[NativeSon]

One wonders why TV and radio stations simply don't put their collective feet down and refuse to accept such ads

Because one party's accusation of "it's an attack ad" is another party's exposing the truth.

Does anyone really believe that the media would not use a compromise like that as a one way street to slam Conservatives?

[dfwgator]

Does anyone really believe that the media would not use a compromise like that as a one way street to slam Conservatives?

Exactly. The "cure" would only be worse than the disease.

[teflon9]

If the compromised was applied in a biased way, news outlets would be sued quicker than you could spell “cat”, and they’d lose too. It would have to be applied straight down the line to have any chance of standing up to legal challenge.