What is CBS doing? Speak out!

[ewulf]

CBS is refusing to run an advertisement from the congregationalist United Church of Christ which highlights their openness and acceptance of everyone. There is a discussion of it here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x1714

Are we going to stand by while every aspect of the First Amendment is violated? Will we allow the corporate media to suppress advertisements from certain liberal religious organizations that they don't approve of?

You can contact CBS executives here:

http://www.nlpc.org/view.asp?action=viewArticle&aid=631

and you can mass mail their affiliates using the Republican's "Rathergate" blaster:

http://www.rathergate.com/emailaffiliates.php

[sui generis]

1. my reply

Dear CBS:

This is regarding your refusal to air the UCC advertisement that encourages people who are minority or gay to attend their congregation.

The excuse you gave was:

"Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups by other individuals and organizations," reads an explanation from CBS, "and the fact the Executive Branch has recently proposed a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, this spot is unacceptable for broadcast on the networks."

You are the same people who might one day NOT be reporting that we're being fed into crematoriums at the work camp we've all been herded into, because The Executive Branch recently proposed a constitutional amendment that gays don't exist.

Your decision defies logic, rationality and real American tradition of inclusion and diversity. You are no better than the openly racist bigots of the 50's and I am profoundly shocked by your very clearly biased stance in support of the discrimination experienced by gays and minorities in mainstream religion.

I believe you should explain yourself in excruciating detail or fire the individual who wrote that - because I for one of many will otherwise be permanently deleting CBS and UPN from our satellite and cable lineups, and believe me, good riddance.

[LSparkle]

2. UCC is my church!

I'm so proud of them! I also heard NBC had refused to run the ads. Hopefully they'll at least get on cable, like the ones for the United Methodist Church that I've seen over the past few years.

[Joy Anne]

7. Yes, they will be

on cable and on ABC and, believe it or not, Fox. I'm another UCCer, involved in the campaign on line and at my church.

[Ian David]

3. Rathergate screens their emails

"Thank you for sending your email to CBS affiliates.

Please be patient while we process your email. We take the time to try and make sure nothing offensive or inappropriate gets sent, so it's pretty labor intensive.

In the meantime, won't you consider supporting this site, as well as the other bloggers who are holding Big Media accountable? Click here for more information."

[Wisc Badger]

4. While you may not like it

CBS is well within they're constitutional rights to not air that commercial if they so choose.

Freedom of speech is just that freedom of speech not freedom of access to be published or broadcast.

For profit organizations such as networks or papers are not required to publish what they choose not to (the sole exception that I know of being political commercials/ads) if they were than you would have a government control of the press.

[sui generis]

6. well, somebody in their ad department probably overstepped

particularly since the reply involved a statement on same sex marriage, which had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the advertisement.

Well, I'm turning off CBS and UPN now - just deleting them out of my lineup. I don't watch enough tv to care anyway, now as far as I'm concerned they won't exist.

[cprise]

9. Showing sectarian favoritism goes over the line for a broadcaster

Let me repeeat: BROADCASTER.

CBS is a public trustee using radio spectrum owned by the people.

I know these are words that do not mean much to the average Democrat these days, but without guarding the pubic interest (as Democrats haven't been doing) you can expect broadcasting to become the exclusive plaything of the wealthy and powerful.


(oh wait...)

[JaneDoughnut]

5. This way, UCC get free advertising

This will probably draw more attention to them than a few ads on CBS ever could.

[cprise]

8. I grew up seeings LDS ads here in Massachusetts

So I guess Mormans can advertise but UCC cannot?