Conservative groups on Thursday accused ABC of refusing to run an ad nationally criticizing school pandemic mandates on its popular left-tilting talk show “The View.”
The ad, part of a six-figure national media campaign targeting school mandates, contrasts children under mask requirements and remote-learning orders with unmasked celebrities and adult sports fans followed by the message, “Democrats are putting kids last. Teachers’ unions are putting kids last.”
The 30-second spot unveiled Feb. 3 has run in major media markets during ABC’s “Good Morning America” and the “The View,” but a spokesperson for the State Government Leadership Foundation said that ABC declined to allow the groups to purchase national ad time during “The View.”
“Democrats and the teachers’ unions have caused irreparable harm to kids across the country with their hypocritical COVID-19 restrictions, and now the corporate media is trying to conceal that simple truth,” said foundation spokesperson Andrew Romeo.
The Washington Times has reached out to ABC for comment.
“The shameful decision by ABC National not to air our ad underscores the uphill battle parents face in their fight to take back control of their children’s educations,” Mr. Romeo said. “We know that parents are fed up and that they matter, and we won’t be deterred by tv networks attempting to prevent us from giving parents a voice.”
The ad comes as the third in the six-part ad series “Let Kids Learn” launched last year by the foundation and N2 America. The latest spot has aired in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota and Washington, D.C.
“As a mom of three, I can tell you that kids recognize hypocrisy when they see it,” N2 America cofounder Liesl Hickey said in a statement. “Our kids are the least at risk but have been harmed the most. What the unions and Democrats have done to them is unconscionable, and it doesn’t reflect the data, science or facts. Kids need their childhood back now.”
“The View,” which features political and entertainment talk, is hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin and Sara Haines.
Democrats are putting kids last. Teachers’ unions are putting kids last.
— State Government Leadership Foundation (SGLF) (@theSGLF) February 3, 2022
Tell them to give kids their childhood back.
WATCH: our new TV ad we are launching today with @N2_America. #LetKidsLearn pic.twitter.com/N2AZKcKI0V
Correction: This story has been updated to make it clear that ABC declined to run the ad on a national basis.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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