Singled Out

Greg Sargent catches CNN obeying their insurance company overlords.

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.”

That very well may be CNN’s policy. But AUC maintains that the mention of Cigna’s CEO was necessary to dramatize the enormous stake the insurance industry has in the health care wars. What’s more, AUC argues, the industry is made up of companies that are run by individuals deciding how to spend huge money to impact the health care debate — so why are they off limits?

Because of course insurance companies like Cigna advertise on CNN and other Time Warner networks and cable outlets and internet properties and that's far more important to CNN than getting the issues straight. CEO's aren't like you and me. After all, as Digby points out, they get more media protection than say, the President does.

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.

If you tried to run that ad on FOX or other networks, I'm sure they'd give you the same answer. And it's that reason itself that's so utterly idiotic. It's perfectly acceptable to single out President Obama for criticism, or say a private citizen like Skip Gates or Sgt. Michael Crowley. It's acceptable to go after Jon & Kate Gosselin, or the Octomom, or Sarah Palin or Nancy Pelosi or John McCain or Harry Reid. All these people are fair targets for heaps of free scorn. No matter what side of the political spectrum you're on, people and their organizations are fair targets.

Even CEOs get bashed, actually. Remember AIG CEO Edward Liddy? There was an insurance company exec that screwed America out of billions, and he got pummeled in the press. It was okay to attack him, sure.

It's just not okay to run an ad attacking other insurance company CEOs who may be screwing America over, and who still have money left to advertise on CNN. Can't have that, that's unfair. Your liberal media, folks. OK to say the President isn't a U.S. citizen. Not okay to say Ed Hanway of Cigna made $12 million with a $70 million retirement package.

You tell me who's running this country.