TV station modifies MoveOn.org ad under GOP pressure

By Tom Coyne
February 7, 2005

An Indiana television station that aired an ad attacking President Bush's Social Security reform tacked on a message of its own after receiving objections from Republican leaders.

Jim Behling, president and general manager of WNDU-TV in South Bend, said the station amended a commercial from MoveOn.Org in response to a letter from the Republican National Committee that called the ad's claims "baseless." … [editing in RNC original]

The ad includes a graphic that reads: "Up to 46 percent cut in benefits." WNDU added a graphic to note that the plan's "impact would vary depending on age."

Behling said the station decided the insertion was appropriate "because the 46 percent actually applies to people who weren't born yet." The rate would apply to a person retiring in 2075, he said. …

The RNC is crowing that it actually censored an advertisement, forcing a common carrier to change it to meet their propaganda!

You would think that MoveOn.org, so often touted as a hard-nosed group, would be screaming bloody murder that a TV station modified its paid content under political pressure from the party controlling all three branches of the US government. You'd think they'd be demanding all of their money back from WNDU-TV right now.

You'd be wrong. MoveOn caved completely:

Tom Matzzie, the Washington director of the political activism group, said he didn't think the change was necessary but did not object to it.

Danny Diaz, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, said the change wasn't enough.

Better brush up on your newspeak, folks.

From Josh Marshall's Talking Points Memo:

As we told you just after 5 PM this afternoon, we've found the Loudest and Proudest member of the Conscience Caucus. It ain't even close.

She is Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R) of Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Emerson is not only diametrically opposed to Bush's Social Security phase-out, but as an extra special bonus: Cape Girardeau, MO, is Rush Limbaugh's hometown.

Update: Josh now says he listed Emerson that way on purpose.