Posted on 03/11/2004 11:16:59 AM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON -
President Bush (news - web sites) will unleash his first negative ads against John Kerry (news - web sites) on Thursday, accusing the Democrat of seeking to raise taxes by $900 billion and wanting to "delay defending America," the Associated Press has learned.
"John Kerry: Wrong on taxes. Wrong on defense," says a female announcer in a new 30-second ad that will begin airing in battleground states.
A second ad, also premiering Thursday, tells voters they face choices on the economy, health care and the war on terrorism.
"We can go forward with confidence, resolve and hope. Or we can turn back to the dangerous illusions that terrorists are not plotting and outlaw regimes are no threat," Bush says in the second ad, without mentioning Kerry by name.
The scripts were provided to The Associated Press hours before the ads were previewed for Bush backers in Congress and readied for airing in some 18 states. In addition, Bush will begin running his first radio spot, and it will make the same high-taxes, soft-on-terorrism argument against Kerry, the officials said on condition of anonymity.
The ads, part of a multimillion-dollar media campaign launched by cash-rich Bush last month, is certain to spark debate over negative campaign tactics, as well as Kerry's record on taxes and terrorism.
The Bush ads come on the heels of Kerry's off-the-cuff remark Wednesday in which he called Republican critics "the most crooked ... lying group I've ever seen." That comment prompted Marc Racicot, the chairman of the Bush-Cheney campaign, to call on Kerry to apologize "for this negative attack."
Bush's first round of ads were positive, but their references to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks drew criticism from Democrats and some victims' relatives who accused Bush of exploiting the tragedy. The White House argued that the terrorist strikes are a major part of Bush's presidency, thus fair game in the political season.
Republicans said they welcomed the debate over Sept. 11 that the ads prompted and look forward to wrangling with Kerry over the size of any tax increases he would support. Kerry has never explicitly called for a $900 billion tax hike, but Republicans are basing their case on incomplete arithmetic in his own policies.
Kerry's plan to reduce health care costs would cost nearly $900 billion, according to a study by Emory University economic professor Kenneth Thorpe, who has been cited by Kerry's campaign and other Democrats as an authoritative source.
The presumptive Democratic nominee has vowed to roll back Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy, saving about $250 billion over 10 years by most estimates. He would keep — and perhaps enhance — middle-class tax cuts pushed by Bush.
The White House argues that there is no way Kerry can implement his plan and hold the line on the federal deficit without hiking taxes by $900 million.
Kerry campaign officials have said they will flesh out his economic plans in the next several weeks to show how his proposals will pay for themselves without a major tax increase beyond rolling back Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy. The president's new ads may force his hand.
While racking up victory after victory to lock up the Democratic nomination, Kerry was highly critical of Bush's economic and foreign policies — both in advertising and on the stump.
The drumbeat of attacks from Kerry and other Democrats helped reduce Bush's poll ratings to their lowest levels of his presidency. Bush is now in a rush to recover, as well as to define Kerry for voters. The next several weeks gives the president a chance to go on the offensive while the nominee-in-waiting is low on money, enlisting the help of former rivals and preparing for the general election.
Bush's toughest ad, titled "100 days," envisions Kerry's first three months in office. "John Kerry's plan: To pay for new government spending, raise taxes by at least $900 billion."
"On the war on terror: Weaken the Patriot Act used to arrest terrorists and protect America. And he wanted to delay defending American until the United Nations (news - web sites) approved."
It does not mention Iraq (news - web sites), but aides said the ads refers to Kerry's criticism that Bush should have sought U.N. approval before fighting the war a year ago.
Bush's voice is heard at the beginning of the ad, saying he approved the message.
The way it works, with the Dims and the media, is that any negative remarks (lies) made by the Dims are considered wholly acceptable and part of campaigning. Any remarks made by President Bush, pointing out the facts of Kerry's dismal voting record as far as national defense, etc. and rebutting Kerry's remarks, are negative.
While racking up victory after victory to lock up the Democratic nomination, Kerry was highly critical of Bush's economic and foreign policies ? both in advertising and on the stump.
See, how it works? Kerry was "highly critical", while President Bush is "negative"
Thanks to all the FReepers who have helped in this effort. We really can make a difference.
Is "highly critical" synonomous with "negative attack" ads?
I didn't think so Ronnie the Commie Fournier.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CRM
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1998
(202) 616-2777
TDD (202) 514-1888
CRIMINAL INFORMATION FILED AGAINST JOHNNY CHUNG
The Justice Department's Campaign Financing Task Force filed an information today charging Johnny Chung with using straw donors and his own donations to exceed federal limits in contributing to the Clinton/Gore reelection campaign, and to U.S. Senator John Kerry's 1996 reelection campaign.
Filed in Federal District Court in Los Angeles, the information also charges Chung, 43, with one count each of tax evasion and bank fraud. He is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday, March 9 on the 14th Floor of the Roybal Building in Los Angeles.
"This is the Campaign Financing Task Force's third prosecution in five weeks," said Attorney General Janet Reno. "This investigation is moving forward, but we are not going to let up now."
The information charges Chung with violating the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) by conspiring to contribute, and causing to be contributed, funds exceeding the statutory limitations on campaign contributions, as well as conspiring to contribute and causing to be contributed funds in the name of others. (18 U.S.C. § 371 and 2 U.S.C. §§ 437g(d), 441a and 441f).
The information refers to two fundraising events, one a Clinton/Gore '96 fundraiser held in Century City, California on September 21, 1995. The second was a September 9, 1996 fundraiser for Senator John Kerry in Beverly Hills, California.
According to the information, Chung attended the Clinton/Gore fundraiser with approximately 20 guests. The cost of attending the event was $1,000, the maximum federal law permitted one person to contribute to Clinton/Gore '96. In order to pay for his guests without appearing to exceed the statutory limitation, Chung used a series of conduit contributors totaling at least $20,000. As explained in the information, he caused one of his employees to recruit conduit contributors by having them write individual checks in the amount of $1,000 payable to Clinton/Gore '96. Chung then caused cash to be withdrawn from his personal banking accounts, and had an employee reimburse the conduit contributors.
The information details a similar scheme to violate the FECA through conduit contributions to the Kerry Committee. The September 9, 1996, Beverly Hills fundraiser for Senator Kerry was hosted by Chung. The federal limit on personal contributions was $2,000 ($1,000 for the primary campaign and $1,000 for the general election campaign). Chung attended the event with several guests. As set forth in the information, Chung contributed $8,000 of his own money disguised as contributions from four of his guests. Chung and one of his employees asked the four guests to write checks drawn on their own accounts in the amount of $2,000 payable to the Kerry Committee. Chung and his employee then reimbursed the four conduit contributors with checks drawn from Chung's personal bank account.
The information also charges Chung with tax evasion. In 1996 Chung filed a personal income tax return stating that his 1995 taxable income was $14,236, and the amount of income tax due and owing was $2,134. In fact, according to the information, his taxable income for 1995 was substantially in excess of that reported. As a result, a substantial additional tax was due and owing. (26 U.S.C. § 7201)
The information also charges Chung with bank fraud. It alleges that around January 1997, in an effort to obtain a bank loan secured by a mortgage on his Artesia, California residence, he engaged in a scheme to defraud the lender. As set forth in the information, Chung transferred his ownership in the residence to his wife, Katharina Chung, who then applied for a loan secured by a mortgage on the residence. The loan application filed by Katharina Chung falsely stated that she was the comptroller of C.M. Information, Inc., a corporation in which Chung was an officer. As set forth in the information, Chung signed the name of the president of the company on the loan application without any authorization to do so. Katharina Chung was subsequently issued a $157,500 loan secured by a mortgage on the Artesia residence. (18 U.S.C. § 1344 , 18 U.S.C. §2 )
On January 29, 1998, Charlie Trie was charged in a 15-count indictment with a variety of crimes related to fundraising activities, as well as with obstruction of justice. Trie returned to the United States and surrendered to federal authorities on February 3, and is scheduled to be tried on October 7, 1998.
On February 18, 1998, a six-count indictment was returned against Maria Hsia, a Los Angeles Democratic fundraiser. Hsia was charged with conspiring with the Hsi Lai Temple of Hacienda Heights, CA by using Temple funds to make illegal campaign contributions to federal, state and local candidates and their political committees. Hsia was also charged with causing false statements to be made to the FEC. Her trial is set for April 27, 1998.
The United States Code provides maximum penalties of thirty-seven years and $1.45 million for the charges Chung faces. Under the federal sentencing guidelines, actual sentences imposed under the law can vary substantially.
All charges made by the government are merely accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Why are the Repubs giving the media, and by extension, the Kerry campaign, extra time to formulate their attacks? Didn't they learn from the 9/11 ad uproar?
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