CNN Refusing To Run Health Care Ad Critical Of Insurance Industry

[Joanne98]

What on earth is going on at CNN?

The network — already taking criticism for declining to run an ad criticizing Lou Dobbs — is now refusing to run an ad nationally criticizing the insurance industry, the group that tried to place the ad tells me.

CNN’s reason: The ad “unnecessarily” singles out a top insurance industry executive by name for criticism.

The labor-backed Americans United for Change, a top White House ally in the health care wars, tried to book time on CNN and MSNBC for the ad, which hits the insurance industry for wanting to preserve the status quo and levels harsh criticism at insurance giant Cigna’s CEO, Ed Hanway.

“Why do insurance companies and Republicans want to kill health insurance reform? Because they like things the way they are now,” the ad says, and then slams Hanway’s annual salary of over $12 million and golden parachute retirement package of over $70 million.

Americans United for Change’s spokesman, Jeremy Funk, tells me that CNN refused to run the ad nationally. He says CNN emailed the following reason for rejection:

“This ad does not comply with our clearance guidelines because it unnecessarily singles out an individual company and person.”

That very well may be CNN’s policy. But AUC maintains that the mention of Cigna’s CEO was necessary to dramatize the enormous stake the insurance industry has in the health care wars. What’s more, AUC argues, the industry is made up of companies that are run by individuals deciding how to spend huge money to impact the health care debate — so why are they off limits?

“The bottom line question is: Would CNN run ads from Cigna that are positive about the company?” Funk asks. “If yes, why would they turn down an ad critical of the company for their role in trying to kill health insurance reform?”

By contrast, the ad will air nationally on MSNBC tomorrow. Here’s the spot:

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/cnn-refusing-to-run-ad-critical-of-insurance-industry/

CNN SUX!

[napoleon_in_rags]

1. CNN just lost one viewer. Rec'd. nt

[BlooInBloo]

2. They own the media. SIgh.

[spanone]

3. k&r they will eventually make faux look like a liberal news channel

[anonymous171]

4. We really need media reform.

Media companies should only be allowed to buy/be bought by other media companies. We need to end the corporate media.

[BluePup]

13. So I can't start a news paper?

How about a blog? Newsletter? Low power FM station? How about a high powered FM station?

How about we ban 'corporatoins' as 'people' and make them either partnerships or solely owned entities?

This is a double-edged sword. We fix the corporate financial backing (control) of elected officials (of both parties) but we can no longer tax the 'corporations'.... just individuals, which is probably more in line with the Constitution anyway.

[abumbyanyothername]

15. Slow down pup.

You will likely get banned before you even get off the ground at the rate you are going.

This is DEMOCRATIC Underground.

Try and keep up at least a pretense.

[BluePup]

17. How about we ban corporations as 'people' first

Then ban corporations. The founding fathers didn't believe in corporations, why do 'we'?

I am wary, though, of touching anything that looks like censorship.

[abumbyanyothername]

18. I'm all in favor of eliminating many rights of corporations

and of partnerships for that matter.

As for censorship, the professed purpose of this site is to provide a place for like-minded (i.e., democrats) to join together free of interference from outside forces. (Or something like that, its in the site rules, but I didn't bother to read them because I don't intend to engage in brinksmanship seeing how close I can get to violating them.)

If your perspective strays too far from the mainstream democratic positions you will get banned. Or at least that is what I have noticed. Doesn't mean that you are not able to express yourself on other sites. Just that this site is moderated and designed to be a forum where Democrats can exchange information and perspectives free of trolling influences.

But then, I suspect that you knew all that already.

[BluePup]

19. I hope I don't get banned

I am not a Repub, I am a Democrat, just not a 'far lefter'...

My login name kind of tells the story. I am not going to pretent to be something I am not just to be on the 'in' around here.

[FreakinDJ]

5. K&R

[truedelphi]

6. Follow the money - CNN gets one ad every six to eight months

Critical of the health insurers.

Meanwhile they get ads every day from Big Pharma. Just count all the prescription medicine ads CNN runs in a two hour period.

They know which side butters their bread continuously. And that will be the side they care about.

And that will also be the side that controls the slant of their news.

[Slit Skirt]

7. write them, and don't watch

write the sponsors...

[progressoid]

16. Their sponsors ARE the insurance companies.

[kjackson227]

8. Corporate-owned msm. Enough said.

[JayMusgrove]

9. I will put a channel block on my TV now.

That is censorship, and I will censor them, too.

[ShamelessHussy]

10. Cancel Your Cable and get all your news and whatnot on line.

That's what I did... and I am so glad to not be paying any money to them, and as a bonus, not missing out on anything on my end... in fact it is much better this way.

and if you wanna splurge... get an appleTV and watch & surf on the big-screen from the comfort of your living room, not to mention streaming audio to your surround sound ;)

[kevinbgoode]

29. I agree....I changed my satellite package to eliminate both Faux and CNN

from the selection - AND made a very pointed complaint to Dish TV about charging subscribers to be exposed to such crap. Of course, I included the huge number of "religious" channels and home shopping channels. Frankly, an organized effort should be made to demand cable systems (and satellite systems) justify carrying these networks and forcing them on us through subscriptions.

I was all for that bill to provide viewer CHOICE in subscription services. Not surprisingly, right wingnut groups were adamantly against it, especially the religious panhandling organizations - obviously fearing a fast decline in viewership if people could CHOOSE to not purchase access to their programming.

Haha...somehow, with the package I have now, I get one CSPAN, Bloomberg, and MSNBC.

[FrenchieCat]

11. Call them and write to them!

Tell them that you will not longer watch,
and that their self-selection is totally obvious!

Phone Numbers:

CNN-

(404)827–1500
Comment line: (404) 827 - 0234
(From grasswire
fax: [phone].


CNN NEWS DIRECTOR Kim Bondy. 404 827 1500. fax. [phone]
CNN NEWSROOM 404.827.1500 . 404.827.1500. [e-mail]
Call Anderson Cooper at 1-866-NY-AC360

Everyone at CNN is listed individually on this page: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/cnntv /

[still_one]

12. Gee, they had no problem airing the swift boat ads.

They had no problem with the birthers

They had no problem presenting absolute lies regarding the healthcare plan

I don't watch those entertainment tonight broadcasts. If I want my news on TV I get it from Bloomberg

The other networks are a joke, entertainment tonight

Maybe they will spend another two weeks on Michael Jackson

[zbdent]

14. Didn't CNN run that campaign ad a Repug had a few years back

that the Repug pulled before airing ... and thus, the ad got NATIONAL exposure (and thus, free air time for a bogus attack on a Dem), instead of the regional short run it would have had, had he not pulled the controversial ad?

[Puzzler]

20. Politicians are singled out by name in ads all the time...

... so why are uber-powerful CEOs (who often have even more influence) exempt?

[samsingh]

21. we now have the power to bring the republican media to a more objective stance

Klein is such a coward he can't even manage a racist fool like lou dobbs

[madokie]

22. I've been cnn free for three years now

and I am no less informed for it either.

fuk cnn

[ieoeja]

23. So fix the ad.

Black out the picture of H. Edward Hamway. Remove the identifying information: company, title and name. Replace "Ed Hamway, CEO of Cigna" with "CEO of one insurance company".

Is this so difficult?

[City Lights]

24. Screw CNN.

In some ways they're worse than Fux. Most Fux viewers know they're getting spoon-fed nooze. Most CNN viewers think they're getting news from an unbiased source.

[Tyler Generation]

25. Makes one miss Uncle Ted. nt

[glinda]

26. CNN is turning into Faux. Just listen to the "tone" of the talking heads.

[orleans]

27. how much has Cigna paid to advertise on cnn?

they wouldn't want to lose those big ad bucks, right?

i'm sure it essentially comes down to that.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

28. The propagandists are all colluding. This is no large divergence.

Douche-bags spinning their deceitful webs, entrapping the gullible, barely educated masses transfixed on their TeeVees.