Posted on 01/26/2004 7:40:48 AM PST by prairiebreeze
SPARTANBURG, SC (Talon News) -- Refusing to take no for an answer, liberal Bush-bashing group MoveOn.org has started a petition urging its members to complain to CBS about choosing not to show a controversial political ad during the Super Bowl this Sunday because it "hurts our democracy."
Talon News reported last week that CBS officially turned down an ad submitted by MoveOn.org considered as "advocacy advertising" because of its controversial nature and content.
The ad pushed by MoveOn.org was the winning entry in the group's recent "Bush in 30 Seconds" contest. This is the same contest that MoveOn.org allowed two political ads to be posted on its website comparing President George W. Bush to Nazi leader Adolph Hitler.
Before CBS decided against airing the MoveOn.org ad, the group had already told its supporters in an e-mail that they would have an ad aired during the Super Bowl.
"With your help, we can take the winning ad to the Super Bowl," MoveOn.org recently wrote in a recent e-mail to supporters. "A political ad has never been placed on the Super Bowl before... The Super Bowl ad will cost $1.6 million to place nationally, but we can afford this."
But now the left-wing group is charging CBS with censorship because there will be other "controversial" commercials aired featuring beer companies, tobacco companies and a public service announcement from the government.
"But you won't see the winning ad in MoveOn.org Voter Fund's Bush in 30 Seconds ad contest," MoveOn.org wrote in an e-mail. "CBS refuses to air it."
MoveOn.org blames Bush for brokering a deal with the television networks to give them more power over their content.
"It looks an awful lot like CBS is playing politics with the right to free speech," charged MoveOn.org in the e-mail.
The group claims CBS is suppressing their "controversial" ad because it will "take on the president." MoveOn.org said this "just isn't right."
"As we enter an election year, it's critical that our media institutions be fair and open to all speakers," MoveOn.org states on its website.
The petition, entitled "CBS: Don't Censor Ads," reads as follows: "Don't play politics with free speech. If the White House can run an ad during Super Bowl, other groups should be allowed to run issue ads as well."
The group asks its supporters to sign the petition with their name, e-mail address, zip code and a personal message.
"We'll deliver the petition by e-mail directly to CBS headquarters," MoveOn.org promises in the e-mail.
Additionally, MoveOn.org is pressing its members to contact their local CBS affiliate to let them know "you're unhappy about this decision" to ban the MoveOn.org ad during the Super Bowl.
A list of the local CBS affiliates is provided in the e-mail.
"Remember, a polite, friendly call will be most effective -- just explain to them why you believe CBS' decision hurts our democracy," MoveOn.org instructs in the e-mail.
Anticipating CBS's response, MoveOn.org says that "CBS will claim that the [MoveOn.org] ad is too controversial to air" and that "this decision isn't an indication of political bias."
But MoveOn.org states CBS "overwhelmingly favored Republicans" because of its alleged political giving and so-called positive reporting about President Bush.
"According to a well-respected study, CBS News was second only to Fox in failing to correct common misconceptions about the Iraq war which benefited the Bush Administration -- for example, the idea that Saddam Hussein was involved with 9/11," MoveOn.org provides as evidence of CBS' Republican leanings.
Nevertheless, a website called RatherBiased.com clearly illustrates this accusation by MoveOn.org is simply not accurate.
As Talon News previously reported, MoveOn.org is still planning to work through the "back channels" to get their ad aired on multiple local affiliates during this weekend's Super Bowl telecast.
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BTW, is any organization legally obligated to accept all ads?
Yeah, that's it. A civilian enterprise owes you a soapbox. Gee, I can't seem to find that in my edition of the Bill of Rights.
"It looks an awful lot like CBS is playing politics with the right to free speech," charged MoveOn.org in the e-mail.
That says it all right there. Moveon.org is complaining about free speech yet they are mad that CBS has free speech.
Funny, but it sounds like MoveOn is the one plying politics.....
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