No, Sarah Palin, Katie Couric wasn't talking about you

At the request of CBS, YouTube removes McCain's "Lipstick" ad, which took some of Couric's comments out of context.

Published September 10, 2008 8:03PM (EDT)

You almost have to feel sorry for John McCain. Not only is he still trying to figure out that whole e-mail thing, but now people are removing his Web ads before they've even been in the series of tubes for a full day.

The Politico's Ben Smith reports that, at the request of CBS, YouTube has removed a McCain Web ad titled "Lipstick," which portrays Sarah Palin as the victim of Barack Obama's sexism. CBS sought the removal because the ad involves an unauthorized clip of CBS anchor Katie Couric saying, "One of the great lessons of that campaign is the continued and accepted role of sexism in American life."

The ad implies that Couric's comment was about Palin; in fact, Couric was discussing Hillary Clinton's campaign.

CBS spokeswoman Leigh Farris said, "CBS News does not endorse any candidate in the Presidential race. Any use of CBS personnel in political advertising that suggests the contrary is misleading."

The ad can still be viewed on McCain's Web site.


By Vincent Rossmeier

Vincent Rossmeier is an editorial assistant at Salon.

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Related Topics ------------------------------------------

2008 Elections Barack Obama John Mccain R-ariz. Katie Couric Sarah Palin