CNN Rejected Obama Half Hour Ad

While ABC offered the Obama campaign airtime and was rejected, The Hollywood Reporter's James Hibberd reports that CNN rejected the campaign's attempt to purchase airtime for its half hour primetime ad set to air Wednesday night:

A spokesperson told Hibberd:

We were approached by the Obama campaign and declined their request. We did not want to pre-empt our programming lineup with a 30-minute spot. We rather use our air to continue to cover the campaign, candidates and issues like we always do from all points of view with the best political team on television.

Hibberd reports that Fox News was not approached by the Obama campaign. The ad is slated to air on MSNBC, making it the only cable news outlet to run the ad. NBC, Fox, CBS, and Univision will also broadcast the ad.

Despite reports to the contrary, a Fox Broadcasting executive told Politico's Ben Smith that the network did not move the World Series for the campaign ad, and that the first pitch was never slated for earlier than 8:30 PM. Rather, Fox made a "business decision" to air the ad in lieu of the pre-game special.

On Barbara Walters' Sirius radio show Tuesday, "The View" co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck lashed out against the campaign's ad buy, calling it "repulsive." Mark Halperin reports Hasselbeck's full comments:

Obviously both sides are trying to run and create image. So if we use this as, so they both have funds and are creating an image, making sure their candidates are where they need to be seen, as they need to be. I find it completely then repulsive to then - if we want to look at spending - see how Barack Obama now is going to spend what $3 million on two thirty minute ads that are going to run this week.

Comments

[Teeninchee]

Reading and listening to Elisabeth you'd think she and Sarah were twins.

[capitalrules]

I watched CNN from Asia and witnessed their biased coverage of the recent Georgian invasion of South Ossetia.

CNN took actual footage of the carnage waged by Georgia on the civilians of South Ossetia and substituted them in their 24/7 reporting on the “Russian aggression on Georgia”. BBC is of the same ilk.
Americans and their dupes are left with only a virtual window on reality.

[katsushin]

You got it Holmes!!! EVERYTHING you see on MSM in the U.S. must be viewed through very critical eyes. The funny thing is that by U.S. standards the BBC is unflinching and scrupulously objective. I do know that they have their own agenda as well and dont really rock the boat when push comes to shove. They ultimately support the western-centric view that sees all militarism and aggression other than "ours" as motivated by malicious intentions.

Whats up with this Hasselbeck woman? As I remember it, when republicans were on top and getting all the money they were yelling that campaign donations and spending were inviolable aspects of the first amendment. Its amazing what a difference a leap year makes!

[LesaLesa]

Jack Cafferty & Larry King is the only anchors I look forward to watching on CNN and Anderson Cooper has been questionable lately.

And thank God Nov. 4th is almost here. I won't have to hear Elisabeth Hasselback's ignorance about this election.

[gratonite]

Gawd she is dumb.

[imfedup]

She's starting to talk like Palin. Eeek!

[Cybersquirt]

well, when all you've got are talking points..

[tarheel 65]

Does a GOP parrot, caged in the woods, still repeat yesterday's talking points? Poor Elizabeth, she's mistaken being told what to think for actually thinking.

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

I think we should start boycotting CNN, Anderson Cooper too! So lame and sad! I'm over them! Bias!!

[boatsfra]

factcheck.org :"EH has playdough between her ears..."

[DrYRHead]

Yes, I have noticed that CNN is becoming, more, and more like FOX News every month...

[Cybersquirt]

I was sold when they did a "comparison" of both candidates economic plans - yes, it was a while ago. It was their sunday show, don't know the name of it but they had pro's and con's for each.. the thing is, they spread Obama's "cons" across the whole screen, left them up longer and put them up last; McCain's took up 1/4 of the screen and was up for about 15 seconds.

Incredible.

[jennytaylia]

Wait and see. Hasselbeck, like Palin, will fade into obscurity once Obama wins.

And who listens to the screeching of brai.nless ha.rpies anyways???

Squawk squawk. Watch for Miz Liz to be 86'ed from "The View".

[deminmo]

Saw the ad on MSNBC. Very moving, very much spot-on for families,
healthcare, the elderly, housing woes, hard working people and why
Senator Obama is the better choice for President.
Beth, may I call you Beth I feel I know you since you were on "Survivor",
Senator Obama IS the better candidate. You backed the wrong horse.
Oh, can you discribe what is in the "Expanded Bush Doctrine?"

[PS4OBAMA]

I hate wasting a post on Liz Hasselback­....so with nothing nice to say about her.....I won't waste a good post.

[StarwindE]

Let's look at the bigger picture, why do opinions by people like Hasselbeck matter?

[lola85]

Someone on her show (The View) REALLY needs to ask her what her problem is....the deep contempt, distrust and overall disdain she has for Obama is MUCH GREATER than just having a difference of opinion on politics. My husband was walking through the room recently when I was watching The View and was so taken aback by her hate. He said she HAS ISSUES and kept walking! Hasselfart would totally NOT even entertain this idea, but I think it has to do with some deep seated, unresolved issue within herself. What that is, well I have my own theories, but she SHOULD REALLY FIND THAT OUT ABOUT HERSELF. Talk about repulsive.­...It is a VERY unattractive quality.

[vasta]

Does the word racist come to mind. The thought of a black man being President is driving her and Sean Hannity (her mentor) NUTS.

[cdespinos]

We need a President who can function coherently and effectively in America and around the world. Senator Obama is approachable (calm, competent, steady, coherent, friendly), not SCARY. He is a forward thinker. He thinks beyond racial, gender or any other divides. McCain, just because he is selfish, chose a “female” he only met ten seconds ago. It backfired with me. Keeping the recent Economic Meltdown in mind, I decided that I wanted the next American President to have more vigor and brain cells than ‘W’. In other words, I PUT COUNTRY FIRST.

I chose OBAMA-BIDEN for CHANGE. Well, that's a no-brainer! I simply voted for consistency and emotional Intelligence; again, thanks to John McCain for choosing Sarah Palin. I would rather have a Black President who taught the Constitution, than hearing one more syllable out of Sarah Palin's mouth who doesn't even know what a Vice President does; Yet, she believes that she will be in charge of the Senate. WOW! Is she for real? Matt Damon's YouTube video says a lot. I do agree that this ticket (McCain-Palin) is very scary. For all I care, she and Elizabeth H. of the View can go work for FOXnews where they can continue their racist/moronic rants. I can’t take it anymore!

…With Books, Newspapers, Radio, TV, VCR, Computer, DVD, Libraries, iPods, Blogs, etc., how can anyone still be so ignorant in America? It's unbelievable…!!! ???

May God Bless America!

[MM216]

Hey, Hasselback­....I find YOU repulsive!