'Muzzle' Awards Given to Free Speech Violators (CBS)

[CatWoman]

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) CBS Television, which passed on the miniseries "The Reagans" amid conservative pressure, and the Martha Stewart trial judge are among this year's winners of the dubious Jefferson Muzzle awards for suppression of free speech.

A federal judge and the Secret Service also earned "muzzles" awarded Tuesday.

CBS was cited "for acts of self-censorship demonstrating both hypocrisy and an unwillingness to stand up to public and political pressure," said the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, in a statement.

CBS also refused to air a 30-second commercial from Moveon.org, a group critical of the Bush administration, during the Super Bowl, while it allowed erectile dysfunction commercials and the halftime show featuring Janet Jackson's bared breast, it said.

Other muzzles recipients announced in the 13th annual edition of the awards include Baseball Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey, who canceled a 15th anniversary showing of "Bull Durham" because of opposition to the Iraq war by its stars, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins.

http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000485688

[Solon]

1. Conservatively Correct

One thing for a network to pull shows or ads that are distastful of groups of people or show grotesque violence or sex, another entirely to bow to political pressure for something that is supposedly unpopular.

[Mr. Jinx]

2. Good job, CBS!

Not just one, but two spots on the countdown. Maybe they'll try for three next year.

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. The awards now include a poster of the"NEW" CBS logo !!!!

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[TheMightyFavog]

4. Heh...

http://www.tjcenter.org/muzzles.html#mgc

That asshat who doused those Alaskan anitwar demonstrators last February and videotaped it got a muzzle this year, as well!