4 Networks
Reject Ad Opposing Bush on Lawsuits
By ROBERT PEAR
Published: February 1, 2005
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 - An advocacy group, USAction, said on Monday that four
television networks had turned down its request to run an advertisement opposing
President Bush's effort to clamp down on medical malpractice lawsuits.
The group wanted to run the spots just before Mr. Bush's State of the Union
address on Wednesday. But networks said the advertisement violated their standards
for advertising on controversial issues.
The NBC Universal Television Network, owned by General Electric, told
the group, "We are sorry that we cannot accept your ad based on our network
policy regarding controversial issue advertising." [Editorial
Note: Doesn't the media promote controversy and sensationalism on other topics?]
As a general rule, the policy says, "time will not be sold on NBC Network
facilities for the presentation of views on controversial issues." The
policy does not apply to candidates for public office in election years.
ABC, CBS and the Fox Broadcasting Company said they had also turned down
the advertisement.
But CNN plans to run the advertisement.
"We will be running the ad this week," said Jennifer Toner, a spokeswoman
for CNN advertising sales, a unit of Time Warner. "It cleared our internal
vetting process. We accept advocacy advertising. Our viewers understand that
such ads may have a slant."
Mr. Bush has proposed strict limits on medical malpractice litigation, including
caps on damages for pain and suffering, as part of a campaign for sweeping
changes in the nation's civil justice system. In the television advertisement,
Dylan Malone of Everett, Wash., says his son Ian suffered severe brain damage
at birth, as a result of "medical errors," and died before his fifth
birthday.
"President Bush is siding with the insurance, H.M.O. and drug companies,
trying to end what they call frivolous lawsuits, while 100,000 Americans like
Ian die each year because of medical errors," Mr. Malone says in the
spot. "Mr. President, let's fix the health care mess, but please stop
blaming the victims. My son's life was not frivolous."
In an interview, Mr. Malone said that he had received more than $1 million
in a settlement with a clinic where his son was born. But, he said, much of
the money was used to care for the child, who died last May.
Business groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers and
the United States Chamber of Commerce, plan media and lobbying campaigns in
support of Mr. Bush's proposals on civil litigation.
For other reliable, revealing articles on the media cover-up:
http://www.WantToKnow.info/medianewsarticles#massmedia
