September 13, 2007

IT ISN'T INFLUENCE PEDDLING WHEN WE DO IT:

TIMES GIVES LEFTIES A HEFTY DISCOUNT FOR 'BETRAY US' AD (CHARLES HURT, September 13, 2007, NY Post)

The New York Times dramatically slashed its normal rates for a full-page advertisement for MoveOn.org's ad questioning the integrity of Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq. [...]

According to Abbe Serphos, director of public relations for the Times, "the open rate for an ad of that size and type is $181,692."

A spokesman for MoveOn.org confirmed to The Post that the liberal activist group had paid only $65,000 for the ad - a reduction of more than $116,000 from the stated rate.

A Post reporter who called the Times advertising department yesterday without identifying himself was quoted a price of $167,000 for a full-page black-and-white ad on a Monday.


All that cant about campaign finance goes out the window when the Grey Lady feels like contributing $116k to the Democrats, eh?

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 13, 2007 3:10 PM
Comments

'To the pure, all things are pure...'

Posted by: Mikey [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 13, 2007 4:46 PM

And the Times is going to get nailed for violating campaign finance laws, proving once again how smart John McCain is.

Posted by: Brandon at September 13, 2007 4:47 PM

I thought that "issue ads" skirted the regulations by advocating a position instead of a person. Is my understanding incorrect in this situation?

Posted by: Jay at September 13, 2007 5:09 PM

I thought that "issue ads" skirted the regulations by advocating a position instead of a person. Is my understanding incorrect in this situation?

It's legal for MoveOn, yes. But according to campaign-finance law, giving a special discount to MoveOn.org counts as an in-kind contribution to their political activities. However, corporations such as the New York Times are banned from contributing to PACs such as MoveOn.org

Posted by: John Thacker at September 13, 2007 5:17 PM

It's official: Sulzberger is knowingly driving his business into bankruptcy cuz that's the price of his ego... by subsidizing Soros!

Posted by: ras at September 13, 2007 8:59 PM

While publications often discount off their rate cards, that is an extremely large discount. Interestingly, their "Advocacy/Cause and Appeal/Political/Philanthropy" rates are not among their cheapest as I'd assumed, but among their most expensive.

Posted by: PapayaSF at September 13, 2007 10:12 PM

Why do you guys even waste time, just talking about the Democrats?
Who cares?
Howabout we focus on the GOP being stolen by a cornucopoeia of false conservatism?
Please, vote Ron Paul.

Posted by: Regis at September 14, 2007 1:12 AM

I would vote Ron paul, Regis, except for the fact that I still have a fully functioning brain.

Posted by: Mikey [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2007 6:34 AM
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