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Just for discussions sake, what if all the networks refused to air Nader adds for whatever reason? Do they legally have to have a reason? Saying this is a hypothetical that would never occur dodges the principal. I'm not a lawyer but it seems like something is wrong here.

Broadcast outlets - that is, TV and radio stations - are required by federal law to accept and run any ads submitted by a candidate's own campaign if the candidate is running for federal office, regardless of the ad's content. If the Kerry campaign wanted to put an ad on the air making completely false allegations about Bush's personal life, stations must take it even if the the allegations are provably wrong on their face. It would be up to Bush to sue the Kerry camp for slander.

However, FNC is not a broadcast outlet, and the Swifties are not a candidate. Either reason is more than enough for FNC to say no.

I don't know whether or not FNC would be theoretically liable for airing a clearly slanderous political ad, since they're not required by law to accept it no matter what. In any event, they are free to reject any ad they want purely on grounds of taste, if they so desire.

Broadcast outlets - that is, TV and radio stations - are required by federal law to accept and run any ads submitted by a candidate's own campaign if the candidate is running for federal office, regardless of the ad's content. If the Kerry campaign wanted to put an ad on the air making completely false allegations about Bush's personal life, stations must take it even if the the allegations are provably wrong on their face. It would be up to Bush to sue the Kerry camp for slander.
However, FNC is not a broadcast outlet, and the Swifties are not a candidate. Either reason is more than enough for FNC to say no.

I assume what you say is correct. But something still seems wrong to me. The system seems rigged. I think our Founding Fathers may be rolling over in their grave. I am constantly surprised by the restrictions placed on so the so called free market and so called free speech. Apparently, Freedom of the Press only applies if you OWN a 'press'.