Anti-Super PAC Groups Take Aim at Olympic Ad Buy

Say they are advocacy ads that should not run in "national unity" event

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/16/2012 5:18:14 PM

NBCU is being pressured to pull millions in advertising from the Olympics from groups critical of Super PAC election spending.

According to an email being sent around Monday, United Republic, Purpose and Rootstrikers, all critics of the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United that corporations and unions can't be banned from direct campaign ad spending in the run up to federal elections and primaries, are asking folks to email NBCU CEO Steve Burke with their complaints.

They say Restore our Future has bought $7.2 billion worth of campaign advertising in the Olympics, first reported in Politico, but that there should be a "no advocacy ad" policy in the games that applies to the Restore Our Future ads. "In the past, networks have set up special 'no advocacy ads' policies during events like the Super Bowl. If enough of us raise our voice, we can pressure NBC to do the same," they said.

The Obama campaign has reportedly also bought millions of dollars in advertising across various NBC properties during the Olympics.