January 28, 2012 9:06 PM

NBC asks Romney campaign to remove its content from new ad

By
Sarah B. Boxer
Topics
Campaign 2012

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns at American Douglas Metals in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

(Credit: Charles Dharapak)

Tom Brokaw, the NBC News personality, takes a starring role in Mitt Romney's latest Florida television advertisement--and he's not happy about it.

The ad hits Romney's main rival, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, for the ethics violations he was reprimanded for in 1997. Gingrich was ordered to pay $300,000.

The entire ad is simply the opening of the Jan. 21, 1997 edition of NBC Nightly News.

But Brokaw--and NBC--pushed back. The network said its legal department will be asking the Romney campaign to remove NBC footage from the ad, noting that similar requests have gone out before to other campaigns using footage from NBC News broadcasts.

(VIDEO: What Would This Ad Look Like Without NBC Footage In It?)

"I am extremely uncomfortable with the extended use of my personal image in this political ad," Brokaw said in a statement on Saturday. "I do not want my role as a journalist compromised for political gain by any campaign."

By Saturday afternoon, the Romney campaign said they had received NBC's letter.

"We just received the letter; we are reviewing it, but we believe it falls within fair use," senior adviser Eric Fehrnstrom said.

Gingrich has repeatedly contended the ethics inquiry was unfairly partisan -- an argument that the fact-checking website PolitFact labeled "Pants On Fire," its lowest rating for accuracy. He also has argued that the $300,000 was not a fine but a payment for the legal costs associated with the inquiry.

Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond, asked to comment on the controversy, said Saturday: "I can't respond to it any better than NBC News did by asking them to pull it."

Hammond also cited a CNN report from February 1999 about the IRS ultimately concluding that the college course Gingrich allegedly taught for political purposes -- the subject of the ethics inquiry -- was legal. "[It] took a long time to get there. People forget that," Hammond said.


  • Sarah B. Boxer

    Sarah B. Boxer is covering the Mitt Romney campaign for CBS News and National Journal.

Add a Comment See all 30 Comments
by lawkwfl January 30, 2012 1:52 PM EST
Classic....just classic - NBC asks the sponsor to modify the ad based on copywritten material yet allows it on their own airwaves, and collects the revenue stream. If they were so against the content why did they choose to air it???
Reply to this comment
by bluetruckinla January 30, 2012 5:13 AM EST
Crunch time is here conservatives need to get behind Newt Gingrich. I am surprised Santorum has not thrown already his weight behind Newt Gingrich with the understanding it is for Florida only. It is hopeless for Santorum in Florida. Santorum will only guarantee a Mitt Romney victory in Florida. Mr. Santorum you never have a chance against Mitt Romney's money. If you let Newt Gingrich take on Mitt Romney on a equal footing in Florida you would stand a much BETTER chance against Newt Gingrich later. Mr. Santorum if you are not the nominee who would you rather pick the next 2 supreme court justices Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich? Do you have a conscious Mr. Santorum or are you vain? No insult intended Mr. Santorum surely the logic is inescapable, cede Florida to Newt Gingrich in a temporary strategic alliance which would allow you and Newt Gingrich to live to fight another day !!!
Reply to this comment
by venusvegasvada January 29, 2012 8:27 PM EST
Lighten up Tom. It did happen and it was your job to report (which you have done very well over the years.

Everybody knows your a respected, neutral reporter and not for one side or the other.

I can understand your objections, but I think your making a mountain out of a mole hill. I don't think any less of you or NBC one way or the other. Let it go.
Reply to this comment
by aheadace January 30, 2012 10:13 AM EST
Tom should tell Willard to shove it up his azz and buy the way what you think don't mean shi!
by Kestrel88 January 29, 2012 4:09 PM EST
I see what Romney's camp is trying to do in running an attack ad with widely respected journalist like Brokaw, but pissing off the media isn't a winning strategy, especially widely respected journalists like Brokaw.
Reply to this comment
by cattiej January 30, 2012 12:17 AM EST
You are absolutly right..don't make Tom Brokaw mad at you because he has a lot of fans in Florida. Many of these fans are people from what Tom calls the Greatest Generation. I think Romney acts like Hitler and all he needs is a mustache to complete the look and the demeanor. I hope the NBC sues the heck out of the Romney campaign and Romney. If ever I thought i MIGHT vote Republican, these guys just made sure I never did, ever, never ever.
by fedup12 January 29, 2012 11:38 AM EST
Were the statements made back then by Tom not true?
Reply to this comment
by actornaught January 29, 2012 1:13 PM EST
Had NBC remained silent about the misuse of their copyrighted material, they could easily be portrayed as being in league with the Republican establishment, or Romney, or any other list of phony outrages.

Or much worse, they could be accused of being like Fox "news".
by leftyintexas January 29, 2012 2:36 PM EST
Whether or not they were true has nothing to do with it. You can't go using that footage without permission. Got it!?
by fedup12 January 29, 2012 11:34 AM EST
it was news set from back in the day of Gingrich's ethics problems.

Seems relevant and timely to the discussion. Especially for people who dont remember much from back then.

Gingrich had ethics violations that he pled to and got a fine.

He is so big the law does not apply to him. About all of them have that problem.

Wouldnt hurt to have term limits.
Reply to this comment
by nearl451 January 29, 2012 11:25 AM EST
The plot is nefarious. Romney campaign likes to gutter-snipe and make it appear that the MSM is actually doing the attacking. The commercial is riskless for the Romney camp....analogous to how CDS are supposed to diffuse bad risk among good and distribute to different holders.

It's a great trick, if you can get away with it. Gingrich should call him on it. If there is a legal standing, NBC should sue.
Reply to this comment
by actornaught January 29, 2012 11:10 AM EST
I like the part about Mittens using totally unethical practices to point out scumbag newt's unethical behavior.

Circular firing squad, using both hands.
Reply to this comment
by Larry-and-Obama-4-ever January 29, 2012 10:33 AM EST
They asked 2 days ago for the ad to be removed and yet its still running.....somehow I doubt Tom minds too much.
Reply to this comment
by lilbear925 January 29, 2012 10:25 AM EST
If political candidates will stoop to doing shady, underhanded and illegal things to get elected, imagine what they will do once they are in office!
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