Subject: National CBS Television Advertising Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 23:58:25 -0500 To: NORML From: NORML Thank you for using NORML Mail System Message sent to the following recipients: Ad Department Message text follows: Bob Armstrong 42 Peck Slip New York, NY 10038 January 16, 2004 [recipient address was inserted here] Dear [recipient name was inserted here], The standard text below makes a valid point . Please maintain your editorial itegrity by disallowing the= Government`s false and inflamatory ads . As a CBS viewer, I am writing to voice my concern over your= network's decision not to accept an ad for the upcoming Super Bowl from= MoveOn.org. I understand this decision was based upon the network's policy of= not running ads promoting "controversial issues of public= importance." While I do not take issue with this policy in general, I assume that CBS= will also refuse to run controversial anti-marijuana ads from the Office of= National Drug Control Policy. If your network is to be consistent, then you must also adhere to= this policy when it comes to anti-marijuana propaganda ads. Marijuana= decriminalization currently enjoys 72% support among the American= public, according to the latest CNN/Time polling data. Clearly this is a= "controversial issue of public importance" that divides American= public opinion, and any public service announcement on the subject that= promotes only one side of this issue must be considered an issue ad. As a viewer of your network, I hope you will reconsider your= decision to ban some issue oriented ads while allowing others. A free= society relies on the honest debate of controversial issues. For CBS to allow= certain points of views to be expressed on it's network while denying= others strikes at the heart of democracy and the free flow of ideas. I= hope you will either reconsider this network policy or reject the ONDCP's= propaganda ads in accordance with CBS policy. Sincerely, Bob Armstrong ; Manhattan Libertarian Drug Affairs Director