[Peace-discuss] super bowl ads

[Dlind49 at aol.com]

Dear MoveOn member,
During this year's Super Bowl, you'll see ads sponsored by beer companies,
tobacco companies, and the Bush White House.1 But you won't see the winning
ad in MoveOn.org Voter Fund's Bush in 30 Seconds ad contest. CBS refuses to
air it.2

Meanwhile, the White House is on the verge of signing into law a deal which
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) says is custom-tailored for CBS and Fox,3
allowing the two networks to grow much bigger. CBS lobbied hard for this
rule change; MoveOn.org members across the country lobbied against it; and
now our ad has been rejected while the White House ad will be played. It
looks an awful lot like CBS is playing politics with the right to free
speech.

Of course, this is bigger than just the MoveOn.org Voter Fund. People for
the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) submitted an ad that was also
rejected.4 But this isn't even a progressive-vs.-conservative issue. The
airwaves are publicly owned, so we have a fundamental right to hear
viewpoints from across the ideological spectrum. That's why we need to let
CBS know that this practice of arbitrarily turning down ads that may be
"controversial" -- especially if they're controversial simply because they
take on the President -- just isn't right.

To watch the ad that CBS won't air and sign our petition to CBS, go to:
http://www.moveon.org/cbs/ad/

(If you want to skip the ad and just sign the petition, click here.)

We'll deliver the petition by email directly to CBS headquarters.

You also may want to let your local CBS affiliate know you're unhappy about
this decision. We've attached a list of the CBS affiliates in your state at
the bottom of this email. Remember, a polite, friendly call will be most
effective -- just explain to them why you believe CBS' decision hurts our
democracy.

CBS will claim that the ad is too controversial to air. But the message of
the ad is a simple statement of fact, supported by the President's own
figures. Compared with 2002's White House ad which claimed that drug users
are supporting terrorism,5 it hardly even registers.

CBS will also claim that this decision isn't an indication of political
bias. But given the facts, that's hard to believe. CBS overwhelmingly
favored Republicans in its political giving, and the company spent millions
courting the White House to stop FCC reform.6 According to a well-respected
study, CBS News was second only to Fox in failing to correct common
misconceptions about the Iraq war which benefited the Bush Administration --
for example, the idea that Saddam Hussein was involved with 9/11.7

This is not a partisan issue. It's critical that our media institutions be
fair and open to all speakers. CBS is setting a dangerous precedent, and
unless we speak up, the pattern may continue. Please call on CBS to air ads
which address issues of public importance today.

Sincerely,
--Adam, Carrie, Eli, James, Joan, Laura, Noah, Peter, Wes, and Zack
  The MoveOn.org Team
  January 23rd, 2003

P.S. Our friends at Free Press have put together a page which explains
simply how CBS and the FCC rule change are integrally linked. Check it out
at:
http://www.mediareform.net/media/

P.P.S Here are the CBS affiliates in your state:

WTVR-TV, Richmond: (804) 254-3600
WTKR-TV, Norfolk: (757) 446-1000
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke: (540) 344-7000


Footnotes:

1. "Who's Buying What At the Super Bowl," Ad Age, 1/20/04

2. CBS fax to MoveOn.org Voter Fund, 1/14/04

3. "Democrats Fold on 39% TV Cap Fight", Broadcasting and Cable, 1/21/04

4. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

5. "New Media Campaign Stresses Link between Drugs and Terrorism," U.S.
Dept. of State

6. "CBS Television Network Soft Money Donations," Opensecrets.org

7. "Misperceptions, the Media and the Iraq War," PIPA/Knowledge Networks
Poll