CNN refusing to run a television ad campaign produced by the Log Cabin Republicans.
In a letter to the gay Republican group the Cable News Network said that images in the ad are "too controversial."
The 30-second commercial aims to counter what the gay Republican group sees as an extreme right wing takeover of the party.
Monday, delegates to the Republican National Convention approved a conservative platform that endorses an amendment to the Constitution to prevent gay couples from any form of recognition and calls for curbs on federal judges from ruling in cases involving gay marriage or domestic partnerships. (story)
The LCR commercial is being broadcast on other cable stations nationwide.
The ad begins with footage from President Ronald Reagan's 1992 speech at the Republican National Convention in Houston. President Reagan said, "Whatever else history may say about me when I'm gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears."
The commercial offers a clear choice for the GOP, the Log Cabin Republicans say: "Either follow President Reagan's lead by uniting Republicans on common beliefs or follow Jerry Falwell, Pat Buchanan and Rick Santorum's lead by dividing the GOP with an intolerant social agenda based on fear and exclusion."
The ad closes with images of the Reverend Fred Phelps holding a sign that reads "God Hates Fags," at the funeral of hate crime victim Matthew Shepard.
"We are deeply disappointed that CNN has refused our voices the opportunity to be heard, said Log Cabin Executive Director Patrick Guerriero.
"Last week we told the Republican Party that you cannot sugarcoat the vicious and mean-spirited platform, today we want CNN to know that you cannot sugarcoat the politics of fear and intolerance that lead to hate."
The group is so concerned about the platform and President Bush's position on the proposed amendment to ban gay marriage that it will not endorse his reelection bid during the convention.
LCR said it would meet next week to decided what to do about supporting Bush.
It's OK to play Shitboat Liars but not us fags standing up for ourselves!
CNN has been forever blocked on my cable box! I won't watch them again! EVER!