PAC criticizes ABC11 for not airing its ad critical of Trump and the Confederate flag
The Lincoln Project, a PAC formed in 2019 by a group of influential Republicans and former Republicans, has criticized local TV station ABC11/WTVD for not airing an ad critical of President Donald Trump and his supporters who brandish the Confederate flag.
The ad, called “Flag of Treason,” calls the Confederate States’ efforts in the Civil War an act of treason against America, and notes that some Americans still embrace the flag.
Over a montage of images of the flag at Trump rallies, the ad asks: “Why does it keep showing up at events that support Donald Trump, and why does he call the folks who carry it ‘very fine people’?”
The PAC released a statement on Tuesday condemning the Disney-owned-and-operated WTVD for not selling them air time for the ad. They called the station’s refusal “an act of cowardice” and said the station told them the ad was “too inflammatory.”
ABC11 has not responded to The News & Observer’s request for comment, made on Tuesday afternoon.
The INDY Week newspaper wrote on Tuesday that the Lincoln Project’s communications director, Keith Edwards, told them that ABC11 told The Lincoln Project’s ad buyer that it didn’t want to further inflame “the situation on the ground,” which Indy interpreted as “an apparent reference to this weekend’s unrest in Raleigh.”
On Wednesday, Raleigh and Durham prepared for a fifth night of protests over the killing of George Floyd Jr. while in police custody in Minneapolis. Protests have remained peaceful in Durham, but in Raleigh, protests have on some nights led to vandalism and widespread destruction of property. The city of Raleigh is under an 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.
The Lincoln Project’s statement read in full:
“This morning, in an act of overt cowardice, ABC affiliate WTVD in Raleigh, North Carolina, refused to air our ad, ‘Flag of Treason,’ citing it as too inflammatory.
“We at The Lincoln Project think “inflammatory’ is the gassing of peaceful protesting Americans, and the violent and hateful rhetoric President Trump spews to incite further mayhem and destruction — all of which ABC 11 WTVD has aired. Their refusal is a blatant obstruction of the First Amendment, a silencing of truth, and unAmerican.
“We hope ABC11/WTVD will quickly rethink their position.”
Two stations in the Triangle air the ad: the NBC affiliate WRAL, owned by the local Capitol Broadcasting Company; and WNCN, the Nexstar-owned CBS affiliate.
John Lewis, the vice president and general manager of WNCN/CBS 17, confirmed to The News & Observer that it airs the ad, and that it airs advertisements supporting both political parties.
Joel Davis, the president and general manager of WRAL and WRAZ-Fox 50, told The News & Observer on Wednesday, that it aired the ad but asked for changes to be made before doing so, to comply with FCC rules regarding political ads.
“WRAL accepts ads from both sides of the political aisle,” Davis said. “WRAL reviews every issue advertisement through a multi-step process that includes our general counsel, sales managers and station managers. This ensures that the ad meets all federal guidelines. In the case of this ad, we found it did not fully meet the requirement of the disclaimer at the end, which identifies who paid for the ad. It has to appear for four seconds, and only appeared for three. This was fixed and the ad was allowed to air.
“If the accuracy of specific statements within an advertisement are challenged, we will review it again, and not hesitate to pull it if there is a proven inaccuracy.”
A spokesperson for The Lincoln Project confirmed that the ad also runs on WSOC-TV in Charlotte, an ABC affiliate owned by Atlanta-based Cox Media Group.
The Lincoln Project has produced several ads critical of Trump.
This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 5:55 PM with the headline "PAC criticizes ABC11 for not airing its ad critical of Trump and the Confederate flag."
