BS: Bush and the News Media

Subject: BS: Bush and the News Media
From: Amos
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 03:22 PM

This just posted to the IP List, presumably from MoveOn.org. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of it but it is troublingon the face of it:

This just in: Television ads to be run during this year's Super Bowl will
include messages from beer companies, tobacco companies, and George W.
Bush's re-election campaign, but will NOT include an ad from an
organization which opposes Bush's re-election. Ironically, the ad, which
criticises Bush's domestic economic policies, echoes the concerns of many
fiscal conservatives on both sides of the aisle.

This is the second recent incident in which CBS -- which will benefit from
a rider attached at the Administration's behest to just-passed budget
legislation allowing greater concentration of media ownership -- has
repressed content which might displease supporters of the current
administration. (In November of 2003, the network refused to run a movie
which, some say, contained unflattering portayals of former Republican
president Ronald Reagan.)

For more information on this unexpected move (which, frankly, should very
troubling to all of us regardless of political affiliation), see:

http://www.moveon.org/news/2278.html
http://www.mediareform.net/media/
http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/040120/15/3hem8.html

Subject: RE: BS: Bush and the News Media
From: Amos
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 03:37 PM

One correction already out:

CBS will air Bush Super Bowl ad, but not opposition's
This just in: Television ads to be run during this year's Super Bowl will
include messages from beer companies, tobacco companies, and George < Bush's re-election campaign, but will NOT include an ad from an
organization which opposes Bush's re-election
Dave, the "Bush Super Bowl ad" is actually just an anti drug ad, and in no
way is being placed by the President's re-election campaign.

Placed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the 30
second ad will kick off a new campaign which "urges children and parents to
intervene to get help for other children or friends who are doing drugs."

source: AdAge:
http://www.adage.com/news.cms?newsId=39561