Entertainment

‘2016: Obama‘s America’ Producer Claims CNN Rejected Film‘s Ad Because It’s ‘Too Political’

The documentary “2016: Obama’s America” has been dominating headlines over the past week after it broke records at the American box office. But now, at the height of interest surrounding the movie, there seems to be a bit of controversy brewing. John Sullivan, executive producer and co-director (author and academic Dinesh D‘Souza also directed and narrated the film), is claiming that CNN rejected an ad for the documentary because it is simply “too political.”

2016: Obamas America Producer Claims CNN Rejected Film Ad | John Sullivan

Photo Credit: "2016: Obama's America"

While the ad has already run on similar media outlets — FOX News, MSNBC, Discovery Channel and A&E, among others, CNN refused to air it, according to an interview that Sullivan did with Entertainment Weekly. In describing the purported rejection, the filmmaker called it “a really weird situation” and said that it was “really funny” to see it unfold.

“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,” Sullivan explained.

But CNN is singing a very different tune about the incident, claiming that the media outlet didn’t “reject” the ad, per se. Instead, a spokesperson explained that the network asked the filmmakers to explain why the ad would not, in their view, fall under political advertising disclosure regulations. After reaching out to get an explanation, the spokesperson claims that the “2016” filmmakers didn’t respond.

Here’s a trailer for the film:

Entertainment Weekly explains the disclosure rules that CNN expressed fears over, while also highlighting MSNBC’s view that there was no legal conflict that would have prevented the network from airing it:

The network’s concern was a Federal Election Commission 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.

Considering the overall cost of “2016” — a modest $2.5 million (modest in terms of Hollywood’s standards) — it has already brought in a whopping $9.4 million since it first premiered, in a limited capacity, seven weeks ago. While CNN expressed fears over the film’s funding, Sullivan brushed these issues off, maintaining that there was no corporate money given for its production. Instead, it was funded by what he calls “a broad base of investors.”

“There’s no grand investor conspiracy here,” he maintains.

A second ad for the film is being distributed to media and Sullivan is hopeful that CNN will accept it. So far, no word has been released as to whether the network has seen the spot — or whether it will abandon its fears and air it as other media outlets did the ad that preceded it.

(H/T: Entertainment Weekly)

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Comments (62)

1 2
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:21am

    AHAHAHAHAHA CNN had the nerve to say that? What hypocrites.

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • Bluebonnet
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 11:27am

      So, this is proof positive CNN is doing the dirty work for Obama. I said I believed CNN concocted the lie about throwing peanuts at a black camerawoman for CNN at the convention.
      Just in the first paragraph I didn’t believe it, and the truth flashed by me that CNN made the whole thing up to cause a racial thing during the GOP convention. Call me angry for feeling disgusted with the liberal MSM or for being pizzed at Juan Williams for his racist attitude. I’m sick of the Liberals.

      Report Post »  
    • LakeHartwellSailor
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 12:34pm

      I watch CNN, ABC & MSNBC occassionally…..only because of Sun Tzu’s Art of War…..“Know your enemy”

      Report Post » LakeHartwellSailor  
    • yougottabekidding
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 1:34pm

      ROI?
      The money to run the ad will reach what 100 viewers

      Report Post »  
    • Anamah
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 6:03pm

      This is not a surprise, because is well known what CNN is working for. They lie, and hide, and distort, and poison … so what can they do now when obviously their fake Mesiah is falling in desperation and shame?

      Report Post »  
  • jorskippy
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:15am

    Who watches CNN?? I thought they had gone off the air years ago.

    Report Post »  
  • TheMajority
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:12am

    And the producer thought reinforceing the falsehood that the imposter president was born in Hawaii, with 2 news paper articles to proove it, would be good enough. CNN and I agree on one thing here. It was too political. That is why there was not enough truth in the movie to help save our Republic much, but will do a great job supporting the also progressive Rep party, as both parteis continue to drag Americans to the cliff of collectivism.

    If we don’t defeat this 2-party system–our Republic will be finished very soon.

    Report Post »  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 1:45pm

      The same media fell over each other to pour accolades on michael moore’s movie about bush. So that was OK?

      Report Post » Stoic one  
  • alrunner58
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 10:03am

    CNN is irrelevant.

    Report Post » alrunner58  
  • ginger100
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:56am

    They would only be showing the ad to what, 100,000 viewers. Seems a waste of effective advertising dollars to me.

    Report Post » ginger100  
  • Rillobymorning
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:38am

    Great movie. I thought my son was going to implode when those kids were singing at the end.

    Report Post »  
    • The Jewish Avenger
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:55am

      Let me guess it was that “We Love You Conrad” re-write? (from Bye Bye Birdie)

      I’m waiting for this to come out on BluRay, my state would have hecklers screaming at the screen and I wont pay 10 bucks for that.

      Report Post » The Jewish Avenger  
    • encinom
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 12:25pm

      Great movie if you like Goebbels style propaganda and have no love for the truth.

      Report Post »  
    • Oneirishman
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:24pm

      @ecinom
      What is stopping you from making your own movie? Oh I forgot your kind can only operate on taxpayer monies. What’s ur mom fixin fer dinner, Hobo Joe?

      Report Post »  
    • They SMEAR what they FEAR
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 5:30pm

      Have you seen it yet ENCINOM? huh? Hmmm?

      Report Post » They SMEAR what they FEAR  
  • Americangal1953
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:33am

    What do you expect from government run networks. If it had been a film about an conservatives, cnn would run that ad 24/7 for free!

    Report Post » Americangal1953  
  • nobull14
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:25am

    Its ok CNN keep losing your viewers and you will be out of news business soon ?. Maybe you should start producing porn, just a thought

    Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:24am

    It’s a bad idea to spend advertising dollars on a channel that NOBODY WATCHES………..l…………,

    Report Post »  
  • Patriot12
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:23am

    This is why they get food thrown at them at the RNC….. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

    Report Post »  
  • dblaess
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:22am

    This is part of the “new” Piers Morgan “opionionated” network.

    Report Post »  
  • ricckky
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:18am

    It’s got to be pretty smelly over there at CNN–considering they all have their heads up the liar-n-chiefs butt!!! How do these people stay in business as a credible “unbiased” news organization? It just goes to show you—–conservatives have to work 10 times harder to get their message across!!!! What makes these people pander to tyranny? Are they stupid or communists? SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN IT TO ME!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • science teacher
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:07am

    Its funny how they didn’t think Fahrenheit 9/11 was too political to advertize. They want to be sure to not be too political against the liberals but its ok to be blatantly political against the conservatives, maybe because it was mostly fiction.

    Report Post »  
    • Exidor
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:24am

      Exactly! CNN is a joke and has been for a while now.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:58am

    CNN rejected the ads due to it being of their god-king Obama.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • eyestoseeearstohear
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:15am

      Absolutely!

      There’s NO OTHER REASON.
      Just proves, they are willig to BELIEVE HIS LIES – but –
      they CAN’T HEAR OR SEE THE TRUTHS about him.

      Honestly, not that I’ve watched CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC all that much,
      ESPECIALLY NOT FOR NEWS…but we should demand more from these News Channels
      by NOT WATCHING THEM when they aren’t reporting BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUES.

      I won’t waste my time calling, writing or protesting them – I WILL TURN THEM OFF.

      Report Post »  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:58am

    Oh He** Yea we know him:
    1.Racist
    2.Narcissist
    3.Treasonably
    4.Lair
    5 Out to distory America

    Report Post »  
  • SingerGuy
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:57am

    I’m shocked! No, really, I am. {snicker}

    Report Post » SingerGuy  
  • hersey10
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:57am

    Were ads aired for Fahrenheit 9/11 on CNN ? I bet they were .

    Report Post » hersey10  
  • Cosmos102
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:56am

    This leads me to believe that CNN is too politically biased. Could it be that a news network with this much bias towards the GOP would also plant a couple of their people to throw nuts at one of their “black anchors” in order to discredit Repubs as racists? Hmmmm. Yes. I’d say that would be a distinct possibility.

    Report Post » Cosmos102  
    • abwehragent
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:24am

      If you are being led to believe at this stage of the game you are a bit behind the power curve. Better a late convert to the truth than a non-convert. All of the major media are heavily biased, although FoxNews is less blatantly so than the rest. Getting at the truth takes a lot of hard work, researching sources from all over (and first researching the source itself to see where they are ‘coming from.’). For me it is a bit easier, having served for years as an intelligence analyst.

      Report Post » abwehragent  
  • THXll38
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:54am

    It’s a private company — who cares. Anyway, it would be no different if Fox turned down a modern-day-liberal type film.

    Report Post » THXll38  
  • bikerdogred1
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:53am

    Why do so many people think CNN is made up of so many dirtbags.

    Report Post »  
    • They SMEAR what they FEAR
      Posted on August 29, 2012 at 5:46pm

      Dirtbags? No, but definitely harbingers of “political correctness” rhetoric – antithetical to the bill of rights; enablers of the elite’s self-delusional “moral superiority” position – transcends judeo-christian values and morals; and the sounding board for the perpetuating of “victimology” of all minorities -just total Bullsh!t. CNN headline news is somewhat palatable….sometimes

      Report Post » They SMEAR what they FEAR  
  • digison
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:50am

    CNN is too political…

    Report Post »  
  • Angel_light
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:49am

    BOO HOO!! it doesn’t further our agenda!! Waah!!

    Report Post » Angel_light  
  • PA PATRIOT
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:45am

    Get outta town, Really?

    HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAA
    No…. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

    That is why ((GB)) has more subscribers than CNN has viewers!

    Report Post » PA PATRIOT  
  • jujubeebee
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:41am

    Here is a great ad put out for caholics:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=D9vQt6IXXaM&hd

    Report Post »  
  • blanco5
    Posted on August 29, 2012 at 8:40am

    Translation—-It doesn’t fit our agenda.

    Report Post »  
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