Fox News pans ads, says "factually incorrect"
This is interesting:
WASHINGTON - Fox News is refusing to air an ad critical of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, citing its lawyers' contention that the spot is factually incorrect.
About the ad in question:
The ad says that as an appellate court judge, Alito has "ruled to make it easier for corporations to discriminate ... even voted to approve strip search of a 10-year-old girl." Referring to a document Alito wrote in 1985 while seeking a job in the Reagan administration, it quotes him as saying that "the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion."
The groups backing the ad include the Alliance for Justice, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, People for The American Way and abortion rights organizations.
Fox isn't going to run the ads based on consultation with its legal department:
Paul Schur, a spokesman for Fox, said that according to the network's lawyers, the ad is "factually incorrect and we've given them an opportunity to fix it."
Of course, this just shores up the left's contention that Fox News is a "right-wing" media outlet:
Said Jim Jordan, a spokesman for the groups: "The entire right wing establishment, from Pat Robertson to Jerry Falwell to Fox News, has circled the wagons around Sam Alito."
My take: Bravo to Fox News. Being responsible for what you put on the air is neither right nor left - it's, well, just being responsible. And there are too many in the media willing to accept deceptive advertising with no thought whatsoever to the consequences. If their legal staff tells them the ad isn't accurate and advises not to air it, Fox News management would be stupid to ignore them.
And before anyone gets the wrong idea, this is less about the content of the ad in question and more about Fox's right to protect it's own interests.
They have a legal staff for a reason, you know. And it's good business to listen to them.
Oh, and if any lawyers are reading this, don't get a big head - you're still a bunch of ambulence chasers. ;-)
