I know that Kos's attitude toward conservative advertising on Daily Kos is, "I'll take their money and use it to fund my cause." But I would submit that there are limits, or at least there ought to be. For instance, this ad, which appeared on my screen today:
DISCOVER HOW LIBERALISM DESTROYS PEOPLES AND NATIONS
"This is a must-read book." --Stu Taylor, Radio Talk Show Host
Author Fred N. Sauer
Order Your Copy of "A Simple Guide" today!
© Americas Cultural Studies
Now, it so happens that this ad seems to violate Google AdSense policies, specifically, "Anti" advertising:
Ad text advocating against any organization, person, or group of people is not permitted. . . . This policy applies to the content of your ad and your website.
Violation of this policy may result in a range of actions, including the following:
* disabling of your domain
* disapproval of ads
* account suspension
* automated suspension upon set-up of new accounts (ban from Google AdWords)
We should be so lucky. I did report the ad, just in case, and if you see it, may I suggest that you report it too? Perhaps then some good will come of this colossal misplacement, in that we're more likely to get an ad like this one yanked offline than, say, RedState is.
Still, it's pretty nutty that right-wing advertisers can use the ad hole to Trojan-horse their agitprop onto a pro-Democratic site. Surely there must be online advertising brokers that, unlike Google, distinguish between liberal and conservative ads, and perhaps even specialize in the former. Don't you agree that Kos should contract with one of them instead?
(Incidentally, this Fred N. Sauer dude must be a pretty low-flier, since not even Media Matters for America has any information on him. As for Stu Taylor, he appears to be a pro-corporate shill who uses his radio "business news" shows to -- quoting his own website here -- "help companies with their public relations, media relations and investor relations."
If you seek to enhance your communications message to customers, investors or the media, don't waste your advertising money. Use a trusted forum that gives you the time to get your message across properly and effectively. Stu Taylor is your resource.
Seriously. Sheesh.)