The network of Keith Olbermann, Chris Mathews and Rosie O'Donnell has finally found something really objectionable--a salute to U.S. troops.WASHINGTON (AP) - NBC has rejected a TV ad by Freedom's Watch, a conservative group that supports administration policy in Iraq, that asks viewers to remember and thank U.S. troops during the holiday season.
NBC said it declined to air the ad because it refers to the group's Web site, which the network said was too political, not because of the ad's message.
"Anybody in the world who would look at this ad would come away with nothing other than we should be thankful for their service," Freedom's Watch president Brad Blakeman said.
The spot was to be part of a seven-figure campaign that includes newspaper ads and television commercials. The ads are to run on CNN and Fox News Channel and are running in various newspapers. The New York Times ran a full-page Freedom's Watch ad Friday that said "Thank You!" and depicted a soldier reading a letter. The newspaper ad also contained the Web site address.
Alan Wurtzel, NBC's head of standards and practices, said the network decided not to run the Freedom's Watch ad because the group insisted that the spot contain the URL address of its Web site.
The group's home page links to another Freedom's Watch Web page that lists nonprofit organizations that are sending care packages to soldiers and that suggests other ways of expressing support.
It also contains a welcoming message that states: "For too long, conservatives have lacked a permanent political presence to do battle with the radical special interests groups and their left-wing allies in government."
"We have a policy that prohibits acceptance of advertising that deals with issues of public controversy," Wurtzel said. "This particular ad, in and of itself, is fine. It thanks the troops for their action overseas. We asked them to eliminate a URL address where a person is asked to contact elected officials and told not to cut and run on the war on terror."
NBC rejected a previous Freedom's Watch ad that addressed funding for the troops.
"It's a long-term policy, it goes back decades," Wurtzel said of NBC's stance of declining controversial issue advertising.
He suggested that Freedom's Watch did not alter the ad in order to force NBC to reject it and thus get media attention.
--Source: AP - NBC Rejects "Salute to the Troops" Ad from Conservative Group
NBC can dance and spin all they like: people will watch the video, read the story and come to their own conclusions on this.
And they will most likely decide that they won't end their apathy concerning either NBC or MSNBC's network televised offerings.
Maybe when NBC viewership sinks below that of the Fatty Foods Network or Breathing for Credit Channel, someone will have the sense to let a businessman run the network.
Instead of the rabidly Left ideologues in charge now.
by Mondoreb
[graphic, notes: RidesAPaleHorse]
Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.
Besides NBC, I mean."
The news of NBC's attempt to get an "NFL Greenest Hightlights" bandwagon rolling by Hot Air, sends off alarm bells in conservative NFL fans. The addition of Keith 'Barking When Not Raving' Olbermann to the sports team was something remedied by turning off the sound. Now that NBC Sports has come out of the Green Closet and turned off the lights, what's left?
From Hot Air:Geez. Football used to be one of the few places on earth you could escape moonbattery and politics in general. But not anymore, at least not on NBC. Noooo. First they had to put Keith Olbermann in their coverage. And now they pull a lame green stunt on their pre-game show by turning off some lights.
Exactly. It's not enough that NFL fans pay through the nose for everything connected with pro football. Now their ears are forced to bleed, a natural reaction at having Left Wing political views forced on them during telecasts.
Contacting the NFL's corporate offices took a bit of digging, to secure the phone number. After some confusion by the switchboard as to who should be consulted, Human Resources was rung. Matthew Kinney was not at his desk, but another Human Resources number was provided. That too proved to be a dead end.
After switching gears, the NFL Media office was contacted, but a voice message informed the caller that Meredith wasn't available either. Meredith wasn't available on several other tries. Maybe out marching in a "Save the Polar Bears" parade?
Oh well. More attempts will be made later.
In any event, no NFL response was able to be secured on what the football big-wigs thought about NBC's game show tactics. It's just as well, the NFL's calculus, as well as ultimately, NBC's, is weighted toward profit. If enough people are annoyed by having environmental messages unsubliminally supplied along with their football, they may turn off or switch channels on their TV.
Turning off the TV may turn the lights on.
by Mondoreb
Hot Air Trackback
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