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MSNBC Rejects MoveOn's Ad Calling For Target Boycott
A new ad from MoveOn.org attacking Target.
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MoveOn has hit a bump in the road for its anti-Target ad, which calls for a boycott of the company as a result of its $150,000 donation to a business group running ads for Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. MSNBC, the liberal-branded national cable channel where MoveOn hoped to air the ad, has instead rejected it.
An MSNBC spokeswoman told the Associated Press that the spot violates the channel's policy against ads that directly attack an individual business.
It's not all bad news for MoveOn, though. The group says that local TV stations in the Twin Cities market are running the ad.
As we've documented, Target's involvement with the business group MN Forward, to which they donated $150,000, triggered a political backlash in this liberal state due to Emmer's right-wing social positions. The company said it was supporting the group because of economic issues, but the CEO has since apologized.
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mcc
August 19, 2010 1:58 PM
So you can attack a politician, but not a business. You know what? Target doesn't get to call themselves a business anymore. They're acting like politicians, they should be treated like politicians.
This is at once ridiculous and sad. Corporations can run ads without limit to influence politics, but citizens can't run ads back against the corporations AT ALL.
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AJM
August 19, 2010 10:03 PM in reply to mcc
Citizens United.
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AJM
August 19, 2010 10:05 PM in reply to AJM
They're just people now. And when people do political things they are politicians subject to attack.
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jdb316
August 19, 2010 11:38 PM in reply to AJM
But they still have the money of major corporations, which means it can spend (or not spend) oodles of money on advertising. That's the real reason for this. Target is a potential advertiser and MSNBC wants its money. So no ads calling for boycott of Target.
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alaric
August 19, 2010 2:04 PM
So MSNBC must not get to call themselves a business either? MSNBC is doings whats best for MSNBC. You certainly won't make restitution to the network for ad dollars lost in the future.
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ignoreland
August 19, 2010 4:09 PM
Has Target asked for the money back? Until they get it, the issue stands.
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August 19, 2010 4:43 PM
I find it ironic that this article is running next to an ad asking for donations to contribute to Rand Paul's campaign.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
August 19, 2010 6:04 PM
An MSNBC spokeswoman told the Associated Press that the spot violates GE's policy against ads that directly attack advertisers.
There. Fixed that for you.
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August 19, 2010 8:52 PM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
well done
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dudeguy
August 20, 2010 10:16 AM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
GE? I thought they were owned by Kabletown now.
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fname
August 19, 2010 6:47 PM
MoveOn.org started life as a potentially revolutionary, non-partisan group. Now they're just a bunch of bitter Democrats more concerned with maintaining their public profile with things like the Admiral Betray Us stunt, and now this.
They need to relax & get back to the attitude that thrust them into the national spotlight-- it was, I believe, Censure & Move On. I donated $500 as a starving grad student to Rush Holt & others to help MoveOn kick out pro-impeachment Republicans. Now? Now they jump on the latest tempest-in-a-teapot bubbling through the Kosopshere. Gimme a break.
As for MSNBC, let them do what they want. But really, if you sold $1 billion/ year in ads for Target, would you run one $1000 ad urging a boycott? Cheap publicity stunt, nothing more nothing less. Looking forward to the day when the rest of the Democrats realize that MoveOn is beyond irrelevant.
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andyvillager
August 19, 2010 8:00 PM in reply to fname
so what harm will MoveOn's $1000 ad do to Target and MSNBC then? Shouldn't the good capitalist at MSNBC at least take the money from the "irrelevant" fools?
1st Amendment should be in play in both directions...
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mcd410x
August 19, 2010 8:15 PM in reply to andyvillager
The First Amendment has only to do with government-restricted speech. TV stations can do whatever they want.
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AJM
August 19, 2010 10:08 PM in reply to mcd410x
Not exactly. The number of TV channels possible and so the government has only sold them with conditions -- used to be the fairness doctrine which would have allowed those attacked on Fox the right of reply and now definitely includes decency standards and the like.
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farnsworth
August 19, 2010 11:35 PM in reply to AJM
It's cable. It's not airwaves. The government doesn't sell it or regulate it.
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andyvillager
August 19, 2010 10:39 PM in reply to mcd410x
I apologize for the confusion in my earlier statement. I guess I meant to say free market should be open to all, if the slanket and the thigh-master can buy ads, why not Move-On?
My 1st amendment comment was actually directed at the notion that corporations should expect a reply to their speech. and small irrelevant groups should be given equal opportunity in the FREE MARKET.
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mcd410x
August 19, 2010 8:17 PM
MoveOn should make it clear its not attacking a business but a corporate person. Surely, MSNBC is ok with that ...
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wyt
August 19, 2010 10:16 PM in reply to mcd410x
If Target can pay for advertising attacking politicians, then can't politicians (who Move-On are) pay for advertising attacking Target? What's this, Target can dish it out but they can't take it?
Total cowards. We've got a lot of that in this world today.
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nonnymouse
August 19, 2010 8:23 PM
I think Wal•Mart is behind it. They won't be happy until they have no competition.
(just kidding… sort of)
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dustbunny44
August 19, 2010 8:42 PM
Hey, Target this.
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bugtunkler
August 19, 2010 9:18 PM
This is a win-win.
MoveOn gets their ad rejected, but makes news. People check out the ad in stories like this online and maybe click the ad when they see it placed, as an ad, on other sites.
MSNBC doesn't have to annoy its parent company and gives MoveOn a hand in getting the message out by helping to create this story.
I ain't hatin', just explainin'. Good on 'em.
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GayIthacan
August 19, 2010 9:27 PM
Gee - apparently the Citizen's SCOTUS ruling that equated corporations with people doesn't apply at MSNBC.
If you can attack people, why not a corporation - since, according tot he SCOTUS, they are identical?
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August 19, 2010 9:55 PM
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1audiofile
August 20, 2010 1:47 AM
Progressives still taking spitballs to gun fights. Would fox hesitate for a second to run a neg. ad against the Dems? No clock has been invented to measure how small that time would be.
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Virginia
August 20, 2010 8:24 AM
So now I can't shop at either Wal-Mart (anti-union, censorship, etc) or Target (supporting Republicans). Where the heck am I supposed to shop for everyday household stuff?
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Realist
August 20, 2010 8:50 AM
Where? China, of course, where it's all made. Eliminate the middleman.
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chitowner
August 21, 2010 4:51 AM
MSNBC certainly doesn't mind taking ad money from candidates who slime each other. If big corporation want to play politics this way, let them suffer the consequences.
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