Getting Their Backs

by digby

CNN can run programming claiming that Obama is an illegal alien and employ “consultants” who call Hillary Clinton a bitch and call it “analysis.” They can defame any politician, celebrity or ordinary citizen with total impunity under the first amendment.

But don’t even think of taking on a wealthy CEO. That’s where they draw the line:

What on earth is going on at CNN?

The network — already taking criticism for declining to run an ad criticizing Lou Dobbs — is now refusing to run an ad nationally criticizing the insurance industry, the group that tried to place the ad tells me.

CNN’s reason: The ad “unnecessarily” singles out a top insurance industry executive by name for criticism.

The labor-backed Americans United for Change, a top White House ally in the health care wars, tried to book time on CNN and MSNBC for the ad, which hits the insurance industry for wanting to preserve the status quo and levels harsh criticism at insurance giant Cigna’s CEO, Ed Hanway.

“Why do insurance companies and Republicans want to kill health insurance reform? Because they like things the way they are now,” the ad says, and then slams Hanway’s annual salary of over $12 million and golden parachute retirement package of over $70 million.

Americans United for Change’s spokesman, Jeremy Funk, tells me that CNN refused to run the ad nationally. He says CNN emailed the following reason for rejection:

“This ad does not comply with our clearance guidelines because it unnecessarily singles out an individual company and person.”

They are refusing to run the ad because it unnecessarily singles out an individual company and (Very Important) person. Meanwhile, they typically run political ads that portray candidates and government officials as outright criminals. And people wonder why citizens hate government but have no knowledge of the criminal, exploitative avarice of the leaders of the private sector?

When the networks aren’t making sweet little deals among themselves over canapes at Charlie Rose’s house they are protecting their wealthy pals from truthful criticism. It’s a dirty job keeping the pitchforks at bay, but the masters of the media empires are happy to do it for their fellow corporate overlords. If they don’t look out for each other, who will?

Update: CNN’s batting a thousand these days. Check this out by Davide Sirota.

.