It's the first time I've ever seen this - a stern announcer warning with graphics before a network runs a TV commercial. I'm sure it's on other outlets, but I happened to catch it totally by accident on ABC Thursday morning. 

My tuner just happened to be on WKBW-TV's Channel 7 from the night before when I turned the set on and was greeted by big white letters over a black background. The gist of the text was pretty ominous. It said something like this. 

"ABC warns viewers that the following commercial message contains offensive images and may not be suitable for all viewers. Under the law during an election period, we are not allowed to turn down certain specific advertising and this is one of those cases. Viewer Discretion is advised." 

Well, after a disclaimer like that, I had to stay and see what this was all about. Too bad I did. What followed was a disgusting one minute spot for an extreme pro-life politician I've never heard of, who is running in the U.S. election. It was openly aimed at a Black audience and featured graphic images of aborted fetuses while the "candidate" spoke openly about his hope people would vote for him based on his position on abortion. 

It was awful, and I accidentally tuned into it again the following day, but this time I changed the channel. It appears he was deliberately targeting women, because it aired right before the final segment of "The View." 

My conclusion on this, without getting into the thornier issue of choice, is that I learned that there may not be any "standards" that need to be obeyed if a commercial airs as an election spot down south. Again, I've never seen this before. Hope I never do again. It was way over the top and I certainly understand why ABC provided the warning. 

Have not seen it on other networks but it would not surprise me if this guy tried to buy time there, as well. 

I'm not entirely sure what the rules are in the U.S., and what might have happened had the guy chosen to use profanity. Would they have been forced to allow that, too?

I know in Canada during a federal election, even the normally commercial free CBC Radio is obligated to carry ads for candidates if they choose to buy time on the stations. But I'm not sure if they're allowed to say "no" depending on the content.