Revere America, a public interest group headed by former New York Governor George Pataki (R) which tries to promote freedom and a free market, attempted to place an add opposing health care reform on cable news network MSNBC, only to have the ad rejected.
The organization said it has had no problem getting the ad on other networks and in local markets in various locations around the country.
In a letter to MSNBC protesting the turndown, Pataki detailed the network’s reasoning. It wrote, “After reading the script again, there is an implied link between taking away freedoms and Obama Care. Please explain how Obama Care is being linked to taking away freedoms.”
Pataki responded, “I find it incredible that such a question would be asked. I assume that MSNBC is aware of the fact that 19 states are engaged in lawsuits that focus specifically on the mandate to purchase health insurance that Obama Care includes.”
Revere America Spokesman Jeff Cohen added, “It’s disappointing that MSNBC is deliberately blocking Revere America’s ads from airing on its network, even while other networks saw no such reason to engage in censorship. We hope MSNBC will reconsider its position to not air Revere America’s ads and that it will honor the spirit of the Constitution and the people’s right to free speech and debate.”
RBR-TVBR observation: We’ve seen this go the other way, often with a liberal-leaning group complaining about an ad turndown. If the content of the ad is lawful (not indecent, not inflammatory), we believe it should be run.
Here MSNBC believes that this ad is factually inaccurate. The matter is, however, up for debate – a debate the MSBNC sales department should not be engaging in.
This is a tougher call for broadcast networks – they have straight news operations which strive to be politically neutral. But a network like MSNBC is amply stocked with opinion shows in which commentators can present their take on the ad.
And even a straight news network may objectively fact-check an ad, and many do.
Just run the ad, folks – your bank account will thank you.
