CNN rejects ad for anti-Obama film

Is CNN playing fair?

The producer of 2016: Obama's America, which is the highest-grossing conservative documentary of all time, doesn't think so.

The network rejected an add for his film, because it was "too political." John Sullivan, the producer in question, says the film’s ad was approved by and run on Fox News, MSNBC, Discovery Channel, A&E and other networks, but that it was turned away by CNN.

“They rejected our ad, actually,” Sullivan said. “A really weird situation. That was really funny. They said it was ‘too political,’ which is very odd because we have no affiliation with any political party of any sort, or PAC, or anything of that nature.” 

Yet, he still calls it the highest-grossing conservative film of all time. Doesn't that indicate a definite political ideology?

CNN admits receiving the ad, but says it didn't reject it.

“CNN did not reject the ad,” a network spokesperson said. “We asked them to explain why they believe the ad is not subject to political advertising disclosure requirements, and we did not hear back from them with any explanation.”

From Entertainment Weekly's article:

"The network’s concern was based on a rule that states any telecast advocating for the election or defeat of a federal candidate must have its funding source revealed in a disclaimer notice (“Paid for by…”). Such notices are standard on political ads, yet might be unprecedented for a popular theatrical film. An MSNBC spokesperson said the commercial ran without a disclaimer, like a regular movie ad. “The ad was approved through NBC News standards and practices before air,” an MSNBC spokesperson said."

Sullivan is trying to pass the film's second ad through CNN, but they haven't received it yet.

Fact checkers have torn holes throughout the film's message.

Is CNN doing the right thing here?