Kilroy Campaign Demands Steve Stivers Take Down False, Misleading Advertisement

[mod mom]

Kilroy Campaign Demands Steve Stivers Take Down False, Misleading Advertisement

Columbus, OH –Steve Stivers has finally taken things too far. His campaign of lies and deceit is now running a blatantly false television advertisement in a desperate attempt to win an election. In response to his attempt to deceive central Ohioans, Mary Jo Kilroy’s campaign has filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission demanding the ad be taken off the air.

“The foregoing statements violate Revised Code Section 3517.21(B)(10), which prohibits among other things the dissemination of a ‘false statement concerning a candidate, either knowing the same to be false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not, if the statement is designed to promote the election, nomination, or defeat of a candidate,’” according to the complaint.

The ad revolves around a series of lies about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, claiming that Kilroy has created jobs in China. Too bad for Corporate Lobbyist Stivers, his case isn’t backed up by the facts. According to the nonpartisan Politifact, no jobs have been created in China as a result of Kilroy’s vote for President Obama’s stimulus plan. <http://www.politifact.com/georgia/statements/2010/oct/19/austin-scott/us-house-hopeful-said-stimulus-funds-went-china/>

“There is an enormous difference between talking about policy differences and out and out lying to the voters,” said Brad Bauman, Communications Director for Mary Jo Kilroy. “This ad falls so far on the latter side that it’s mind-boggling the Stivers campaign ever thought this was within the realm of social acceptability. This ad should be taken down immediately and we will fight to make sure that is exactly what happens."

“Central Ohioans deserve better than someone who will blatantly lie just to win an election. This ad is patently false and just another example of how lobbyist Steve Stivers will say and do anything, with an astounding disregard for the truth.”

Full text of the complaint sent to the Ohio Elections Commission today follows:

IN THE OHIO ELECTIONS COMMISSION


MARY JO KILROY, :
P.O. Box 2582 : CASE NO.
Columbus, Ohio 43216, :
:
COMPLAINANT, :
: FOR EXPEDITED REVIEW
V. : OF A REV. CODE 3517.21
: FALSE STATEMENTS COMPLAINT
STEVE STIVERS, :
211 S. Fifth Street :
Columbus, Ohio 43215, :
:
RESPONDENT. :

COMPLAINT

Mary Jo Kilroy, by and through her undersigned counsel, for her Complaint against Steve Stivers, states as follows:
1. This is a case involving false statements under Revised Code Section 3517.21, which requires expedited review by a Probable Cause Panel of the Ohio Elections Commission pursuant to Ohio Administrative Code 3517-1-10.
2. On or about October 20, 2010, Steve Stivers, a candidate for the United States Congress in the 15th Ohio Congressional District, began running a political advertisement containing false statements prohibited by Revised Code Section 3517.21.
3. Stivers is using an advertisement containing the false statements described herein in an effort to promote his election and defeat Kilroy in the race for the 15th Ohio Congressional District seat.
4. The false Stivers advertisement is being disseminated through local network television affiliates, local cable channels and the Internet.
5. It contains the following false statements:
a. “Congresswoman Kilroy claims to create jobs. Too bad they’re made in China. That’s right. Kilroy voted for the failed stimulus that used our tax dollars to create jobs in China.”
o FACT: No stimulus money has gone to Chinese manufacturers or other businesses, and no Chinese jobs have been created as a result of Kilroy’s vote for President Obama’s stimulus plan. Politifact, 10/19/20,www.politifact.com/georgia/statements/2010/oct/19/austin-scott/us-house-hopeful-said-stimulus-funds-went-china. (Exhibit C.)
b. Kilroy is “growing jobs in China.”
o FACT: No jobs have been created in China as a result of Kilroy’s vote for President Obama’s stimulus plan.Politifact,10/19/20,www.politifact.com/georgia/statements/2010/oct/19/austin-scott/us-house-hopeful-said-stimulus-funds-went-china. (Exhibit C.)
6. The foregoing statements violate Revised Code Section 3517.21(B)(10), which prohibits among other things the dissemination of a “false statement concerning a candidate, either knowing the same to be false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not, if the statement is designed to promote the election, nomination, or defeat of a candidate.
7. A copy of the advertisement is attached hereto as Exhibits A (video).
8. Brad Bauman, Communications Director for Kilroy for Congress, has personal knowledge of the facts contained in this Complaint, has personally reviewed the advertisement identified herein, and states that it contains false statements. Bauman’s notarized affidavit is attached hereto as Exhibit B.
DEMAND FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Mary Jo Kilroy hereby demands that the Probable Cause Panel of the Ohio Elections Commission find that the statements identified in paragraph 4 of the Complaint are false and order Steve Stivers to remove the advertisement(s) containing the statements immediately from each and every media outlet through which they are being disseminated, including without limitation, local network television affiliates, local cable channels, and the Internet. Complainant further requests all other relief available to her under applicable law, including reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
Respectfully submitted,



The GOP will lie, cheat and do anything to win!