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

[AnotherAngle]

I can't help but wonder how many innocent bystanders have been affected by the iniquitous nature of this cruel and heartless ad. I wonder how many people have been diagnosed with melanoma that now, thanks to this tasteless diagnosis have learned that their chances of survival are slim and they should be written off as already deceased. John McCain does not deserve to be the subject of this noxious venom, simply because he has an (R) behind his name. It's almost pathetic to think he served and was tortured so that you all have the right to spew it.

There is another disease that seems to be running rampant that has been given no attention. So many of you seem to have been afflicted with vitriolic regurgitation, and the only cure is shame, which unfortunately, seems to be in short supply.

[obamasOHangel]

Oh goodness. The POW card.

Guess what? My husband served too, and we lost our best friend. At least McCain still has his life. And with that life he's running for THE highest office in the United States. And since the president serves US we have a right to know his medical history. That is ALL that this ad is saying so spare us the violins. It's as fake as Palin's experience.

[Candyx]

take the POW card and shred it!!!!

[bluesjones63]

Needed to refresh my memory about JOHN MCCAIN & the KEATING 5; read an article from a Phoenix newspaper, written in 1999. I found interesting that the author said McCain "never lets us forget" his Vietnam POW status.

EVEN in 1999, during the throes of the KEATING 5 scandal, McCain was pushing his history.

LOL

[AnotherAngle]

Must an ad show a man's scars? And diagnose his pending death?

Trust me, you aren't the only person with family that has served. The difference between you and I is this; I believe that the service of our men and women shouldn't be reduced to something as insignificant as a "card". We'll leave it at that.

I really never thought that jealousy could bring out such unconsciounable retorts from the opposition, but the evidence is clear. Sarah Palin has really gotten under your skin (and I understand). Obama is such a man of change, yet he chose another rich white guy for his VP. So, who is really the man that wants change? Why not Hillary?

Go Sarah !!!

[ricehq]

McCain opened the door widely when he made Sarah Palin his choice for V.P.

She is one 72 year old heartbeat from the Presidency.

If she were not so completely incapable, of filling the position, there wouldn't be as much fear of him being 72 years old, with melanoma.

[DASChicago]

The truth will make you Free!

[tyger]

My heart bleeds for big piece of crap!

[gintheb]

I think the add made an impact during its brief run. I just hate that O'Reilly is being giving credit for having it pulled.

[solee]

Since John McCain is "applying" for the job as President, we have every right to know his physical health condition especially since he has had melanoma. In fact, Air America reported today, that he was treated as recent as February of this year for melanoma. He also takes at least 6 medications. For what??

My impression of his recent stunt to postpone the debate is two fold. The first being, that he is extremely tired and is looking for an excuse to take a nap for a few days to recharge his battery and the second being that I believe there is turmoil within his own champaign. Anyone that viewed the Sarah Palin
interview with Katie Couric must have cringed as I did. She is simply not well educated and it shows every time she opens her mouth. McCain must be dying. Then you have the Rick Davis scandal of his company receiving money from Fannie Mae as recent as a month ago. All of this came out this week.

Even Republicans that originally supported Palin, are now of the opinion that she should bow out.

Now the arrogant SOB is proclaiming he's already won the debate before it has taken place. This is
a MAD MAN!! I am disgraced. Weren't there any other good Republicans run as the candidate -OMG!

[Ron1951]

Given that even Bush 44 aides and so many conservative commentators are commenting about how poorly Cheney2 performed in her interviews with Katie Couric, I think it is extrememly important to know about Bush 44's health.

He never fails to remind us that he was a POW for 5+ years. Well, that kind of stress and physical abuse takes years off one's life. There is a good chance he might not live for 4 more years given his history as a POW.

Add to this his history of melanomas.

Add to this his history of anger and his recent erratic behavior which could be signs of ADHD or PTSD or clinical depression.

To not know the status of his health is to not have all of the information needed to make an intelligent decision when votint.

[bayman]

Good move. When a 72-year old with four past bouts of cancer runs for president, and picks the most underqualified candidate ever to be his VP, it's really of no consequence what his medical history is.

[ElBruce]

Viewer complaints? I don't think Bill'O counts as an MSNBC "viewer."

[Budokan]

F O'Reilly

[IowaCali]

I lost a family member to metastasized melanoma. He was able to work for awhile, to enjoy life for awhile, and then it caught up. After approximately 12 surgeries it was finally too much. Before his diagnosis he was a healthy, fit 38-year old. How can anyone think that a 72-year old man with various surgeries to removal melanoma should not divulge his medical records before he is even considered as a presidential candidate?

[loax]

Man, the republicans can run any kind of trash they want, but when an ads ask legitimate questions regarding a candidate, the ad gets yanked? How totally unfair and how totally MSM!

[littlepuffycloud]

We the American people have the right to know his medical history. Cancer is horrible and ugly, that's why we have the right to know. You don't for POTUS and refuse to give up EVERYTHING about yourself.

[Okieborn]

AMEN !!
If that was Sen. Obama there would be hell to pay from the Repubs. !!!!
In the Mccain=Bush WORLD the American Citizenry have "NO" RIGHTS !!!
The type of Cancer that Mccain has is a fast acting no mercy deal, he has had 4 surgeries the Clock is running !!!! GOD BLESS HIM !!

[allonfla]

I winced when I saw the ad. It was tasteless and should not have been aired. This is why Obama has not brought up the topic.

[bluesjones63]

Barack Obama has PROVEN his elegance. His own MOTHER died of cancer.

[OrionKC]

I noticed that bill O never said the ad was inaccurate. the has had cancer 4 times and won't release is medical records??? He's definitely hiding something.

I guess Bill doesn't think it matters that we might get stuck with Ms Palin even if she can see Russia from her house.

[craigdawson]

The ad may be "cruel" like O'Reilly and Megyn Kelly say but you dont hear O'Reilly talking about the most important detail: That McCain has not released all of his medical records.
Why is that? Has cancer spread throughout his body? Does he only have a couple years left??
I dont like McCain but I dislike Palin's social conservatism even more. I sure as hell dont want her as president in a couple years.
It is interesting how all O'Reilly can focus on is the cruelty of the ad, instead of the fact at hand, that McCain has not released all of his medical records.

[codd]

The welfare of the nation supersedes the sensibilities of the Republican candidate. What happened to their motto: Country First?

[AlphaDoc]

Good point.

[GingerB]

"What happened to their motto: Country First?"

Just another McLie.

[bgrp]

Can't they just air the ad on other networks?

[obamasOHangel]

CNN refused to air it.

[KenGirard]

That's why there is YouTube, and the freedom of the internet.
Got something to say... put it out there and let the world see it.

If the site you are hosting it on doesn't like it and yanks it, then host it on your own web site and pay for the bandwidth.

For the price of running this ad on prime time TV for a week, you could likely place an ad about it on millions of website on the net.

Get it big, and the networks pick it up and show it as 'news'.