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

[k6007]

:D

[Pithaughn]

As long as right wing organizations like Fredoms watch are putting crap like this on the air, http://cbs4denver.com/local/udall.freedom.watch.2.815576.html , I say pictures of McCain with a few stitches are fair game. There are no lies in the McCain had cancer ad. It may not be pretty, but that's the truth, sometimes it's beautifull and sometimes not so much.

[yesenia]

I don't want a sick president, that can kick the can soon after getting elected. We need to demand more from our candidates, so we don't end up with a pres. that can't deliver... One thing is true,
Mc Cain has nine lives, he crashed 5 planes, 4 cancerous moles, dementia, geez...

[wfalda]

It's true: McCain is 72 years old - meaning he has orbited 72 times around the sun. He also has had skin cancer. All true. But there are hundreds of more substantive ways to question whether McCain is fit to lead a nation. So, in a way, I agree with Bill O'Reilly that there are many, many other reasons why McCain is one shaky dude and we should not attack his age, or his medical history. Remember "Tricky Dick" and "Slick Willie"? If this guy gets elected, he'll flop around like a dying fish on a dock.

[shaytoonee]

They should NOT take down this ad. Wtf is wrong with MSNBC... they are scared chickens. This ad tells the truth. ppl need to hear the truth.

Im in healthcare and this is a SERIOUS issue. Mcain should release his medical records. If he has nothing to hide then prove it.

[Shieldmaiden]

Why is O'Reilly only angry when they attack McCain? The ad states the truth even though I think it is in pretty poor taste. Why wasn't O'Reilly defending Obama against the disgusting ads that said he wanted to teach sex ed to kindergartners? That was actually not true. I don't agree with this cancer ad but why do people who dish out such bile find it hard to stomach when it comes and bites them in the ass? It just sounds hypocritical.

[NJCPA]

The world according to O' is only about hypocritical. Lets see if I can yell louder than my guest, or just feign indignation and yell for the fun of it.

I wonder when he goes to hell if he will try to bully the devil?

[SunshineDaydream]

billo'fuck­ingreilley­????? now he is calling the shots at msnbc?

[dsmyre]

If Bill O. is crying, it means we got it right on the nose.
Copy that ad everywhere you can. Spread it!

[Zofomofo]

This ad is not low, it is accurate and very important - no lies, no truth stretching, nothing.
But McCains ad THAT HE APPROVED insinuates Obama is a pervert. Anyone who is bothered by the Cancer ad and not the pervert ad is so biased, their opinion is useless.
MSNBC wimped out.

[obamasOHangel]

And McCain stood by that same ad on the View, on the Today Show on MSNBC and CNN.

[NiteVizn]

I agree his medical condition is important but even I thought that ad was a bit creepy. I am glad it didn't come from the Obama camp.

[yesenia]

Let's donate to these people, so they can expose Mc Same and beat him at his own game..

[paisleyprak]

O'Reilly spoke out about the kindergarten ad, too, didn't he?

[RobinLandseadel]

Yup, whilst rubbing himself all-over with a loofa!

[respectingothers]

The point could have been made without making it so personal and graphic. but I hope MNBC didn't pull it just because of blow-hard o'reilly

[RobinLandseadel]

NBC shows programs like "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," with gory & graphic details of rape and child molestation on regular broadcast TV, so a couple two-three scars on the face of an old man shouldn't be an issue at all, right?

Hypocrisy, hypocrisy. . . .

[Opt1musPr1me]

EF Billo the clown. I bet if the tables were turned fox would be running this ad on Obama. It's OK they, the add will have a broader reach on the web. If anyone finds out how and where money can be donated to this group, HOLLA!

[yesenia]

Here is another ad that's exposes Mc Cain, I think this is the same group... Donate!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH0xzsogzAk

[lisakaz2]

Why isn't the truth a defence here?

[gfreshski1]

Doesn't feel too good, does it neocons?

[Mike169]

I thought it was a good ad that asked an important question. Whne I saw it on tv ysterday I thought there'd be an outcry. Now it will be all over the internet and possibly on tv news spread much the same way as the Republicans spread their venom.

[DBMAC]

I saw it. It wasn't offensive. It is true. McCain is a man at an age who is going to have a hard time keeping up physically and mentally. The added fact that he has a serious type of cancer is a double threat. If he had been using better sense he would not have chosen a person as his vice presidential running mate who is so obviously out of her element. I am an Obama supporter not because McCain is too old but because Obama is the better of the two candidates, period. It's no contest. Bill O'Reilly and the other blowhards on talk radio especially Rush Limbaugh are womanizing, pompous asses. The idea that the Dems are so close to taking over is killing them. I love it. I hope Murdoch's stations all crash and burn. They are going to have to swing their far right slant toward the center or to the left over the next few years just as CNN and MSNBC had to move their left leaning slant to the right over the past 8. If they don't they will lose market share, and that is all any of them really care about.

[unity08]

The ad was done in very poor taste. They could have gotten the message through with a lighter hand.
It is not our intention to get down and wallow in the mud when its not necessary to do so, is it?

[yesenia]

Well I myself wasn't going to sit back and allow Mc Shame call Obama a pervert, so I like many others are not opposed to speak the truth about how dangerous it is to have a grumpy senior citizen in poor health run my country..