It looks like CBS/Viacom has decided to publicly step up for the Bush Administration by refusing to run MoveOn.org's anti-Bush campaign ads during the Super Bowl...one of the most watched shows of the year. They claim that they have a long standing policy of not running "advocacy advertisements" but that they do run "political advertising" for or against candidates.
Ummm...what?!?!? CBS and affiliates have a LONG history of running "issue advertisements" that are thinly veiled attacks against specific candidates...one of the targets of McCain-Feingold. Plus they run anti-smoking and other advocacy ads all the time.
Even if you accept this crap about not running "advocacy advertisements," look at the MoveOn.org ad...it specifically attacks President Bush. If that's not a political advertisement against a candidate, I don't know what is!!!
Check out the full story, then give CBS a piece of your mind:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040116/tv_nm/media_superbowl_dc_1http://www.cbs.com (Use Feedback link at bottom of page)
Sam
P.S. For those of you paying attention...THIS is why we need a Green Party. The Greens have been yelling about the dangers of corporate media consolidation for years and Nader made it a major campaign issue while Gore and the corporate-owned/DLC wing of the Democrats stayed silent. Now that it's gone so far that the corporate media is censoring the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, do you think the DLC will stand up for YOU? I'm not holding my breath.
Once again, by saying they are the opposition party but then not opposing and attacking the people who do, the DLC Democrats prevent any real progressive opposition from coming together.