August, 03 2009, 09:44am EDT
'CNN's Dobbs Problem' Ad Set to Hit CNN Airwaves: Media Matters Announces Ad Campaign Calling for Accountability From 'The Most Trusted Name in News'
WASHINGTON
Media Matters for America today announced the
launch of a television ad campaign calling for CNN to credibly address its Lou
Dobbs problem. The ad, set to air this week on Dobbs' CNN program as well
as on Fox News and MSNBC, demonstrates how CNN has repeatedly allowed Dobbs to
promote racially-charged conspiracy theories about President Obama's
birth certificate on his prime-time television show. CNN President Jonathan
Klein has defended Dobbs' coverage, calling it "legitimate."
Watch "CNN's Dobbs Problem": www.DobbsConspiracy.com.
BACKGROUND
Media Matters bought
a week of ad time on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News in Washington,
D.C., New York,
and Atlanta.
The progressive media watchdog has not ruled out increasing the ad buy to other
networks or markets in the coming days. As Washington Post Co. blogger Greg
Sargent reported, "Media
Matters has specifically purchased time to air the ad during
Dobbs' show -- putting CNN in the position of either running the spot or
nixing it and making this a bigger story."
The ad, which will air beginning Tuesday, August 4, calls out CNN for
continuing to allow Dobbs' to promote racially charged conspiracy
theories about the validity of President Obama's birth certificate. The
script is as follows:
TITLE: CNN's Dobbs Problem -- 30 Sec.
On-screen text: CNN Has a Lou Dobbs Problem
Voice Over: CNN's Lou Dobbs has been promoting
the false, right-wing conspiracy that President Obama hasn't produced a
valid U.S.
birth certificate.Video: Images of Lou Dobbs repeating the phrase
"birth certificate" from his extensive promotion of the issue on his
CNN show.Voice Over: CNN President Jon Klein said Dobbs'
obsession was "legitimate."Video:
Dobbs saying "birth certificate" even more, building in intensity.Video:
Dobbs, without sound, gesturing as he further discusses Obama's birth
certificate.Voice Over: It's time for "The Most
Trusted Name in News" to live up to its slogan. Let CNN know
there's nothing "legitimate" about racially charged paranoia.On-screen text: Take action at MediaMatters.org
On-screen
text: Paid for by Media Matters for America.
www.MediaMatters.org
Upon learning of the ad campaign, Dobbs took to the airwaves, callingMedia Matters "a rabid, left-wing
operation."
For more
information on the controversy surrounding Dobbs and CNN, please visit:
Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.
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