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

[Montanan4Obama]

People you can make a difference. Let MSNBC know you don't think Billy O should be calling the shots. This ad is not offensive in any way. It only serves to educate people that there is a real risk. If McCain had selected a competent individual as his VP I would think his previous bout with cancer would be relatively moot. But, there is a nearly one in three chance that Ms. Palin would become President, and that, for me, is why people need to be aware of McCain precarious health situation.

[RobinLandseadel]

I think, considering the immense pressure of the office of the President, the odds of McCain not surviving his first term in office is much higher than that.

[OB08]

This is a great add. We are talking about the presidency for God sakes. If McSame is hiding health issues than the public needs to know. MSNBC executives are chickens and absolutely NO BALLS. The kindergarten sex add was worse so why don't you pull that one?

[conductrix]

The beautiful part about this is that even though it was pulled down, it's going to get much more airplay now that O'Reilly started whining about it. I think it's a pertinent question, going directly to his (physical) fitness as a president. I've always felt he was being reckless by running at this age anyway...i­t just reads desperate and self-serving.

Oh, I guess I was talking about the whole debate fake-out thing.

LOL!

[jazzman]

Why is McCain's cancer not a campaign issue especially with the light weight Palin waiting in the wings? His health goes straight to his ability to serve. If Obama had a drug problem or a drinking problem wouldn't we want to know about it. These are important issues.

It's also the height of hyprocisy for the right wing to be asking for the media to be politically correct on the cancer issue.

Hey electorate, MCCAIN HAS HAD CANCER 4 TIMES. PALIN IS HIS VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE. THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lemeritus]

I absolutely agree with you, jazzman. McCain's health AND AGE are issues that should concern voters and his running mate makes it worse by far.

The ad, however, was unseemly (even if, unlike the Swift Boat ads, true). Politics may be a contact sport, but there's a thin line between hard-hitting and making (poor old, sick) McCain look like a victim. And nobody sings the blues between than the Republicans; in fact, they invented the blues.

[NJCPA]

And as a POW (did you know he was a POW?), he has a lower life expectancy than an average person. There are some rumors that he is actually dead now and it is really the movie sequel " Election at Bernies "

[NJCPA]

O'Reilly complained and MSNBC listened? Yeah I believe that. Who at GE pressured them?

I wonder how long did it took the big O to get his head out of Bush's butt to respond.

[oldguru]

It is just too ironic for O'Reilly to be lecturing anyone about decency. I cannot think of one human being I respect less than O'Reilly..­.Well, maybe Dickless Cheney. Same class of subhumans.

[respectingothers]

you took the words out of my mouth!

[mabinog]

Obviously not enough deference paid to the 72 year old, who has had 4 bouts with cancer, droopy eye and difficulty remembering things!



Oh and he was a POW!

[yesenia]

Hey, lets do a pool. Who's in?... I predict Mc Cain is going to I was a POW about 98 times tonight! You ???

[RobinLandseadel]

. . . .hmmmm,

I dunno, but Faux Noose doubtless will see fit to mention it a few times.

[davidsandiego]

this is a sad day in america

[yeswecancan]

This is completely fair game ... especially with the completely unqualified Sarah Palin as his running mate, McCain's age and health are all the more important and his shielding of his medical records is outrageous. And are you kidding me? They're showing ads in Michigan with mug shots of Kwame Kilpatrick reminiscent of the Willie Horton ads. Puhhhlease ... grow a set Billl-O.

[obamasOHangel]

Exactly. Along with the Rev. Wright ads titled "Friends". Total hypocrites.

[enlighteninglad]

The worst was the distortion about educating kindergartners about sexual predators. I guess the right wants children to be abused.

[caterpol]

Can't stand O'Really, he's a hypocrite, guilty of selective outrage, a bloviating blowhard, and a symbold of what's wrong with the discourse in this country.

Can't stand McCain for some of the same reasons.

BUT I don't like the ad.

While it makes a reasonable argument (Palin's waiting in the wings), and while the issue should be debated in the public consciousn­ess----the ad, itself, comes across as mean-spirited. It's like picking on the crippled kid.

[obamasOHangel]

Well if the crippled kid has a daddy who is at fault for crippling the country then I have zero sympathy.

[caterpol]

I feel your pain.

When I say I can't stand O'Really or McCain, I worry about my blood pressure.

But with the race this close, I don't think insulting older folks, those suffering with cancer, the terminally ill, is a good idea.

To repeat, it's not the issue of his age or medical history that's wrong, it's the ad itself.

Greenwald and O'Really have a long history, and while I admire Greenwald, I think he got the "tone" wrong.

[RobinLandseadel]

"It's like picking on the crippled kid."

When choosing your football team? Do you honestly want that crippled kid on your team? If you're only pointing out the simple fact that the kid is crippled is it cruel, or is it pertinent data?

[caterpol]

Try and put yourself in the mindset of the undecideds.

Florida for instance. The land of the newly-weds and nearly-deads.

Do you really think insulting old people and cancer victims is going to be persuasive?

Again, it's not the information, it's the "tone".

[yesenia]

LoL... Not laughing.. LOL

[Doots]

Just a little fun, he he he.

[AnotherToerag]

The ad is spot-on. The health of a person who could be President should be an open talking point.
... especially when the VP pick is Palin!

[BethStuart]

I suspect the ad will get far more exposure because of the publicity generated by O'Reilly than it otherwise would have.

[RobinLandseadel]

Right! "It's not the crime, it's the cover-up."

[Shiba Inu149]

I thought McCain wanted to inject some humor into the campaign. Isn't this a fun topic, a chance to talk about facts that are relevant to the campaign. Where's his sense of humor?

[Whinger]

Tell all the lies you wish but don''t speak the truth.

Patriots fought and died for freedom and freedom of speech, O'Reilly dishonors them!

[vernbvb]

i know a lot of people hate O'reilly and he can be irritating sometimes (especially when he yells at his guests). But O'Reilly does seem to care about decency. Just as he complained about McCain's Obama ad, he is fairly complaining about this negative McCain ad as i am sure Obama also is complaining.

There are many other focal points that could have been used about McCain. McCain is his own worst enemy. Use his comments and tactics against him instead of something this personal and vile.

[RobinLandseadel]

". . . .But O'Reilly does seem to care about decency. . . ."

Bill O'Reilly? Decency?

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1013043mackris1.html

"What's the matter with this country, havewe forgottonhow to puke?": Redd Foxx, 1976