MSNBC Pulls Outside Group's McCain Cancer Ad After O'Reilly Complaint

Talking Points Memo's Greg Sargent reports that MSNBC will no longer air the independent group ad highlighting John McCain's cancer history and questioning why he won't release his health records:

The spot, which has been running on MSNBC since yesterday, is the work of Brave New PAC and Democracy For America, which is headed up by Howard Dean's brother. It demands that McCain release his medical records and quotes doctors saying that McCain's age and bouts with cancer should raise concern, with one saying that another round of cancer would "profoundly impact his capacity to lead."

MSNBC informed the ad buyer for the two PACS today at around noon eastern time that the network was yanking the spot, Brave New PAC spokesperson Leighton Woodhouse tells me. The network said that the reason for their decision was "viewer complaints," Woodhouse says.

Watch the ad below:

Sargent reports that MSNBC has stopped running the ad following a complaint from Fox News' Bill O'Reilly:

MSNBC's decision comes after Bill O'Reilly unleashed an on-air tirade over the ad last night, saying the ad was put out by "two despicable human beings," a reference to Dean and Robert Greenwald of Brave New Films.

O'Reilly also blasted Jeffrey Immelt, the head of General Electric, which owns NBC, and top NBC exec Jeff Zucker. "They should be ashamed, but they are anything but," O'Reilly said.

Watch O'Reilly rip into MSNBC for running the ad here.

Comments

[GiannaX]

Since when does Bill-O rule MSNBC's world?
The voters have a right to question and review ALL of McCain's medical records, including those concerning his mental health, NO RESTRICTIONS! It's become pretty obvious he's hiding something. McCain's age, past health issues and choice of running mate, make this all the more relevant to the American people.

[itschuck2c]

You do realize the the african american does not favor a great prognosis in health in this country??

Just check out this from the state of michigans health dept.

http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-2940_2955_2985-109038--,00.html

[LiberalBuzz]

Chuck, we know you're a troll and we know you come here to troll.

Why bother.

This is a liberal site and you are not going to change any minds. Go back to the GOP sites where they practice the nonsense you spew in all of your comments. You are prone to quote Factcheck.org when it is convenient for you but ignore it when it shows the huge amount of lies, half truths, and BS put out by the McBush campaign. And from my count at Factcheck McCain is leading Obama in the BS category about 20 to 1 which is all I need to know that John has left the last vestiges of his honor somewhere in the sands of AZ.

He has led a campaign of pure slime and smear.

Trolls are easily spotted and you stick out like an orange umbrella in a sea of purple.

[mlaiuppa]

It's Banned Books Week.

Too bad there is no "Banned Ads Week".

[Liberoservative]

Then all the networks should pull all of the McCain ads that are blatant lies...

This is obscenely ridiculous.....

[argent1]

Having lost my wife to cancer at a young age, and by doing so being in the world of individuals and families faced with excruciating battles I deem it is totally appropriate to expose the concern of those who know a potential world leader has odds stacked against him.

[andyg]

So Obama going to live forever.

[gretcheno]

No one wil live forever, Obama is just younger!!

[jjpac]

As a Dermatology health care provider, I'm very concerned that McCain's health records were not fully released last May to the appropriate experts. He has had at least four melanomas, with the most recent in 2002. He gave reporters (which included several MDs, but no Dermatopathologists, Oncologists, or cancer experts) only 3 hours to sift through more than 1000 pages of records. There were no cameras, copiers, or recording devices allowed.
Melanoma is what we, in the Dermatology field, are searching for on patients at thin (less than 1 mm) treatable stages. McCain's serious melanoma in 2000 was 2.2 mm, which has a great risk of metastasizing, even many years later. He also has a history of many other skin cancers such as squamous cell carcinoma. McCain should release all the pathology reports and operative reports to the appropriate experts. Melanoma, especially multiple episodes, is a very unpredictable cancer-- it can lurk for many years and then metastasize to vital organs. Unfortunately, there are no good therapies after it has spread. American voters have a right to know if a Presidential candidate has serious health risks.

[mrJJ]

Housing giant dropped meeting with McCain adviser

By PETE YOST " 7 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) " Last March, a consultant to Freddie Mac arranged a meeting between the top economist in John McCain's campaign and Hollis S. McLoughlin, a prominent Republican and top executive at the failing housing giant that is central to the nation's credit crisis.

The scheduled meeting with McCain economic adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin never took place because a number of Freddie Mac executives objected that it would have been inappropriate, according to three people familiar with the episode.

The executives pointed out to McLoughlin that there was no such outreach to the campaigns of Democratic candidates, said the three people, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The consultant who arranged the meeting, Harry Clark, is the founder of a Washington lobbying firm.

Out of a special account that McLoughlin controls, the Freddie Mac executive has been paying Clark more than $10,000 a month. McLoughlin has been using the same account to pay $15,000 a month to the lobbying firm of Rick Davis, McCain's campaign manager, according to the three people.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jnhZ5ehM97b5g022vv1cHSheTh1gD93F6BO00

[fishretired]

Appropriate to be concerned. I can not imaginer bobblehead Palin in charge of the greatest nation on earth.

[gez]

Quite right! This ad is as sleazy as some of the conservative ads against Obama.

[DaOne]

Nice to see Billo watching MSNBC

[ThomasMc]

Why is MSNBC protecting John McCain???

They are supposed to be serving WE THE PEOPLE, not political candidates!

[ThankGodforAtheists]

My brother had melanoma for about nine years and everything looked good. It then spread to his brain and within one year he was dead. The doctors were actually surprised he survived as long as he did after it matastecized. What ocurred with my brother is well within the possibility for McCain. The idea of a President Palin is not remote at all. I didn't see anything in this ad that was untrue. The netwotks should allow the people to know the truth about melanoma and the potential with McCain. This is of national concern especially because of his VP pick. If you will be voting for McCain, expect a President Palin, melanoma is mean stuff.

[realpolitic]

One wonders if O'Reilly is calling the shots at MSNBC. They always respond to his criticisms. MSNBC should stick to their guns and ignore O'Reilly and wait for his next charge of sexual harassment.

[smart won]

MSNBC has lost the respect of countless former fans in the last two weeks. Maybe McCain can take those chestnuts out of his cheeks and give them to MSNBC so they can claim SOME elliptical objects.

[santamonica39]

This is legitimate!! We have a right to see his medical records. He wants to be president of the United States for crying out loud! The state of his health is OUR BUSINESS. No person should be allowed to run for president without releasing their tax returns and their medical records. This ad is right on and shame on MSNBC for not running it. Hopefully someone will. If McCain has nothing to hide, then WHY DOESN"T HE RELEASE THE RECORDS!

[Daisy1111]

Google his records -- there's tons of reports online.

However, Senator "O" has not released his medical records. Just a note from his doctor.

[kkw2]

Well, who IS going to bring this up? Who is going to talk about the fact that Palin has a huge chance up ending up a U.S. President? Who is going to discuss McCain's refusal to release his medical records? The networks won't, and now the cable stations won't discuss it OR allow MDs to post comments about it . This is a serious issue. It has to be raised and aired.

DO YOUR JOB.