|
It also specifically blocked the ad for the search term
"war profiteers."
"At this time, Google policy does not permit the
advertisement of websites that contain language that
advocates against an individual, group, or organization,"
a Google email remarked.
Advertisements promoting pro-Bush playing cards continue
to run on Google and its affiliate sites, including
George Bush Playing Cards, "52 Reasons to Re-elect
G.W. Bush," and "Political Playing Cards."
Another ad appears for a tamer site selling caricature
cards of the President's associates, saying, "George
Bush may not have a full deck."
At the time of this writing, Google also continues
to run an ad for Showtime's "American Candidate"
under the search term "Bush," headlined, "Beat
Bush, save America." It also runs an ad critical
of Sen. John Kerry, titled "Kerry is Scary Shoppe,"
with the text, "Political gifts, clothing, stickers
with the Scream head of John Kerry!"
The blocked advertisement, for "Deck
of Bush," contained the phrase "54 reasons
NOT to re-elect the President."
"Now I know how Howard Stern feels," said
co-creator Jerry Vasilatos. "What's ironic is that
Google Adwords allows ad campaigns for products and
items supportive of President Bush as can be attested
by other sponsored links which appear when you search
out the same keywords they deem unacceptable for our
use."
Vasilatos also noted that Google seems to have no problem
with running ads for pornography websites, including
those which appear to advocate criminal behavior. Four
advertisements come up for the search term "underage
boys."
"The hypocrisy regarding their definition that
'Google policy does not permit the advertisement of
websites that contain 'language that advocates against
an individual, group, or organization' is astounding,"
he remarked. "While Google prohibits ads promoting
our website because it contains "language that
advocates against an individual group" (President
Bush), apparently it condones advertisements for websites
promoting sex with the underaged which we think advocates
criminal behavior against individuals and groups (underaged
children)."
In a form letter, a Google official made the following
statement: "A different set of laws and regulations
apply to commercial speech (advertising) than to the
search results we show when you do a Google search.
As a business, Google must make decisions about where
we draw the line in regards to the advertising we accept,
both from a legal and company values perspective."
"Please note that the decisions we make concerning
advertising in no way affect the search results we deliver,"
the letter continued. "We will continue to deliver
results for sites that advocate the full spectrum of
political positions and personal opinions."
|
