CNN Scuttles Anti-Dobbs Ad

With Additional Reporting By Sam Stein

CNN is declining to carry a national advertisement, purchased by two progressive groups, which attacks its host Lou Dobbs for his controversial views on immigration.

On Thursday, the progressive media watchdog group Media Matters, along with the organization America's Voice announced a new ad attacking Dobbs and CNN for airing "60 minutes of anti-immigrant hate." And in a deft touch of political messaging, the groups announced that they had their ad buyer place the spot on CNN itself, during the network's "Latino in America" series.

The possibility of an ad slamming Dobbs on his own network created a bit of buzz and anticipation in progressive circles. But CNN moved quickly to squelch discussion. A spokesperson at the network told the Huffington Post that they would not be running it on the national network, though there is no word yet as to whether local affiliates would, or could, carry the spot.

"Contrary to reports, CNN has not accepted these spots and they will not air on the network," said a statement from the network.

This is the second time that the network has declined to run an ad critical of Dobbs. Earlier in the year Media Matters had attempted to buy a spot whacking the host for entertaining birther conspiracies about the president. That too was rejected.

The most recent spot was part of the groups' grassroots campaign effort to push CNN to cancel Dobbs' show. The host, who has been a source of agitation for immigrant-rights groups, is reportedly considering a move from CNN to FOX News.

There is no word, as of yet, whether Media Matters and America's Voice will attempt to put the ad up on another station. In trying to place the spot on CNN, the groups were undoubtedly hoping to generate enough publicity to make it a news story of its own -- a technique that would have resulted in the ad being replayed on other news sites for free.

Here is the spot, entitled "Drop Dobbs":

Comments

[brady61995]

he has no ratings. not sure why they dont clean house and go back to reporting news. all they do now is have left and right paid guest to bicker. there is no news on tv worth watching

[buenasnoches2009]

I strongly believe CNN should mandate Lou Dobbs to step down from his throne. Unless, CNN and Lou Dobbs have something in common, "controversial views on immigration".

Ironic, CNN presents Soledad O'Brien's Latino in America two two-hour episodes exploring how Latinos are reshaping our communities and culture, and forcing a nation of immigrants to rediscover what it means to be an American.

If given the chance, Lou Dobbs would talk about any other race, afro-Americans or Asian-Americans to mention a couple, in the same fashion he does with illegal aliens which focuses on Latin-Americans.

I wish CNN would reconsider better approaches to sensitive materials and/or views. One may say, Lou Dobbs is to blame for his topics, when in fact CNN senior management allow it.

[randyjet]

I saw the ad, and I can find nothing in it that is factual. All it states is that if you are against ILLEGALS, you are therefore racists and against ALL immigrants. This is absurd and it is a bankrupt tactic that convinces nobody. The FACT is that if you enter the US illegally, you ARE a CRIMINAL! That is a CRIME. There are very good reasons for that among them are the public health concerns, public safety in keeping out hardened crooks, and drug runners.

I cannot consider those who are in favor of illegals to be part of the progressive movement since they are racists who are for the employers who are using the illegals to drive down our wages. It is the poor black, brown and white AMERICANS who pay the steepest price for this flood of unskilled workers. I lived on the border for many years, and I personally saw the toll that this takes on our people in terms of low wages, not to mention the destruction of the property of my neighbors.

[solarian]

all cnn is opinion station there isn't one show I would watch it is fox lite

[tahoegal]

Until CNN drops Dobbs, we'll never watch another one of their programs. Problem solved!

[justice11]

Hopefully Turner gets this c r e e p out of there!!!!

[Greg Petty]

Dobbs is a cretin

[xlntcat]

Dobbs and Turner go way back. Hoping that Turner would drop Dobbs is wishful thinking not based in reality.

[TobyPLD]

The Huffers are rapidly catching up with the King of Censors, Adolf, in demanding censorship of anything that may not promote the Huffer Leftest Ideals.

[greysells2]

Oh, brave CNN!

[RichardD]

I would expect nothing less from the Completely Not News network.

[middleoftheroad]

they knew CNN would not show it. they made so huff post would create a thread just like this!

[scorpioleidy]

Well, DUH! What the he// kinda sense would that make?! If I ran CNN, I wouldn't accept/run ads that di.spa.r.aged the hosts, any more than NBC or MSNBC would run ne.g.at.ive ads about KeithO or Rachel.

Let me be clear, I don't like LD at all, but this is a business decision, folks.

[greysells2]

But CNN is renting the public airways from the US Citizens and has some responsibly to act in the public interest under the auspices of the FCC. Yes, it is a business but are we saying that businesses can do anything they want in the interests of money even if it harms the country? For example, Wall Street?

[RLaitres]

Unfortunately many believe that a "business" can do exactly that. Locally, I note that our local outlets never allow any criticism of any business or industry, and perish the thought, taking some so-called "religious" person to task for what they preach, even if it has absolutely nothing to do with anyone's religion. That is what happens when people have been brainwashed, men and institutions as their real gods; i.e. what is most important in their lives..

[randyjet]

I guess you cannot understand English, CNN stands for CABLE NEWS NETWORK, thus it does NOT use public broadcast airways DUMMY! I can see why you don't like Dobbs since he is rational and such folks who don't like him are not.

[Progress08]

Since when can a TV Network not broadcast what it's paid to? I mean it's not obscene, it' s not in violation of any part of the constitution. How can CNN not air it when we (WE) own the airwaves.

[bknott]

What do you mean by "we own the airwaves"? CNN is owned by Time Warner - AOL, and they can certainly decide which commercials will air.

Media Matters' idea was gimmicky. I think Lou Dobbs is a jerk, and I hope his show gets pulled. However, castigating a network for not airing a commercial that attacks one of their own hosts is extremely tasteless.

[greysells2]

Well, CNN seems to think anything goes, so it is not unfair to pressure them to do something else if enough people want the station to behave differently. Pressure aside, in election time stations are required to air ads they may not agree with. Listeners/watchers know that ads do not reflect the views of the carrier. CNN and their trolls are engaging in the "Big Whine".

[xlntcat]

Any individual station can refuse to broadcast an ad. Any business can refuse to sell their merchanise. As long as they don't take the money, they have no obligation to air the ad.

[ibsteve2u]

Dobbs would just fade away, except many Americans have a hard time linking "illegal" and "immigrant-rights".

It conflicts...we're supposed to condemn individuals on Wall Street and in banking for breaking the law, but condone and even encourage crime as long as it is committed by the citizens of other countries?

[ggranny]

I have placed CNN in the same toilet with FOX News...I do not watch them anymore.

[Omentum]

Lou "Drudge" owns CNN