An Urgent Message From the League of American Voters Our new TV ad is so explosive that ABC News is refusing to run it. NBC, which rejected the ad, now says it may allow it. Please read the FoxNews.com report on the League of American Voters and our exciting new ad. Despite the media censorship from ABC, we still can run this on affiliates and other major networks and cable outlets throughout the United States. Your help can get our message to the American people. Please see the TV and donate — Go Here Now Bob Adams From FoxNews.com ABC, NBC Won't Air Ad Critical of Obama's Healthcare Plan The refusal of ABC and NBC to run a national ad critical of President Obama's healthcare reform plan is raising questions from the group behind the spot — particularly in light of ABC's healthcare special aired in prime time last June hosted at the White House A doctor in the League of American Voters ad asks: "How can Obama's plan cover 50 million new patients without any new doctors? It can't." The 33-second ad, which features a neurosurgeon who warns that a government-run healthcare system will lead to the rationing of procedures and medicine, began airing two weeks ago on local affiliates of ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS. On a national level, however, ABC and NBC have refused to run the spot in its present form. "It's a powerful ad," said Bob Adams, executive director of the League of American Voters, a national nonprofit group with 15,000 members who advocate individual liberty and government accountability. "It tells the truth and it really highlights one of the biggest vulnerabilities and problems with this proposed legislation, which is it rations health care and disproportionately will decimate the quality of health care for seniors." The advertisement is running on local network affiliates in states such as Louisiana, Arkansas, Maine, and Pennsylvania, Adams said. Although CBS has approved the ad for national distribution and talks are ongoing with FOX, NBC has questioned some of the ad's facts and ABC has labeled it "partisan." "The ABC Television Network has a long-standing policy that we do not sell time for advertising that presents a partisan position on a controversial public issue," spokeswoman Susan Sewell said in a written statement. "Just to be clear, this is a policy for the entire network, not just ABC News." NBC, meanwhile, said it has not turned down the ad and will reconsider it with some revisions. "We have not rejected the ad," spokeswoman Liz Fischer told FoxNews.com. "We have communicated with the media agency about some factual claims that require additional substantiation. As always, we are happy to reconsider the ad once these issues are addressed." Adams objects to ABC's assertion that his group's position is partisan. "It's a position that we would argue a vast majority of Americans stand behind," he said. "Obviously, it's a message that ABC and the Obama administration haven't received yet." Dick Morris, a Fox News political analyst and the League of American Voters' chief strategist, conceptualized the advertisement and said its purpose is to "refocus" the debate on healthcare reform. "I feel the whole debate on healthcare reform needed to be refocused on the issue of Medicare," he told FoxNews.com. "Most of the debate had been on issues of socialized medicine and cost. I felt that the impact of the legislation in cutting the Medicare program and enforcing rationing needed to be addressed." Morris, a onetime adviser to former President Bill Clinton, said he was particularly troubled by ABC's decision not to air the spot. "It's the ultimate act of chutzpah because ABC is the network that turned itself over completely to Obama for a daylong propaganda fest about healthcare reform," he said. "For them to be pious and say they will not accept advertising on healthcare shuts their viewers out from any possible understanding of both sides of this issue." Special note from the League: See the TV ad and donate to our influential campaign. We are making a huge difference, that's why ABC won't air out ad! Go Here Now. Paid for by the League of American Voters. Contributions to the League of American Voters are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Contributions from individuals and corporations are permitted by law and welcome. League of American Voters | 722 12th Street N.W. | Fourth Floor | Washington, D.C. 20005
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Thursday, August 27, 2009
Friday, 28 August 2009
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