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Conservative interests at work
No reason for CBS to refuse to run MoveOn.org's Super Bowl advertisement
By: Collins Ezeanyim
Issue date: 1/30/04 Section: Opinion
Some observers have said Super Bowl viewers do not want to view potentially divisive advertising from an admittedly progressive group. They argue the Super Bowl is a time when America, indeed much of the world, comes together to watch one of the biggest sports spectacles on Earth. Their reasoning is that the only dividing lines that should be drawn that day should be between those supporting Tom Brady's Patriots or Jake Delhomme's Panthers.
Some have also said if the ad had aired, instead of convincing people that Bush was doing a poor job in office as intended, MoveOn.org's efforts would have backfired and even more people would support the president after he came under attack during America's biggest sporting event. This may very well be the case, but if it can cough up the money, MoveOn.org has the right to take that risk.
The refusal by CBS to run the MoveOn.org ad and the one by PETA shows a growing conservative ideology on the part of the network - or at the very least, the willingness to kowtow to conservative demands. Earlier this television season, CBS cancelled a planned November sweeps miniseries entitled "The Reagans" after conservative groups demanded the movie not be aired. CBS also faced criticisms over another miniseries - this one concerning Adolf Hitler - but still aired the program.
MoveOn.org calls CBS' refusal to air its ad censorship. While it is not quite on the level of government censorship, the actions of CBS are deserving of criticism for stifling the great American tradition of debate. Let us hope that the network that airs the next Super Bowl will be more open to letting advocacy groups pay for commercials that deserve to be aired.
Some have also said if the ad had aired, instead of convincing people that Bush was doing a poor job in office as intended, MoveOn.org's efforts would have backfired and even more people would support the president after he came under attack during America's biggest sporting event. This may very well be the case, but if it can cough up the money, MoveOn.org has the right to take that risk.
The refusal by CBS to run the MoveOn.org ad and the one by PETA shows a growing conservative ideology on the part of the network - or at the very least, the willingness to kowtow to conservative demands. Earlier this television season, CBS cancelled a planned November sweeps miniseries entitled "The Reagans" after conservative groups demanded the movie not be aired. CBS also faced criticisms over another miniseries - this one concerning Adolf Hitler - but still aired the program.
MoveOn.org calls CBS' refusal to air its ad censorship. While it is not quite on the level of government censorship, the actions of CBS are deserving of criticism for stifling the great American tradition of debate. Let us hope that the network that airs the next Super Bowl will be more open to letting advocacy groups pay for commercials that deserve to be aired.
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