CBS4 nixes union-bashing commercial

[Omaha Steve]

Full story: http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=150301&format=text



CBS4 nixes union-bashing commercial
By Jay Fitzgerald
Boston Herald General Economics Reporter
Friday, July 28, 2006 -

CBS4 is refusing to air a controversial 30-second commercial that bashes unions for alleged corruption, discrimination, politics and forced union dues.
CBS4 didn’t cite a specific reason for rejecting the television ad, which shows actors making sarcastic remarks about unions and ends with the refrain, “Thanks Union Bosses!”
But CBS4 spokeswoman Ro Dooley Webster, citing the station’s published policies about accepting or rejecting political ads, said CBS4 reviewed the commercial for content, fairness and accuracy.

“We decided this wasn’t appropriate for our marketplace,” she said.
But Richard Berman, executive director of the Center for Union Facts and a lobbyist who has represented the tobacco, alcohol and food industries in the past, cried “censorship” and said CBS4’s decision was “outrageous.”
Berman, whose Washington, D.C., group has received millions of dollars from unnamed corporations, launched his nationwide anti-union media blitz earlier this year, taking out radio and newspaper ads. He switched to television ads this spring.

[Fridays Child]

1. I'm speechless!

[msongs]

2. allegations of criminal acts are not usually suitable for commercials

particularly if they offer no proof or do not specifically identify the offending party.

I think advertisements for candidates are free to say whatever they want...and they do.

BTW - it is NOT censorship. that would be if the station accepted the ad, then changed it. Refusing to do something is not censorship.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/howarddean2008.htm

[AX10]

3. I'm suprised to hear this. Usually it the controversial Democratic...

left leaning ads that face this type of action.

[Donnachaidh]

4. Wow! A MSM outlet

actually grew a set?

Bravo!

[electricmonk]

5. I want to know

who the unnamed corporations are. "...group has received millions of dollars from unnamed corporations,"

I'm sure my money can be spent much better elsewhere.

[w4rma]

6. Unbelievable. That's the first right-wing commercial I've ever heard of

being turned down. It appears to be turned down because CBS didn't want to open themselves to a libel lawsuit when the commercial was making claims that couldn't come close to being proven.

[saigon68]

7. I saw this piece of SHIT on my local Faux station

Its unreal.

Designed to piss off the Sheep.

See the commercial (having a high speed connection helps)


http://www.unionfacts.org/ads.cfm


Here is a link to the whole shameful site


http://www.unionfacts.org/

[readmoreoften]

8. Union facts is about as factual as faux news.

<obscenity-laden rant on>

Fucking piss-ass corporate suck ups! Fucking scabs! Simple minded self-obsessed selfish liars! Ninnies! Sit and spin on a big inflatable rat with your "union facts". Take your Orwellian double speak elsewhere. Go give Dick Cheney a back rub. Your master is calling.

<obscenity-laden rant off>

[Omaha Steve]

9. Very well said!

Glad I'm pro union too.