CNN just insured that the controversy about Lou Dobbs stays alive and in the news. The network won't run the ad about Dobbs produced by Media Matters:
Today, Media Matters for America responded to the news that CNN has refused to air a Media Matters ad calling on the network to credibly address Lou Dobbs' continued promotion of birther conspiracy theories. A CNN spokesperson reportedly told the Politico, "CNN retains the right to object to any ad run by the cable operator on our network whose purpose is to attack CNN or our employees."Dobbs is a p.r. nightmare for CNN. But, Jonathan Klein has chosen to coddle his star racist.
Watch "CNN's Dobbs Problem": www.DobbsConspiracy.com.
"This seems like the actions of a network desperate to provide cover for its primetime host rather than living up to its standard of being the most trusted name in news," said Eric Burns, president of Media Matters. "If the ad is accurate -- and we know that it is -- then there is no reason for CNN to block it from its airwaves."
And, Klein is using CNN's muscle to prevent the ads from running. A senior official from Media Matters told me this morning, that "We have heard from reliable sources that Turner Broadcasting officials have been 'pressuring' local cable providers to not run the Dobbs ad. Apparently Comcast in DC had no problem running the ad on DC’s CNN channel, however, the company was lobbied by Turner not to do it. Moreover, according to our sources CableVision from NY is refusing to provide any kind of explanation in writing on why they are not running the ad on any of the networks." Refusing the ads is proving to be worth more in free press than what the ads would have cost. Good move, Mr. Klein.
