Questions About Commercial Disclaimers

[HeyHomie]

#1: Anheuser Busch: St. Louis, MO

Why is it that whenever there's a commercial for an adult beverage, a voice at the end reveals the name and location of the product's brewery/distillery/vineyard? I know that the short answer to this question is: There's a law. But what is the justification for such a law?

#2: Paid for by People for Bush

Same thing with disclaimers at the end of political ads. Why is it necessary to reveal who paid for a political advertisement? It would seem pretty obvious that any political ad would be paid for by a group supporting the candidate/cause in question. IOW, it's pretty obvious that an ad extolling the eratication of handguns is not paid for by the NRA. So what gives?

[Una Persson]

Originally posted by rastahomie
#2: Paid for by People for Bush

Same thing with disclaimers at the end of political ads. Why is it necessary to reveal who paid for a political advertisement? It would seem pretty obvious that any political ad would be paid for by a group supporting the candidate/cause in question. IOW, it's pretty obvious that an ad extolling the eratication of handguns is not paid for by the NRA. So what gives?

I can think of one extreme case, where it might not be so obvious. Say some "evil" Democrats aired a political commercial that was just over-the-top. Like claiming Gore was going to lower the age of consent to 12, make gang-rape a $25 ticket, or promise that he would be instrumental in creating a new "hardcore lesbian porn-Internet". And they make it look like it's sleazy trash-talkin' Republicans that are the one doing it - their media even jumps in on the bandwagon, having been purposefully leaked info that the commercial was funded by "right-wing white-seperatist Rosicrucians living in a compound outside of Lynchem, Montana". This would be quite deceptive and damaging to the other party, and the poor cow-like masses in the American herd would never sort it out before election day. They would just vote against Bush because "he's a nasty man!".

But that's an extreme case...I'm sure the main reason is general public information.