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

[Rimser]

Maybe MSNBC should have Bill-O review all the PAC ads before they run them to see if they pass his "sensibilities". Or maybe Bill-O should clean up his own house before he starts on someone else's.

[obamanation31]

this is important. people need to know about his medical records.

[Donnybroke]

Gees, MSNBC you may trick some into believing you hve a soul.

Hve BO release his MEDICAL RECORDS!! He is just 47 and refuses to release them.

What is he hiding?

[ex-pat]

He has released them... try to stay current

[OddManOut]

Ha ha...you make me laugh!

[shubes61]

his doctor for the past 21 years gave him a clean bill of health.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10686.html

[Donnybroke]

Uhhh, you didn't tead the headline. He didn't release one single medical record, he relesed a 276 summary which is not a substitute for medical records.

[akryan]

He did release them. It was actually great PR. McCain's were hundreds of pages long and reporters only had a few hours to look over them. Obama handed his over at the same time McCain was resisting turning his over. Obama's was only a few pages long and declared that he was in perfect health. Despite what O'Reilly says McCain's age and health (mental and physical) are an issue ever since he picked Palin as his VP.

[HBeachbum]

No mention of rehab for cocaine abuse?

[DavieB36]

47 and physically fit or 72 suffering from ptsd melanoma and senility is that really an argument you want to have? you guys are dumber than I thought.

[NeoStar9]

Gutless cowards. They won't run an ad that is completely valid yet they'll allow any and all ads that have been completely proven false that direct attack and smear Obama.

[kmich718]

Here here!

[robXdion]

The station and pundit that blasted Rev. Wright 24/7 complains over this legitimate issue? Do we have to wait until McCain falls ill or a Vice President Palin has to step up? Americans get such hurt feelings over real issues that matter and but revels in sensational garbage.

[MsBrina]

Exactly! Hypocritical bastards is what they are.

[joshuahmcdonald]

I apologize in advance for the shouting, but...

HOW CAN ANYONE BELIEVE THAT AGE AND MEDICAL CONDITION ARE NOT RELEVANT TO DETERMINING A CANDIDATE'S QUALIFICATION FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?!?!?!?

Of course age matters. I'm not saying we need to discriminate. That is absolutely inappropriate. But we assuredly need to judge his mental acuity and age is a factor in that...ASK ANY DOCTOR!

Recently, McCain has shown considerable lack of judgment and I honestly believe that his age is impacting his ability to campaign. If so, how will it impact his ability to run our country?

[TroubleNYC]

O'REILLY: Jump!
MSNBC: How high?

[proveit2me]

Hillary, it looks like the media is going to have to borrow your "pair" after all...

[MillerMan]

Well it's the truth, but maybe that's the problem.

[gaja]

Amazing that despicable people like those in McCain's camp put out nasty ads every single day which are blatantly FALSE --and the MSM has no problem airing those... Hypocrites!!!

[londonrainbow]

O'Reilly should shut up and not throw stones.

I can remind him of a list of silly stuff he's said and played on his show.

[AdamSC]

That AD is pretty outrageous but it possess a real truth about it even though it's graphic nature seems to scare people.

I don't want Governor Palin leading the country if something would happen to John McCain, if he had a relapse of the skin cancer.

If something would happen to Barack Obama on the other hand, Joe Biden would take control, which isn't as bad as someone like Sarah Palin.

[barkingcat]

This ad is quite tame compared to the Swiftboat ads used against Kerry in the last presidential campaign.

It at least raises a valid point, one that a number of people I've spoken to have concerns about.

[barackobama4prez]

Bill O- spare me your phony outrage you r a c i s t b i g o t.

[TuffCookie]

giving in to the right again? sigh