Media Matters Set To Air “CNN’s Lou Dobbs Problem” Ad On CNN
Aug 3, 2009 4 Comments ›› Pat Dollard
Washington, D.C. — 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.”
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.
Upon learning of the ad campaign, Dobbs took to the airwaves, calling Media Matters “a rabid, left-wing operation.”
