TODAY Show NBC Lester Holt and Mark Henkel - Mar 2006

National Polygamy Advocate

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was on the TODAY Show on NBC-TV, for a report by Lester Holt, on March 19, 2006. As per the many discussions beforehand, this report was supposed to be about Mark Henkel, his TruthBearer.org organization, and the national polygamy rights movement. In the end, NBC instead made the report "all about" a polygamous family. While that family was from Mark Henkel's organization, there was no mention in the report of any such connection. Mark Henkel's appearance lasts no longer than 12 seconds. Lester Holt states, "As many as 100,000 Americans are believed to be living in plural marriages. But now with the buzz over HBO's hit series, 'Big Love,' and a growing political acceptance of same sex unions, polygamy activists are emerging, some calling it 'the next civil rights battle,' and the battle lines are being drawn." It then cuts to tape, listing "Mark Henkel, Founder, TruthBearer.org." Mark Henkel explains, "We're saying, get government out of the business of defining marriage altogether. And basically, let consenting adults choose their own contractual arrangements." Overall, the report presents itself kindly toward the family itself (and toward UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy, in general), even though the family did not agree to be the main focus/subject. The segment also reports that the family was Christian, not connected to anything with Mormonism. After the segment ends, Lester Holt speaks (then-live) with Campbell Brown. She says to him, "And they seem like normal, like the person you'd run into in the grocery store." Lester Holt replies, "Very nice people, and you would never raise an eyebrow if you met them anywhere." She closes, saying, "All right. Much to think about." Notwithstanding that the segment was certainly kind, the breach of the agreement paved the way for tougher demands with all other media over the years afterward. This result became a strong lesson-learned. Breach notwithstanding, the report was positively presented; and it does indeed leave the viewer/listener with much to think about indeed.

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