TV Stations in 2 States Yank American Action Network Ads

[WI_DEM]

At least two television stations in Connecticut and Colordo have yanked misleading attack ads in the last 24 hours financed by the conservative group American Action Network.

Sophomore Rep. Chris Murphy (D), of Connecticut's 5th district, was the target of an ad taken off the air Monday night by Hartford's Fox affiliate. Among other accusations, the ad noted that the new health-care overhaul would force "jail time for anyone without coverage."

"We felt after investigating some of the claims they made that they were inaccurate and that their supporting material didn't support the claims, and, in fact, contradicted them," said Steve Rabb, who serves as manager of special projects and research for the Fox affiliate's parent company, CT1.

Colorado Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D), another American Action Network target, reports that a Denver-based NBC affiliate today has pulled a second ad off the air. The 30-second spot features a young woman talking to a friend through her computer:

"You have to check out the article I just sent you. Apparently convicted rapists can get Viagra paid for by the new health-care bill," she says to a friend. "Viagra for rapists? With my tax dollars? And Congressman Perlmutter voted for it."

The Viagra claim stems from a votarama during the health care reform debate, when Republicans put forth politically charged amendments to force Democrats into the tough positions of voting against them. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been targeted by his rival Sharron Angle (R) on the same issue.

Murphy and Perlmutter are two of at least 16 House Democrats targeted by television advertising campaigns launched by the American Action Network, a nonprofit organization financed by anonymous donors and led by former Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and former Rep. Eric Cantor chief of staff, Rob Collins.

The organization is also playing heavily in Senate contests in Illinois, New Hampshire, Washington and West Virginia. And the Center for Responsive Politics reports that the group has spent nearly $23 million this cycle, including nearly $10 million in just the last two weeks.

An American Action Network spokesman did not return a message requesting comment.

While at least two stations have yanked the ads, other stations, sometimes in the same markets, are running the same, or very similar commercials.

In Nevada's 3rd district, for example, American Action Network is running the exact same "Viagra for rapists" ad -- substituting Perlmutter's name for Rep. Dina Titus (D) -- that was pulled in Denver. And the Viagra claim is repeated in another ad that goes after Rep. Jim Himes (D) in Connecticut's 4th district.

Murphy's campaign lashed out at the advertising campaign:

"This ad destroys any credibility this shadowy group may have had," he said in a statement released today by his campaign. "AAN has been dumping a million bucks on the air, in an attempt to steal this election from the people of the Fifth District. Their blatant misstatements of the truth didn't pass the laugh test, and now have failed a legal challenge."

Perlmutter spokeswoman Leslie Oliver weighed in as well:

"KUSA did the right thing," she said of the Denver station. "These kinds of false and distorted ads are examples of what happens when these outside shadow groups aren't required to disclose their donors. This is an abuse of our political system and a disservice to voters who should be able to make a decision about the future of our country based on the truth - not lies."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/10/tv-stations-in-2-states-yank-a.html

[elleng]

1. GOOD NEWS!

[emulatorloo]

2. Good News! Lie Ads have gotta go.