Over 68,000 Petitions Signed to Tell NBC and Meet the Press Not to Air Rick Scott's Phony "Documentary"

This evening we received word that over 68,000 people (and counting!) have signed the petition calling for NBC not to air Rick Scott's "infomercial" attacking a public healthcare option. The ad is set to air on the network after Meet the Press this Sunday.

NBC needs to know that if they run this fake "documentary"--sponsored by former hospital CEO Rick Scot and his group Conservatives for Patients Rights (CPR)--and it contains any falsehoods (which is likely, given his track record), they could face an FCC violation and big fines. SEIU sent a letter to the network, asking for this 30-minute phony "documentary" to be pulled off the air before it runs, only
serving to further distort the debate on health care reform. We've also warned Meet the Press that they're being used by Rick Scott, and will be tarnished by his swift-boating.

Media organizations like NBC and Meet the Press have a responsibility to their viewers and the public NOT to air falsehoods--and it's our job to up the ante and keep the pressure on them to do so. Along with signing the petition, we asked Washington, DC residents to give the local NBC4 station manager a call, telling them this ad by Conservatives for Patients Rights is unfit to air.

We're keeping a tally of how many calls go into the station, and many activists have already reported back to us after making the call to NBC4 and asking to speak with General Manager Michael Jack.

From caller A.L., who was unable to get through directly to NBC4's general manager Michael Jack:

Spoke with an assistant. She took my message, which was: info in the ad is not correct. Also, Rick Scott's record at Columbia/HCA (having to resign because of fraud charges) makes his claims suspect at best. If NBC4 cares about accuracy, they outght not to run the advertisement.

From caller J.B., who also spoke to Jack's assistant:

In voicing my concern, I said I generally watch NBC4 because I find their reporting more substantive than [others]. I asked that NBC, its management and staff carefully review the 30-min ad because (having seen CPR's literature), there are several things patently false and misleading.

I added that since NBC4 is interested in reporting the FACTS, that they do review this ad's content to ensure it is factual and not misleading--because it is about a very important issue for ALL of us and they should not accept the ad merely for financial purposes.

As of right now, NBC still has plans to air this unfit ad and it's up to us to get NBC to do the right thing. So if you are a Washington, DC resident, please call the NBC4 station at (202) 885-4000 and ask for General Manager Michael Jack.

The 68,000 voices who've already sent their message to NBC and Meet the Press demanding Rick Scott's 30-minute "documentary" be pulled from the air this Sunday is thanks to the combined efforts of SEIU and other healthcare reform advocate organizations HCAN, DFA and Credo. Will you join the 68,000+ people who have already taken action? Tell NBC & Meet the Press: Don't Air Rick Scott's Phony "Documentary"