Move-On Anti Pryce Ad Rejected by NBC in Columbus
From DownWithTyranny! via Upper Arlington Progressive Action:
Earlier today a friend of mine who works at MoveOn.org sent me an incredible ad that explains to Columbus, Ohio voters what a total doofus they have for a representative in Congress, Deborah Pryce.
Anyway, this same friend writes me a few hours later to tell me that the NBC-owned station in Columbus, WCMH (as well as the NBC station in Connecticut, WVIT) rejected the ads. The reason I'm so angry is because the Columbus station ran the fraudulent and slanderous Swift Boat ads against John Kerry.
Move on responded almost immediately:
"Today we launched our campaign to let voters know that their representatives have consistently sided with corporate interests over the interests of their constituents. We expected Republicans to respond, but we didn't expect two local NBC stations owned by GE to refuse to run our ad. Isn't it ironic that Swift Boat Veterans can lie on TV but we can't tell the truth?
"We think it's outrageous for NBC to censor our ad, and wonder if this reflects the well-known right-wing leanings of their parent company, GE. What other explanation could there be for an Ohio NBC station refusing to run our well-sourced, entirely factual ad, while airing the Swift Boat Veterans' deceptive ads in 2004? NBC has a responsibility to be balanced and serve the public, just like the 33 other stations that are running the ad.
"NBC claims the ad is misleading, but they refuse to say specifically what is misleading about the ad. We provided evidence for every fact in our ads in the substantiation document which was sent to all of the stations, and can be viewed on our website at: http://www.MoveOn.org . The facts are clear because the total PAC contributions received by the members of Congress and their votes are matters of public record.
"This smells of NBC pursuing its own political agenda at the expense of free speech and balance."
This is just plain rotten. Way to go NBC!
The playing field obviously isn't level. Contribute to Mary Jo Kilroy, Democratic candidate in OH-15.
