CNN Refusing To Run Health Care Ad: "CEO of Insurance Giant Cigna Makes $5,883 Per Hour"

[Emit]

"Now Ed's (Hanway) retiring with a $73 Million dollar golden parachute..."

CNN Refusing To Run Health Care Ad Critical Of Insurance Industry

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.”

~snip~

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULKJiRv-Lnk&feature=player_embedded

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

edit typo

[ingac70]

1. I'm done with CNN. n/t

[TomClash]

2. "What is going on at CNN?"

CNN won't bite the corporate hand that feeds it.

I'll also bet that's comparable to what CNN's top dog makes.

[csziggy]

3. If CNN's excuse is that one CEO is singled out, then redo the ad with ALL health insurance CEOs

And their inflated salaries and retirement packages.

The information has already been gathered here at DU:
A Sample of Health Insurance CEO Compensation
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5690433&mesg_id=5690433

According to that list, in 2008 Cigna's H. Edward Hanway was not the highest paid CEO:

Aetna's Ron Williams - CEO Compensation
Total Compensation: $24,300,112

Details: Williams earned $24,300,112 in total compensation for 2008, with more than half of that ($13,537,365) coming from option awards. He also received an additional $6,456,630 in stock awards to go along with his base salary of $1,091,764.
Personal use of a corporate aircraft and vehicle, as well as financial planning and 401(k) company matches added up to $101,487 for Williams.