CBS, ’60 Minutes,’ rejects Ron Reagan’s ‘unabashed atheist’ ad

[ErikJ]

The Freedom From Religion Foundation’s ad featuring Ron Reagan describing himself as “an unabashed atheist” has been rejected for airing by CBS, not only by “60 Minutes,” the desired placement, but for any CBS TV show.

The ad aired last May on both “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central.

A CBS agent indicated that the ad was rejected “for words and tone.”

The celebrity endorsement features the son of President Ronald Reagan, self-described as “a lifelong atheist,” plugging FFRF:

See more at: http://ffrf.org/news/news-releases/item/21438-cbs-60-minutes-reject-ron-reagan-s-unabashed-atheist-ad#sthash.AivffVIx.dpuf

[JI7]

1. 60 mintues ? most of the good ones have died, who is left there now ?

[valerief]

2. Thanks, Ron, and Comedy Central, but the American Taliban calls the shots here, sadly. nt

[Jacoby365]

3. So athiests can't advertise on CBS?

I didn't see a problem with the ad. I saw the ad on CNN last night.

[valerief]

5. Atheists aren't supposed to exist in a *Christian* nation. And there are no gay people in Iran.

You know, it's that freedumb and libertea shit.

[blkmusclmachine]

4. Bad move, CBS (is that Christian Broadcasting Station?!?!)

[Fred Sanders]

18. That is exactly what it is.

[Politicalboi]

6. Not only does he promote Atheism

He has the nerve to use his real name. The same name of their Saint Ronnie. How could Ronnie raise an Atheist?

[ErikJ]

10. Ya mean the one who faked it for his flock

but never went to church and used an astrologer for decisions while in office?

[Politicalboi]

19. Well, we know how that goes

It's ok as long as you're a Republican. Let Obama have an astrologer come to the White House and watch heads explode.

Michelle can't even wear a dress without criticism, but Nancy can plan Ronnies day with Astrology.

[blm]

16. Easily - St Ronnie was actually NEVER religious - he PLAYED that he was for cameras

and…….especially……for votes. Same with Nancy.

Republicans would vote for a guy paying hookers to change his poopy diapers if he calls himself a Christian AND a Republican. Notice the low percentage of Dems who would do the same for a Dem caught sexting?

BIG difference between GOP and Dem voters.

[cui bono]

7. CBS is broadcast on the public's airwaves, is it not?

Why do they get to reject the ad?

Can he sue them? Especially if they have religious ads or programming?

[longship]

8. There is nothing wrong with the ad.

It is a straight forward pitch for FFRF, nothing else. I guess the fundies might get butt hurt by it, however, why would anyone care about that? I am butt hurt by every Budweiser ad ever broadcast. They call that beer!? However, I don't want to censor Anhauser-Busch. The tasteless bubbly fizz water -- or piss water, if you wish -- speaks for itself.

R&K

And BTW, fuck you CBS.

[Panich52]

20. But...but...he said 'H. E. dbl hockey sticks!' (BTW, I can give you another reason to reject Bud -

I avoid their products ever since they bought the Rolling Rock name -- only the name -- and put all the workers at Latrobe plant on unemployment. My once fav local beer's now made in NJ. RIP #33

[longship]

27. Yes, old Rolling Rat... Er, Rock.

No worries. I grew up in Detroit, with the local brew, Stroh's. Now made in Wisconsin by Swillers... Er, Millers.

I prefer microbrew these days, with more than an occasional porter.

Thankfully Founders Brewery is down the road in Grand Rapids, MI. A fine establishment.

Skäl!

[Panich52]

30. My brother liked Stroh's. We'd take him a couple cases when visiting cuz he couldn't find it where

he lived.

RR's little green monsters -- 24 little bottles in a case. It was the bear piss in the mountain spring water that gave it that special taste

[longship]

31. Yup! Bear wizz beer. It's in the water, dontcha know. nt

[Trillo]

9. The word "alarmed" sort of jumped out at me,

but the end really took the cake, "burning in hell".

Does CBS air any Christian broadcasting? Nothing he said in the advertisement was anything worse than religions say to people or even children.

Youtube transcript:
hi I'm Ron Reagan and unabashed atheist
0:03

rest deleted, See AlbertCat's post below, she/he corrected the machine errors.

[AlbertCat]

15. Youtube transcript:

SUX!

here's what he really says:

Hi I'm Ron Reagan, an unabashed atheist
0:03
and I'm alarmed by the intrusions of religion into our secular government.
0:07
That's why I'm asking you to support the Freedom From Religion Foundation,
0:11
the nation's largest and most effective Association
0:14
of atheists and agnostics working to keep state
0:17
and church separate just like our founding fathers intended.
0:21
Please support the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
0:24
Ron Reagan, lifelong atheist. Not afraid
0:28
of burning in hell.

[Trillo]

11. May be related, UCC ad rejected during Bush years.

http://www.pubtheo.com/page.asp?pid=1394

Incredible! CBS and NBC Refuse to Air Ad of the UCC
The United Church of Christ (UCC) is protesting the refusal of CBS and NBC to air an ad featuring inclusion. Let CBS and NBC know your feelings about this today!

CBS and NBC are refusing to air an ad produced by the United Church of Christ (UCC) because it advocates religious inclusion. The ad shows bouncers turning away a variety of people at the door of a church – including ethnic minorities and two men who may be a homosexual couple. The announcer says, "Jesus doesn't turn people away. Neither do we. No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey you are welcome here."

In a letter to the UCC, CBS is refusing to air the advertisement because the commercial "touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups by other individuals and organizations." Also, CBS found the ad "unacceptable" because "the Executive Branch has recently proposed a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman." NBC similarly declared the ad "too controversial."

The ad has been accepted and will air on a number of networks, including ABC Family, AMC, BET, Discovery, Fox, Hallmark, History, Nick@Nite, TBS, TNT, Travel and TV Land.

[Panich52]

21. All this time I never realized CBS was a fundy/evangelical station.

So is 'inclusion' and 'separation of church and state' reasons to reject “for words and tone"?

What a quandry. I love so many of their programs...

[zebonaut]

12. Genes are funny

[Curmudgeoness]

13. All my favorite shows are on CBS....this sucks.

I guess the tone of the ads for churches or religious programing are not rejected "for words and tone". Words? What freaking words? Atheist? Hell?

[AlbertCat]

14. Maybe this rejection....

.... will get it seen by more people that would have if it just aired without controversy.


And it's nice that the controversy seems to be about censorship of atheists, with them being the "victims" this time instead of the big ol' meanies.

[Panich52]

22. Atheists have been targets for discrimination longer than any other group.

No, I don't have any studies to back that up, but even the Bible shows the hate. Maybe it's a toss-up between atheists & witches f/ oldest hated minority...

[AlbertCat]

24. Atheists have been targets for discrimination longer than any other group.

I didn't know that!

Oh wait, yes I did!

I was referring to complaints about our bill boards and bus ads and how pearl-clutchy it gets when we suggest that people not worship during science class. We're such meanies!

[Fred Sanders]

17. "Finding Jesus" Show on CNN...replayed, and advertised with a Jesus image and sudden music endlessly....no problem!

The Catholic News Network did play the ad though..not a big deal really, how many spots can Reagen buy....but the Corporate Three Kings were not going to let their flock be possibly annoyed.

On the other hand, how can they possibly show ads from religious groups now?

Brian Williams would understand.

[LW1977]

23. Oh goodie another Atheists: Good, Believers: Bad thread..

Then again some people of faith, not just Christians and some of them liberals like myself don't like being talked down to by smug Atheists who think they know it all and call people of faith "weak-minded."

I give CBS a big K & R for this! Now if only they could be as liberally biased as the conservative nutjobs said they were.

Going to jury this post out, fine. Atheists are just as bad as spewing hate and warfare, case-in-point: The Kim family of North Korea.

[ErikJ]

25. Except N. Korea is NOT atheist. Kim is officially their God.

With 2000 religions on earth why do you pick the Christian one? Other than that happened to be the one you were born into.

[whereisjustice]

29. lol - God might talk to you, but this human is talking to atheists and asking for their support

and as far as "talking down" isn't that what your god does from his billowy white clouds?

CBS is wrong. So are you.

[SCVDem]

26. Two of the most dangerous things to be.

The wrong religious beliefs

or an Atheist. Go figure.

I find the ad funny and real.

[MarianJack]

28. My wife and I are the kind of Catholics who...

...believe in God but basically only go to Mass for weddings and funerals. We live next door to our parish, too. We are NOT athiests.

That being said, Ron Reagan said in this commercial. I wonder if his brother will attack him on his radio show?

PEACE!

[eppur_se_muova]

32. They should advertise on the latest "History of Christianity" documentary ...

Oh, wait ... that's on PBS. Never mind.