NBC Joins ABC in Refusing to Air Ad Critical of Pro-Rationing Health Care Measure
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 28, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — NBC has joined ABC in refusing to air a conservative group’s ad that talks about the rationing concerns present in the government-run health care plans Congress is considering. While ABC rejected the ad outright, NBC is demanding the organization make revisions to it.
As LifeNews.com reported, the League of American Voters had planned to air the commercial that is already airing on local networks in 12 states.
Bob Adams, the director of the group, told LifeNews.com he was "stunned" when ABC officials told him they would not air the ad.
Although CBS has approved the ad for airing and LAV staff are working with Fox to run the commercial on its stations, NBC has questioned some of the facts in the ad.
"We have not rejected the ad," spokeswoman Liz Fischer told Fox News. "We have communicated with the media agency about some factual claims that require additional substantiation. As always, we are happy to reconsider the ad once these issues are addressed."
The ad features neurosurgeon Dr. Mark J. Cuffe, who says that the Obama plan would be so costly that health care rationing will ensue.
"How can Obama’s plan cover 50 million new patients without any new doctors? It can’t," he says.
ABC has shed more light on its decision to prohibit the ad, which it has labeled "partisan," in comments to Fox News.
"The ABC Television Network has a long-standing policy that we do not sell time for advertising that presents a partisan position on a controversial public issue," spokeswoman Susan Sewell said in a written statement. "Just to be clear, this is a policy for the entire network, not just ABC News."
Bob Adams, executive director of the League of American Voters, talked with Fox News about the television network’s decisions.
"It’s a position that we would argue a vast majority of Americans stand behind," he said. "Obviously, it’s a message that ABC and the Obama administration haven’t received yet."
"It’s a powerful ad," he said about the commercial.
"It tells the truth and it really highlights one of the biggest vulnerabilities and problems with this proposed legislation, which is it rations health care and disproportionately will decimate the quality of health care for seniors," he continued.
The commercial cites various newspapers to support its contention that health care will be rationed under the bill and asks viewers to call Congress to oppose the bill.
Adams said Americans need to continue to stand up against the plan, which has been criticized by pro-life groups for its rationing and abortion funding components.
"We believe we have a major battle ahead this September when Congress returns. We need to get our message out to as many people as we can," Adams concluded.
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