CNN and NBC have both decided to cancel their planned Hillary Clinton projects after intense pressure from the Republican Party as well as some prominent Democrats, it was announced Monday.
Charles Ferguson wrote of the pushback and his difficulties getting the CNN project off the ground.
But when I approached people for interviews, I discovered that nobody, and I mean nobody, was interested in helping me make this film. Not Democrats, not Republicans -- and certainly nobody who works with the Clintons, wants access to the Clintons, or dreams of a position in a Hillary Clinton administration. Not even journalists who want access, which can easily be taken away. I even sensed potential difficulty in licensing archival footage from CBN (Pat Robertson) and from Fox. After approaching well over a hundred people, only two persons who had ever dealt with Mrs. Clinton would agree to an on-camera interview, and I suspected that even they would back out.
NBC released a statement saying it was going to cancel its miniseries as well.
Earlier, the chairman of the Republican National Committee called on NBC to do just that.
Documentarian set to produce @CNN HRC infomercial cancels film: http://t.co/PC5bQhgzmK So...when will @nbc follow suit?
Reince Priebus
@Reince
Documentarian set to produce @CNN HRC infomercial cancels film: http://t.co/PC5bQhgzmK So...when will @nbc follow suit?
RNC spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski released a statement after CNN's decision:
"While CNN is not moving forward with its Hillary Clinton infomercial, it's clearly not of their choosing but rather because the filmmaker quit in large part because of the RNC's actions. This was only the first step in the Republican Party taking control of our debate process. The purpose of our party's debates is to better inform our grassroots and those participating in Republican primaries and caucuses. The pressure is now squarely on NBC to cancel its Hillary infomercial. The timing, frequency, moderators and venues will all be part of new debate model that will come in the next few months. Any media organization looking to be part of the debate process will have to comply with the new system."