right to his or her own opinions, and to express them. Public figures, such as you, have platforms much larger than the average American's, which provides you an extraordinary opportunity to have your views heard -- and an equally large obligation to act and speak responsibly...."
"We believe your very public criticism of President Bush at this important -- and sensitive -- time in our nation's history helps undermine the U.S. position, which ultimately could put our troops in even more danger. As an institution, we stand behind our President and our troops in this conflict." Not that it matters because the Baseball Hall of Fame should not be in the business of censoring political viewpoints, but Petroskey never -- even by his own admission after the fact -- asked Sarandon and Robbins if they would agree to keep politics out of the celebration. So, it was a White House/Hall of Fame set-up from the get-go.
BuzzFlash has learned that Petroskey hasn't always been so concerned about politics entering into the Hall of Fame's official programming. In fact, BuzzFlash.Com has unearthed a January 17th, 2002, Cooperstown Hall of Fame news release in which Petroskey announces the appearance of Ari Fleischer -- Yes, that Ari Fleischer -- at a National Baseball Hall of Fame lecture series on February 2 of last year.
In the news release, Petroskey glowingly praises Fleischer and details his political accomplishments. Petroskey writes that he is "thrilled" to welcome Fleischer for his Cooperstown lecture. Most significantly, Petroskey boasts that audience members will "hear his [Fleischer's] perspective on life in the White House and the current political scene which of course includes the war on terrorism." So much for keeping politics out and the war on terrorism out of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Here is Petroskey's remarks about Fleischer in the January 17, 2002, news release:
The Cooperstown Winter Cultural Series opens on Saturday, February 2 in the Louis C. Jones Center at The Farmers’ Museum with President Bush’s Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. As White House Press Secretary, Mr. Fleischer is the primary spokesperson for the President and delivers the daily White House briefing. He previously served as the Senior Communications Advisor and Spokesman for the Bush-Cheney presidential campaign.
Prior to joining Governor Bush’s campaign, Mr. Fleischer was the national spokesman and Communications Director for Elizabeth Dole’s presidential campaign.
Mr. Fleischer was hired by the House Committee on Ways and Means after Republicans took control of the Congress in November 1994. As Communications Director there, Mr. Fleischer was the House of Representative’s principal staff spokesman on issues relating to taxes, Medicare, Social Security, welfare and international trade.
"In his first year Ari Fleischer has had a more demanding job than any White House Press Secretary in history" said Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey. "He has managed to be a candid spokesman for the President while clearly and simply articulating the Bush Administration’s goals, both foreign and domestic. We are thrilled to welcome him to Cooperstown and hear his perspective on life in the White House and the current political scene which of course includes the war on terrorism."
(See: http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/whats_new/press_releases/2002/
pr2002_01_17.htm)
The Bush Cartel literally owns the White House, Congress, most of the Federal Judiciary, most of the mainstream media. Now, we learn that they also own the politics of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Say it ain't so Joe, Say it ain't so!
A BUZZFLASH BREAKING NEWS ANALYSIS
* * *
BuzzFlash Note: Petroskey, in a typical Republican non-apology, tried to weasel his way out of his un-American, politically biased action in canceling the April 26-27 Bull Durham festivities. Keep inundating Petroskey with letters, e-mail and phone calls telling him that he has betrayed our Constitutional rights. He also clearly is a Republican political hack in charge of the museum that venerates our American baseball heroes. They didn't hit home runs and pitch no-hitters just for Republicans.
You can find information on how to contact Petroskey at the "Bombard the Baseball Hall of Fame" commentary just below.
See the Following Web Articles:
Bombard the Baseball Hall of Fame
http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/04/10_baseball.html
Cooperstown Muffs One
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/12/opinion/12SAT4.html
Reagan/Bush Surrogate at Hall of Fame Makes a Non-admittance of Mistake
Sort of PR Meaningless Acknowledgment
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/12/sports/baseball/12fame.html
Robbins, Sarandon get Rose treatment from Hall of Fame
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2003/04/09/hall_bulldurham_ap/
National Baseball Hall of Fame Welcomes Ari Fleischer
http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/whats_new/press_releases/2002/pr2002_01_17.htm
By the way, in case you want to attend an Ari Fleischer encore, since Petroskey is obviously enamored of the young lad, here is the ticket information on last year's event:
"Tickets to The Cooperstown Winter Cultural Series are available exclusively to members of the Friends of the Hall of Fame and the New York State Historical Association, on a first-come, first-served basis. A cocktail and dessert reception will follow each event. The cost of admission is $10 per program. Members are limited to four tickets per date. For information on becoming a member or to reserve tickets, please contact the following: Friends of the Hall of Fame Membership (607-547-0397) and NYSHA Membership (607-547-1400)."
