Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Who is Rick Scott?

Original Link: http://www.seiu.org/2009/05/who-is-rick-scott.php

By Jessica Kutch

Rick Scott knows what he can get away with.

Recently, Mr. Scott bought ads for his group "Conservatives for Patients' Rights" on CNN and FOX News networks. The ads were created by the same firm behind the now discredited "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" ads from the 2004 presidential campaign.

Rick Scott's anti-health care reform ad is chock-full of misinformation. SEIU has requested that the ads be pulled based on the following:

Rick Scott misleads viewers about the Federal Coordinating Council , claiming: "not only could a government board deny your choice in doctors, but it can control life and death for some patients." This statement is demonstrably false.
The advertisement further deceives viewers by blatantly misrepresenting the positions of two physicians. (Our full request is available here.)
These lies break CNN and Fox News' own policies protecting viewers from false advertising. But the television networks are doing nothing.

Watch the video, then tell FOX News and CNN to stop airing this ad: http://action.seiu.org/tellFoxNews

CNN's lawyers are giving CPR five business days to respond. During this time, they will continue running CPR's ad. The 60-second ad runs until May 7th, which means that if CPR fails to defend the gross misstatements and distortions in their ad, they only stand to lose one day of airtime.

CNN claims this is "standard" policy for advertising disputes. If that's the case, no wonder CPR chose to run their misleading advertisement on their network. (Meanwhile, FOX News has not responded to our request.)

We welcome thoughtful discussion and disagreement on health care reform - what we will not tolerate are lies and distortions meant to scare the American public.

Join SEIU in calling on FOX News and CNN to adhere to their own policies and immediately cease running CPR's distortions: http://action.seiu.org/tellFoxNews

Thanks for speaking out.

No comments: