CNN Refusing To Run Health Care Ad Critical Of Insurance Industry

[BirminghamExaminer]

Excerpt:

What on earth is going on at CNN?

The network — already taking criticism for declining to run an ad criticizing Lou Dobbs — is now refusing to run an ad nationally criticizing the insurance industry, the group that tried to place the ad tells me.

CNN’s reason: The ad “unnecessarily” singles out a top insurance industry executive by name for criticism.

The labor-backed Americans United for Change, a top White House ally in the health care wars, tried to book time on CNN and MSNBC for the ad, which hits the insurance industry for wanting to preserve the status quo and levels harsh criticism at insurance giant Cigna’s CEO, Ed Hanway.

“Why do insurance companies and Republicans want to kill health insurance reform? Because they like things the way they are now,” the ad says, and then slams Hanway’s annual salary of over $12 million and golden parachute retirement package of over $70 million.

Americans United for Change’s spokesman, Jeremy Funk, tells me that CNN refused to run the ad nationally. He says CNN emailed the following reason for rejection:

“This ad does not comply with our clearance guidelines because it unnecessarily singles out an individual company and person.”

[Bozita]

1. IIRC, CNN ran the Swiftboaters' bullshit ads.

[BirminghamExaminer]

2. That's what I thought, I'm glad someone else confirmed that.....

CNN is trying to compete with Fox? Lou Dobbs is trying to become the televangelist version of Rush Limbaugh? WTF?

[KansDem]

4. Here, and from DU no less!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x719790
and
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2167146

[stuball111]

3. Will they run RNC ads?

I never watch CNN anyway...

[Better Today]

5. I wonder if its too late to change the ad to be "some CEO's in the insurance industry"

so that they can't claim that concern, and perhaps display images of this man and a few other "top earners" while voice overing. Just a thought.

[Politicalboi]

6. They do realize Glenn Beck

Worked there at CNN for a while don't they? And Lobo Dobbs. But hey they don't want to take sides.