Buying airtime: Obama, Clinton adverts slamming film cost $70,000

Advertisements, reportedly aired on seven stations in Pakistan, contain sound bites from speeches by the two leaders.

WASHINGTON:

The US State Department says they have spent $70,000 on advertisements featuring US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemning the anti-Islam film “Innocence of Muslims”.

The advertisements, which were reportedly aired on seven stations in Pakistan, contain sound bites from speeches by the two leaders.

According to a transcript of the daily press briefing, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters that it was the public diplomacy team’s recommendation to buy airtime on Pakistani TV stations so that the populace can hear the American president and the secretary of state’s message.

According to the transcript, the advertisement features President Obama saying, “Since our founding, the United States has been a nation of respect – that respects all faiths.  We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others.”

Secretary Clinton’s message says, “Let me state very clearly that the United States has absolutely nothing to do with this video.  We absolutely reject its contents.  America’s commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2012.