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NETWORKS REFUSE TO AIR AD for OPTRUTH!!!
New York - In an email to supporters last evening, Operation Truth (www.optruth.org) announced that attempts to purchase advertising time on five cable channels were rebuffed, not on legal grounds, but because of the group's advocacy for the troops. Operation Truth is a national, non-partisan organization bringing the American people the first-hand stories from those who served on the ground in Iraq, and holding public officials accountable for their decisions affecting our nation's troops.
At one of those stations, the History Channel, top executives made the decision to refuse to air the ad, saying that when they aired ads by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, it "generated several angry emails and phone calls," according to a representative from the History Channel.
"It is unfortunate that Vietnam Veterans get their say to talk about who may or may not have been in Cambodia 30-plus years ago, but a Veteran of the current war cannot appear on the same airwaves to talk about the war going on right now, and his experience," said Executive Director, Paul Rieckhoff. "Even FOX News Channel, which often gets criticized for slanted coverage, allowed our group to purchase time to speak the truth. Is the ad hard-hitting and graphic? Absolutely. But so is war. That's just the truth, and these stations have a duty to allow their viewers to see the human cost of war, especially if a group is willing to pay for the air time."
The other stations refusing to allow airtime for the ad are Comedy Central, TBS, VH-1 (via MTV Networks), and ESPN.
The ad, titled "Not There," features Robert Acosta, a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, who lost part of his arm and use of his leg as a result of a grenade explosion in the war. The commercial clearly shows his injury. It can be viewed at the group's website: www.optruth.org
In the email to supporters, Operation Truth vowed to create more ads to air after the election, and hold whoever wins the Presidential race accountable for their decisions.
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