NBC Rejects Ad

[DOGS THAT BARK]

NBC Rejects Ad From Conservative Group


Dec 7, 3:45 PM (ET)


WASHINGTON (AP) - NBC has rejected a TV ad by Freedom's Watch, a conservative group that supports administration policy in Iraq, that asks viewers to remember and thank U.S. troops during the holiday season.

NBC said it declined to air the ad because it refers to the group's Web site, which the network said was too political, not because of the ad's message.

"Anybody in the world who would look at this ad would come away with nothing other than we should be thankful for their service," Freedom's Watch president Brad Blakeman said.

The spot was to be part of a seven-figure campaign that includes newspaper ads and television commercials. The ads are to run on CNN and Fox News Channel and are running in various newspapers. The New York Times ran a full-page Freedom's Watch ad Friday that said "Thank You!" and depicted a soldier reading a letter. The newspaper ad also contained the Web site address.

Alan Wurtzel, NBC's head of standards and practices, said the network decided not to run the Freedom's Watch ad because the group insisted that the spot contain the URL address of its Web site.

The group's home page links to another Freedom's Watch Web page that lists nonprofit organizations that are sending care packages to soldiers and that suggests other ways of expressing support.

It also contains a welcoming message that states: "For too long, conservatives have lacked a permanent political presence to do battle with the radical special interests groups and their left-wing allies in government."

"We have a policy that prohibits acceptance of advertising that deals with issues of public controversy," Wurtzel said. "This particular ad, in and of itself, is fine. It thanks the troops for their action overseas. We asked them to eliminate a URL address where a person is asked to contact elected officials and told not to cut and run on the war on terror."

NBC rejected a previous Freedom's Watch ad that addressed funding for the troops.

"It's a long-term policy, it goes back decades," Wurtzel said of NBC's stance of declining controversial issue advertising.

He suggested that Freedom's Watch did not alter the ad in order to force NBC to reject it and thus get media attention.

"Candidly, some folks have found that you get more attention when an ad is not accepted," he said.

Blakeman acknowledged that Freedom's Watch wants viewers of the ad to visit its Web site and said NBC's actions amounted to censorship.

Freedom's Watch has emerged as one of the best financed independent conservative groups in this election cycle.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++


**Under pressure from outraged viewers, NBC has reversed its decision not to air the Freedom's Watch ads thanking troops... Developing

 

[AR182]

Under pressure from outraged viewers, NBC has reversed its decision not to air the Freedom's Watch ads thanking troops...

is anybody surprised that they changed their mind ?....

 

[bjfinste]

Under pressure from outraged viewers, NBC has reversed its decision not to air the Freedom's Watch ads thanking troops...

is anybody surprised that they changed their mind ?....

I'm not sure if I'm surprised or not, but I wish they hadn't. This has nothing to do with "supporting the troops" at all. You should be able to figure that out immediately on reading that story. That website knew exactly what it was doing, knew it could take advantage of the troops in order to advance website traffic and garner publicity for the site, and anticipated that exactly what happened would end up happening. Now they're not only going to get the ad to run, but are getting additional media attention b/c of the initial decision not to run it.

The story states the situation pretty clearly... all NBC asked was to cut the web address from the commerical, and it would be fine to run. They refused -- of course they did... b/c that would prevent the REAL message they want from being conveyed -- and took advantage of public support for the troops to make NBC look like some horrible company when all it was doing was following a pretty common-sense policy.

Sounds like you guys are cool with the troops being exploited for political gain, as long as it's the "right" side doing it.

 

[Jabberwocky]

I'm not sure if I'm surprised or not, but I wish they hadn't. This has nothing to do with "supporting the troops" at all. You should be able to figure that out immediately on reading that story. That website knew exactly what it was doing, knew it could take advantage of the troops in order to advance website traffic and garner publicity for the site, and anticipated that exactly what happened would end up happening. Now they're not only going to get the ad to run, but are getting additional media attention b/c of the initial decision not to run it.

The story states the situation pretty clearly... all NBC asked was to cut the web address from the commerical, and it would be fine to run. They refused -- of course they did... b/c that would prevent the REAL message they want from being conveyed -- and took advantage of public support for the troops to make NBC look like some horrible company when all it was doing was following a pretty common-sense policy.

Sounds like you guys are cool with the troops being exploited for political gain, as long as it's the "right" side doing it.

good points BJfinste...I am so tired of the support the war and if you don't, you don't "support our troops" bullshit I am going to puke. Who is against our troops other than our enemies? Oh thats right, if you think that Iraq was a mistake and that Bush is an idiot you are not a patriot and are anti-American, and you definitely don't "support our troops." What mindless idiocy.

Btw, what is new about this "news"? I was under the impression that news agencies were businesses operating in a free market.

NEW YORK, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Fox News Channel has
denied the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) the opportunity to
advertise on the national news network. The ad, which features actor Danny
Glover, shows a replica of the Constitution being shredded and issues a
call to action for all Americans to learn more about basic Constitutional
rights.

 

[djv]

To bad others did'nt have the balls to say no to nothing but a advertisement for a conservative blog. Fox forgot to tell there viewers that. I would think it can be done heck of a lot better. And realy mean for the troops.

 

[Islington]

Fairness Doctrine

Fairness Doctrine

regarding Jabberwockie's comment that
" I was under the impression that news agencies were businesses operating in a free market."

- it seems that the Fairness Doctrine, if enforced,
would get away from the free market by mandating a balance of points of view. The various news agencies and talk shows should present whatever point of view they want - it's up to the audience to filter out the viewpoint, and
choose whether to support it. If you don't like what NBC elects to present, there are plenty of other channels to watch. But is it commonplace or acceptable for an advertiser to include its website in an ad? If NBC has allowed it in the past, but not in this case, that would be a strong indication of NBC taking a stance against a particular point of view.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

good points BJfinste...I am so tired of the support the war and if you don't, you don't "support our troops" bullshit I am going to puke. Who is against our troops other than our enemies? Oh thats right, if you think that Iraq was a mistake and that Bush is an idiot you are not a patriot and are anti-American, and you definitely don't "support our troops." What mindless idiocy.

Btw, what is new about this "news"? I was under the impression that news agencies were businesses operating in a free market.

NEW YORK, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Fox News Channel has
denied the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) the opportunity to
advertise on the national news network. The ad, which features actor Danny
Glover, shows a replica of the Constitution being shredded and issues a
call to action for all Americans to learn more about basic Constitutional
rights.

Might have been more meanful had you included next paragraph in the news wire Jabbers--

NEW YORK, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Fox News Channel has
denied the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) the opportunity to
advertise on the national news network. The ad, which features actor Danny
Glover, shows a replica of the Constitution being shredded and issues a
call to action for all Americans to learn more about basic Constitutional
rights.

The spot was to air in conjunction with the December 5 oral arguments
in the Supreme Court cases of Al Odah v. U.S. and Boumediene v. Bush, of
which CCR is a part. The suit will determine the legal future for the men
and boys detained at the Guantanamo Bay detention center and whether there
is a fundamental right to habeas corpus - a fair hearing before a real
court - when you are thrown in jail.


You continue to substantiate point of --
One side promoting troop support the other- terrorists rights
--appreciate your confirmation on matter

 

[Jabberwocky]

I hear you Wayne. Fvck the Bill of Rights. It is an outdated doctrine. These are tough times, and we need to be willing to part with our rights to protect our freedoms. Keep fighting the good fight.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Might have been more meanful had you included next paragraph in the news wire Jabbers--

NEW YORK, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Fox News Channel has
denied the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) the opportunity to
advertise on the national news network. The ad, which features actor Danny
Glover, shows a replica of the Constitution being shredded and issues a
call to action for all Americans to learn more about basic Constitutional
rights.

The spot was to air in conjunction with the December 5 oral arguments
in the Supreme Court cases of Al Odah v. U.S. and Boumediene v. Bush, of
which CCR is a part. The suit will determine the legal future for the men
and boys detained at the Guantanamo Bay detention center and whether there
is a fundamental right to habeas corpus - a fair hearing before a real
court - when you are thrown in jail.


You continue to substantiate point of --
One side promoting troop support the other- terrorists rights
--appreciate your confirmation on matter

Wayne, really? One side promoting troop support and the other supporting habeas corpus? I am baffled. Wtf does America stand for to you? You, the Weasel, and Gomer, errr Marine need to post your definition of a Constitution that we can all live by. But hey, whats most important is that

 

[Jabberwocky]

I bought the bumper sticker, and wear a flag on my lapel, just like Gomer, errr, I mean Marine. Do you? Or are you not a true American?

 

[Chadman]

Bjfinste hit this issue exactly right. I can't add anything more or better than was posted in that post. And of course Wayne is more accepting of anything that furthers the cause for continuing the occupation, and the organizations that help to support that. No mystery there. Freedom of speech for some, when it agrees with conservative themes.

The crux of the issue/decision, which makes perfect sense:

It also contains a welcoming message that states: "For too long, conservatives have lacked a permanent political presence to do battle with the radical special interests groups and their left-wing allies in government."

"We have a policy that prohibits acceptance of advertising that deals with issues of public controversy," Wurtzel said. "This particular ad, in and of itself, is fine. It thanks the troops for their action overseas. We asked them to eliminate a URL address where a person is asked to contact elected officials and told not to cut and run on the war on terror."

Nothing political there, is there? Not trying to draw people to a free political advertisement for a well-funded conservative militia, are they? And then there is this note:

Freedom's Watch has emerged as one of the best financed independent conservative groups in this election cycle.

I'm guessing that soon Rupert will make sure those ads will be prominently displayed in The Wall Street Journal and whatever else the current powers-that-be allow him to buy before the next election. That should help you guys out a bunch...