Democratic Primaries
In reply to the discussion: Sanders Calls Out CNN for Airing Pharma Commercials During 2020 Debate [View all]Uncle Joe
(58,846 posts)There is nothing authoritarian about that, it was full disclosure during the real time Presidential debate in which that network was getting paid a hefty sum of money for ads counter to the issues and candidates in the actual debate.
If the moderators should be considered as honest brokers or referees and that is the role they are at least pretending to take on insofar as the public is concerned in not favoring any particular candidate or issue during a debate, then getting one sided big bucks for sponsoring said ads is an inherent conflict or at the very least an appearance of conflict of interest.
The networks most assuredly can and do control who advertises on their platform.
The debates are not a just a "show" they're at least to some degree a public service in exposing the American People to the issues and candidates running for the highest office in the land.
The network determines what the prices will be as pointed out in the OP and the moderators most assuredly know who cuts their paychecks.
Pharma corporations being awash in major money thanks in part to U.S. Americans paying ten times the price for insulin than Canadian Americans are most assuredly in the strongest position to pay exorbitant fees for commercials and the networks know it.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided