After MSNBC President Claims Channel Doesn't Support Libs, Network Gives Free Time to MoveOn.org Ad
Just days after MSNBC President Phil Griffin claimed
his cable network does not use air-time to support Democratic
candidates and liberal causes, evening host Lawrence O'Donnell yielded
over two minutes of his eponymous program to feature MoveOn.org's latest
anti-Republican advertisement in its entirety.
O'Donnell introduced the partisan attack ad as a get-out-the-vote push:
"Sometimes you have to take unusual steps to get out the vote.
MoveOn.org, with the help of actors Olivia Wilde from 'House' and Romany
Malco from 'Weeds,' has produced a warning from the future to show you
what could happen if Republicans win this election because you didn't
vote."
After playing the entire ad uninterrupted, which urged voters to "STOP
THE REPUBLICAN TAKEOVER!!" and predicted that if the GOP takes back
control of Congress in November because liberals don't go to the polls,
Republicans will merge with "the big corporations that fund them to
create RepubliCorp," the MSNBC host immediately cut to a commercial
break.
Instead of analyzing the attack ad on its merits, O'Donnell gave MoveOn.org free ad time.
"Show me an example of us fundraising," Griffin challenged critics in a recent interview.
While O'Donnell did not directly appeal to voters to donate to the
left-wing political group, this blatant display of partisanship is at
odds with Griffin's contention that MSNBC does not openly cheer lead for
liberal interests.
- Alex
Fitzsimmons is a News Analysis intern at the Media Research Center.
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