Protect the Internet from censorship - Contact Senators and Congressman and urge them to vote against SOPA / PIPA!

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is sponsoring PIPA in the Senate and Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) is carrying SOPA in the House of Representatives.  The bills are backed by Hollywood and big media ostensibly as a way to stop online piracy and protect copyrights.  They are however bad ideas that could lead to the censorship of websites like Tony’s Rants.

These ineffective and shortsighted bills would place undue burdens on websites and Internet providers.  Any company with an intellectual copyright claim could for example force Google to remove links to an accused site, prevent credit card companies from processing payments to the accused site, and much more.  This could all be done without any legal proceedings at all.

Tony’s Rants takes great care to respect and honor other’s property in written, audio or visual form and we are proud of our efforts to never take liberty with someone else’s hard work.  However, under SOPA / PIPA, our site could be brought down simply if someone posted a comment that contained copyrighted text or linked to a site that hosted copyrighted material.

This simply is unacceptable.  Tony’s Rants will be joining other sites like Wikipedia, Tucows, and Reddit in the blackout to take place tomorrow.

Please watch the video below for more information and contact your Senators and Congressman and urge them to vote against SOPA / PIPA.  You can also learn more about the dangers of SOPA / PIPA via this infographic and at the links below the video.

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Watch the video · American Censorship page · View the Infographic
Read SOPA on OpenCongress · Read PIPA on OpenCongress

Gallup: In U.S., Fear of Big Government at Near-Record Level. (Gallup) Click the image for a larger view.

President Barack Obama and the mainstream media like nothing better than to vilify business and dote over the Occupy Wall Street protestors and their attempts to save us from the evils of capitalism.  However, a new poll shows that Americans are far more concerned about their own government than they are business.

The poll released by Gallup this week shows that fear of big government is approaching record setting levels as 64% of Americans view it as “the biggest threat to the country in the future.”

Problematic for Obama is the fact that our fears of the government have done nothing but grow since he took office – from 55% to today’s 64%, a near record setting level.  His main theme of a government nanny state is the opposite of what we the people want.

Further, the biggest jump came not from Republicans as you might expect.  Democrats’ fear of big government grew by and far the largest as it skyrocketed from 32% in 2009 to 48% today.  That is a massive rise that serves as a repudiation of the president’s vision of big government leading us to salvation.

• Don’t miss a single rant: Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook

Republicans saw slight increases from 80% to 82%.  The crucial independents saw significant increases in their fears of government from 59% to 64% since 2009.

Certainly one would think that with the president’s attempt to slap down job creators and all the attention OWS protestors receive would have made people scared of businesses.  That however is not the case.  The poll shows that Americans fear business less today than since George W Bush took office.

Perhaps the President and the leftists in Congress should take note of this poll and understand what the biggest impediment is to putting the country on the course to recovery.  It is not business.  It is government.

We don’t want to be saved from ourselves.  We don’t want to be saved from big business.  What Americans do want is for government to get the hell out of the way and stay out of their lives.  Are you listening Washington DC?

These American heroes saw what was likely their last chance to visit their fallen comrades at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific ruined by a CBS television show’s crew. (TGGF)

The executive producer of CBS’ Hawaii Five-O issued a statement about their disrespect of veterans last week in Hawaii that was less than heartfelt and called accounts of the event false.  Rightfully so, the non-profit organization that escorted the World War II veterans to Hawaii is saying that far more needs to be done.

While the statement  is in theory an apology, it hardly comes across as one and in fact calls those who witnessed the crew’s actions liars.

Executive Producer Peter Lenkov disputes the fact that the cast and crew ignored the playing of the National Anthem and Taps.  However, their actions and callous disregard were witnessed by TGGF volunteers as well as the Pearl Harbor survivors that were there to pay their respects to their fallen comrades.

In the end, this comes across as a half-hearted, patronizing attempt to quell the furor and pacify those who are rightfully upset at the treatment by the Hawaii Five-O production team.

Timothy Davis, founder of TGGF, says the “apology” doesn’t go far enough.

“CBS needs to write a personal apology to EACH veteran. They excused their actions, they didn’t take ownership of their actions,” Davis wrote on Facebook.

Davis has sent a letter to CBS television (below) asking that a formal apology be sent to each veteran for the lack of respect shown to these American heroes.

We agree.

• Hawaii Five-O on Facebook
• CBS Television contact form
• National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific – (808) 532-3720

STATEMENT FROM PETER LENKOV, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, ON BEHALF OF THE HAWAII FIVE-0 PRODUCTION UNIT

On behalf of the Hawaii Five-0 production unit, we’d like to apologize to any veterans and members of the Greatest Generation Foundation whom we unintentionally offended when our events coincided.

Last week, under permit from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, we filmed a scene at the cemetery in which Commander McGarrett visits his father’s grave. When we arrived, we became aware of a memorial service for Pearl Harbor veterans taking place more than 200 yards away.

Our production crew is 80% staffed with local Hawaiians, many with ties to the military. We recognize the privilege of filming in Hawaii and we are acutely aware of the deserved respect for its culture, history and the reverence that should be afforded to all of our veterans, particularly those who served so nobly in Hawaii and at Pearl Harbor. Furthermore, the series we produce carries a demonstrative pro-military message.

Contrary to some reports, to show respect, our crew did cease production for the playing of the national anthem, taps and for the remainder of the ceremony.

When we resumed filming, we did encounter visitors from the ceremony. Any rudeness by our staff can only be attributed to haste to finish our work, not a lack of respect for men and women who have served and sacrificed for their country. And for that, too, we sincerely apologize to any that were offended.

Lauri Metrose.
Senior VP communications, CBS Television Studios
lauri.metrose@cbs.com

Lauri.

We are extremely disappointed and saddened by the events that occurred on December 09, 2011 at the National Cemetery and Memorial of the Pacific in Hawaii. CBS and Hawaii 5-0 have not only disrespected our World War II veterans. It disappoints all involved that a network and television show so dedicated to our military have not only degraded the graves of fallen soldiers by walking on them, but also insulted those who fought in defense of liberty. One Pearl Harbor Survivor, who wanted to visit graves near the production site but was refused access, said “You can’t move buddies that are buried there.”

For nearly a decade, the Greatest Generations Foundation a public 501c3 Charity has been tirelessly working to ensure that the legacies of the men and women who served in our Armed Forces are respected and never forgotten. The National Cemetery and Memorial of the Pacific is a national shrine for many of those who fought and served in the Pacific; production equipment should not be placed on gravesites knowing that someone who fought for our freedom is underneath that equipment.

On behalf of the veterans, and the Greatest Generations Foundation we request both CBS and Hawaii 5-0 to issue a formal written apology to each War veteran for their lack of respect to our nation’s heroes. The Greatest Generations Foundation is happy to provide the names of each veteran, and branch of service that will assist you in providing a written, personalized apology.

While we appreciate the producer comments, they certainly were not heartfelt.

Yours sincerely,

Timothy Davis
The Greatest Generations Foundation
Remember Those Who Served

Previous coverage from Tony’s Rants:

• Hawaii Five-O disrespect: CBS ‘looking into the matter’ as media coverage of show’s treatment of WWII vets grows
• No word from CBS on disrespect of WWII vets, National Cemetery; Photos show crews standing on graves
• CBS’ Hawaii Five-O cast and crew disrespect World War II survivors

Latest media coverage:

• KUSA Denver:  Pearl Harbor survivors ‘shushed’ by TV show crew
• KMGH Denver: WWII Vets Say TV Film Crew Disrespectful; Hawaii Five-O Filming CBS Show During Ceremony
• ABC News: WWII Vets Outraged at ‘Ultimate Disrespect’ From ‘Hawaii Five-O’ Crew; CBS Apologizes

Veterans young and old gathered at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific on Friday, December 9, 2011 to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. (TGGF) Sadly, their visit was tainted by disrespectful television crews from the show Hawaii Five-O.

While CBS continues to avoid issuing a formal apology to World War II veterans for the reprehensible behavior of filming crews for the show Hawaii Five-O last week, the media coverage of the “ultimate disrespect” grows.  In the past 24 hours local media in Hawaii and Colorado as well as national media has reported on the spectacle and the furor from the public is increasing.

• Update, 12/13/11, 6:00pm – Producer of CBS’ Hawaii Five-O issues apology of sorts to WWII vets; Vets group says it isn’t good enough
• Watch: Video reports from KHNL, KHON and Fox & Friends below

As we reported previously, the cast and crew of Hawaii Five-O, filming at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, the ‘Punchbowl’, were seen setting up their equipment and walking on the graves of fallen veterans.  When World War II veterans conducted a ceremony honoring their fallen comrades, they were told by the crew to be quiet and hurry up.

Hawaii News Now (KHNL) and KHON interviewed Timothy Davis, president and CEO of The Greatest Generations Foundation, and Steffan Tubbs, a member of the board of the group about the incident last Friday.  This morning, Fox & Friends also interviewed Tubbs as the story went national.

Tubbs told KHNL, “They were on the graves, and that rubbed some of the Veterans the wrong way with all of the camera equipment and the audio and the people walking over the graves. But we did our ceremony, and just as the day progressed last Friday just disrespect after disrespect.”

“There was a production guy with a back pack and an ear piece kind of walking at various points close to a vet and then he’d go away and then he come back through the group and he was hushing them and telling them to ‘hurry it up’ … in other words because the production was going on. I saw it. I couldn’t believe it. It was the ultimate disrespect and it got everybody’s blood boiling,” he said.

CBS issued a statement Monday saying, “We were surprised to hear this report and are looking into the matter.  Our veterans deserve the highest level of respect and reverence for their service, particularly during a ceremony honoring those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

According to KHON, the cemetery’s director, Gene Castagnetti, said ‘walking on a headstone is not considered an act of desecration if it is done with care.’

Clearly anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that is not true and stepping on a headstone is inappropriate behavior.

“The whole staff at Hawaii Five-0, whether it be the directors or the support staff, were completely disrespectful to our survivors and those veterans,” Davis told KHON.

While CBS stalls in an attempt to figure out how to respond, the furor has grown.  The television show’s Facebook page is filled with comments from people upset at the treatment shown these veterans.

These brave men and women were likely experiencing the last opportunity of their lives to visit their fallen comrades before they join them in eternity.  It is a sad to see that the cast and crew of CBS’s Hawaii Five-O could not offer them the respect these heroes deserve.

Please contact CBS, the Hawaii Five-O producers and the administrators of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, ‘Punchbowl’, and let them know that our national cemeteries are not television and movie props. Demand that they issue an apology immediately.

• Hawaii Five-O on Facebook
• CBS Television contact form
• National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific – (808) 532-3720

Previous coverage:

• No word from CBS on disrespect of WWII vets, National Cemetery; Photos show crews standing on graves
• CBS’ Hawaii Five-O cast and crew disrespect World War II survivors

On the net:

• KHNL: Hawaii Five-O crew angers WWII vets at Punchbowl
• KHON: Vets felt disrespected by Hawaii Five-0 crew

Hawaii News Now Video

KHON Video

Fox & Friends Video

The cast and crew of the CBS television show Hawaii Five-O setup their equipment and walk on the graves of fallen veterans. (Steffan Tubbs) Click the image for a larger view.

Three days ago at a somber ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific remembering the attack on Pearl Harbor, a crew filming the CBS show Hawaii Five-O showed callous disregard for the men and women who have fought for this nation.  The silence from CBS is deafening and new photos show the lack of respect shown our living and dead American heroes.

• Update, 12/13/11, 6:00pm –  Producer of CBS’ Hawaii Five-O issues apology of sorts to WWII vets; Vets group says it isn’t good enough
• Update, 12/13/11 – Hawaii Five-O disrespect: CBS ‘looking into the matter’ as media coverage of show’s treatment of WWII vets grows

Steffan Tubbs witnessed the travesty and has written extensively about it.  In correspondence with Hawaii Five-O Executive Producer Peter Lenkov, the executive while initially apologetic, soon became combative.

In an email this weekend, Lenkov told Tubbs, “I know it might be fun to trash a TV show” and he went on to insinuate Tubbs is a mere blogger out to make a name for himself.  Those who know Tubbs know he is a well-respected Denver newsman with a passion for veterans and the military – something he has demonstrated in words and actions for years.

Tubbs has now posted photos showing the cast and crew of the television show standing over and on the graves of the fallen.  He also has posted an image of a crew members hand attempting to prevent pictures of the injustice being taken.

Alicia Harms, Vice President of Communications for The Greatest Generations Foundation (TGGF) which was escorting the WWII vets to the cemetery to visit their fallen comrades has corroborated Tubbs’ version of events.

Harms said, “Following the ceremony, I walked near the set to discover the actors and crew walking ON the graves. The production equipment was laid over the grave stones. I was amazed at the audacity of the crew to treat the graves as just a prop in their show, their lack of respect augmented by walking on the grave stones. The worst part was exactly as Steffan described: during the rose laying… It was completely solemn and quiet. Then one of the crew, who suddenly appeared on the edge of our private ceremony, loudly said, “you guys need to be quiet. Keep it down over here.”"

The cast and crew of the CBS television show Hawaii Five-O setup their equipment on hallowed ground. (Steffan Tubbs)

Ms. Harms message is in its entirety below.

The disrespect shown these brave men and women was bad enough.  The callous disregard for common decency on hallowed ground added insult to injury and is absolutely reprehensible.

All readers of these pages are urged to contact CBS immediately and voice their disgust at the Hawaii Five-O crew’s actions.  Nothing short of a very public and formal apology should be demanded.

Further, please contact the administrators of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, ‘Punchbowl’, and let them know that our national cemeteries are not television and movie props!

• Hawaii Five-O on Facebook
• CBS Television contact form
• National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific – (808) 532-3720

“I am the VP of Communications for The Greatest Generations Foundation who organized the program to Pearl Harbor for the 24 Survivors, arranged the visit to the Punchbowl on December 9, and organized the commemoration ceremony held there. During the solemn ceremony, I witnessed NONE of the 5-0 crew paying respect during the National Anthem nor taps. Many were walking around; some were talking noisily.

“Following the ceremony, I walked near the set to discover the actors and crew walking ON the graves. The production equipment was laid over the grave stones. I was amazed at the audacity of the crew to treat the graves as just a prop in their show, their lack of respect augmented by walking on the grave stones. The worst part was exactly as Steffan described: during the rose laying. I passed out the 24 roses, inviting each veteran to place a rose on a grave of an unknown soldier, as these men are often overlooked and rarely receive flowers. The Survivors were honored to do so, some with tears in their eyes. Keep in mind that this was done on the opposite side of the cemetery drive, far away from the crew. It was completely solemn and quiet. Then one of the crew, who suddenly appeared on the edge of our private ceremony, loudly said, “you guys need to be quiet. Keep it down over here.

Crew members of the Hawaii Five-O television crew try to prevent WWII vets from taking pictures at the National Cemetery of the Pacific. (Steffan Tubbs)

“It took everything in me not to erupt in anger at this man, yet I remained composed as to not disturb our somber veterans. I am so sickened by 5-0′s lack of respect for these men. These heroes were honoring their comrades, their brothers in arms, their friends…and 5-0 treated them like dirt. No handshakes of gratitude were given, no expressions of thanks, not even a smile from the 5-0 crew.

How dare they interrupt a veteran while he honors and respects his fallen comrades. How dare they treat this sacred, hollowed ground as just another film set. And how dare they trample on the graves of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of liberty. I expect nothing less than a personal apology from CBS and each member of the crew to each of our 24 Survivors.”

Alicia Harms
Vice President of Communications The Greatest Generations Foundation

Update 12/13/11 - Local Hawaiian media is picking up on this story now and the national media will soon as well.

KHNL: Hawaii Five-O crew angers WWII vets at Punchbowl

KHON: Vets felt disrespected by Hawaii Five-0 crew

This statue at Punchbowl is inscribed with a quote from a letter from President Abraham Lincoln: "The solemn pride that must be yours, to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom." CBS television's Hawaii Five-O apparently does not feel the same. (Wikipedia)

This past week the nation took time to reflect on the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  In Hawaii, many events took place to recognize the service and sacrifice of our veterans but we have learned of a shameful display of disrespect by the cast and crew of CBS’ Hawaii Five-O television show.

Steffan Tubbs is co-host of the morning show on Denver’s News Radio 850 KOA.  Tubbs is also a true patriot supporting many military and veteran causes not just in words, but in deeds.  For the Pearl Harbor anniversary, he was escorting a group of World War II veterans to Hawaii with The Greatest Generation Foundation (TGGF).

• Update, 12/13/11, 6:00pm –  Producer of CBS’ Hawaii Five-O issues apology of sorts to WWII vets; Vets group says it isn’t good enough
• Update, 12/13/11 - Hawaii Five-O disrespect: CBS ‘looking into the matter’ as media coverage of show’s treatment of WWII vets grows
• Update, 12/12/11 – No word from CBS on disrespect of WWII vets, National Cemetery; Photos show crews standing on graves

On Friday, December 9th TGGF and Tubbs were escorting 23 old warriors to the National Memorial of the Pacific in Honolulu, ‘Punchbowl’ as it is called.  What Tubbs witnessed was a disgraceful display that attempted to hide these heroes so as not to ruin the television show’s shooting on this hallowed ground.

I won’t recount what happened that day – rather you can read Tubbs’ account of the event in its entirety below and make your own judgment.

I urge all readers to contact CBS immediately and demand that they issue an apology.  The network and the shows’ cast and crew need to be reminded that the brave men and women that have served this nation are of a much higher priority than any television show or high paid actor or actress.

• Hawaii Five-O on Facebook
• CBS Television contact form

H/T to Complete Colorado

CBS HAWAII FIVE-O CREW DISSES PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS: A Disgrace at Punchbowl
by Steffan Tubbs
FIVE-O CREW DISGRACEFUL TO WWII PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS
December 9, 2011
(NATIONAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC – HONOLULU)

It looked strange from the moment we pulled up to the Punchbowl, a sacred Hawaiian site once the location for human sacrifice before Cook’s arrival to the islands. Our tour bus, filled with 23 WWII Pearl Harbor survivors as part of The Greatest Generations Foundation came to the beautiful location in an old crater above downtown Honolulu for a closing ceremony and presentation. The National Cemetery of the Pacific pays tribute to those veterans of all faiths who served their country, many who lost their lives during WWII.  

Pearl Harbor survivors observe the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets Concert Band of the West perform at the Pearl Harbor Visitor's Center during Kama'aina and military appreciation day. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the 1941 attacks on Pearl Harbor in which more than 2,400 people died. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)

I admit I was not happy two days earlier on the morning of December 7 at the Pearl Harbor Memorial service. Thousands of people in attendance, yet President Barack Obama – born just a few miles from the USS Arizona memorial – was not only a no-show, but did not bother to send a written or videotaped greeting of thanks to these men. And then there was no-show Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, his bio and picture listed in the program and scheduled to deliver remarks in person. The president I can slightly understand, but the former Colorado senator? What was going on that was so important he couldn’t make it on a private government jet to attend the last and final major Pearl Harbor survivors gathering? I am not aware of the circumstances, and perhaps there was a truly legitimate reason for Salazar’s absence, but I have yet to hear it. Instead, the National Park representative on site read a bizarre partial statement from the Secretary and then stopped mid-sentence, paused awkwardly, and said, “Thank you.”

As we drove in to the Punchbowl site with thousands of graves, large U-Haul-type trucks were lined along the boulevard as people with headsets scurried about acting busier than they really were. It took me just a few seconds to realize this was a production crew from the CBS series Hawaii Five-O. Their scene had something to do with lead character McGarrett visiting his father’s grave, which in reality was surrounded by the real graves of WWII heroes. It didn’t seem right. But I let it go.

Within 30 minutes of our arrival, we conducted a small ceremony that began with the presentation of the Colors by the University of Hawaii Army ROTC. The National Anthem followed. I emceed the event and looked out on men who had been injured December 7, 1941 – they represented the USSArizona, Tennessee, St. Louis, Pennsylvania, Lexington, Medusa, Sacramento, Antares, Maryland,West Virginia, Stoddard, Tanney, Vestal and Pyro. This group of men also represented Ft. Kamahameha, Kanehoe Naval Air Station, Hickam Field, Schofield Barracks, Fort Shafter and Ford Island. At least eight were in wheelchairs. Average age: 91. The others sat in plastic chairs underneath a large, temporary tent. The cemetery representatives could not have been more respectful and there to assist.

Three hundred yards away and clearly visible to them, no one on the CBS production stopped for the anthem or any part of our program. This included the ending of our presentation – Taps and the moment of silence. I was perturbed, but because our veterans faced me, they couldn’t see the disrespect. The ceremony ended and several men hopped on golf carts to visit their fallen comrades buried in other parts of the cemetery.

Sailors assigned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Navy Detachment Honor Guard present the national ensign during the burial service of Pearl Harbor survivor (US Navy photo, Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Jack Gordon Franklin at the USS Utah Memorial)

I decided to take a closer look at the production area from the public thoroughfare and walked closer to see catering trucks, grips, associate directors, production assistants, lighting workers, countless minions and the lead director – a Hollywood-looking middle-aged man wearing a black “AD/HD” t-shirt, a play off the rock band “AC/DC.” I stopped well behind the cameras and out of view when a local production assistant politely told me to keep moving. I was not happy and told her we had WWII vets who would likely be in the area. I was told, “Sorry, sir. We rented this part of the cemetery today.” My blood started to boil, but I remained calm and moved on. As I stood behind the tent, the director yelled at everyone to: “Get out of the line of sight! If you don’t belong here, clear out!”

I made sure to go where I was basically invisible, 40 yards from the nearest camera when the director heatedly walked to me. He was not happy.

“Can you please move?” he said sternly.

“OK,” I said. “Where would you like me to go? I have Pearl survivors who are here visiting their fallen comrades at a public cemetery.”

He couldn’t have cared less and told me that if we stood behind a tent, that would be fine. He walked away completely frustrated and yelled at a local assistant: “I am doing YOUR job! You wanna come back here again? Do your job!” I felt sorry for her. It wasn’t her fault a group of vets actually came back for a real reason to this cemetery. Having been around a few movie sets, I knew this was how they were especially if the scene was behind schedule, etc. Keep in mind at this point I was alone. It wasn’t as if our entire entourage was milling about. There was only one veteran anywhere near me and was walking toward me from up the road.

Walter Maciejowski, 90, from Massachusetts soon caught up and I quickly tried to run interference so he wouldn’t get yelled at as he stood there in his cream-colored Pearl Harbor Survivors cap. Walter was clueless and was just amazed at the technology. He whispered in my ear as the scene was about to begin 75 yards away. We both stood exactly where the director had told me to stand.

Two minutes later, another guy with an earpiece came up and simply asked us to leave. Period. He was polite, and I politely retorted: “This is a public place and its Pearl Harbor week. These men have made it possible for you to shoot here today. Plus, this is where your director placed us.”

He told me he agreed but to please leave with Walter. Oh, he did offer to get us a water or soda to enjoy as we left. We declined.

I told Walter we had to go, and we started to walk away as lead actor Alex O’Laughlin and Terry O’Quinn from Lost did their scene. As we moved out, yet another woman came up to us and with a fake smile told us Walter couldn’t take any pictures.

“Our actors get very skiddish around still cameras, sir.”

“Funny, and yet they act in front of them,” I said, ticked off because we were already leaving.
I wish he hadn’t done it, but Walter asked if they by chance had a hat for him. To his face, she said, “I doubt it but I will try.” She never did.

Pearl Harbor survivors, retired Lt. Cmdr. Louis Conter from USS Arizona, right, and retired Capt. Jack Evans from USS Tennessee, talk as they arrived early for the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day. (U.S. photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mark Logico/Released)

We continued to walk down the road and now 300 yards from where we had stopped previously. At that moment, yet another production assistant, this one in his 20s and with frizzy blonde hair, told us we couldn’t stand near the graves because we were in “the line of sight” of the actors. This was physically impossible. We were back near the podium where our ceremony had been held, and oh, we were behind a tree. I let this kid have it with a few select, powerful adult words and basically told him what he could tell his director. I give you my word we were NEVER in the way, NEVER loud and followed every instruction.

It gets worse.

The TGGF program had brought 24 red roses to place at the gravesites on the opposite side of the Punchbowl. The program crew actually had one of their men wearing a backpack and earplug walk through – infiltrate – our rose-laying ceremony hushing everyone.

It was a disgrace.

He ruined the somber mood and my blood was now beyond boiling. Thankfully most of our vets were so focused on placing their roses they didn’t catch what was going on. This moron laughed as he communicated with some other crewmember on the other side of the cemetery via his cell phone headset. About this time, a caterer walked over grass and flat headstones, through our vets gathering, with a plate of blackberries and salmon for the actors to snack on.

We loaded our bus after the roses were placed and the vets climbed on and took their seats. Our oldest Pearl veteran 96, youngest 88. One of our crew guys asked the production guy in the backpack if, as we left, one of the actors could take two minutes to hop aboard during a break in shooting to say hello to our veterans as we drove past. Word came about three minutes later via an earpiece, “No.”

That didn’t surprise me.

I stayed at the front of the bus with Tim Davis, president and founder of TGGF. He told me to let the vets know what had happened, but I’d already made up my mind I most certainly would. I took the bus microphone and informed the vets in a nutshell what happened. Many of them booed, and then I told them as we drove by, if they felt the urge, to give the CBS crew a one-fingered military salute.

We rolled past and about half our veterans flipped everyone off as we rolled out of the Punchbowl. We all had a good laugh and most agreed we should write CBS and boycott the show and its sponsors.

Having been in the news business nearly 22 years, I understand how the crew was just doing a job and there’s big money involved. Shows have to be shot, actors coddled and issues down to rain and daylight come into play. And then, there’s common sense and respect.

It would have been an issue if all 24 veterans and 10 staff had come near their “set” (again, on tops of graves of fallen soldiers) and were loud and in the way. Instead, it was just one or two that went to see the on-location production. They didn’t speak, and of course were much friendlier than I was. However, I know many of them were upset. I also thought about the tax incentives this production much receive from taxpayers!

The guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) completes a pass-in-review alongside the USS Arizona Memorial during the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day.(U.S. photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mark Logico/Released)

Perhaps you side with the production team, simply trying to film a scene at an historic location. Regardless, I hope I’ve conveyed how this is just how it is at the end of 2011: people, often consistently, do not show their elders the proper respect they deserve. Of all the weeks of the year – Pearl Harbor week – where fewer than 200 arrived on Oahu for their final goodbye, this was the time for CBS, Hawaii Five-O and the average American to rise up and go the extra mile to accommodate these men. To show respect. To say thank you.

Production on such a grand scale isn’t free. To that I say: neither is freedom.
In honor of these men and to show your support, I urge you to share this on Facebook, Twitter, at church, at your poker game, at schools, at work. This shouldn’t be a quiet little island secret. Let people know via social networking. Stealing a line from a colleague: Hawaii Five-No!

Mahalo,
Steffan Tubbs
Newsradio 850 KOA, Denver. Colorado’s Morning News co-host
Board member, The Greatest Generations Foundation (www.tggf.us)
steffantubbs@clearchannel.com
Twitter: @tubbskoa
Newsroom: 303-713-8500

Update 12/13/11 – Local Hawaiian media is picking up on this story now and the national media will soon as well.

Be sure to see the updated story we posted yesterday with photos here: No word from CBS on disrespect of WWII vets, National Cemetery; Photos show crews standing on graves

KHNL: Hawaii Five-O crew angers WWII vets at Punchbowl

KHON: Vets felt disrespected by Hawaii Five-0 crew

New congressional boundaries have reshaped the political landscape in many areas including Adams County.

As expected, the Colorado Supreme Court upheld the Democrat backed maps for the decadal redistricting and in doing so the political landscape for the north Denver metro area has changed dramatically.

The new maps will have repercussions for the next 10 years and gives Adams County residents a real opportunity at electing representatives that more accurately represent our views.  No longer is Thornton lumped in with the liberal Boulder leftists and the more rural parts of the county will have a representative more in tune with their unique needs.

In recent years the western part of Adams County including Thornton was represented by Representative Jared Polis (D-CO2).  While we had high hopes for Polis, we quickly learned that the issues he felt were a priority did not match up to those of his constituents.  Eastern Adams County was represented by Ed Perlmutter (D-CO7), another liberal who has towed the Democrat party line hand in hand with President Barack Obama.

Congressional District 4

The rural parts of Adams County’s eastern two thirds will now be part of Congressional District 4, represented by Cory Gardner (R).  Encompassing much of the Colorado plains, this redrawn district brings together many small towns and areas where agriculture is dominant.

Adams County residents in the new CD4 should be very pleased not only with the new boundaries but also with having Gardner as their congressman.  GovTrack labels Gardner as a “centrist Republican” and this will mesh well with CD4 voters.  Now in his first term, Gardner has served with distinction and the independence that Coloradoans would hope to see.

Congressional District 6

A look at the dividing line that splits Thornton into Colorado's 6th Congressional District and the 7th.

The new Congressional District 6 is an interesting one that will now include all of Aurora as well as parts of western Douglas, Arapahoe and Adams counties.  This brings Congressman Mike Coffman (R) to the northern third of Thornton as well.

In their redrawn CD6, Democrats hoped to make Coffman’s seat vulnerable and while a quick glance at voter registration numbers alone might indicate this, it is far from accurate.

First and foremost and something which cannot be underestimated are the ongoing scandals in Adams County involving the Democrat elected officials.  The county has already begun a tilt away from its leftist past and Coffman is going to find much more friendly environs than what some believe.

Second, is the man himself.  Having worked with Mike Coffman personally on a non-political project when he was Secretary of State, I can honestly say there is probably not a more honorable and hardworking man in Washington DC.  Coffman has distinguished himself during his brief time in the House of Representatives and newcomers to CD6 will find him very worthy of their vote.

Congressional District 7

Democrats did Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D) no favors with the new lines for CD7.  Perlmutter loses Aurora in the district’s new boundaries but picks up the southern two thirds of Thornton.

Voter registration numbers in the district are now far less favorable to him with Dems only holding a two point advantage.  Further, given Adams County’s long list of Democrat induced scandals, voters in the area are certainly not going to be tolerant of a representative that backed so-called “cap and trade” only to help out his own investments.

During his time in office as a “rank and file Democrat”, Perlmutter has towed the line with marching orders from Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama.  In the heavily independent district, that is not likely to play well.  If Republicans can find a strong candidate with a compelling message, CD7 may very well return to Republican hands.

Colorado Peak Politics reported on rumors that Joe Coors Jr is considering a run for the seat.  This would certainly be a game changer.

Conclusion

In the end, it appears that Democrat attempts at gerrymandering may not pan out as they had hoped.  Their attempt to hurt Congressman Coffman looks doomed to failure and they have sacrificed Congressman Perlmutter in the process.  For the voters of Adams County, we find ourselves with the unusual opportunity to actually have representatives that truly represent our beliefs.  Maybe the Democrats finally did something right.

For more details on the changes, see here: Judge mandates drastic changes: Colorado redistricting to change the shape of state and local politics for a decade

Despite what you may hear, President Obama's administration is far from squeaky clean.

To listen to the mainstream media, one would think there is nothing wrong with our country beyond a little bit of economic turmoil and President Barack Obama is our heroic, untarnished savior.  Of course that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Anyone with half a brain that doesn’t work at MSNBC or isn’t named Jonathan Alter is well aware that this White House and administration from top to bottom have many, many skeletons in and out of the closet.

From Solyndra to the botched Operation Fast and Furious, Obama is far from clean.  Even more than the scandals, his policies have hurt the nation and put us in a perpetual state of uneasiness as we fear what is next to come from Washington DC.

Kelly Maher of WhoSaidYouSaid recently put together a wonderful bedtime story hitting on a few of the bigger scandals of the Obama administration.  It is an amusing take that does a good job refreshing our memories but be warned, it could give nightmares. 

Colorado's new congressional districts if upheld by the Colorado Supreme Court. Click the image for a larger view.

Democrats and Republicans were unable to agree on new Congressional boundaries following the Census so Denver District Judge Robert Hyatt has done it for them.  Hyatt accepted a Democrat map that will drastically change the makeup of Colorado’s congressional districts.

• Update, 12/7/11 – Redistricting brings big changes, new congressmen to Thornton and Adams County

Gerrymandering of political dividing lines is nothing new with both parties vying for an advantage.  Their inability to work together and reach a consensus sent the decision to the liberal court system and put it in the hands of an activist judge.

Hyatt chose to rely largely on a previous Colorado Supreme Court decision calling for ‘competitive’ districts.  That however, as pointed out by Clear the Bench Colorado, is entirely contrary to Colorado law.

Colorado Peak Politics wrote, “We understand the judiciary’s role to be interpreting the constitution and not gerrymandering districts to aid favored political parties. Did Justice Hyatt learn something different in law school?”

Some of the highlights of the new boundaries:

• CD1 remains a liberal stronghold encompassing the City and County of Denver while picking up a bit of Arapahoe and Jefferson counties.  Diana DeGette (D) remains secure.
• CD2 loses Thornton, the state’s sixth largest city (more on that below) and parts of Eagle County.  It adds Larimer County and southern Jefferson County.  Jared Polis (D) remains safe.
• CD3 continues to encompass much of the western third of the state.  It picks up Lake County and much of Eagle County while losing Las Animas and Otero.  The district will be quite competitive but Scott Tipton (R) is likely secure at least for the next election if only due to the incompetency of his current challenger, Sal Pace (D).


The Denver metro area's dividing lines under a proposed congressional district map chosen by Denver District Judge Robert Hyatt. Click the image for a larger view.

• CD4 encompasses much of the open plains of Colorado and would remain strongly Republican.  Larimer County would be gone but it picks up Las Animas, Otero, Douglas and Elbert as well as parts of Arapahoe and Adams.  Longmont has to ecstatic as their greatest fear was getting put in the same district as Boulder (which they probably should be given both are in Boulder County).  Cory Gardner (R) should be secure.
• CD5 sees little impact and remains a Republican stronghold thanks to Colorado Springs.  Doug Lamborn (R) has no worries.
• CD6 is where some of the biggest changes happened and Congressman Mike Coffman (R) cannot be pleased.  Gone are most of Elbert and Douglas counties while parts of Adams and Arapahoe are added including the northern part of Thornton and all of Aurora.  Under the new map the district is nearly perfectly split between Democrat, Republican and independent voters.
• CD7 picks up the southern part of Thornton and parts of Jefferson County while losing Aurora and some of the more rural parts of the north Denver metro area in Adams County.  Ed Perlmutter (D) remains in a good position although he does lose some of his leftist support and may find his reelection efforts a bit tougher.

What the new districts mean for Thornton and Adams County

Thornton and Adams County are greatly affected by this change.  As someone observed, the perceived north-south dividing line in Thornton now becomes a reality as the city gets divided between two congressional districts.

Most notably – and thankfully – Thornton would no longer be in Congressional District 2 and the city would not be lumped in with the liberal bastion of Boulder now represented by Congressman Polis.  This at least would allow the more moderate voices of Thornton to have representation that better represents our views.

The new boundaries however split Thornton in two and Adams County into three.

The eastern, rural parts of the county will be in CD4 under Cory Gardner.  There is some logic to this as the eastern part of the county and its agricultural and less urban environment have interests more closely affiliated with other counties on the plains.  Gardner is a good rep for these folks.

The more populous, western parts of the county are where it gets interesting.

A look at the north-south dividing line in Thornton under a proposed new congressional district map. Click the image for a larger view.

Brighton and the northern half of Thornton roughly including the area east of Colorado Blvd from 128th north and west of Colorado Blvd from 136th north move to CD6.  This new highly competitive district would certainly become a huge battlefront in 2012.

If the map is the one we end up with in the end, residents would do well to keep Mike Coffman in this seat.   Coffman is an outstanding representative and takes a backseat to no one, standing up for his constituents and fighting for their best interests.

Lastly is the new CD7 that the southern part of Thornton would become a part of along with a chunk of Jefferson County including Westminster, Arvada, Golden and Lakewood.  The district, currently represented by Ed Perlmutter, would have a left-tilt to it but nowhere near the bent seen in the old CD2.

Residents in this part of Thornton should be pleased to at least have a chance to elect a representative that is more moderate than Jared Polis.  They likely will be able to find a representative more interested in working for all constituents rather than one that caters to Boulder leftists.

There is one more stop before the new lines are final – the Colorado Supreme Court.  Of course given their liberal bent, it is almost a foregone conclusion that the map Hyatt chose will be the one Colorado is stuck with.

On the net: Denver Post map of the proposed new boundaries