FOX CT affiliate to shadowy right wing group: Sorry, we're not airing your falsehoods anymore

[babylonsister]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/10/connecticut_station_stops_airi.html
CT station to shadowy right wing group: Sorry, we're not airing your falsehoods anymore


A TV station in Connecticut has agreed to stop running the right-wing ad I flagged yesterday that attacks Dem Rep. Chris Murphy with various false claims and distortions, including the assertion that health reform could land people in jail, the Murphy campaign confirms.

As I reported, the ad is bankrolled by the American Action Network, another one of those shadowy conservative groups that doesn't disclose its donors. The group has sunk at least $445,000 into attacking Murphy, who is running for reelection in a tough district against Republican Sam Caligiuri.

The ad recycles several long-debunked claims: Health reform means $500 billion in Medicare cuts; it will require the hiring of thousands of IRS agents; and it could lead to "jail time for anyone without coverage."

FoxCT, the local Fox affiliate, informed the Murphy campaign that it would stop running the American Action Network ad after the Murphy camp sent the station a letter detailing the ad's falsehoods, the Murphy campaign confirms.

"We have verified that the ad in question is not accurate and will pull their schedule going forward," a FoxCT executive wrote to the Murphy campaign in an email sent my way. "I hope you have reached out to the other stations and they follow the same course."

I'm told other another Connecticut station may follow suit. If so, I'll update you.

All of which is to confirm -- yet again -- that the untold part of this story is that this national campaign bankrolled by secret cash is flooding airwaves across the country with an untold number of falsehoods and distortions. We'll probably never have a clear picture of this campaign's scope and reach, or the depth and extent of its mendacity.


By Greg Sargent

[Kdillard]

1. Good for them. I hope others follow and give these guys a message.

[JuniperLea]

2. What?! Turning down money on moral grounds?!

What's this world coming to?

Wow... shocking, truly shocking!

[babylonsister]

7. And a faux affiliate; I'm sort of impressed by this! nt

[JuniperLea]

10. When the waters turn too putrid for even Faux Gnus to carry...

You know it's bad!

[emulatorloo]

3. This is really good news. Good for Murphy for writing, good for FoxCT for listening

Hope Maddow covers this. I get the feeling that people on the hill watch her show.

Doubt the other "news" shows will cover it though..

[Frustratedlady]

4. Thanks for posting this article. Hopefully, other FOX affiliates will follow.

Wouldn't that be great timing if stations all over the US did the same? Wow! That took a lot of guts to fight the big boys.

That information would be good to send to those who are on the fence or those who still listen to FOX.

[progressoid]

5. If networks pulled all the inaccurate ads, there wouldn't be many ads on TV.

Wouldn't that be nice?

[kestrel91316]

6. No small numbers of DUers spewed that same crap about going to jail for not

buying health insurance. Why they were allowed that RW talking point for so long is beyond me.

[JuniperLea]

11. I really hate RW talking points spewed here...

I don't get it either.

[southernyankeebelle]

8. Gee how refreshing someone being honest for a change. Wouldn't it be nice

if everyone would do the same thing.

[Jennicut]

9. Good. Chris Murphy is my Rep and a real good one. Nice to see the local Fox station here

doing the right thing! I am a bit nervous about Chris getting reelected again as I live in the the most conservative part of the state (which is not overly conservative when you get right down to it, it is still Connecticut). I cannot stand Caliguiri. Chris has been a great and attentive rep.

[bigwillq]

12. K and R (nt)