CBS and NBC Refusing To Run Ad b/c pro-tolerance is 'too controversial'

[justin899]

First The Washington Post allows the most bigoted magazine insert I've ever seen. Then ABC engages in revisionist history with the Matthew shepard story.

Now CBS and NBC are refusing to run a church ad because its full inclusion message is deemed to be "too controversial".

From http://www.wfn.org/2004/11/msg00231.html

..snip...

CLEVELAND -- The CBS and NBC television networks are refusing to run a
30-second television ad from the United Church of Christ because its
all-inclusive welcome has been deemed "too controversial."

According to a written explanation from CBS, the United Church of Christ is being denied network access because its ad implies acceptance of gay and lesbian couples -- among other minority constituencies -- and is, therefore, too "controversial."

"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."

Similarly, a rejection by NBC declared the spot "too controversial."

"It's ironic that after a political season awash in commercials based on fear and deception by both parties seen on all the major networks, an ad with a message of welcome and inclusion would be deemed too controversial," says the Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president. "What's going on here?"

Negotiations between network officials and the church's representatives broke down today (Nov. 30), the day before the ad campaign begins airing nationwide on a combination of broadcast and cable networks. The ad has been accepted and will air on a number of networks, including ABC Family, AMC, BET, Discovery, Fox, Hallmark, History, Nick@Nite, TBS, TNT, Travel and TV Land, among others.
-----------------------------------------------------

Is there any wonder many gays have decided to leave this increasingly regressive bigoted country?!

It's despicable that we're now in a situation where a pro-tolerance add is considered "too controversial" in the self-proclaimed "land of the free." :puke:

[Straight Shooter]

1. The sad fact is, the ad is indeed too controversial.

Because many Americans are too self-righteous. They like their sex sanitized, on their trashy TV shows, and in the snickering talk shows.

This country will never grow up. It's hopelessly mired in Puritanism.

[Viktor Runeberg]

3. It's not puritanism

The puritans were, historical research is showing, quite tolerant of homosexuality. The puritans also believed - quite contrary to the current fundamentalists - that no one could know if he or she was among the elect (who would go to Heaven) and that it was sinful to act or speak as if you knew you were.

Yeah, I had puritan ancestors. And I'd thank you to stop this slander. John Kerry came from the most puritan state, historically. You know, the one with gay marriage and the lowest divorce rate in the nation?

[Joy Anne]

10. Welcome, Viktor Runeberg

I'm from the Evangelical & Reformed half of the UCC myself. And I'll also point out that Howard Dean, Bob Graham, and Barack Obama are also UCCians.

[cprise]

11. Kerry comes from a state that remembers Puritanism all too well.

If any congregation is more representative of what makes modern New England different (and tolerant), it is the Unitarian Universalists.

Puritanism was and is a terrible ideology and to come here accusing progressives of slandering the 'nice' Puritans is expecting a level of unthinking political correctness that would even celebrate religious fundamentalism.

[Ian David]

4. It's controversial because Bush says it is

Did you note their reasoning?

It's controversial because pResident Bush says we should hate those people.

What do we do now?

[okieinpain]

2. sometimes I feel like I'm living in a nightmare.

[kayell]

6. Me too. Maybe this is all just a really, really bad mass hallucination

but I think we're in for it. This is the most depressing indication of where we are headed that I've seen in ...oh, at least the last 48 hours. I wonder what fresh hell we will face tomorrow?

[The Sheik]

5. Oh dear god...

we would NEVER EVER consider offending the KKK.

[ewulf]

7. We need to put some pressure on CBS about this:

If this pisses you off, you can write to CBS, and its affiliates with this handy tool set up by the Republicans for another purpose.


Affiliates:

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

[GodlessBiker]

8. Done.

How are we to defend ourselves if commercials which do so are deemed too controversial because they disagree with the President? Corporate idiocy!

[belle]

9. On edit: I did it, but think it was a mistake...

Apparently the website owners have a "labor-intensive process" of poring over the emails and making sure no "offensive" material is sent under their name. I expect they'll either delete it or alter my message to say whatever they want. And now they have my personal info. Just swell.

[justin899]

12. Yeah, it would be better to email them directly..here is the contatct info

CBS http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/feedback/fb_news_form.shtml
NBC http://www.msnbc.com/news/435157.asp#nbc

Plus, they lied. http://mediamatters.org/items/200412010005">Media Matters has found that both networks have in fact run advocacy ads in the past.

"Both CBS and NBC have aired advocacy advertising in the past -- including an ad put out by the George W. Bush administration and political infomercials by former presidential candidate H. Ross Perot."

[justin899]

13. As if this wasn't enough now they're refusing to run gay health ads

(Los Angeles, California) A 30 second commercial warning gay men about the dangers of syphilis has been refused by television stations in Los Angeles. Three of the stations are owned by the same networks that refused to run an ad by the United Church of Christ showing a gay couple.

The commercial was produced by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and paid for by the Los Angeles County public health agency.

Five local television stations - affiliates for NBC, Fox, CBS, UPN and the WB - all refused, although two later said they would consider showing the spot between 11:30 p.m. and 5 a.m., an offer that health officials said was not satisfactory because so few people would see it.

"It's distressing to hear that some important public health messages are not being aired," county public health director Dr. Jonathan Fielding said. As for the ad, Fielding said, "I don't find it objectionable."

http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/12/120204laSyph.htm

:mad:

[FaerieWizard]

14. ABC Family aired it last night, during of all things . . .

Their 25 days of Christmas! It was on during Frosty the Snowman.