MSNBC and CNBC refuse to air Ari Fleischer's war propaganda

[Barrett808]

Groups Continue to Pressure Lawmakers on Iraq
By Michael Falcone
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/groups-continue-to-pressure-lawmakers-on-iraq/

Since June a coalition of liberal antiwar organizations has been putting pressure on Republican lawmakers to break with the Bush administration and support ending the war in Iraq.

Today the coalition, Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, wraps up its “Iraq Summer” campaign with 50 town hall meeting in about two-dozen states. The liberal activist group, MoveOn.org is also holding hundreds of vigils across the country to call on members of Congress to push for the swift withdrawal of troops.

The coalition spent about $12 million during the summer on television ads and grassroots organizing in 15 states aimed at getting 40 Congressional Republicans to change their mind about the war.

Moira Mack, a spokeswoman for the group, said she’s been pleased to see several Republicans “changing their language” about the war. She pointed to Virginia Senator John Warner, who last week called on President Bush to withdraw some troops from Iraq by the end of the year. Ms. Mack said Americans Against Escalation in Iraq plans to continue its efforts when members of Congress return to Washington after Labor Day.

But recently, a new conservative group called Freedom’s Watch, which is backed by prominent Republicans, has been challenging the anti-war groups with its own pressure campaign. Freedom’s Watch began a $15 million advertising effort on Aug. 22 meant to shore up support for the president’s Iraq policy among lawmakers who might be wavering.

The group planned to broadcast television and radio ads, which will air in 60 Congressional districts, to coincide with the run-up to the release of a report from Gen. David Petraeus that will evaluate progress in Iraq. But, it appears that not every network is willing to run the spots.

Just today, John Hinderaker of the conservative Power Line blog, noted that the group “placed its ads on Fox and CNN, but CNBC and MSNBC have refused to run” them. Bradley A. Blakeman, the president of Freedom’s Watch, send a letter to NBC asking for an explanation.

“Your history of airing other issue advocacy advertisements makes the denial of FW advertisements troubling and raises the issue of whether your denial is based on an editorial disagreement with FW’s message,” Mr. Blakeman wrote in the letter to the network. “These ads are about important issues that will shape our national security policies for years to come. These ads present a point of view that your viewers are not now receiving.”

We have asked MSNBC for comment on the ad flap.

[Kagemusha]

1. This is hilarious! "You've aired everyone else's dirt, how dare you not air ours!"

Because we both know what you are, we're just negotiating over the price.

[Bluzmann57]

2. It doesn't apply to individual stations however

I saw one of those ads the other day while watching the news at noon on a local station. Pretty sad if you ask me. And what's even more ironic is that this station is on the air in Iowa's First District, Illinois' Seventeenth District and Iowa's Second District, all of which have elected Democratic anti war Congressmen.

[sampsonblk]

3. Good! This should boost MSNBC also

I am glad someone is opposing them - even though its taken them forever to get on board.

[gort]

4. Great, their cunning plan is working

Ala Swift Boat Veterans for Truthiness. Now the refusal to run the Freakdom's Watch ad becomes a "news" story and will be run over and over and over again on the other networks. For Free.

Oh Rove, you've done it again!

[DeepModem Mom]

5. K&R