MyDD :: The Need to Reclaim Our Public Airwaves

The Need to Reclaim Our Public Airwaves

by Matt Stoller, Tue Sep 12, 2006 at 06:38:56 PM EST

This exceptional ad from Moveon.org is not being aired by WFEN in the Albany area because of a legal attack by the Republicans claiming that the information in the ad is false. Sweeney's attack response, claiming that the ad was so dishonest that it was pulled, is running.

When local affiliates won't run mainstream political ads funded by small donations of regular citizens because the other side doesn't like what they say, it's bordering on overt censorship. One key piece of any progressive agenda has to be media reform. We need to break the backs of the people engaging in these unAmerican tactics.

Give us an honest argument, give us two sides, but no censorship. That's wrong.

Oh, and this is a great ad. Visually striking, thematically interesting, Iraq, Bush, Republicans, accountability, the works...

Tags: Moveon, John Sweeney, Iraq, adwatch (all tags)

Permalink :: 6 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: The Need to Reclaim Our Public Airwaves (none / 0)

Is it running on any other stations in the district?

by jamfan on Tue Sep 12, 2006 at 06:44:36 PM EST

Re: The Need to Reclaim Our Public Airwaves (none / 0)

Um, I seem to be noticing a trend of the GOP keeping ads attacking them off the airways (remember Tom Delay and Houston television with a lawsuit threatened?). Yes I can recall seeing intentionally misleading ads for any number of years - on what basis can the networks refuse to air these ads? What legal grounds do we have to force them to air them?

by sfluke on Tue Sep 12, 2006 at 06:56:15 PM EST

Re: The Need to Reclaim Our Public Airwaves (none / 0)

I should add that I mis-spoke there.... I want to be able to force networks to air ads - not those ads which are intentionally misleading, however. I would prefer that there was some fact-checking.

At the same time, my point was that intentionally misleading attack ads have aired for years, and now all of a sudden the networks are panicking when a legitimate ad goes after a candidate? On what grounds? And how can we take legal action?

by sfluke on Tue Sep 12, 2006 at 06:57:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

WTEN (3.00 / 1)

the station is WTEN. Not sure if the fact that its ABC has anything to do with it. My understanding is that the ad ran on other stations (i don't watch anything but Daily Show or Colbert) so i can't personally confirm that. But Sweeney did send out a mailer and only mentioned WTEN so i'm assuming the others ran it.

by democracyinalbany on Tue Sep 12, 2006 at 07:08:08 PM EST

Re: The Need to Reclaim Our Public Airwaves (none / 0)

Can MoveOn sue?

Not 'sue and win' or 'sue and change anything,' but just sue and a) get some media attention to the ad and b) raise the cost of engaging in this sort of preferential treatment?

by BingoL on Tue Sep 12, 2006 at 07:13:27 PM EST

Re: The Need to Reclaim Our Public Airwaves (none / 0)

ok, so we break their backs how?

by Lucas O'Connor on Tue Sep 12, 2006 at 07:29:32 PM EST

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