Posted on 02/16/2006 7:49:10 PM PST by jwalburg
It refused to air 60-second spot that defends U.S. policy, saying it is untruthful in how it represents the media.
In an unusual break from its competitors, KSTP-TV refused to air a controversial ad defending U.S. policy in Iraq that the station says unfairly claimed the media is misleading people about the lack of progress in the war. ABC affiliate KSTP, Channel 5, declined to air the 60-second ad, which features images of smoke pouring from the World Trade Center and testimonials from soldiers who talk of the value of fighting terrorists in Iraq rather than at home. Some in the ad, produced by the conservative advocacy group Progress for America Voter Fund, also complain that the media only report bad news about the war.
"You'd never know it from the news reports but our enemy in Iraq is Al-Qaida, the same terrorists who killed 3,000 Americans on 9/11," the ad says.
KSTP General Manager Rob Hubbard said the station refused to run the ad, which began running last week, because of the claim that the media are intentionally misleading citizens.
He said the station often airs so-called third-party issue ads whether the station agrees with them or not, as long as it can be determined that the ads are accurate and verifiable.
"We think it may or may not be true for other media but we know it's not true about us, which is why we wouldn't take those spots," he said. "We know it's not accurate about how we approach our news and we didn't feel it was appropriate just to take someone's money. We weren't going to let them take a shot at us that wasn't warranted."
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Translation: "We are not!" *blowing raspberry*
You kind of wonder, if they keep ads from their viewers because they disagree with them, couldn't they be keeping other things from their viewers for the same reason? Like an accurate depiction of the progress of the war?
Rampant treason and sedition right here, right now in our own country.
What in the world is wrong with these ungrateful people?
Or call us at:
Switchboard: (651) 646-5555 Newsroom phone: (612) 5TV-NEWS (612-588-6397) Newsroom fax: (651) 642-4409
I usually watch Channel 5's news because they seem to be fairly balanced for local news coverage.
However, I have been somewhat in doubt of their war coverage lately.
I e-mailed one of the news anchors and asked "Why are you unwilling to report on anything good that's happening in Iraq?"
I wasn't rude or accusative. I asked WHY in a straightforward manner.
I never got an answer.
It's possible. ABC isn't exactly impartial and objective in their reporting of the war.
They have every right. And they might even be correct. I don't know about KSTP-TV, but many local TV and radio stations could probably justify refusal on this basis.
As a general rule, it's not the local affiliate that is putting the negative spin on the Iraq news -- it's their network (and wire service).
Could be. But I just found this gem on Powerline Blog. It seems the DFL is out in force trying to stop this ad, and it could be the station caved to pressure:
Dear DFLer,
I’ve heard from many of you that you are disturbed by the misleading "Midwest Heroes" ads produced by Progress for America Voter Fund that are currently being run by KARE 11 and WCCO. The ads erroneously make a connection between Iraq and the 9/11 terrorists attacks and suggest that the war in Iraq will prevent an attack by Al Queda in America. The 9/11 Commission findings clearly state that there was no connection between Iraq and the the Al Queda terrorists attacks on 9/11. We must call for media responsibility regarding this issue. We have extraordinary sympathy for our troops and their families and believe that while our soldiers’ role is to protect the citizens of our country, it is our role as citizens to protect our soldiers and to make certain that they are not misused. It is a travesty that the tragedies of five countries and the deaths of our brave men and women are being used in this type of propaganda.
Right now, our state is a testing ground for these ads. If Minnesota speaks out and says no to this ad, the entire country can thank us. What we do here, now, will have an enormous impact on the success or failure of this kind of swiftboating in 06.
You can view the ads at: http://www.midwestheroes.com/
I saw that DFL F'ing prick on the news. I want to scream and throw crap when I hear people repeat that garbage about no terrorist connections with Iraq. omg...
Salmon Pak training camp, Abu Nidal, Ramsi Yousef...the list goes on.
Does not the Clinton administration's indictment of bin Laden assert that he was conspiring with Saddam Hussein?
Do the libs deny the veracity of their very own Billy Jeff?
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