NBC Source on Hillary Mini-Series: 'The Clintons are the ones to worry about'

A story published in Wednesday’s Hollywood Reporter indicates that a 4-hour Hillary Clinton mini-series starring Diane Lane may never happen. What’s more, people inside NBC are as worried about the Clinton’s response as they are about the boycott by the GOP.

THR quotes an unnamed source inside NBC who says “The Clintons are the ones to worry about.” Though not a direct quote, THR describes the “specter of retaliation from the former first lady” which hangs over the project, noting that any mini-series is bound to include some details which anger the Clintons.

Though it is not mentioned by THR, the Clintons have a history of reacting strongly to mini-series which paint them in an unfavorable light. In 2006 ABC created a film titled “The Path to 9/11” which faulted President Clinton’s focus on terrorism in the years prior to the attack. In addition to a letter from Clinton’s lawyer, the Clintons sent a small army of political surrogates out to trash the film and demand it not be shown:

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former National
Security Adviser Sandy Berger, Clinton Foundation head Bruce Lindsey and
Clinton adviser Douglas Band wrote in the past week to Robert Iger, CEO
of ABC’s parent The Walt Disney Co., to express concern over “The Path
to 9/11.”

Clinton spokesperson Jay Carson told MSNBC in a statement,
contradiction of the 9/11 Commission Report and the facts, and it is
despicable that ABC/Disney would insist on airing a fictional version of
what is a serious and emotional event for our country.

“No reputable organization should dramatize 9/11 for a profit at the expense of the truth.”

The Path to 9/11 did air but was never released on DVD. In 2007 the film’s writer (and co-producer) suggested the lack of release was political saying “if Hillary weren’t running for president, this wouldn’t be a problem.”

A documentary, Blocking the Path to 9/11, was produced about the political pressure placed upon the $40 million dollar, Emmy nominated film. In retrospect, the Clinton camp’s shameless willingness to blame their problems on a “misleading” video has even more resonance today than it did a few years ago.